We all shared her pain. She was talking about Raithian killing his own father for the throne.
Wiping the wetness from her skin, she smiled at him reassuringly. “You have their loyalty now, Son. The same loyalty that blinded them, numbed them, and made them follow my father regardless of what he did. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Urgency punctured her every word, and her eyes bored into his. “You are their prince now, Braxton, and they will do anything for you. Anything. The Dragons will follow you until the end…”
Every muscle on Braxton’s form tensed, taking in the weight of that responsibility. The Dragons would follow him until the end… whether they did it for good or evil was up to him, like it had been for every king past, even Raithian.
That was the true power of a Devenish King, and now, it was Braxton’s.
Imogen, Kingston, and I exchange a thoughtful glance.
“What else can you do with your magic?” his mother continued, bringing his attention back to her, and a heavy sigh sank my mate’s chest.
“I used it to enhance my connection to the Dragons so it would help me find my father’s rides.”
“Is it working?” she asked, the excitement about the prospect dancing like sparkles in her grey eyes.
“Yes. I found Knight today and took him back to the mountain with us. He’s well.” A small chuckle left Braxton. “He is magnificent,andstubborn. He fought me at first, but as soon as I made him feel me, and he realized who I was, he gave in.”
“That sounds like Knight.”
“I tried using my power as a weapon tonight,” Braxton confessed, but his words were strained. “Channeling the magic was nothing like when I’ve used it for healing or anything else. It was difficult, taxing. It felt like I was trying to rip something from my insides just to access it.”
Concern creased his mother’s brow. “So, you weren’t able to use it at all?”
“I was, but—” Standing, Braxton walked away from us, stopping by the kitchen, clearly frustrated with himself. His lower back rested against the counter when he faced us all, gripping it with both hands. He shook his head and looked at me, but he almost couldn’t see me, it was like he was back in the cave he’d used to practice. “I almost killed Asher in the process.”
Gods!
Dread consumed me instantly, but I stopped the gasp that threatened to rip loose. I knew Braxton would never hurt Asher on purpose and reiterating how grave that statement was did nothing to help him.
Kingston and Imogen didn’t utter a single word, they didn’t even react. Instead, their faces transformed, joining his mother in her concern for him. The need to find a way to help him burst from them in waves, but I feared this was something Braxton would have to overcome on his own.
I stood, placing a hand on his chest once I stopped before him. “What happened?” My question was driven by caution, taking my time to examine his expression.
“It wasn’t a direct hit,” he clarified. “At first, I was able to create balls of energy, but I couldn’t even hold them within my grasp. The power was erratic and unmanageable. Each one I produced burst from my hands, no matter how hard I tried to control them.”
“Asher is an excellent warrior. I have no doubt he was able to avoid them without consequence,” my guardian offered, trying to take away some of his guilt.
“He did. All of them.” Braxton sighed, rubbing both hands over his face. “It wasn’t actually one of the balls that almost got him. In my frustration, I slammed my fists against the ground, and a wave of power exploded out of me. It crashed against Asher and sent him flying against the sharp blades of rock along the cave wall. If Tharion hadn’t caught him mid-air…”
He shook his head again, and when his eyes met mine, the pain in him coursed into me.
“I don’t know what I would have done if I’d killed—"
“But you didn’t,” I cut him off because he needed to understand. “And now you know what to expect from your power. How it reacts and how easy or difficult it is to access. Next time, youwilldo better.”
I pressed my forehead to his and soothingly caressed his chest. I knew our simple contact would help him feel better because it always helped me.
“Evanna must have cut me open at least a hundred times while I was teaching her to wield her spear,” Kingston admitted, bringing a chuckle out of me.
“Easily,” I agreed.
“Easily,” my guardian echoed, somewhat nostalgic. “Learning to wield a weapon, regardless of its kind, it’s no easy feat. Someone is always hurt in the process. The important thing is that you learn.”
Braxton sighed, briefly kissing my lips before he regarded Kingston. “I understand. The issue is that you all had someone to train you, I don’t.”
“You are trying to decipher a power you’d only ever seen used to kill and destroy,” Imogen explained. “That is why you are struggling.”
Braxton nodded, as though he’d come to the same conclusion. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to wield it. Nor how it’s supposed to feel or be channeled.” His gaze shifted to his mother. “That is why I’m here. Why I came to see you. You grew up around Wizards, Mom. Is there anything you remember that might help me? Anything you saw Raithian do that might work?”
