Lazriel studied him. “You’re sure?”
“I’m fine. But thanks for showing up. Really, Pops.”
“You don’t need to thank a parent for saving their child.”
Winter lifted a shoulder. “Still.”
Lazriel hugged him for several moments.
Then he strode up to Vorzyr, glaring at Torvek. “See to him. Do you hear me? If this happens again and—”
“It won’t,” Vorzyr assured him. “They’re young. My brother is raw about something else. Combined with Evira being in danger, somebody he also cares about so deeply, it set him off. You know he’s not usually like this.”
Lazriel sucked in a breath. “I do know that, yeah.” He hissed at Torvek, who actually looked away. “But if he can’t check himself… you know how fucking dangerous that is. Not just to my son either, V.”
“Well aware, Laz.” Vorzyr eyed Torvek pointedly. “Well fucking aware.”
“Re-erect the spell and nothing more will come of this,” Torvek spoke to Winter.
All eyes were on him then.
I could tell with the way he’d reacted that he hadn’t even felt the spell drop. He would have come to me immediately if he had and warned me. So whatever was wrong with his magic, it was no small thing.
He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I can do it. But not in front of everyone.”
Because his magic was fritzing and he didn’t want Lazriel to see, or it would get back to Sylas, and all hell would break loose for him.
“Because it’s a private and intimate matter,” Zayn cut in, so nobody had the chance to figure out the real reason.
Winter smiled out at him, his relief clear.
My recent conversation with Vaxan ran through my mind.
“You, dragon princess, could not be controlled, nor railroaded.”
“Thank you.”
“Perhaps you should consider that further where the Winter situation is concerned.”
“That’s different, unfortunately. I can put up a fight, I can take a stand, but he could get hurt.”
“Remember, though, it’s for him to decide whether he wishes to endure that. For what could be between you.”
I blinked and studied Winter.
“No!”I called out for everyone to hear.
All eyes were on me then.
I squared my shoulders and looked out at Winter. “Is that what you want?”
He shook his head, emotion swimming in his eyes. “It never was.”
“Okay, lovely. No more.” I told the rest of them, especially Torvek, “We’re not re-erecting the spell.”
“Evi, you know what this will mean? Olaren’s gonna keep it quiet, but it won’t be long before the other guard discovers the truth of your liaison with Winter too. I can’t keep that off the Dracoryn Realm’s radar.”
“I’m well aware of the ramifications.”
