“I'm all right,” I said and swung my stare to Zixin.
He stared back at me.
“Thank you.” Zixin sat up with King Vaxarion's help. “I don't know what that was, but I saw you in there. You pulled the fire out of me.”
I grunted. It was all I could manage.
The Sea King helped his mate to his feet and then turned to face me. “I'm in your debt. What price do you demand?”
The Goddess said I wasn't the man meant to control the Eye. And yet, holding it, staring down at it, all I could think was how easy it would be to rule with a piece of the Goddess backing me.
Ensarena's Eye glowed and its magic swirled into my mind.
You are the man meant to hold me,the Eye said.You are my chosen king. The Goddess was just testing you—your dedication. Prove yourself to her by claiming me and having the strength to direct my magic to your will.
“Ly,” Aras said in a warning tone.
“I could rule Serai,” I whispered. Then I looked up and met King Vaxarion's stare. “You told me you'd pay anything.”
The Sea King stiffened. “I did. And I'm a man of my word. Is it the Eye you demand?”
“Lyrandir!” Aras shoved me.
I stumbled, but my grip didn't loosen. Instead, it tightened on the Eye.
Claim me!the Eye shouted.I will win the war for you. I will win every war for you.
And just like that, she had me. My mating bond didn't have the strength to protect me after my dive into the Eye. The consciousness had followed me back and dug her claws into my mind. Nothing mattered now but keeping her. She was mine. In my hands at last. And I wouldn't let go of her for anyone, not even my mate.
I growled and spun to face Aras.
“Oh, fuck,” Zixin whispered. “It's got him.”
“Stay back, Mate.” King Vaxarion said as he drew his mate away from me.
“Let it go, Ly,” Aras said.
The love I bore him drowned under a tidal wave of fury. He would take this from me—the only thing that could save us? I bared my teeth.
Aras dove. He collided with my stomach, and we rolled across the floor, snarling and snapping at each other. A part of me screamed, my mind breaking again. Not because of the magic, but because I was fighting my mate. I should have protected him, but my hands seemed to work independently from my will. They punched and clawed, drawing precious blood. And not in the way my mate enjoyed.
“Vax, help him,” someone said.
“I cannot, love. This must be settled between them.”
“The Eye is influencing him!”
“I know that. And the might of another Dragon won't help. Only love can save him now. Love and the mercy of the Goddess.”
The conversations around me faded. My focus became a pinpoint upon the Eye. Keeping it. I had claimed it. Or had I? I would. It was in my possession and that's all that mattered. I punched Aras, keeping his hands away from the Eye. He kept reaching for it, clawing at me to get it. The bastard! The traitor! Hulfrin blood flew in shining arcs, but Aras only growled and punched me in the face.
Pain bloomed in my nose, and I shook my head to clear it.
“Ly, fight it!” Aras said.
Fight him!the Eye said.
I knocked my mate's legs out from under him. Then I leapt atop him and bashed his head onto the floor.
