Page 115 of The Dragon Queen

ButRhiannonstepsforward,hereyesawashwithpride. "We'reokay.Thankstoyou."

Nodsandmurmursofagreementgoupinalldirections.

IsqueezeStorm'shand,tippingmyheadtowardeachofmymatesinturn. "Thankstothem,"Iclarify.

"Itwasagroupeffort,"Rafesaysfirmly,andyeah.

Thatsoundsaboutright.Theglowofwarmthinallfourofmymate-bondsproveshe'snotaloneinhisassessment.Myabdomenpullsin,ahappyflushspreadingupmycheeksasIleanmoredeeplyintotheirembrace.

ButonecornerofRhiannon'smouthdips,herbrowsdrawingtogetherquestioningly. "Yourmagic..."

"Isbacktowhatitwas,"Ireply.Justtobesure,Ipullmyawarenessinward,andyes.Thesteadythrumofpoweriscomfortinglyfamiliar.It'slikeitwasbeforetheBracershattered,augmentedonlybythevibrantpresenceofmydragoninmychest.

Mydragonfoldsherwingsaroundherselfincontentmentbehindmyribs.Ismiletomyself.SheandIareonenow;Icouldpullhertotheforefrontofmyconsciousnessatanytime.

Butforthemoment?She'smorethanreadyforarest.

Iam,too,butIfindthestrengthtorise.Mymatesstandwithme,stayingclosebutnotcrowdingme,andmyheartsqueezes.Theyknowmesowell.

AsI'mmakingmywaytomyfeet,mygazecatchesonadarkradiancesurroundingmyhand.Rook'sringisglowingwithblackandpurplemagic.Iglancefartherdown,andthenecklaceRhiannongavemehasthesameripplingsheen.

AndtheShadowBracer...

It'sglowingjustasbrightly,butwithaniridescencethatechoesthecolorsofallfourofmymates'magic.Theystandoutagainstthedarkmetal,creatingsomethingentirelynew.

"Idon'tthinkwecancallittheShadowQueen'sBraceranymore,"Rookmuses,hisvoicedeepandgravelly.

Rhiannonnods,entwiningherfingerswithhis. "It'stheDragonQueen'sBracernow."

Mythroatgoestight,andIhavetoblinkafewtimestokeepmyvisionclear.Jianyubrusheshisknucklesagainstthebaseofmyspine,lovewashingoverme.

Clearingmythroat,Ireachforthechaindrapedaroundmyneck.IpulloffthenecklaceandhandittoRhiannon. "Ipromisedtoreturnthistoyou."Assheacceptsit,IgentlytwistRook'sringfrommyfinger. "AndIbelievethisbelongstoyou."

Rookholdsouthispalm,andIplacethesmallbandofmetalintheverycenterofit.Beforeoureyes,itgrowstofithisfinger,andhemanagesawrysmile. "Igaveittoyou."

"Iknow.ButIhaveeverythingIneed."

"Thankyou."Rhiannonputsonthenecklace,andhereyesflashpurple,herfaceglowingforafractionofasecondbeforesettling.Shepatsthependantagainstherchest.

Rook'sjawflexes,likehe'schewinghiswordsbeforefinallyselectingtherightones. "Itisuncommonforarulerofdragonstogiveawaypower."

Ishetalkingabouttheringandthenecklace?OrallthemagicErembourstoleandwhichnearlypossessedme?

There'sasmallflutterofregretwithinmychest,mydragonnaturestillverymuchapartofme.

ButI'mmorethanastereotypeofaserpentsittingatopahoardoftreasureandbones.Icarrythelegacyofallofdragonkindinmyveins.

Iglanceateachofmymates,feelingadepthofconnectionthatwarmsmyverysoul.

Powerandwealtharegood.

Butloveisbetter.

"It'sallright,"Itellmyuncle.Asmallsmilecurlsmylips,andmyheartissofull. "Ineverneededitanyway."

Overhead,theDragonMoonisbeginningitsslowdescentbackdowntowardthehorizon,anddawnisdrawingclose.Iletoutadeepbreath,leaningintoMalik'sbroadchestasJianyutakesmyhand.

Allaroundus,peoplearepickingthemselvesupfromthebattle.ThemagicIreturnedtothemmusthavehadsomeWaterDragonhealinginit,becauseAmy'sclutchingherarmlesshard,andFreya'sstandingupstraighter.Tiredsmilescrossdirt-smudged,exhaustedfaces.

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