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~ GRACE ~

“No!”

Shouts of fear rose around the clearing. But the scream that tore from Cali’s throat was chilling.

I dove toward her in the same moment Voski hooked an arm around me and pulled me behind him, snarling commands, sneering at his mother, while those in the clearing began to flee.

But I pried his grip off, and stumbled toward Cali. Stay in love. His voice rose behind me. I didn’t take in the words, but his anger was palpable—and rushed to me through the bond.

The flames snuffed out as quickly as they’d appeared, but Cali was now on the ground, flailing, screaming, and rolling. Seconds after the fire disappeared, she stopped, but the smell of burned hair and skin was pungent, and she stopped moving, except for her chest heaving. She lay there, her robe singed, both arms over her head, curled into a ball.

I dropped to the earth at her side, afraid to touch her. Placing a trembling hand on a spot on her back where the robe was unmarred, I tried to get her to lift her head or move her arms so I could see where she’d been hurt.

My chest churned—the turmoil in Voski. Conflicting angers and pressures.

He raged at his mother for her cruelty. But he didn’t trust Cali and wasn’t sure he should stand for her.

‘Help her if you can—she helped me, and wanted to serve you. Koa confirmed she didn’t lie.’

‘Perhaps, but if she used the power on you—’

‘My pain eases every second. I wish I could do the same for her.’

When he didn’t respond, I wasn’t sure if he heard me. His voice was low and dark. He focused on his mother, while I desperately tried to get Cali to lift her head and show me her injuries.

‘Koa… can either of you help Cali? She’s hurting.’

‘Return to your mate,’ Koa said sharply.

“I’ve asked the dragons to help,” I whispered to Cali, who wept on the ground, her face still buried under the sleeve of her robe. But I pushed back to my feet and turned, holding my stomach as I started back toward Voski, and soon understood why Koa had called me back.

He’d clearly blocked his mother from using her power on Cali any further, but now they faced each other.

“…stopping my power does nothing for anyone!” his mother spat. “You cannot lead from compassion. Kill me! Take the power! Whatever is needed—but do not waste what you’ve been given!”

“You are a sick and twisted bitch, Mother. I don’t aspire to your leadership—”

“You think I’ve done my worst?” she snarled. “You think you can save your wife? Your child? This land? You are no hero without that power, Vane. Use it!”

He flinched, then shook his head.

Then, to my shock—and awe—I felt the wave of love growing in him. For his mother.

I blinked and jerked, watching him stare down at her, shaking his head, his expression twisted in grief.

But all she saw was judgment. She continued to hiss her hatred—and only made him grieve further.

“Weak! Even given the power, you refuse to use it? Stand up and take hold of it!” she hissed, her blazing eyes wide. “If you don’t, I will hunt you to the end of your days. Remove it from your line altogether. No child of yours will ever be safe. Grace will—”

“Don’t listen to her,” I said, putting a hand to Voski’s arm. He swore, trying to pull me behind him again when he realized I was close, but I shook my head and kept him facing me. “Don’t let her make you fear. She knows the weakness of it,” I reminded him. “She’s trying to entice you back because if you acknowledge her power, she can fight to take the mark back.”

“Shut up, you pompous little bitch. This is between my son and—”

“I don’t fear her,” he muttered. “I just wish… I wish she’d been a mother.”

I gripped Voski’s sleeve, pulling, making him face me. “These people are walking death,” I reminded him. “There’s so much darkness here. So much pain. Don’t carry it with you. Please!”

He stared at me, trembling, but I felt the turmoil in him, the conflicting urges, the questions and doubts that fought conviction.