“And your grandfather,” she confessed, cupping my cheeks with care. “You carry their healing magic inside you. I can feel their warmth running through your being. What an important legacy to share.”
My mouth stretched into an honest grin, pleased she could feel a part of them within me. It meant a lot. “You met my mother too.”
“The Devenish Princess carried a beautiful light of her own. One that radiated from her, brightening her surroundings with each step, including your father’s heart. It was a true honor to witness.” Pausing, she lowered her head, her eyes staring straight into mine as though she could actually see me. “Many believe I was born this way,” she gestured to her white eyes, “but the gift of sight does not require blindness to show you a world only a selected few can see… The sentries' cruelty made me this way.”
“They blinded you?”
“With fire…”
Horror quickly spread through me, accompanied by fury. My attention turned to Kingston, finding him standing close, though his gaze was anchored to the wall. Taut muscles shook along his arms from the force of his contained emotion, and something told me he remembered that day all too well. The fisting of his hands called my gaze to them, seeing the disfigured skin of his palms turn bone white with the pressure.
He, too, had felt the punishment.
“Your father healed my skin that night, but my eyes never were the same.”
“I can heal you,” I offered instantly, eager to help her. “My power is stronger. My Devenish magic—”
“You misunderstand, my king. You cannothealwhat makes me who I am. I may not have been born this way, but I was always meant to be blind.” The smile returned to her lips, no longing or sadness found in it. “Blindness is just another form of sight. I was blessed to experience all three.”
All three—physical vision, blind sight, and foretelling.
“I understand.”
Her emotion of acceptance filtered into me, helping me appreciate her in a new way until her smile captured me too. The Truth Teller’sbeauty was an aura that extended from her soul.
Continuing to caress my cheekbones, she became quiet, but her hands never left me, making me feel as though she was waiting for something. When a white light engulfed her eyes, I knew what she waited for had arrived. Not a single word left her, but a current of cold energy expanded from her fingertips and into me. Her eyes moved swiftly, like they were seeing a million things at once.
Intrigued and amazed, I remained still, allowing her to do what she needed.
“Listen to your destiny, Dragon King, and listen well!”
A powerful voice suddenly declared, except it wasn’t hers; her mouth hadn’t even opened. The voice rang through the cave, making it shudder as though it was a god talking through her.
“Four Dragons!”
Four Dragons. Four Dragons. Four Dragons. Four Dragons…
The statement echoed all through the space, making the walls shutter.
“Betrayal lurks in the shadows, breaking the heart of all hearts.”
Four Dragons. Four Dragons. Four Dragons…
“Let go of the evil inside you to master your power.”
Four Dragons!
The words boomed like an explosion, causing parts of the rock walls and roof to fracture, sending them crashing down all around us. One of them banged on the table, everything falling to the floor as the cavern shook beneath us. The seer never let go of me, her glowing eyes our only constant among the vicious earthquake attacking the mountain.
“Only atrueDevenish Wizard shall defeat the Warlock King, but you will need four Dragons…”
Four Dragons. Four Dragons…
“A river of blood will save us all… your blood.”
Well, fuck.
“Embrace your legacy, Braxton Devenish, or you will kill them all…”
