Page 70 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

Leon shifts nearer to me, and when I glance over at him, his lips are in a tight line. He reaches deep into his medical satchel and pulls out some sort of medical listening device.

Faster than I have ever seen him move, Tavien launches himself to his feet, blocking Nueena from Leon. Tavien’s hands erupt in blue flame-like swirls and he sends out a glowing burst of magic. I am surrounded by sapphire and white flames that move like smoke around me, forming a barrier between me and Leon. More magic shoots out from Tavien and encircles Leon’s hand that is holding the contraption in a sphere of cerulean light.

Tavien’s face is sharper than I have ever seen. “Don’t touch her with that! Why do you have iron here, Leon?”

Leon freezes, absorbing the sight of Tavien’s magic before cautiously moving his glowing hand away from me. “Tavien, all my medical equipment is made of iron. It’s the only metal we have in Adreania. My deepest apologies. It is only to listen to Izadella’s heartbeat so I can monitor her to ensure she doesn’t lose consciousness again.”

I wave my hand through the protective shield and Tavien dissolves it; the whirling, sheer flames rise before they disappear. Leon’s hand is still encased, so I slip my hand in and hold up the device to show Tavien. “I’m all right, Tavien, truly. See, I’m unharmed by iron. Leon can do what he needs to.”

Tavien relaxes slightly and sits back down next to Nueena, nodding. “It will be destroyed after tonight. I will not allow it near Nueena.”

Understanding his mistake, Leon apologizes again. “Of course.”

It’s quiet for a moment and I ask, “Why don’t we get started?” to loosen the tension in the room. Everyone agrees. Nueena rubs her Zemra’s back with an affectionate smile at his protectiveness. His hand is tight on her thigh as Tavien takes a steading breath.

The journal lies before me and I cover the lock with my hand.

Leon gently places one end of the device in his ears and the cool iron chest piece below my collarbone. His other hand slides low on my back to steady me. “Ready?” he asks, so close I feel his breath on my cheek.

Ignoring his nearness for the moment, no matter how much I wish he were nearer, I focus on the lock. The crown’s power surges up, eager to be loose outside of me.

The lock remains sealed, ignoring the torrent of ancient force willing it to open.

The more the magic is unable to break free, the more agitated it becomes, the pressure of its building. My heart starts to race and Leon’s firm hand moves to my hip, shifting me closer to him.

“Are you all right?” he asks me in a soft, concerned tone.

“Yes. The best way I can explain it is that the magic is a corked bottle of sparkling wine someone has shaken.”

This book might hold the knowledge we need to remove this cursed crown from me. It’s a piece of my family’s history; it might be able to tell me why Alvina created the crown in the first place, knowing Zarella forbade Inara from being with her mortal lover. I cannot,will notallow for this lock to go unopened. I would rather destroy the whole book than let its secrets remain locked for centuries, sitting in that library when I desperately need an answer.

The agonizing thought that I may need to die to rid myself of the crown pushes me onward, and I shove the magic deeper into the lock with all the frustration and heartache the crown has brought me.

If we do not find a way to remove this cursed crown, it will kill me, and I refuse that tragic ending. I will fight to any breaking point to rid myself of it.

For a long moment, nothing happens, but slowly beneath my clenched fingers, the gold begins to shake and vibrate. It shifts under my hand, determined to stay locked, but I will not yield. My heartbeat is a wild animal in my chest.

“IZADELLA, STOP!” Leon screams, trying to pull me back, butI ignore him. Tavien throws another shield up around Nueena and himself.

With one last burst, a blast of magic ripples out of me and the lock explodes in my hands. Leon throws himself over my body, shoving both of us into the couch cushions as darkness floods my vision.

CHAPTER 29

My hands sting and the acrid smell of burning metal pierces the inside of my nose, forcing me to cough in a poor attempt to clear my airways of the invasive scent. When the air smells more like home again, I try to return to my fitful rest. The bed is soft, and something warm is wrapped around me.

Strawberries. It smells of strawberries.

Just like Leon.

I inhale deeply, pulling the scent into my lungs to chase away the bitterness, and slip back into sleep. I dream of the sweet berries and stolen kisses on rain-soaked balconies in secret dark gardens and of hot, sweat-slicked skin on cool sheets under moonlight. It takes me a moment to place the sensation that my arm is being stroked by a soft hand. It feels nice.

“Del?” The feminine hand stops brushing against my skin and squeezes carefully. Nueena. “Del, honey, can you hear me?” My head is resting in her lap.

“Nu, I want to fuck Leon.”

Someone laughs quietly near me, followed by a soft cough. “Perhaps this is a private conversation?” says a man’s voice, joined by the masculine laughter of another.

“Yes,” Nueena says, trying to stifle her giggles, and she pushes some hair behind my ear. “I’m sure you do, but we can talk about it another time.”

---