“Don’t do this!”
Standing to his full height, he wildly flapped his wings with a fury that wasn’t his, fire swirling in his four throats before he turned around and flew out of there.
“Come back!” I bellowed, voice breaking while the family tree vanished.
His branch died in the darkness before it could fully form… before it could attach to me.
“Azazel!” I roared, a choir of Dragons echoing my pain along the mountains, but I wasn’t ready to let go.
Running full force towards the railing, I jumped off the tower, calling for my magic to take me towards him like it had done yesterday. The first burst of light met my boot, propelling me forwards, yet my second footstep found nothing but air. I was drained. There was nothing else to pull. I had used all existing energy in me trying to free Azazel from the Warlock King.
Arms flailing, I plummeted to the ground, but another Dragon swiftly caught me amidst the sky. I crash-rolled onto his back, lifting into a crouch to see who had rescued me. Pearlescent green scales stretched as far as I could see, giving off a beautiful yellow glimmer when the sunlight shifted on them.
Vyper regained altitude smoothly, slowly turning around to return to the Hidden Kingdom. My gaze remained glued to the half-dead Dragon disappearing in the distance, his light succumbing to Raithian’s darkness and burning a part of my heart to ash.
“You are welcome,”Vyperhuffed through our connection.“And to think you didn’t want me to come…”
24
EVANNA
Seeing Azazel take Braxton away from me and disappear in the distance had to be one of the most terrifying things I’d ever been forced to endure. Something I prayed I would never have to see again.
We stayed there for several moments, waiting, hoping everything would be alright, until Tharion led our companions back to the Hidden Kingdom. I assumed that meant he’d communicated with Braxton, and all was well, so I didn’t protest. That was not to say that my heart wasn’t permanently lodged in my throat after hearing Azazel’s defiant roars cut through the air fromtheLost Kingdom, and hear part of what remained of the Castle of Dragons be destroyed during their struggle…
Braxton asked me to trust him, so I did. I trusted him with my entire being. Also, he wasn’t like the rest of us, so I needed to trust his powers too.
Nevertheless, my boots continued to carve an anxious path while I paced back and forth next to Tharion along the landing pad. He was pretty much guarding the entrance to our home, not allowing any of us to intervene—all except for Vyper, who’d gone to bring my mate back.
Willow walked beside me, silently offering comfort until the flapping of wings echoed into the cavern.
We all turned to find Vyper, now an adult Dragon, enter the kingdom.
It took one look into Braxton’s eyes to know that his mission had failed. He’d lost Azazel, no matter how hard he’d tried to bring him back.
Brick dust and soot marred his entire body, obscuring the harsh lines of his face and making him seem… defeated. Something had torn in him with this fight, and it hurt me to see him that way because I knew how it felt to be broken.
The instant he dismounted from Vyper, I rushed towards him and threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Relief mixed with concern when his arms curled around my back and waist, holding me with more need than he ever had. I was still glad he was safe. Several sun-minutes passed while I just stood there, holding him, feeling the tremors course through his body from anger, exhaustion, and pain.
I had no idea what he went through with Azazel, but the way he felt in my hold right now said it might have been better if Braxton had never tried to get him back. This pain would stay with him forever.
Lifting his gaze to mine, he glanced at me with so much anguish that I wasn’t sure what to say. So, I caressed his cheek and kissed him, offering him the only comfort I knew could help him now… our love. It was the one thing that would always keep us strong, fighting on, regardless of what we lost.
A weighted breath sank his chest as he pulled away and took my hand in his. Together, we entered the castle, his glowing Dragon Eye letting me know that he was having a conversation with Tharion about what happened.
Our Elevated Warriors followed with a heavy silence, feeling his loss just like I did.
“Thank you for your bravery and for accompanying us today,” I offered to both our guards once we reached the sixth floor. “You may take the day to rest, we’ll let you know if we need you.”
With their head bow, Braxton and I continued to the next floor, while Kingston, Willow, and Imogen followed.
Asher’s voice reached us before we turned the corner, asking his Elevated Warriors if they wanted to resume their higher training instead of resting. Swiftly agreeing, they all headed to the private training field with him.
“Azazel asked me to stay away from him,” Braxton confessed once we entered our quarters. “He said that only being away from him, I would be safe.”
“He did?” Kingston asked before I could, as shocked as the rest of us to hear that.
Squeezing my shoulder, Willow offered me a small smile and headed to the bathroom, getting busy with preparing a bath for my mate.
