“I will be your ally,” Lyrandir said. “I renounce my claim on the Eye, and I'll even help you protect it if need be.”
“Why the change of heart?”
Lyrandir chuckled. “That is it exactly.” He looked at Aras, then back at my mate. “I see what's truly important now. I don't hear the Eye's call anymore. Even though it's right there.”
“It was calling you?” Vax asked.
Lyrandir nodded, his expression going grim. “Day and night. It was driving me mad.”
“That explains a lot,” Aras huffed.
“What happened to not blaming it on the Eye?”
“That was when we were fighting.”
“You're an asshole.”
“Yeah, but I'm a sane asshole.”
“True.”
“You'reallinsane!” Vax shouted. “And I've had enough with you fucking landers! Let's go, Mate!” He tugged on my hand as his knights gathered around us.
“Vax, come on. At least accept his offer of friendship.”
“We will not be friends,” he grumbled.
“Allies,” I amended.
“Fine.” Vax looked at Lyrandir over his shoulder. “I accept. But come at me or mine again, and I will fucking demolish you and your entire kingdom.”
Lyrandir chuckled. “My kind of man.”
“Hey!” Aras growled.
“Oh, please.” Lyrandir rolled his eyes. “He's mated. Do you know nothing of Dragons and their mates?”
The question seemed important, and so even as Vax dragged me away, I watched the couple.
“No,” Aras said. “I don't know shit about Dragons and their mates. Why would I?”
“As I suspected.” Lyrandir glanced at me, saw that I was watching, and did a double-take. Then he winked.
Smiling from one Dragon king to the other, I left the throne room of Gavemor. Or rather, I tried to leave it. On the threshold, I faltered.
“Zix?” Vax grabbed my upper arm to steady me.
“Vax,” I whispered as I looked up at him, eyes gone wide. “Something's wrong.”
That's when I started to scream.
Chapter Forty-Three
I was on fire. Burning. No relief, no matter how I writhed. My flesh sizzled, blood evaporating, and muscles turning into meat.
And yet, when I looked down at myself, I was whole.
“Vax,” I moaned.
