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October 24 - October 27, 2025
Some of my magic lives in you now. Part of the Source bond you offered up. I warned you it would intensify this bond. You do not get to offer me up to the Beta, or anyone else for that matter, to try to make yourself more comfortable. You chose this. I would have let you go.”
A harsh smile formed on his lips. “Because I am used to not being wanted. It does not bother me anymore.” She didn’t know what she was doing until her lips were already on his. If he was surprised, he didn’t show it. Instead, his hands gripped her face, and he deepened the kiss. Hot and intense and demanding.
Razik pulled back first, his hands still framing her face. “You bound us together when you chose to be my Source. We could have walked away before.” His hands fell away, and he left her standing there, going to catch up to the others. She tipped her head back against the column. Her lips still tingled with the heat from his mouth.
“What is Paja doing here?” Rayner asked quietly. “I saw him last with Scarlett in Aimonway.” “He appeared this morning,” Briar answered. “Hasn’t left the Tyndells since.” I have taken measures to keep them protected until we can come for them. She had sent a spirit animal to keep them protected until she could come for them.
“Here is what we are going to do, Little Fox.” He gripped her chin, forcing her eyes to his. “We are going to fight for the innocent and the forgotten. We are going to make sure those with the least in our lands are cared for as much as those with the most.” He grunted as she continued to move in rhythm with his thumb. His circles became tighter and firmer. “And when this war is over, we will continue to do the same from our thrones. You will be at my side. I am going to marry you, Tava Tyndell. When this war is over, you will become my queen at the first opportunity, and we will serve our
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“I am going to hold you to what you said. Go be a king to your people and fight for them, but promise you will come back to me.”
Talwyn attempted to defy him, he found someone new.” “Who?” Eliza and Rayner both snarled simultaneously. “I do not know,” she answered,
“She has a Binding Mark. It has various purposes depending on how it is drawn. I cannot say for sure what this is binding her to—not without looking at a book I have at home—but the cost of breaking it is the lives of the babes.”
“I heard the winds again,” Ashtine whispered, so quietly Callan almost didn’t hear her with his mortal hearing.
“They spoke of other worlds.” “Avonleya?” Sawyer asked. “They spoke of wars. Past. Present. Future.” Her eyes opened then, sky-blue irises landing on Sawyer. “They spoke of sacrifices to be made.” “Who?” Sawyer asked in a hushed tone. She held his stare. “Too many to name.”
“Your path will cross with hers again, but for now? You must learn to be the king required of you, whether Tava is here or not.” Her hand moved to cup his cheek. “You still look to others to guide your way. Eventually, you must find it yourself.”
Eliza just wanted to get out of here. Go back to her own rooms and curl up with her book. Escape to places where she did not need to contemplate such things. As much as she loved reading, it was a necessity as much as it was for enjoyment.
She didn’t know how long she had been going through the various poses when she felt him land softly. Irritation prickled at the same time her flames flickered under her skin, reaching for him. She opened her eyes just in time to see his wings disappear. He was shirtless—because of course he was—but his pupils were still vertical, irises glowing faintly.
She didn’t need to ask how he knew what she’d been thinking. She already knew. This damn bond was trying to settle into place.
“I can only ignore the sudden intensity of your emotions for so long.” “You can …feel that already?” He gave a sharp nod. “The male usually feels the bond stronger in the beginning. It’s a primal protectiveness.”
“Do you want to spar?” “No,” she bit out. “Do you want to talk about what caused the spike in your emotions?” “No.” She began to move into her next position. “Do you want to fuck?”
Turning to trudge back to the palace, she paused mid-step when she found Razik sitting next to the fire. His knee was bent, arm resting atop it while he leaned back on his other hand. Had he sat here this entire time? “What are you doing?” she asked dryly, her sword hanging loosely at her side. “Thinking about my cave at home.” She blinked, unsure of what to say to that. “Are you …talking about your study?” He huffed a humorless laugh. “No, although I have some of my most valuable volumes at my cave.”
“In the Nightmist Mountains.” She could do nothing. Nothing but stand there and stare at him because she was completely dumbfounded and confused and what in the actual fuck was he talking about? Razik was staring past her, out into the desert, and when she couldn’t take it anymore, she said, “Is there something special about this …cave?” “I keep treasure there.”
He brought his gaze to hers, titling his head up to see her better. “I do.” She sent him a frank look. “What sort of treasure?” He shrugged. “Various things.” His eyes dropped to her sword. “If I had won that, it would be there.”
“It’s a very nice cave,” he answered without a hint of mirth. Another laugh bubbled up. “I am sure it is if it’s full of treasure.” “It’s a dragon thing,” he replied with another shrug.
“Come, mai dragocen. Tell me where you learned serena sabre.”
“Who taught you serena sabre?” he asked. “I don’t know what that is,” she sighed. “It is what I just watched you do for an hour. With perfect form, I might add.”
“It is an ancient art form. One not commonly found here.” “On this continent?” “In this world.”
“My … Tybalt taught it to me.” “Why don’t you call him your father anymore?” “It feels different. With his true son here now.”
