Page 82 of The Dragon Queen

Wecanlettheworldin.

JustlikeIletherin.Ishowedherthemostvulnerablepiecesofmysoul,andsheacceptedthem--shelovedthem.

Shelovesme,andIloveher.

Withonefinallurchforward,Iclosethegap.JustastherockthreatenstofoldaroundEmbercompletely,Iclaspheronefreehandinmine.

Anditdoesn'tmatterthatshelosttheShadowBracer,orthatshehaslessrawpowerinherhumanform.Inthatmoment,asourfingertipstouch,allthelovetrappedinourbonderuptsinanavalancheofpurelight.

Darkpurpleplumesofmagicflowoutfromourpalms,andthedead,blackrockshiversandripples.Itcracks.

Inashudderinggasp,thestonefallsaway.ItdissipatesfromaroundEmber,crawlingbackfromherothermatesinwavesofclatteringrubble.

AsEmbersucksinabreaththatsoundslikedying,Malikcoughs,clawinghiswayfromtheholetheretreatingrockhasmadearoundhim.Stormflicksawaytheglittering,obsidianshardsinagustofwind,andRafelandsontheground,hiseyesablaze.

"Whatthefuck,"Rafegrowls.

Emberfallsintomyarms,andIholdhertootightly,butIcan'tkeepmyselfincheck.

"That,"Maliksays,heavinginroughbreathsashecollapsestotheground. "Wasourfirsttest."Hisgazeconnectswithmine,onebrowtwitchingeversoslightlyupward. "Congratulations.Youpassed."

EMBER

Malik'sassessmentofthesituationsettlesoverallofuswithawashoffearthatfadesintoagrimdetermination.

He'sright.

Thebittertangofadrenalinelingersinthebackofmymouth,janglingthroughmybodyandleavingmeonhighalert.It'sonlyJianyu'sgroundingpresencethatkeepsmetetheredandincontrol.

Whatwouldhavehappenedifhehadn'tactedsoquickly?Weweredroppedintothissituationwithnowarning.Caughtunawares,wewereallfightingforourliveswithimmovablerock,butJianyuflunghimselfintothefray.Hismagiccombinedwithmineinabrilliantburstofpower.

Evennow,it'scracklinginmyveins,andoh--I'vemissedthis.Theheadyrushofmagicisexhilarating.Ihaven'tfeltanythinglikeitsincetheShadowBracerrejectedme.

Myfingerstwitchwiththeneedformore.ThebracerthatFangreconstructedformeisstilllifelessonmywrist,butthereareghost-likeechoesofthemagicitusedtoyield,scintillatingupmyarm.Itisn'thardtoimaginethemcoalescingintosomethingbigger.

Somethingdarker.

IclenchmyhandsintofistsagainstJianyu'sspine,pullingaway.AsIdo,Imeethisgaze.

Linesappearbetweenhisbrows. "Areyouokay?"

I'mprettysurehe'sreferringtothefactthatIalmostgoteatenalivebyaliteralpileofrocks,butmaybehecansensetheweirdenergythatjustdancedthroughme.

ThebestIcan,Ishakeitoff,nodding. "Yeah."Iforceahalf-smile. "Thankstoyou."

"Barely,"Rafemutters,dustinghimselfoff.

"Ignorehim,"Jianyuurgesme,tuggingmebackinagain.Hedipshisheadtopressagentlekisstomylips.Moreshiveringsparksskitterthroughme,mytoescurlinginmyboots.Iwanttosinkintothekiss,reaffirmingourconnection--revelinginthemagicwejustshared.

Thankinghim.

There'sanopennesstohimashereleasesme.Itwouldhavebeenhardtoimagine,backwhenwefirstmet,butit'sunmistakablenow.Myheartclencheswithfeeling,myadmirationandmyprideinmymatealmostoverwhelmingforamoment.

Butthisisn'tthetimeortheplacetobask.

"Guesswe'dbettertakealookaround."Ireachformypackandgrabmyflashlight.Thebeamispainfullybright,nowthatoureyeshaveadjustedtothedimnessofthecave,butitsuredoeshelptobeabletoseeallthecoldblackrockthatwastryingtokillus.

Ishudder,notquitetrustingmystepsasItracetheperimeterofthespace.It'ssurprisinglylarge,theceilingrisingatleastthirtyfeetaboveourheads.Thecracksoflightseepinginmightbedaylightortheymightbesomethingelseentirely;it'simpossibletotell.

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