A slow grin broke through my gloominess before I kissed her. “Don’t worry. Tharion won’t let anything happen to me—”
The statement was cut off by his loud huffing, and my gaze went to him.“If you are stupid enough to hurt yourself with your own magic, you are on your own.”
“What did he say?” Evie asked, and my lips twitched when I glanced back at her.
“That he has my back. Nothing to worry about.”
Tharion snorted, loudly, making Evie narrow her eyes at me. “It didn’t sound like that to me.”
“Don’t pay him any attention,” Imogen interjected. “When it comes down to it, Tharion will make sure his prince is safe.”
“He will,” I assured. Shutting up Evie’s doubts with one last kiss, I looked past her and nodded to the others. “I’ll meet you guys later. Take good care of my future queen.”
Evie rolled her eyes, but the guys chuckled, clearing a path for her to pass. My gaze met Kingston’s, finding…appreciationthere. He respected the fact that I was not placing a woman we both loved in danger unnecessarily.
“Can we talk later?” I asked, hating the fact that I still hadn’t been able to make things right about dating Evie behind everyone’s backs.
The chief offered me a single nod. “Later.” With a bow of his head, he flanked Evanna, taking her to Willow’s side by the door.
“Finally!” a spirited Willow huffed. “I have been waiting for you to return for hours! We have so much to do. You need to attend crown and dress fittings; we must meet with the newly appointed ladies, and I need to show you all the final details for the ceremony next week. I believe—”
Her voice drifted way as she began to walk ahead of them into the castle, and Evie sent one last glance at me that screamed she would rather be out here with me and the Dragons than dealing with royal bureaucracy.
“I’ll meet you later, Prince.” Imogen bowed, walking after them.
I turned to face Tharion. “Where to now?”
An image immediately awoke in my mind, showing the sanctuary where Spartan had taken me and theRenascentiae Principiswas performed. Its translation meant theRebirth of the Prince, which made sense since I did feel like a new man after I went through it.
“Is he going to let me ride him, or do I need to take Athina with us?” The unexpected voice startled me, and I turned to find Asher standing just a few feet behind me. His apprehensive gaze was set on Tharion.
My brows knitted. “I need to do this alone—”
“Yeah, I heard you the first time. But as you say, ‘there is no way in hell’ I’m going to let my brother go out there alone to deal with such lethal magic. And with a Dragon who might very well let you burn your own ass just to teach you a lesson.”
Wheezed sounds left Tharion, and I glanced up to see his chest shaking. The asshat was laughing.
“I mean, you are not wrong.” I made a face while Asher grinned.“Can he come into the sanctuary with us?”
Without answering, Tharion began to lift into the air.
“I guess that means we are riding together,” I admitted. Giving enough space for us to run and mount Tharion mid-flight, Asher and I lunged for it.
When we settled onto his neck, Asher hissed, scrambling backwards. I turned to find him watching the scales between us—they were shimmering red.
“Tharion, stop it!” I scolded and felt his chuckles rumble under us. The heat instantly disappeared. “I guess mine is not the only ass he wants to burn to teach it a lesson.”
* * *
“Try again!” Asher encouraged from the other end of the large cavern while heated sweat dripped down my chest and back.
My arm lifted to wipe the drops sliding into my eyes and making them burn. The arm shield and gauntlets I had worn were long forgotten on the dirt-packed ground. With a nod, every single muscle in my body tensed, preparing to push out the energy as far as I could. My healing ability might be intuitive and easy flowing, yet my Devenish power was everything but that.
Focusing on the golden glow growing in my hands, I gritted my teeth as the intensity built within me. My head throbbed, my throat burned from thirst, my chest tightened until I could barely filter air, and each chord of magic felt like it was slicing my veins open. Yet, I pushed. With every ounce of energy that I had in me, I pushed, until I feared a baby might pop out of my ass.
“Aaargh!” The roar tore through my being, burning its way out while the sphere of golden power built between my hands, and still, I forced myself to push with all my might.
“Good! Now hold it, hold it…” Asher encouraged, his voice echoing in the enormity of the space.
