In the next second, a strong pair of arms encircled her, pressing her head against a muscular chest. The smell of a thunderstorm on a summer day wrapped around her. Tate relaxed, knowing who held her.
“Are you alright?” Ryu’s chest rumbled under her ear.
“Did you feel it to?”
She felt rather than heard his agreement.
“You know what it is?” Tate tilted her head to look up at Ryu. Concern and worry crouched deep in his eyes even as he struggled to project calm.
His thumb caressed the line of her jaw. “Do you remember when I was in the coma for a few days?”
How could Tate forget? That experience had brought home exactly what Ryu meant to her. Facing the span of centuries without him had threatened to send her to a very dark place.
“Where I went had that same feeling.”
“Home.” Somehow the word felt right. Almost like it was fate.
“Someone’s home at least.” There was a meaningful look in Ryu’s serious expression that hinted at what Tate already suspected on some level.
The realm the dragons called home. Somehow, and Tate had no clue how, they’d tapped into that place, however briefly.
“How’s Rath? Ilith’s nearly catatonic.”
Ryu closed his eyes, unspeakable loss momentarily written on his face. He regained his composure in the next second, his expression settling into a guarded mask when he opened his eyes again. “Bereft.”
Yeah. That was a good word for it.
“Did you feel it too?” Tate asked Daisy.
Only confusion registered on the other girl’s face, leaving Tate to assume that Daisy had no idea what they were talking about.
“Ryu, I saw Peter just before,” Tate started when someone raced into the room.
“Fire. Fire in the palace.”
Those who’d managed to find their feet, raced for the balcony doors and the easy exit they provided. Ryu pulled Tate to him as they were buffeted by the suddenly panicked crowd.
All the while, Ryu’s gaze searched the room.
Tate spotted the emperor at the same time he did. Surrounded by his private guards, with Thora and the Lord Provost cutting a path against the tide of bodies.
It was easy to see how torn Ryu was. Tate on one side and his emperor on the other. Ryu didn’t give his loyalty easily. Asking him to choose between the two of them would be like asking him which arm he should cut off.
Tate had no intention of letting him make that choice.
It might have been different if she was a defenseless woman with no skills of her own, but she was bonded to the most badass dragon that ever lived. Even if that dragon was currently curled into a ball, trying to recover from the emotional wound events had dealt her.
“Go. Protect the emperor; I’ve got Peter.”
By now, the emperor and his people had reached them.
“We need to get somewhere safe,” the Lord Provost instructed.
Tate squeezed Ryu’s hand in reassurance.
In response, he cupped the back of her neck, bringing her lips to his. Heat spread from the places where they touched. Passion and desperation mixing with fear and need.
Ryu drew back before the kiss could deepen further, dropping a quick kiss onto each eyelid. “Don’t get hurt.”
