The Irresistible Urge To Fall for Your Enemy

DEBUT Osric Mordaunt needs healing, and not just from any Haelen. Only Aurienne Fairhrim has the knowledge and ability to keep him from losing his magic and his life. The complication is that Haelens are a righteous bunch who only heal the innocent and worthy, while Osric is an assassin from the Fyren Order and falls decidedly in the “not worthy” category. However, Aurienne is instructed by her mentor to heal Osric in exchange for his money, which will fund a much-needed immunization program against the Pox, which is killing children in droves. Aurienne makes her distaste of Fyren known and informs Osric that his condition is incurable, although she reluctantly agrees to try an experimental method that will probably fail. The two meet secretly over several months, and although they are both vocal about their strong mutual dislike, Aurienne and Osric go to extraordinary measures to protect one another.