Page 48 of Black Crown

“One third?” the Gemondian king asked, his brows knitting together. His tone was sharper than I’d ever heard. “One third of what?”

Yikes. I guess the partial conversations were really getting to him. I met his weary gaze and explained, “I’m covering one third of your army with my Phaetyn powers. With it up, Draedyn won’t be able to see your men.”

I had no idea how effective the Phaetyn mojo was against the alpha’s fire. I couldn’t only go on what happened atKanahele o keolaand the journey there. Draedyn couldn’t enter the Phaetyn veil when it was up, and Draedyn’s first attempt to take over my mind had cut off when Lani’s veil went up, so I assumed Draedyn’s physical powers couldn’t penetrate a Phaetyn veil either. But even with ancestral powers, I didn’t have a magic crown. I shouldn’t rely on the veil being impenetrable, especially because I shared a bond with the psycho-ruler I was attempting to hide us from.

I’d had so little time to explore my powers, yet everything seemed to hinge on me figuring them out.

Now that my father had broken in and controlled me once, would he be able to do it again with ease? What about when I was in my Phaetyn form, could he do it then? Or even when I had my veil up because he was related to me? I swallowed back the churning insecurity and doubt.

“Once you’re able to cover the whole army,” mused Dyter, walking beside me, “we should practice keeping the veil up in battle. Draedyn isn’t going to just sit quietly while you assemble your defenses. You need to be able to fightandkeep the veil in place.”

He’d spent most of the afternoon pulling me back into line. When I concentrated on my Phaetyn powers, Ioccasionallyforgot to pay attention to where I was walking.

“Yeah, about that. I think I should try to juggle, too, all at the same time. Maybe even while riding a horse.”

Dyter grimaced. “Perhaps something more like avoiding punches and swinging a sword?”

He was so easy to bait these days. I hummed. “We should do all of the above.” I nodded. “Excellent. Thanks for the advice, Dyter.”

Zakai cleared his throat. “Gairome, this seems a good area to stop our march for the day. Night is falling fast, and I’m certain the men need what’s left of the light to set up camp.”

I can’t wait to drop this thing,I admitted to Tyrrik as the call went out for the army to halt.

He hurtled toward the ground, and I could feel my eagerness echoed in his impatience.

The last time I’d released the veil, I practically collapsed, so I waited until he’d shifted and was approaching before slowly letting go.

I groaned under my breath with the release. Seriously, if someone was rubbing warm stones up my back, the relief would only be half as good.

I exhaled as the moss-green power shrunk, and then when only Tyrrik and I were covered, I let go of the Phaetyn veil completely. My knees shook, and although letting go of the veil felt amazing, my muscles trembled with exhaustion.

Tyrrik leaned over and scooped me into his arms.

“Hey,” I accused, half-heartedly narrowing my eyes at him. “You landed inside my veil.”

“You can’t keep me out now that we’ve fully mated,” he said with a smirk.

I laughed at the burst of male pride radiating through our bond. “That comment would be super creepy if it weren’t true.” Now, I had no defenses against Tyrrik, not that I even wanted orneededany defenses against him. I nestled to his chest. I mean who’d want to keep out a handsome hunk of Drae like Tyrrik, except for past-Ryn who couldn’t see clearly. Maybe past-Ryn could’ve done with a few wakeup slaps.

His features softened, and he added, “You look tired.”

“Lord Tyrrik, Lady Tyrryn.”

Mistress Moons.What was with the guards? I listened to Tyrrik’s quiet snicker, making a mental note to inform Zakai my name was, and would always be, Ryn. There was far too much pun potential with Tyrryn. Tyrryn down walls. Tyrryn toward danger. The world couldn’t handle all the puns I would make if they continued to call me Tyrryn.

I eyed the man, surprised my eyelids still worked because my body had checked out for the foreseeable future.

“Your tent is set up this way.” The guard bowed.

What did I say about liking Zakai?I yawned.

I’d much rather stare at the stars,Tyrrik answered.

Privacy.

I didn’t have to say more. Tyrrik picked up his pace, following the guard through the pine trees to the middle of the encampment.

Good, if the army was camped around us, I’d be able to cover more of them if we received a night visit. Though I’m not sure how I’d do after holding the veil up all day.

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