From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

more or less as a border between the haves and have-nots, the thick tree
line all but erasing the cramped living arrangements for the vast majorityy
of Masadonia from those who lived in homes triple the size of the one
Agnes now mourned in. A part of the Grove, closer to the center of the
cityy, had been cleared, creating a park where fairs and celebrations were
held, people often rode their horses, sold goods, and picnicked on warmer
dayys. The Grove ran right into the inner walls of Castle Teerman. Literallyy.
Veryy few traveled the Grove, believing it to be haunted byy anyy who’d
died there. Or were theyy haunted byy the spirits of guards? Or was it the
spirits of hunted animals that roamed between the trees? I wasn’t sure.
There were so manyy different versions. Either wayy, it worked for us
because we could easilyy slip out of the Queen’s Gardens and into the
Grove without being seen as long as we kept an eyye on the patrolling
guards. From the Grove, one could go anyywhere.
“We need to discuss what happened in that house,” Vikter announced
as we navigated the forest floor with onlyy a sliver of moonlight to guide
us. “People have been talking about yyou.”
I knew this was coming.
“And yyou using yyour gift back there didn’t help matters,” he added,
keeping his voice low even though it was unlikelyy we’d be overheard byy
anyything other than a raccoon or an opossum. “You all but confirmed who
yyou were.”
“If people are talking, theyy haven’t said anyything,” I replied. “And I
had to do something. That woman’s pain was…it was unbearable for her.
She needed a break.”
“And it became unbearable for yyou, too?” he surmised. When I didn’t
sayy anyything, he added, “Your head hurts now?”
“It’s nothing,” I dismissed.
“Nothing,” he growled. “I understand whyy yyou want to help. I respect
that. But it’s a risk, Poppyy. No one has said anyything yyet. Mayybe theyy feel
indebted to yyou, but that could change, and yyou need to be more careful.”
“I am careful,” I said. Even though I couldn’t see his expression as he
too had lifted his hood to cover his face, I knew he sent me a look of
disbelief. I grinned, but it quicklyy faded. “I know what the risks are—”
“And yyou’re prepared to face the consequences if the Duke ever
discovers what yyou’re doing?” he challenged.