“Tweaked my knee yesterday,” I confirmed, because I’d promised him that I would tell him if it bothered me. I had planned to stretch the bounds of that promise as far as possible, but I wouldn’t lie to him. “Then I made it worse last night in the gym.”

He nodded as if that was the answer he’d expected. He didn’t scold me or tell me that I should’ve taken it easier. His expression remained open and calm. “May I look at it?”

“You don’t need to,” I said. “You shouldn’t have to exert yourself because I was stupid. But I would appreciate a lesson in how to shield pain, if you have time.”

One side of his mouth quirked up and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “My job is ninety percent exerting myself because someone was stupid,” he said, not unkindly. “And I will help you learn to shield, if you let me heal your knee first.”

I tilted my head and considered the request. “Should we ask one of the others to join us? Last time you overdid it. I don’t want you to get hurt on my account, and I can’t catch you if you’re holding my knee.”

Havil waved me off. “Last time I healed three people in a row, and it had been a while since I’d used so much energy in such a short time. Healing just your knee won’t be a problem.” When I continued to look at him skeptically, he held up his hands with a small smile. “Promise.”

I sank into one of the low chairs and pulled the material of my pants up over my right knee. The joint was swollen and I winced. “Is this good enough or do I need to take the pants off completely?”

“This is fine,” Havil said. “Let me know if it’s too much, but it shouldn’t be as bad as before.”

When I nodded, he shifted so he could place his hands on my knee. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to the warm, prickly feel of his power. He must’ve sensed my unease because he glanced up at me. The tawny streaks in his deep brown eyes had expanded, but even glowing with power, his eyes remained kind. With the chair at my back, I had nowhere to go, but my instinctive panic remained manageable. Barely.

He searched my face for a moment before returning his concentration to my knee. The prickles turned into fiery needles, and I held my breath.

“Just a bit more,” he said.

As promised, a few moments later, a final round of prickles swept through me from head to toe, then Havil sat back. I kept a close eye on him, but he didn’t look like he was going to faint away, so perhaps he had just done too much last time.