Healer to the King: A Novella: Water Witch, #0

By Toni Cabell

Would you marry the wrong man to save the right one?

As the king's new healer, Ellanora has two secrets that could destroy her: she's a psychic with witchy insights, and she's in love with King Meade.

When Ellanora's secrets are exposed in court, not only is her reputation at stake, but so is the king's.

Her only recourse is to become betrothed immediately to the first suitable man who presents himself. Marriage will quiet the palace gossips and enable Ellanora to retain her position as master healer.

But should Ellanora marry a man she doesn't love to protect the only man she will ever truly love?

**The events in Healer to the King occur twenty-five years before The Lightness of Water and provide a great introduction to the award-winning Water Witch series!**

• Language: English
• Publisher: Endwood Press LLC
• Release date: Dec 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223183556

Toni Cabell

Toni is a closed door fantasy romance author. She writes clean fantasy stories featuring strong women, swoony heroes, wholesome romance, and twisty plots. Her novels have won multiple awards, including six B.R.A.G. Medallions, Silver & Bronze Medals in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and a Gold Medal in the Global Book Awards. She makes her home in a small village along the shores of Lake Michigan with her handsome husband and grumpy miniature schnauzer. All Toni's books are appropriate for teens and adults.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Ellanora paused, her hand on the gate, and gazed at the king and his young son as they stood beneath the blooming desert willow; once she entered the courtyard, her old life would be over. Although she’d made the decision weeks ago to return—to the palace, to her new healing duties, and to the king—she relished these last few moments of peaceful anonymity. She didn’t know whether she’d ever be ready for—

Ellanora? Ellanora! You’re back! squealed Prince Heris, who started running toward Ellanora. However, Heris quickly found himself surrounded—for his own protection—by his father’s guards, four husky men with long, black braids, navy tabards, and drawn swords. King Meade waved them off, and Prince Heris was free to charge across the lawn as quickly as his small, chubby legs could carry him.

Ellanora stepped through the gate and knelt on the cobblestone path that crisscrossed the well-manicured yard, where every tree and flowerbed burst with bright spring blossoms. The child hurled himself into her wide-open arms. I’ve missed you! he cried.

An image of an older boy with Heris’s curly, black hair and fawn-brown complexion popped into Ellanora’s head. Teenaged Heris nocked an arrow, took careful aim at his target, and released the shaft, piercing the bull’s eye. He turned back to grin at someone, probably his father, who stood outside the frame of her vision. The brief future glimpse faded as quickly as it appeared.

Ellanora’s pulse skittered as a wave of raw emotion flooded through her; she felt little Heris’s excitement and joy at her arrival, mingled with future Heris’s pride at hitting his target. How will I ever manage as the king’s healer without letting on I’m now also clairvoyant—particularly when my new abilities are empathic, unpredictable, and activated when I touch someone—or they touch me?

Exhaling slowly, Ellanora recalled her grandmother’s admonition to promote her healing gift but never her psychic abilities, which gave her glimpses into someone’s emotional state, as well as fleeting images from their past or future. Women were often shunned and sometimes killed for having such witchy insights.

Ellanora blinked several times to clear her head, kissing the top of Heris’s curls. I’ve missed you too, my little crown prince.

"That’s Lady Ellanora. King Meade joined them on the path and gently corrected his son. As our new master healer, Lady Ellanora is now a member of my inner court."

The king was dressed simply in gray slacks and an unadorned blue tunic that accentuated his broad shoulders and muscled arms. His dark, wavy hair was a tad longer, and his black beard tidier, than when she’d last seen him. Meade looked more rested, more at peace... and even more handsome than she recalled.

Ellanora glanced up at Meade’s face, and their eyes locked. The king’s brown-black eyes softened as he gazed at her, and a rosy blush suffused her face and neck. Ellanora bit her bottom lip. She needed to maintain proper, professional decorum in her new role, but given how she flushed in Meade’s presence, she was going to struggle—just as she’d feared. As Ellanora rose to her feet and bowed, Heris slipped his small hand into hers.

She cleared her throat. Well met, King Meade. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your master healer.

While some might grumble that at age eighteen, Ellanora was too young for such responsibility, no one could debate her qualifications or disparage her skills. Apprenticed at twelve, Ellanora had been working as a qualified palace healer since age sixteen. Last year, when the king’s old master healer had broken his leg, Ellanora had taken over Queen Haziel’s medical regimen, nursing the frail, sickly woman through her final illness.

The king smiled warmly. Welcome back, Ella... I’ve... we’ve all missed you.

"She’s Lady Ellanora! chimed Prince Heris. Have you forgotten already, Papa?"

Meade chuckled. As you will one day learn, kings can be mighty forgetful.

Not me. Heris shook his head. I’ll remember everything.

Is that so? Meade arched an eyebrow. In that case, remember this day as the happiest we’ve seen since...

Since Mama passed through the veil, murmured Heris, his face scrunching up.

Aye, lad. Meade frowned, compressing his lips.

Ellanora swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She’d grown fond of Queen Haziel, adored Heris and his sister, Nayla, and found the dashing king of Toresz more attractive than she ought—which was why she’d left the palace five months earlier. Ellanora’s excuse had been her ill grandmother, and she had cared for Granny Demore until her death last month.

Ellanora also had needed to put some distance between herself and the widowed king. But Meade had been persistent, writing to her monthly to tell her the children missed her, and urging her to return as their personal healer. When the king’s elderly master healer had finally retired, Meade had written to offer Ellanora the post, his letter arriving the day after her