King Kahssiel reborn.
The wispy image of the couple kissing in the garden passed through her mind. That was real?
Sweat beaded on Dyna’s skin, and the sound of her racing heart thudded in her ears as the world skewed. No, it couldn’t be.
“He has been down this path before,” Sowmya said, snapping her back to clarity. “I beg you. Stop him. You are the only one who can.”
Dyna didn’t bother asking whyher. No one else could withstand Cassiel’s flame. She rubbed her face. “You asked me to save him.”
“To do one is to do the other. If not for him, then for the promise you made to his father.”
That statement punched her in the gut. It sent the sting of tears to her eyes as she remembered King Yoel’s last wish.Take care of him for me when I’m gone…
To stoop so low as to throw that in her face.
Dyna seethed. “How dare you?”
She had to turn her back to compose herself. Lingering by the entrance of the hedgerow were Guardians. They looked back at her somberly.
None of them disputed this. It wasn’t their place. Yet everyone knew there was no real choice here. Because she couldn’t live with the blood of others on her hands while she had the power to prevent it.
Within the confines of Dyna’s chest, past all the anger and resentment, deep within the cavern of her soul, lay the unraveled threads of their bond. They stirred with the instinct to protect her mate, even if he wasn’thersanymore.
To do what she must, required defying Cassiel in front of his people. Sowmya had to know that.
Dyna wanted to run, but her heart wouldn’t let her. She gazed into the sunset, allowing the last rays of the sun to blind her watery vision. “Why have you come to me? Are you not loyal to your king?”
“I’m here becauseI amloyal to my king,” Sowmya said. “He needs you.”
Inhaling a shallow breath, Dyna finally allowed herself to see him.
Cassiel came out of the shadows as real as she remembered him, as if he had never left. He was in the garden, his white robes rippling in the wind, where he sat in a tree as the gentle melody of his flute drifted around her. He glowed like the magic of a dream from another world they had long ago parted from.
Oh, how she wished they had never left it. He smiled at her, his silver eyes and black wings gleaming in the sunset, same as they had the day they met.
The wet blur of Dyna’s vision distorted him until the image faded away. She wiped her tears away.
Maybe it had been foolish to think she could forget him. He left without looking back, so why were the broken pieces of her soul fighting so hard to go after him?
Dyna looked up at Raiden standing silently beside her. “I must beg your pardon, Lord Raiden.”
His brow furrowed slightly, and a faint smile rose to his face. Taking her hand, he kissed the back of it with a bow. “Lady Dynalya, your presence is needed elsewhere. Please do not feel you do me an unkindness to attend it. Go, and know you are welcome to return.”
The touch was too gentle for her sharp edges. She carefully retrieved her hand, hesitating before saying, “I may not return alone.”
He dipped his head. “I understand.”
Dyna turned to her friends next.
Sighing, Lucenna crossed her arms. “You’re going after him.”
“I must.”
“Then we are coming with you,” Zev said, and they all nodded, including Von.
Their support brought warmth to the chill on her skin. Dyna could only offer them a slight smile as she shook her head. “Not this time. This is something I must do alone.” To Lucenna she said, “Before I go, there is a spell you must teach me first.”
Dyna tightenedthe belts of her greaves as she strode to the crop of trees where Sowmya waited. The short swords at her hips clinked softly against her fae leather armor. She had changed out of her dress for form fitting black leather trousers and boots that reached her knees. Shechecked that her braids were properly pinned back and would keep the hair out of her face.
