Page 11 of The Flame King's Queen

Suddenly his eyes fly open. “Elysant. Where—”

Zabriel tries to sit up, but he winces in pain. Glancing around, he seems to realize where he is and reaches for me. “Are you safe,sha’lenla?”

“We are both safe,” I assure him, stroking his hair back. “We’re still in the temple. The Temple Mothers are healing you, and the castle guards are protecting you.”

He sinks back down in relief, but his fingers tighten on mine. “I was dreaming. I remember now. But I should be the one protecting you. Elysant fled from me. Has she been caught?”

“Not yet, but wingrunner patrols are searching for her. Sundra is sending scrolls to every town so that the guards will know who to look for, and the Temple Mothers will searchHratha’lensacred places where she may have hidden herself.”

Zabriel smiles at me in admiration. “That is everything that I would have done.” His eyelids grow heavy. “I feel as though I have been on a long, long journey, but it is good to be home with you,sha’lenla. So very good.”

I wonder if he knows just how far he traveled, and how close he came to never coming home again. There’s a lump in my throat as I remember that my mate came so close to being nothing but a cold, lifeless corpse.

With his eyes closed, Zabriel squeezes my hand. “I can tell from your scent how much you wish to be close to me, Omega. I will rest here a while longer, but we will go back to our own bed soon.”

I gaze at him in surprise, and then I laugh and shake my head. “You’re in no fit state for any of that kind of thing.”

“I heal fast,sha’lenla. Besides, I didn’t meanthat.” His red eyes open, and he gazes up at me. “My beautiful Omega is carrying my baby, and I haven’t slept wrapped around her body yet. I need to hold you both in my arms.” Then he adds without looking away from me, “Scourge is coming.”

“He is?” I ask, wondering what he means.

As I look around, I notice there’s a flurry of activity in the temple. The priestesses are tidying everything and moving back to line the temple walls. Zabriel and I are up above the font and the main floor.

“He’s about to replenish the Font of First Flames,” Zabriel explains, sitting up with effort, wincing as the blanket covering his chest falls into his lap. His muscles flex against his bandages.

I place my hands on his shoulders. “Don’t hurt yourself. Let me help you.”

“I’m all right,sha’lenla. Let’s watch this together. I don’t believe you have seen this before.”

He puts an arm around me, and I nestle carefully into his side. He’s right, I’ve never seen the fire being replenished before. The Temple Crone stands before the font with her arms raised, speaking in the old Maledinni tongue. The words are unknown to me, but I like their sound, and I feel their power. As we watch the ceremony, Zabriel keeps turning his head, burying his face in my hair, and taking deep lungfuls of my scent. Every time he does, he gives a soft groan.

“You’re healing me,” he whispers.

The Temple Crone moves back. The sunlight shining through the open ceiling of the temple is suddenly blocked out. I glimpse Scourge’s open jaws, and then liquid fire is pouring down and filling the font. The priestesses’ sweet singing reaches a crescendo. Warmth and firelight dance around us, and the flames in the font are bright. A moment later, Scourge closes his jaws, and we hear him flying away.

“While the fire burns, Maledin is strong.” Zabriel kisses my throat and then nips the nape of my neck with his dragines. “I’m feeling stronger as well. All the priestesses fussing over me makes me feel like an invalid. I want my Omega’s beautiful naked body pressed against me so I can remember I’m an Alpha.”

Zabriel settles back onto his elbows and then lays on his back. I cover him with the blanket once more. “Soon. Maybe tomorrow, but only if the Temple Crone says that you can.”

As soon as we do sleep in our own bed, I have no doubt that my Alpha will coax me to sit astride him, swearing that he won’t move until I’m suddenly full of his knot and he’s ripped his bandages open.

“What will you do while I rest, my beautiful dragon?”

“I will speak with my family. Dad and Anise must be bewildered by everything that’s happened, and I don’t even know where they are right now.”

Zabriel nods and closes his eyes. “When you leave the temple, take your bodyguards. You must be within their sight at all times. I’m ashamed that I can’t swear that you and my baby are safe in my own castle.”

“I will always have them with me. I promise. You may rest easily.”

Zabriel squeezes my hand. “You and Esmeral are my delight. When we are finally alone, I will tell you how she saved my life.”

That’s news to me. Esmeral didn’t show me anything about her and Zabriel. I’m curious to know the details, but I must let my Alpha rest.

As I make my way past the Font of First Flames, which are now dancing and leaping high and filling the temple with light and warmth, a Temple Maiden approaches me.

“The dragonmaster is outside. He wishes to know howMa’lenfares.”

I thank her and make my way through the double doors and into the corridor.

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