“I promise I am fine.” I lean towards him, my hand reaching out to brush the curl that rests against his head, but I pause, letting it fall back down.
“I thought the Gods were taking you from me again.” His eyes flicker between mine.
My head shakes gently. “Not yet.”
His fingers grip firmly against my pants, allowing his head to drop as he takes a deep breath. “Never do that to me again.”
“Do what?” I whisper.
He lifts his head, allowing me to witness the pure weariness in his eyes. A split moment of weakness, vulnerability, within him. “Die on me. I won’t survive this time.”
“I’ll do everything I can to try not to.” My eyes soften. My body is screaming to touch his face, to pull him in at last before the Gods do take me, but I fear it. I don’t fear him hurting me. I fear myself burning him.
“I’m not trying to break up this moment between the two of you.” Theon scratches the back of his neck. “No, actually, I am trying to break this up. We need to go. Now. If we aren’t back before the sun is fully risen, we will fail the race.”
My brows pull inward, glancing between Kaine and Theon. Their firm grips tighten around the reins of the three ice horses.
“Where is the fourth?” I toss my leg over the broad body of the Fireninze.
“It must have fled due to fear. I am sure it followed the pathway of the Gods back to the finish line.” Kaine leaps up on one of the Iycekazie.
Theon walks the horses over, giving the reins of Koen’s horse to him as they both hop on theirs with ease. They whip their reins, sprinting through the desert.
My fingers curl around the fire of my Fireninze’s mane, turning her towards the pathway of the Gods but pause, catching sight of the outline of a dragon in the distance—directly in front of the rising sun.
The wings spread outwards, almost completely blocking the light before launching upward into the sky.
My shoulders relax, watching intently before the dragon is no longer visible. Then, I give a swift kick, launching the Fireninze to sprint towards the men ahead of us.
“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!” QUEEN Antivianna screams as we all gallop through the finish line. The light of the pathway completely shifts to darkness after we cross. As I take one last glance over my shoulder, tiny stardusts float back up into the clouds.
“The dragons attacked us.” Theon hops off of his horse, walking towards his mother.
Lykia takes her gown between her fingers, lifting the front of her dress high before running towards Koen.
My eyes roll as vomit sits at the bottom of my throat.
Disgusting.
“I was worried!” Her hand touches his leg. My eyes lock onto her hand, watching as she gently brushes back and forth against it.
That's my man. Not hers.
Fire spars against my fingertips, internally screaming for the burning rage inside me to sizzle out. But I can’t burn. Not with the Royals here.
My lip rises with disgust, and I glance away so I won’t puke right here in front of everyone.
I catch the swift movement of Koen as he pushes her hand away from him, which makes me grin from ear to ear.
“No need to worry,” he grunts.
My fingers brush together, feeling a fire flicker between them. Without thinking, I snap, watching the grass beneath her feet catch fire.
I tried to hold it in. But I can’t.
And it sure as hell feels good to unleash.
A scream rips from her throat as she lifts her dress up. Her feet dance in place as the grass catches flames around her.
