His position under threat.His every word and deed questioned.
“What makes theislaxso dangerous?”
Graydon contemplated the ceiling.“It’s said to erode the user’s mind.”
“What did you just say?”
Graydon’s silence acted like a wall.
Kira forced her anger back down, knowing her reaction wasn’t helpful.“Why would the Mea’Ave do this to you?”
She’d thought it was a source of good.
Naive of her.There was no such thing as ultimate good or evil.That was a trap to make you overlook what was right in front of you.The Mea’Ave had an agenda.Just like everyone else.And like everyone else, it would go to extraordinary lengths to achieve its goals.
“Because I’m strong enough to bear it.War is coming.I am the Mea’Ave’s weapon to ensure the outcome it desires.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter what happens to you in the endeavor,” Kira flared.
She wanted to rail at him.To knock him upside that hard head of his and demand to know why he’d kept this from her.
Except she knew why.She didn’t ask so he didn’t tell.
Graydon lifted her hand, pressing a gentle kiss to the inside of her wrist.“Coli,there’s no reason to fret.I will be fine.It is called the madness, but that is because of what I will become to my enemies.I will be their madness.Their nightmare.”
“At a cost.”
“There are costs in all things.You said that once, remember?”
That was her.It wasn’t him.The man who’d claimed half her soul and all that she was.Including that shriveled muscle in the center of her chest.
“Will you still love me if I’m a little mad?”Graydon teased.
“You know I will,” Kira stated with a fierceness that had his eyes softening.
He pulled her down against him.“Good.I’m counting on that ruthlessness to hold me together.”
Kira’s face was serious as she nestled against him, pressing her face into his neck so he couldn’t see her expression.A little of her own madness.No matter what he said, even if this was the Mea’Ave’s will, she was not letting it take Graydon from her.
They fell asleep.Kira didn’t mean to.But soon she was drifting into dreams of a golden figure standing over the pinned body of a scarredlu-ong.
Golden eyes found hers.
A hard shake ripped her out of the dream.Kira woke to find someone leaning over her.
She jolted, swinging her fist before she had fully focused.
The person caught it.“It’s me.”
Kira relaxed at the sound of Graydon’s voice.Blearily, she struggled to bring Graydon into focus.
“Your skin is on fire,” he informed her.
Kira looked down, expecting to see actual golden flames.Unblemished skin, slick with sweat, greeted her eyes.
“You were also moaning,” Graydon added.
“Sorry.”
