Zixin beamed at me, then at his mate. They headed out of the throne room with their entourage, and I smiled after them. But then, just as they reached the doorway, Zixin stumbled. I let go of Aras and started to run. I didn't need the Eye to tell me what was happening. She was a vicious bitch, and if she couldn't have me, she was going to take someone else.
“Zix?” King Vaxarion steadied his mate.
“Vax,” Zixin whispered, his eyes gone wide. “Something's wrong.”
Then that damn annoying, courageous, wonderful Neraky started to scream.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Vax,” Zixin moaned.
“Mate!” King Vaxarion had his mate cradled in his lap as he openly wept. “What's happening? What's wrong with you?”
“I'm burning inside,” Zixin gasped. “Fire.”
“This is why only Dragons should use Ensarena's Eye.LandDragons,” I said, staring grimly down at the foolish Neraky. “It was made for us.”
“What does that mean?” the Sea King snarled. “What's happening to him?”
“He's paying the price for the magic he stole.” I looked at my mate and felt a clenching in my chest. I had just gone through what the Sea King was experiencing for the second time. Possibly the last. And if Zixin died, King Vaxarion would likely follow. There went my alliance. I know. That's not what I should have been thinking about. I did have great sympathy for Zixin and Vaxarion, but those were my concerns.
“Vax, I'm so sorry,” Zixin panted.
I saw the knowledge in the Neraky's eyes. He had just realized that his risk had been his mate's as well.
“No, Mate,” King Vaxarion said. “There's nothing for you to be sorry about. Just stay with me.”
“I don't think I can.” Zixin sucked in a breath and then moaned, “I want to.”
“No! You're not doing that shit to me again. Do you hear me, Zixin? Don't you leave me! I will fucking follow your soul into the beyond. I'll hunt you down and pull you back into your body!”
“I love you so much,” Zixin said as he weakly lifted his hand to touch the Sea King's face. “Don't tear apart the palace again. We loved a lot in the time we had. That's a gift. But don't let the gift become a curse. Let me go. Move on, Vax. Know that I want you to.”
“Shut up!” Vax roared. “You're not dying!”
I hated to be the bearer of bad news, but King Vaxarion had only one chance to say goodbye to his mate. I wanted him to have that at least. So I said, “Uh, he is.”
“Shut up!” the Sea King shouted at me.
“Is there nothing you can do?” Aras asked me.
“Me?” I gaped at him. “What could . . . ?” then I thought of something. Something that would risk all of us. But it just might work. I cleared my throat and said, “Maybe.”
“What?” King Vaxarion's tone went desperate. “You can help him? If you can, do it!”
“I don't know if this will work,” I said, fear lancing through me—not for myself, but for my mate.
“Ly, you have to try,” Aras said firmly.
Great Gods, why did I have to be paired with such an honorable man? He would never forgive me if I didn't at least attempt to save the Neraky. Staring at him, I sent what I felt down our connection. Aras scowled, feeling my fear but still not knowing why. If I did this, he might never know. Maybe that was better for him. Finally, I said, “There's great risk involved. For me. I could burn with him.”
“Great risk involved in what?” Aras asked. “What would you have to do?”
“I'd have to coerce the Fire out of him and back into the stone. But it will need to go through me.”
“Name your price!” King Vaxarion said. “I'll pay it. Whatever it is. I beg you! He's my mate!”
“Vax,” Zixin whispered. “It's all right.” But then he screamed.
