A veil. I hadn’t seen anything like that, but she’d kept this land deliberately mysterious for those in the trials. Even now, as we stood atop “judgement-mountain,” I could only see darkness.
“She hid the land,” I told him, exhaustion hitting me. I rested my head against Asher’s cheek, enjoying the feeling of his skin on mine.
“It’s a large piece of land built by magic,” Rayge said. “I’d describe it as an oval shape, with some pointed offshoots at the southern end. It’s strongly coated in magic.”
“It protects the entrance to the underworld,” Maximus finally spoke up. “Our mates are either still in the trials of this land, or they’ve crossed through the veil.”
“One way to find out,” Braxton roared, and seconds later he was no longer in human skin. A very large, very intimidating dragon stood before us. Braxton was massive, his scales dark and shiny. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, trying to figure out how it was possible that a human could turn into a creature as gigantic as this. I mean, sure, Braxton was a big guy, but nothing on his dragon.
My brain attempted to explode at the insanity—the fact that I was a god and this still freaked me out was bizarre—but before I could have my mental breakdown, two more dragons stood in front of us. I barely got a glimpse of them before they took off into the air. I did have time to note that Rayge, a bronze beast, might have been even larger than Braxton.
Asher gently set me on my feet, a deep breath lifting his chest under my hands. “Fuck, Maddi,” he said, closing his eyes briefly, like he was still fighting for control.
“You’re covered in gold,” I murmured, leaning up to kiss him. “It’s kind of hot, but it’s also scary. Josephina said that the original magic is addictive, and you shouldn’t use it too much.”
He shook his head. “This is who I am now, love. I have no other magic to access. And I feel no addiction to it.”
He meant what he said, I could feel it through our bond. Since there were three bazillion more pressing concerns on my radar, I let it go for now.
Asher lifted me higher, capturing my mouth in a brutal, possessive, scorchingly hot kiss. “Wait until this is all over and I finally get you alone,” he warned against my mouth, and it probably spoke of how fucked up I was that I couldn’t wait to find out what that meant.
Reluctantly, Asher used his magic to pull us into the air, his hand firmly wrapped around mine. We followed the dragons into the darkness. Like before, wherever we moved, the mist of this land faded and we could see more, but then it closed in behind us again.
I hoped Rayge knew what he was talking about, because I had no idea how he’d managed to see anything.
“You have to look with your power, not just your eyes,” Asher said, picking up on my thoughts. “Look beyond the obvious.”
I wrinkled my nose at him. “Now you just sound like Heptashia, and since she’s legit one hundred percent crazy, that’s not a compliment.”
His lips twitched, and for the first time since he’d stormed up to me, there was a sliver of green back in his eyes.
The gold was growing on me, but green would always be my favorite.
Chapter 25
Despite the speed of the dragons, we caught up to them quickly. I wasn’t sure when it happened—probably after Sonaris—but Asher was stronger than ever. He carried both of us with ease; no strain showed on his face or in our bond.
“I can see the veil,” he said, looking ahead.
I’d been too busy watching Asher to try that “looking with my power” thing, and to be honest, I really didn’t need to. I trusted Asher. I would let myself lean on him this one time.
He shifted to look my way, eyes lit up with emotions that were both dark and light. A contradiction. A perfect mystery, as always.
We’re a team, Maddison James.His voice was strong.I will always be whatever you need. If you need strength in your arms, I will lift for you. If your legs can't walk any further, I will carry you. If your heart grows weary, I will find hope in mine. And if your mind is tired, I will take some of your burden. That’s how partners and teams work. We all carry life’s heaviness at times, you more than any other, but when you have a team, you know you’ll never have to carry it alone.
Fuck.
Fucking fuck.
He destroyed me.
Fire burned through my chest and into my soul. The pain and worry and anxiety from being in this land faded, almost like Asher had taken some of it, just as he said he would. The surging in my chest was strong and brutal, like a wave crashing against unforgiving rocks, the strength of my emotions destructive, but also a perfect display of nature.
I spoke from my heart, as he had done:I love you more than I thought it was possible to ever love. You are the team I dreamed and hoped for. The family I prayed to the gods for. I will never take you for granted, and I will always ease your burdens as well. I will be enough for you.
He wrapped his arms so tightly around me that I couldn’t breathe, and it was perfect.
You are beyond enough, Maddison. You’re a fucking gift, and I will never let you go.
