Lord Cato slid a hand forward and grasped my hand, holding firmly, a physical connection I needed against the power warping the air.
I might have to thank the bastard after this.
A golden light began to glow between the spellcasters, right above the king’s head, the blood pouring over it and splashing out to the sides. More and more power ignited in the room, and I squeezed my father’s hand tighter.
A flash of gold erupted inside the room like a detonation from the center out, blowing every single one of us backward.
The back of my head slammed against the wall and my eyes closed against the blinding light and power. The powerpulsed…and then vanished.
Cool air rushed around my tense frame. Quiet.
I opened one eye, peeking.
Then slowly opened the other.
Chester and Lord Belshazzar were lying flat on their backs and blinking in a daze up at the ceiling. Both were breathing and didn’t wear any injuries. The spell had just knocked them down, winding them from the looks of it.
Out of the corner of my mouth, I whispered, “Did it work?”
“I’m not sure,” Lord Cato whispered back.
Lord Belshazzar groaned and arched his back, and then rolled onto his side. On his hands and knees, he crawled back to the pile and shook his head hard, trying to see past the dizziness that had apparently taken hold of him. His right hand shot forward behind the king’s head.
My lover lifted to his knees and swayed for a long moment before he raised his right hand in front of his face and stared.
A golden jewel the size of a baseball rested on his palm with a red chain attached to it that hung down to the ground.
My lips curved into a wicked grin.
Holy. Motherfucking. Shit.
Lord Belshazzar grinned at the Original druid amulet, and slurred, “There you are. About damn time, my old friend. I’ve finally got you back.”
The amulet…glowed…a little?
Like, it was happy.
I blinked real slow like.
My lover just kept surprising me. No wonder I was a mess with him. Fuck, even without my own personal hang-ups where men were concerned, this was an entirely new level of crazy-town.
Lord Belshazzar wobbled to his feet and moved around the pile. On his trek, he absently kicked the druid’s right leg—where he still lay prone on his back. The Overlord muttered, “We did it, dickhead. Good job.”
Chester groaned and pumped a fist into the air.
My lover didn’t even see it, his eyes dead set on mine. He stumbled toward me like a drunken man and stuck the most powerful druid amulet on the earth in his pocket like it was merely change, the chain hanging down his swaying legs. His feet stopped moving about two feet away from me, but his torso kept going—apparently, his feet didn’t get the message that he hadn’t arrived yet. He fell right against me, barely catching himself with one hand by my head.
Lord Belshazzar didn’t seem to notice he had also trapped Lord Cato against the wall since I had been leaning on him. My lover just ran his eyes over my face, his brows furrowing deeply over his striking eyes. He mumbled, “Do you want to talk now, little one? Was that enough space? Or are you all right now?”
“Oh, my good god,” my father whispered under his breath in disbelief. He continued muttering curses quietly even while I talked, stuck as he was.
I cleared my throat and released my father’s hand to place my palm against my lover’s cheek. I spoke gently, “Bel, I’m okay now. I promise. But let’s get you back to your room. You can rest for a little while.”
He wobbled against me. “I’m fine.”
“I’m sure you are, but resting never hurt anyone,” I murmured. I shoved at his chest until he was standing up straight again, then I placed his arm over my shoulder—standing on the side the amulet wasnot—and proceeded to try to tug him toward the open door. But he just stood there like a tree stump. I persisted, “Move your feet for me. You can do it.”
Lord Belshazzar grunted, and then slurred, “Of course I can. I’m a badass.”
