He knew this stance, what it meant and what it would bring to life, for his father’s darksoul prisoners had spilled the truth of it, long ago.
The raphon hadchosenher.
Andstill,stubborn woman that she was, Ezerargued against it.
“Absolutely not,” she growled, as Kinlear watched on from the shadows. “I won’t do it.”
Six’s tail twitched.
One dark eye slid towards Ezer and narrowed. A low growl left her throat. Her hackles raised.
“Six,” Ezer said.
Another growl.
Kinlear almost stepped forward, but...no. She could do this. She could handle this on her own. She didn’t need him.
Not like he needed her.
“I can’t be your rider!” Ezer yelped.
Six’s tail twitched.
“No,” Ezer said.
Another tail twitch, almost as if...the raphon was speaking to her.
Ezer put her hands on her hips. “I’m not arguing with you about this. I’m the Minder.” She marched over and reached for Six’s halter as if to pull her back up. But when her hand touched Six’s feathers...
A jolt went through her body.
Kinlear’s eyes widened as shefroze...like she was made of stone, unnaturally still. Even her breathing looked like it had paused, as she kept her hand pressed to Six.
He watched, heart slamming against his ribs, unsure of what to do, until she ripped her hand away with a gasp. And she seemed to return to herself, once more.
He’d never seen anything like it, as if they had some sort of visceral connection.
Somethingmagic.
“I can’t fly you, Six,” she said. “I’m not a Rider. That’s not what this mission is for. You are to be matched,” her voice broke, and Kinlear felt her sadness like it was his own, “with someoneelse.”
He couldn’t help himself.
He couldn’t leave her there, thinking that this bond she’d found, this beautiful merging of two souls...was going to be torn apart. Taken from her.
She said she had nothing left, but she hadeverything,right here in this dark room with her.
She had a raphon.
She had a prince.
She had a heart that was so willing to be given over to her, and it was his.
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” he blurted.
Damn his tongue, he couldn’t hold it back.
She spun, eyes wide.
