When I release her, before I can step back, she touches my cheek. “You be careful too, Liz.” Her eyebrows draw together. “I do love you. I’m proud of you, and I was very scared when I heard about the risks you took.”
I don’t wipe away a tear as Mom and Dad say goodbye to the other kiddos. That would be stupid. But I hug the babies, and that makes me feel much better.
Fluff Dog licking my face doesn’t hurt either.
I’m almost feeling better as they grab their bags, but then a large crash outside draws my attention. Axel shifts into Azar so fast I barely see it.
But Thunar’s loud landing is enough to warn me that he’s upset. His face looks thunderous. You’re also the earth blessed prince, Axel?
Clearly someone told him about the two affinities, finally. “It took your people long enough to tell you,” I say. “It’s been common knowledge here for quite some time.”
Show me. He’s glaring at Azar, who is standing between Thunar and me. Show me right now.
“Why would he shift in front of you? You attacked him, and you’re always threatening him.”
Before I can argue any more, Azar does it. A car acceleration sound, and suddenly he’s golden and slightly smaller. He lifts his head and glares at Thunar. The eyes are definitely the exact same.
After a handful of seconds, Thunar turns to me. I demand this power, too.
I laugh. “I didn’t give him that ability. He could shift into Axel when he came here—I simply knew about his secret before you did.”
Thunar roars. Then you will give me the ability to shift into a human. You upgraded the earth and water blessed, and I hear Hyperion and those stupid earth blessed who bonded your little brothers can shift into earth child forms.
I step closer, my chin raised. “And if I refuse? Then what? You’ll kill me?”
Thunar’s nostrils flare, and I notice something. He’s always been massive, powerful, and terrifying. But right now, he’s off. Something’s wrong. He’s struggling. I imagine that after being the hero of the Vancouver defense, Thunar’s exhausted, and he can’t eat. . .because he’s still not bonded.
“You need to bond someone,” I say. “I’ve been badgering Jörð right and left lately, and I’m not at all sure that she’ll even answer if I ask her to give you that ability.”
Thunar roars.
But I stand my ground.
“What’s going on?” My mom steps out of the house and into view.
Who’s that? But before I can even answer him, Thunar snatches Mom in one claw and holds her out in front of him. If you don’t do as I ask, I’ll melt her all over your front lawn.
Mom laughs. “You grabbed the wrong hostage, idiot. My daughter doesn’t even like me. I’ve been a pretty terrible mother.”
My heart lurches. She’s not right about me not caring about her.
“From what I can tell, you’re my daughter’s enemy, and you do whatever you wish any time you’d like.” My mom shakes her head. “I’ve never liked bullies overmuch.”
Thunar’s about to roast her.
I sprint across the room and grab my swords. I don’t have time to call on Jörð, but I leap from the ledge and plunge them into his massive leg as I pull on all the magic pulsing inside of me in the heart, and I shove it all inside of him. “There,” I shout. “I did it, you big bully. I shoved all the earth magic I have inside of you, and I willed you to have the ability to shift.”
“Oh, dear,” Mom says. “I wish I’d known you were doing that.” She looks pretty sorry from where she’s still clutched in his claws. “I wouldn’t have bonded him if I’d known.”
“You—what?”
Mom shrugs. “Sammy told me how he bonded Gordon, and I thought if I bonded the big jerk, he wouldn’t have to threaten you. He’d be able to eat on his own.”
Today just keeps getting worse.
A few moments later, Dad and Gideon prepare to head back to Seattle, but Mom’s staying here for now.
“Be safe.” I hug Dad. “You’re the only Chadwick who’s not bonded to a dragon.”
