Page 118 of The Heart of the Dragon

"My throat had been slit. And Magnus had been stabbed in the heart by a sword."

Kitra smiled. "That makes so much sense."

"Excuse me?" I stammered. The thrill in her voice was one thing, but the way she practically vibrated with excitement sent a chill up my spine. None of this felt like anything to be so happy about let alone celebrate.

"I had hoped that once you got back to the fae realm some latent powers might reveal themselves. The idea that we'd sent you here on a lie didn't sit well with me. Dark fae were born of dark magic and sometimes display more power than other fae. Why else do you think everyone here is so afraid of them? But this? It's unheard of in the last two hundred years."

"I didn't know they were afraid of dark fae. I thought they were just natural enemies. You know like side-by-side countries who were always fighting over stupid stuff like land and money. And what do you mean sent me here on a lie?"

Isaac lifted a brow as he and Kitra eyed each other. Clearly they knew a lot more than I did.

"Oh, they were definitely enemies, but that's not my point. Mypointis these powers manifested instinctually when you needed them most. When Magnus died, when you died, and then when we were all about to die. We just have to figure out how to harness that energy so you can shape and control it. Not to mention hide it. Plenty of fae will fear that power."

I bit my lip as I let what she said sink in. So much had happened that I was feeling overwhelmed. I just needed to take this one step at a time. "Whatever. I can't deal with that right now. Not until Magnus..."

There were no more words I had to give. I didn't want to voice anything negative and the way my stomach continued to churn,I couldn't help but press my hand against my belly and will for all of this to just stop. I was in a strange land with people I barely knew, and the one person I needed by my side was not here.

"What if they aren't her powers at all?"

Both Kitra and I whipped our heads to meet Isaac's gaze. "What in the fae goddess's name are you talking about, Isaac? I know you don't remember it quite like I do because your magic is different. But I saw it happen. In real time. Time exploded right in front of my eyes and when it re-pieced itself back together we were here. That wasn't me and it sure as hell wasn't that witch in there."

Isaac was shaking his head his lips beginning to spread in a strange grin. "I wasn't talking about you or the crazy witch doctor. You said it yourself that Rose doesn't have any magic. I'm talking about the baby. What if the baby was doing the protecting?"

Chapter

Forty-Five

Rose

"Excuse me?"Kitra squeaked.

"What did you say?" My hand froze where I'd been pressing it against my stomach and despite the wild increase in flutters, I snatched it away like it was on fire.

"You're pregnant?" Kitra took the few steps to me and swallowed me in a tight hug. "Holy shit, this is the best news."

I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I was too busy freaking out on the inside.

"I'm not sure she agrees with you," Isaac said.

"What? Why?" Kitra pulled back and took in my expression. I should have done something to hide the feelings I so often wore on my sleeve, but I was too damned tired to pretend.

"I didn't know," I whispered.

"You should have. I warned you both what was happening."

All three of us whirled at the new voice in the cottage courtyard.

"Ensley!" Kitra squealed as she dropped me and ran across the patio to the prickly demon sprite that I still didn't want to trust. Especially now as a shiver worked down my spine. How could she have known?

"Lovely. Just what we need. A busybody who doesn't know how to mind her own business." A frown deepened Isaac's expression and any other time it might have been comical. At least I wasn't the only one not happy about a demon showing up out of the blue.

"Isaac," Kitra yelled back at him, forcing me to hide a snicker.

He looked at me with a smirk on his face and malevolent mischief in his eyes and in that moment I saw Magnus. Or how my mate might have been if he'd led a different life away from the tyranny of an insane King. If his mother hadn't abandoned him.

Isaac turned away and faced Kitra. "What? I've never met a nosier creature in my life. And you know I'm right."

Ensley's gaze hardened as she fixed Isaac with a pointed stare. "And I've never met a bigger brute than you. You certainly live up to a dragon's reputation. But fortunately, I'm not here for you."

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