But a large hand wrapped around the back of her neck and pulled her to him. His lips landed on hers, and she was kissing him back. She let him deepen the kiss, his tongue demanding against hers, and then he was hauling her into his lap. Her knees dug into the sand on either side of him. One hand was still on her neck, holding her to him, the other slid down her back, fingertips tracing her spine until he gripped her hip. She leaned into him, his skin warming her better than any fire could. She felt his magic brush against hers, and she ground down against him on instinct, his black flames
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She knew as she made her way back up to the palace that he was flying above her, making sure she got back all right. It was an instinct he couldn’t fight against.
It had a body, but it wasn’t one of flesh. It shimmered against the dark, almost translucent. Almost, but not quite.
It glided. Its legs moved as it took a step towards her, but it hovered a few inches off the ground. The entire being was pale. Pale skin. Short hair white as fresh fallen snow. White eyes with no pupils she could see from here. She stopped, but the figure continued forward until it was no more than ten yards from her. Tall and lean with sharp, angular features, it was not mortal nor Fae. She could almost call him beautiful. This was a being she had never encountered, never read about. And there were definitely no pupils in the white eyes that glowed softly in the night.
The figure tipped his head back, inhaling deeply. Scenting, she realized. Then he dipped his chin, soulless eyes settling on her. And he smiled.
Lifting a hand, he reached into the hovering puff of air and pulled out something gleaming gold. A sword. A godsdamn solid gold sword.
“Blood of death,” he breathed, and gods. His voice. It was unearthly. Raspy and icy and a whisper that latched onto her bones. It was as entrancing as a Night Child but so much stronger.
In fact, the only solid thing about the being seemed to be his own gold sword.
“Not one of his here, but two,” he breathed.
Another arrow came from her right, sinking into the creature’s skull. His mouth fell open, a wail of rage ringing as white wisps poured out of it before the entire being faded into the dark.
The being bared his teeth in a snarl, fangs like a Night Child appearing as it pressed forward. Her arm buckled under its strength, but as he lunged for her throat, her other hand came up. She plunged the arrowhead into its skull. His mouth fell open, his wail piercing the air,
“Blood of death,” one murmured. “The same, yet different,” another added.
“Because you are not a means to an end, Starfire. I wish …” He swallowed thickly. “I wish I could do this for you. I wish I could take on so many of your burdens. I failed as your brother before I even knew I was one, but you? Gods, Scarlett. You are stronger than this. Stronger than me. Stronger than him. And I do not mean your magic. I mean you are stronger. Take it back from him.”
“You are doing that,” Cethin said softly. “You are keeping him back so we can speak. This is your dream. Your mind. You control it.”
“All of this could have been avoided if you and Alaric were not trying to rule this realm.” “This realm is the prize,” Mikale spat. “Not our objective.”
“So clever, yet you cannot see that he only wishes to save you. Without him, you will die with the rest.” “I will take my chances,” Scarlett retorted. “And risk millions of other lives in the process? Risk innocents? Risk those you think you love?”
“And you do not know what they are?” she asked, taking the glass of water Tybalt handed to her. “No,” Cethin answered. “Creatures created by Achaz. That is all we know.”
“There are only two ways that we know of to remove the toxin.” “Which are?” “The creatures themselves suck it out from your throat.” Her face screwed up in disgust. “Like a Night Child?” “Similar, yes,” Cethin said with a nod. “And the other way?” “Dragon fire burning it out of your blood.”
With a thought, her map of starfire appeared, hovering above her. She reached up and slid an ember down to a new position. Another piece moved into place in this dangerous game.
“That girl has ruined many plans,” the Sorceress said darkly. “Not only yours.”
“Our time will end, but you will not be free of me.” He knew that. Not only did he make a bargain with her, she still had his blood.
I am mortal with an extended lifespan. That was the cost. To correct the balance.” Talwyn Semiria sank to her knees and wept.
“And I told you, enough costs have been paid. This would not be one of them,” Scarlett retorted, pushing to her feet. “He cannot have his original power back.” “That is not our agreement, Saylah,” Scarlett
“I cannot defy the balance, Scarlett,” Saylah said harshly, finally turning to face her daughter once more. “His power crossed the Veil. We cannot bring another power into this world without sacrificing one of equal power or greater.”
“It would not manifest as wind and earth magic,” Saylah said, studying Talwyn. “You are Henna’s daughter.” It was a statement, not a question, and Talwyn nodded. “You look just like her.” Sorin saw Talwyn’s throat bob before she said, “Why would it not manifest as wind and earth magic?” “Because he was not born to harness such gifts. They would change to a form his Fae body could harness. The magic he was born to possess,” Saylah replied. “They would become fire.” “You are saying that he would essentially have Henna’s power, but it would be all fire?” Luan asked, the shock evident in his
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“She will be mortal?” Luan asked, his arms crossed tightly. “She would be as Sorin is now,” Saylah answered. “A powerless being with an extended lifespan.” “Her Staying?” Sorin asked. “Would remain for a time, as yours does,” Saylah answered. “For how long, I cannot say.”
