“Help him!” Aras and Vaxarion shouted together.
“Fine. Just know that I'm doing this for you, Aras,” I grumbled. “And I'll need the Eye.”
That was what upset me the most. I'd have to handle Ensarena's Eye. And I knew she'd be more powerful when I held her—she'd have more power over me. Fuck, I had only just freed myself from her grasp.
Surprisingly, King Vaxarion didn't balk or even hesitate about giving me the Eye. He handed it to me immediately.
And there it was. That fiery red stone I'd seen in my mind so many times. It was before me at last but, ironically, I didn't want it anymore. Not until I touched it.
Instantly, the power of the Goddess roared through me. I shuddered, my fist clenching around the stone, and fought to hold on to the barriers I'd erected between myself and the consciousness of the Eye. She bashed at my mind. I heard her shouting, but it was faint, as if she were far away. I had to work quickly.
I knelt beside Zixin, everything else fading away, and placed my right palm on his chest. In my left hand, I held Ensarena's Eye, and I clutched it to my heart. As the stone began to glow, flames licked over my fingers. And yet, it didn't burn either of us. I had complete control over Ensarena's Fire. Or at least a small piece of it. Feeling that rush was enough to distract me, and for a moment, I saw the potential of this relic. I saw my triumph. I would incinerate my enemies in a second. All would kneel before my immense power. No one would ever challenge me again. I could remake the world.
I shook off the allure of the Eye and locked stares with Zixin. Already, the stone was seeking to sway me. I had to save this man before it accomplished its goals. This meant that I didn't have time to be gentle. Instead of succumbing to the magic, I pushed it into Zixin. He shuddered, mouth gaping open, without sound emerging. It was the last thing I saw before I followed the magic into the Neraky.
A brilliant light exploded before me, blocking my way. I recognized it immediately—the mating bond. King Vaxarion was protecting his mate.
“Ease back,” I growled, my voice straining to get out while my focus was inside another man. “I can't help him if I have to fight you.”
The light dulled, then went red. At first, I thought Zixin and I were engulfed in flames. But then I realized that we were inside Ensarena's Eye, floating toward each other from one point to the other. She had us. Not the jewel, but the Goddess. The eye was a conduit, a link to her sight. Crossing through the relic, even spiritually, or perhaps especially spiritually, meant traveling across her gaze. Her attention locked on me, then shivered through my soul.
Ensarena loved me. The knowledge shocked me. I don't know why. I suppose all those stories about her had influenced me. And then there was the consciousness of her relic. I thought my Goddess would be as manipulating as her jewel. And maybe she was. But she was also a loving mother. And this mother valued strength above all. She didn't agree with the nobles who opposed me. She was angry with them. And in her anger, she gave me vicious support. It warmed my chest and stiffened my resolve. I had to win this war. Not just for the throne or my people. Not just for my mate or the kingdom. Now, I also had to win it for Ensarena. By her command.
“For you, my Goddess, anything,” I vowed.
My words pleased her. And this was fortunate because the man floating steadily toward me did not.
I felt Ensarena's fury with the Neraky. Zixin had dared to use her stone—her magic. And he was no kind of Dragon. If a Sea Dragon had attempted it, that would have been terrible. She would have been upset. But Zixin was from another race entirely. A man born of the water. Everything about him infuriated her.
“He is the key,” I called to Ensarena in my mind. “I need him to keep the alliance I made with his mate. And I need hismate to help me win the war.” Maybe I could win without the Sea Dragons, but they would certainly make a difference. Although I believed King Vaxarion was honorable, I wasn't sure he'd honor our alliance if I called on him mere weeks, or maybe even days, after it was forged. But if I saved the life of his mate, he wouldn't be able to refuse me. The Sea King would be in my debt and his army would be at my disposal.
“Vaxarion wouldn't be able to refuse you anything,” the Goddess said. “You could demand my stone as payment.”
Her voice was rapture. A religious revelation. I felt her connection to me and all of her children. She could be cruel, yes, but couldn't we all? And within that cruelty was the strength to love profoundly. To simply feel Ensarena's approval was enough to inspire me to fight for her. Whatever she demanded of me, I would give.
But could I succumb to the Eye for her?
“Goddess, I am strong, but I will never be a match for even a sliver of your magic,” I said. “You gave us an incredible gift when you made the Eye, but you may have underestimated your own power. Your relic is too much for any man to wield without losing himself to it.”
“Lyrandir, I would accuse you of flattery if I didn't feel the truth in your words. I understand now. The man who can control the Eye has not been born yet. But he will be.”
That frightened me, but I pushed the fear away. I had only seconds to save Zixin. “Please, Great Goddess, forgive this foolish boy. He can help me accomplish the mission you've given me.”
Ensarena didn't speak again, but I felt her approval. I felt her delight in my determination, strength, and loyalty. Especially the last. She had lost a lot of devotion from Dragons since the Dragon God was freed. Feeling my faith was enough to appease her.
As if she'd been holding him back, I suddenly moved toward Zixin. I reached for him. Zixin hesitated a moment, his stare wide, and then he extended his hand. I snatched it, my spiritual grip going through him, through his soul. Inside the Neraky was an ember left there by Ensarena's Eye. A little goodbye gift. Great Gods, that consciousness was a bitch. I summoned the ember out of Zixin, through our soul-link, and into my body.
Zixin's stare softened, and I knew I had succeeded. The trace of divine power left inside him was now inside me. Hopefully, the Goddess would help me through—
Pain! Never had fire burned me before. The feeling was new. And excruciating. I did not like this. I bared my teeth. We were still in the Eye. Zixin was holding my hand now, not the other way around. Our momentum slowed as we came abreast of each other and our bodies shifted to align.
“Lyrandir,” Zixin said.
“No!” I growled and let go of him. “You need to leave. Now!” I had to get him out of the Goddess's sight. It was my only chance at surviving this. So, I punched Zixin in his soul-chest and sent him shooting out of the Eye.
With the Neraky's exodus, the Eye brightened. The glow blinded me and when it faded, I was back in my body. I was back! My instincts had been right. Letting go of Zixin had beenthe key to releasing us both. I stood up, but then a rush of weakness overcame me, and I swayed.
“Ly!” Aras steadied me.
