“You mean, a wakeup call?”
I grinned. “Maybe.”
“Something you relish and detest in equal measure?”
“It’s moving toward the former more now.”
He arched an eyebrow. “That bodes well.”
“For all of us, right? This connection we’re moving toward?”
“That, yes. But also, for you personally.”
“Yeah. It’s a work in progress obviously. But things are also a little lighter now.” I blew out a breath, then flopped backward, my back hitting the soft, bouncy bed.
Vaxan smiled down at me. “You did well earlier with me.”
“Right back at you. And… uh… thanks for holding my magic off.”
“It was needed on my end, too, actually.”
I started. “Seriously? You lost control? You?”
“Yes. Apparently, interacting with that much intensity with an Ifrit—where there’s so much volatility, chaos, and passion—is trying for me and my Basilisk nature.”
He laid down beside me and I slipped my hand into his.
Turning my head toward him, I said, “Win’s gonna be okay.”
“What I saw on that mountaintop… his terror and anguish—”
“We’ll make it so. We’ll see to it.” I winked just like he was so fond of doing. “As you’d likely phrase it.”
That earned me a smile. “We will, hmm?”
“Damn fucking straight.”
We really would.
As much as Win tried to distance himself from people, because of what he was, he wasn’t actually alone.
He just needed to lean on that.
And Evira would see to it that he opened up that door.
I knew she would.
Our dragon princess had a way about her.
She’d see to him.
And then we all would.
We’ve got you now, Win.
16
~Evira~
