“Oh, him? He’s just my companion for the celebration.” Imogen pulled him closer, making Harrison grin widely.
“Incorrigible.” I shook my head at him, lips twitching. He’d been flirting with Braxton’s mentor since the moment she joined our ranks.
“I brought them because they need to get used to beingyourshadow, just like the Princess’ guard is,” Imogen explained, sending a reproaching glance to Aaron and the others.
“Our apologies, Dragon Master,” Quinn offered for all of them with a head bow. “It won’t happen again.”
“What is it with you people and titles?” Brax asked, making everyone snicker. “I’m still Brax, or Braxton, and they don’t need to be my shadow during a party, Imogen,” he chided, sending a pointed glance at his mentor. “Asher is with Skylar down there.”
“I agree. My guard is currently rejoicing. Harper is with Elijah, Finn with Fletcher, and even Kingston is enjoying some time with Willow. Let them go dance and enjoy themselves.”
“Thank you, Brax!” Charlotte squealed, hugging him, and rushing out of the room with excitement.
“Dragon Master!” Quinn scolded, walking out after her and making me chuckle. Charlotte was just too endearing to be that formal.
“Fine, let’s go back,” my mate agreed, taking my hand in his. “You want me to dance? I’m about to show you all how it is done.”
Laughing, we all walked out into the hallway, and I was glad we would have a chance to just mingle and enjoy the celebrations with our kin.
“Do you plan to show us how to dance too, Princess?” Harvey asked, and I adamantly shook my head.
“Oh, no. I plan to sit down and enjoy Brax’s—”
An invisible power hit Braxton’s chest, blowing him back, and wrenching his hand out of mine before he slammed against the floor.
“Braxton!” I rushed to his side.
“Protect the princess!” he yelled, a ball of golden energy materializing from thin air and shooting from his palm just as strong arms captured me, pulling me back before I could reach him.
His energy ball crashed into the wall at the end of the hall, rock and dust exploding everywhere. Braxton swiftly stood, only to be blown into the wall next to him with a hit to his shoulder. His power reacted again, like a reflex, firing into the cloud of dust.
“What is happening?!” I shouted while Harrison shielded me with his body, getting me away from my mate.
“Don’t you see him?” Braxton bellowed, firing another shot. “Raithian is here!”
My heart lodged in my throat, my head snapping to the hallway. How was this even possible? How had the Warlock transported into my castle when he had never been here?
“Attack!” Imogen ordered without hesitation, and Braxton’s guard rushed forwards with Charlotte swirling her spear as though she wanted Raithian’s head as a prize.
Quinn and the others ran into the smoke with her, showing the kind of courage only wielded by seasoned warriors. Braxton’s body bounced against the ground, the latest attack sending him skidding across the hallway.
“Stop, I have to help him!” I ordered when we reached the stairs; before Harrison could carry me over his shoulder and take me out of there. “I don’t want to hurt you, butI willfight you with every ounce of skill I have if you don’t let me go right now!”
Harrison’s steps halted, his alarmed eyes glancing at me. Unlike him, I’d been personally trained by his Chief of Battle since I was young, so he knew how serious my threat was.
“The Warlock is not attacking!” Imogen’s distressed revelation reached us when she ran out of the wreckage with the guard. “There is no one there!”
Shaken, I glanced at my mate, his form writhing in pain on the floor. Blood spilled from his mouth, bruises rapidly blooming along his chest, stomach, and arms.
Harrison and I exchanged a horrified glance, and we ran back towards Braxton. “Brax, do you hear me?” I cradled his face. “Raithian is not—”
“Get her out of here!” he ordered and scrambled to his knees, covering me with his body a moment before the invisible force hit him again. He crashed into me, blowing us both backwards.
Lifting a trembling hand, Braxton shot a fire sphere from his palm that slammed against the far wall, sending fire up the ceiling.
“Hold him down!” I ordered, scrambling up again.
Everyone thrusted themselves at him, gripping arms, thighs, feet, shoulders, wrists, anything they could grab, but he jerked against their hold.
