“Now I just gotta seal the deal with the solha so I can use my last wish to set you free.”
Yalina
Jah’ruud rushes Kaelun up the stairs, and I almost rush after them until Aurelion’s hand closes around my arm. “Where are you going? I believe we have a date.” I have never heard his voice so cold.
I stare at him. “Now?”
“You agreed.”
I grind my teeth together in frustration. He’s right of course, I just thought he might have some compassion. I’m about to reply when the healer rushes over and drops into a bow. “Forgive me, Light of the Sun. I must complete the serum.”
I turn to her in distress. “Then do it.”
She clutches a small glass vial in her hands. “It needs the prince’s venom before it is complete.”
I give Aurelion a pleading look. “You will help, won’t you?”
His wings—recently released from their ties—flick impatiently. “You wish it?”
“Of course.”
His expression darkens, but he holds out his hand for the vial. “You will come to my rooms later.” It is not a request.
With a sigh, I nod. Anything to save Kaelun.
The healer hands him the vial, and Aurelion delicately slides one long fang into the nozzle, biting down until a stream of clear liquid is released. She swirls the vial and the clear liquid turns a bright purple color.
“It is complete. Where is Prince Noreth?”
“I will take it.” I hold my hand out for the vial, and she hands it over.
“He must drink it all immediately. Leave nothing in the glass.”
I nod to show I’ve understood.
The healer hurries away, darting an anxious glance back in our direction.
“I have to see that he’s alright,” I say to Aurelion, who is glaring daggers at me.
“He flouted your rules!”
I straighten my spine. “As did you. There was to be no risk of serious injury.”
He growls. “If he had not made me believe he was merely human, I would have been ready.”
I sigh. It seems I will be soothing ruffled feathers as well as saving a life today. “Let me go and see that it is delivered to him and that he is safe, and then you may claim your winner’s prize.”
At this he seems to relax. “Be quick, then. I can tolerate the indignity if I know you will truly come to me tonight.”
“I have said that I will.”
Leaving him, I hurry up to Kaelun’s suite and knock. A moment later Jah’ruud opens the door, surprised to see me. I hold up the vial. “The antidote. How is he?”
He lets me into the room, but I pause just beyond the doorway to see Kaelun sitting up in bed grinning at me. “Have no fear. A small thing like a dragon bite cannot stop me.”
I frown. “But both Aurelion and the healer said you would need the anti-venom.”
He coughs. “Yeah, um, turns out my ah… advisor had some handy. So nothing to worry about.”
