Imp Forsaken (Imp Book 5) by Debra Dunbar

Kirby gave him a quick glance and did the same. “You should be able to repair yourself now.”
    Yeah. In theory. I closed my eyes and reached within myself, gathering the energy from the air around me. I’d done this a million times in my life. Created new molecules, replace all the damaged structures with new ones. It was as easy as breathing.
    But it seems breathing was the only skill remaining to me. I felt a spark, gloried in the creation, then felt it all slip away like water through my fingers. I tried again, and again, hearing the uneasy movements of the elves and magic users as they watched me.
    “Perhaps Lord Feille was speaking the truth? Why would she remain injured like that?”
    Idiots. But I’d rather they think me obstinate, or playing some convoluted game, than know how damaged I truly was. I tried again. Little improvements, but nothing major. Ribs were partially repaired, spleen good as new, concussion on the mend. If I had a few days, I might be able to fix everything on my own. This was definitely progress, but taking a few days to repair injuries could spell the difference between life and death.
    “Leave. Everyone except Sylvia. Wait for me outside the dungeon.”
    I heard a collective gasp at Taullian’s command and knew he must have silenced any protests.
    “I am perfectly capable of defending myself against one little imp. Go.”
    I opened my eyes and saw the guards leave, Kirby casting me a quick look as he went with them. Taullian approached, a female magic user by his side. She looked uneasy, clutching a wand tightly in one hand, bunching her robes in a fist.
    “Cover me,” Taullian said, and Sylvia pointed a nervous wand at my head.
    The elf lord bent down, a golden glow covering his hand as he ran it a few inches over my body. “She’s managed to partially repair her wounds,” he mused. “But I wonder….”
    I felt a sizzling warmth beneath my skin, heating me down into my spirit self. His hand reached down to probe my shoulder, then down along my side. “I can’t really tell, but I suspect some injuries are beyond the flesh,” Taullian commented to the mage.
    “I definitely cannot heal her spirit being, my Lord,” she pronounced, her tone respectful but assured. “I could try the human healing spell and see if it restores her corporeal form to health.”
    The elf lord glanced up at her, his expression admiring, as if she were a valued piece of art. “You are my best healer, Sylvia. I have no doubt you could restore her physical self.”
    She beamed. “I would be happy to try, my Lord.”
    Taullian hesitated a moment. “No.” His voice sounded oddly distracted. “Save your magic. You’ll need everything you’ve got soon enough. I’ll do it myself.”
    I caught my breath. Elves were very private about their magic and their abilities. When needed, they always relied on their human mages and sorcerers. Beyond my recent fight with Feille, I’d never actually seen one use any of their gifts and had no idea the extent of their powers.
    “Leave us.” Taullian commanded. His deep voice lacked its usual firmness.
    “Are you sure, My Lord? Should I net her first? Put the collar back on?”
    “Leave us.” This time he sounded tired.
    Sylvia jumped to her feet, robes swaying around her legs in a blur of embroidered blue. She bowed deeply before Taullian and left. The dungeon door clanged, and I felt a hand on my shoulder.
    “I am a fool to trust you once again, Az,” the elf told me. “Twice you have bitten me—once literally, and once in deceit and treachery. Yet the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and I would dearly love to hurl your chaos into the battlefield.”
    Under normal circumstances, he would be a fool to trust me. Right now, I was far more interested in him healing me than attempting to take him out. That could wait until five seconds after he healed me.
    As his hands moved down my body, I felt warmth seep through my skin and deep into my bones. It was