I scented the air instinctively. “Wow, you two really took the edge off while you were waiting on my word, huh?”
Zayn smirked and extricated himself.
Vaxan winked at me.
“Hmm,” Winter said, reacting with a whole lot of intrigue. I felt his fingers in my hair. Our gazes clashed and I saw his eyes flaming with clear arousal, darting from me to Vaxan and Zayn.
I had to shift my weight to break the thrall of it.
“Whoa, what’s this place?” Zayn asked, striding up to the castle ruins.
“Zayn, wait—” I called out.
But it was too late.
He smacked into the barrier and was knocked back, a grunt escaping him.
“What the—you can’t even see the ward or feel its magic.”
Vaxan shook his head at Zayn’s lack of care, and just barging headlong toward it.
Not that I was one to talk. I’d basically done the same thing as a result of my worry for Winter.
I eyed Winter. “Howdidyou pass through it?”
“It keeps out life. I’m a loophole to that. They didn’t think to erect it to keep out death, because that doesn’t exist on this plane. Me being the only exception. It allows me to take advantage of certain things once in a while.”
“That’s really cool.”
“I suppose.” He looked out at Vaxan. “I’m sorry for what I—”
“No need for yet another apology.”
“Yeah, he’s all extra peaceable and satiated right now,” Zayn teased, moving away from the barrier and coming back to us sowe were basically standing in a circle. “Power of my mouth and all that. Right, Your Majesty?”
Vaxan rolled his eyes. “I see you’ve moved from the tranquility of the afterglow into a hyperactive brazen state.”
“It’s actually a compliment,” Winter said with a chuckle.
“Being greedy for more, are you, hellion?” I asked Zayn.
“Is that an offer to assist, icicle?”
“Yes.”
He jolted.
All of them did.
Vaxan’s eyes flashed briefly with their serpentine form, a primal hiss escaping him, which had my dragon instinctively growling.
Zayn’s fuchsia flame sparked on his fingertips, and he hurriedly snuffed it out in surprise.
“My magic is stabilized,” Winter rumbled at Vaxan.
“Even if it wasn’t, that would pose no barrier to this intensity.”
“Damn straight,” Zayn uttered.
