Very good,the Eye said.I've got you now, Lyrandir. Together, we shall find me.
The shimmering became a tingling. A burst of heat. An explosion of consciousness. My consciousness traveled with hers, taken along for a flight out of my body and past the open balcony doors. We surged across the city of Renris faster than I'd ever flown. Shooting like an arrow. Faster than that. A falling star. Land swept by underneath me in a second. Then we were out over the Morilren Sea—the kingdom ruled by King Vaxarion.
Water became a blue blur. I felt it then. The burning light pulling us, urging us on. The Eye's home. Her source of energy. The Fire of the Goddess. It was there, just ahead. On that pathetic little ship. A fragile thing of wood, metal, glass, and cloth. Not worthy of Ensarena's Eye. Her power could destroy it in a second.
I saw the Neraky pirates on deck—saw the man who was their captain. Words came. Knowledge gleaned from casualconversations. Captain Tengven. The Lu-Ken. Bordae Sea. I knew so much in an instant. Saw so much. And there, beneath layers of wood, was a glow. The Eye took us down, down, down. Into the ship. Into a box. And there it was. Our treasure. Her home. My salvation.
I targeted it. No, she did. Who was I? The tingling in my veins increased even though I wasn't in my body to feel it. Like a limb lost and slowly regrowing, I felt the burgeoning of my body. Felt it awaken. Call me. The Eye pulled us back, but as she flew our consciousness over the sea, I started to tremble. Mentally. Reality shifted around me. I was pure energy. I was a Dragon. I was a piece of the Goddess. I was King. I was magic. Back and forth my mind swung, reaching for something stable to latch onto. Nothing came.
I was back. In my body. This was me. Or was it? How do I breathe? I gasped in a breath as the Eye gave up control. I could hear her speaking into my mind, calling to me, but she was not me. I was not her. I was a man. A Dragon. And I was screaming.
“Ly!” someone shouted as they shook me.
My mind shattered. That bitch hadn't warned me that this was a possibility. She was screaming, but I was louder. Everything vibrated. The entire world shook. My head burned. I pounded my hands against it. Hands. What were hands? Should they have claws or nails? And then colors burst before my eyes. They formed a face. I knew that face. Loved it. Handsome and yet primal. Fur and fangs, but also a proud nose and a strong jaw. What was his name?
“Aras,” I gasped. “Aras.”
My mate. My heart knew him. There was only him. No world. No war. No kingdom. Just Aras. All I needed. I pressed my hand to his chest and felt his heartbeat. Strong. Like his grip. He still held my shoulders. Other men were nearby, but I couldn't focus on them. My mind still hurt. Still reeled. I was a Dragon. Dragon. King. Mate.
“Aras,” I said again.
“I've got you, Ly,” Aras said and cradled me against his chest. “I have you. You're all right.”
With my cheek and hand on Aras's chest, my mind started to right itself. It still felt bruised, but with his arms around me, it healed. I knew where I was. Who I was.
And where we must go,the Eye said.
Fuck you!I roared at her in my head.You didn't warn me about this.
You wouldn't have done it if I had, and it had to be done. I acted as quickly as possible and relinquished control as soon as your consciousness was back in your body. You cannot fault me for doing what will ultimately aid you.
I certainly. . . I groaned aloud as things snapped in my mind, clicking in and out of place.
“Lyrandir!” Aras had me in his arms and carried me to bed. He laid me down carefully, then shouted at someone, “Get a physician!”
“No!” I waved a hand blindly. “I'll be fine. I just need a moment.”
“Ly?” Aras bent over me. “What's happened? How are you hurt?”
I struggled to come up with an explanation.
Tell him about me,the Eye urged.It's time he knew.
I glanced at the other men in the room—my knights. They were now supplemented with Dragons from the army. The Dragons were looking back and forth between me and my mate, their eyes wide and worried. The non-Dragons were even more baffled.
I'd have to explain to them as well,I said.
Poison!the Eye exclaimed.
What?
Tell them you were shot with a dart.
What?!
A poisoned dart. Through the balcony.
And where is this dart?
