Page 7 of The Dragon Queen

Thethreadsofmymate-bondstuggentlyatmyheart,shimmeringwithconcern,andIforcemyselftoopenmyeyes.Malikkneelsbesideme,linesappearingbetweenhisbrows.Heextendsahand,andIslipmypalmintohis,allowingthestrengthofourconnectiontopourintomethroughhistouch.

Hehelpsmetositup.Itrytohidemywince,butIdon'tthinkIsucceed.Myheadthrobs,andthehollowachebehindmyribsissuckingalltheairoutofmylungs.Everypartofmehurts.Mylimbsweighfivethousandpounds,andthelossofmymagichasstolenmybalance.

"Easy,there."RafejoinsMalik,andtogethertheymanagetosupportmeinstanding.

Myeyesswingaroundwildly.We'reinawhite,marbleroom,drapedinrichblueandgreentapestries,thewallslinedwithcomfortablebutelegantfurnitureandgleaming,glasssculptures.StormandJianyuhoverclose.Overontheothersideoftheroom,RhiannonissupportingRook,who'snearlyashollowedoutasIam.

"Iseveryoneaccountedfor?"Iask.

Freya'svoiceringsout,andIfindherstandinginadoorway,exhaustedbutrelieved. "Everyman,woman,child,non-binary,andwerewolf."

IsagfurtherintoMalikandRafe.Rafetugsmeinagainsthisside,squeezingmywaistincongratulations. "Youdidit."

"Wedid."IlookoveratRook,andourgazesmeet.Hisstillholdsthewarinessthatgatheredinhiseyesjustasthespellwascollapsing,andIremembertheflashoflightthatappearedatthetipsofmyfingers.Aglintofbrightnesslightsthedarkvoidwithinmychest,butit'sthereandgoneinaminute,andI'mtoowrungouttochaseit.

"We'resafehere,"Malikinterrupts.

Rookhuffsoutabreath. "Fornow."

Rhiannonrollshereyes. "You'rebothexhausted."WhenRookstartstoprotest,sheshakesherhead,almostfond. "Youcandoomandgloomatussomemoreonceyou'rerested."

IlooktoMalik. "You'resurenoonecanfindushere?"

"AscertainasIcanbe,"heassuresme. "Comeon.Let'sgetyousomeplacequiet."

Iwavehimoff,butmyarmsareleaden. "I'mfine."

"Sureyouare,"Stormchuckles.

Andhe'steasingme,callingmeoutonmyobviouslie.

ButIshiveranyway.Hedoesn'tknowthehalfofit.

Iamso,sofarfrombeinganythingclosetofine.

Chapter

Three

EMBER

“Ihavegottostopdoingthis,"Igroanbeneathmybreath.Halfsittingup,Iscrubthesleepfrommyeyes.

Thiswhole 'crashinghardafterwildlyoverexertingmyselfandthenwakingupsomeplaceweird,withnoideahowmuchtimehaspassed'thingisgettingold.

Fuzzymemoriesfloatbacktome.AfterRookandIfinishedevacuatingtheresidentsofUnity,MalikandtherestofmymatesescortedmyexhaustedhuskofacorpsethroughtheoldWaterDragoncastle,toaroominahightowerwithabig,soft,fluffybed.Overmyslurredprotests,theytuckedmein,pressingsoftkissestomylipsandbrow.Betweenoneblinkandthenext,Iwasout.

Itwaseveningthen--Ithink.Butthere'snolightshininginthroughthegapsinthecurtains.MystomachdipsatthethoughtthatIsleptthroughanentireday.WhathappenedwhileIwasout?Arewesafe?

Beforeanxietycangetthebestofme,awaveofreassurancepassesoverme.Thebedshifts,andIturn.

Allfourofmymatesareasleeparoundme.

Myheartsqueezes,butinagoodway.Jianyu,Rafe,MalikandStormshareafragilealliance,basedalmostentirelyontheirloveformeandtheirgeneralinclinationstowardoverprotectiveness.Theirtrustforeachotheristenuousatbest.

Andyetheretheyallare.Vulnerableinsleep,splayedoutinvariouspositions,theirlong,muscularlimbseventouchinginplaces.

Myinsidespulsewithawaveofliquidwarmth,andIswallowhard.Noneofmymenarefullynaked;evenRafeiswearingsleek,blackboxerbriefs,thoughtheyleavelittletotheimagination.Butthetangleofarmsandlegsandtheflashesofskinstillheattheverycoreofme.

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