Page 19 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

He kissed my lips gently and connected,I love you so blasting much.

I smirked and leaned back, cupping his face.I love you too.

A scratch came on the door, followed by a whimper.

Nightbane.

We must have woken him up.

I stiffened. I hated that I hadn’t given the cù-sìth much attention since I’d gotten back here.

“Let’s get cleaned up so you can spend time with the beast.” Tavish winked, knowing exactly what I was thinking.

Of course he did; he could feel my emotions and knew me better than anybody. “With you too, right?” I wanted the two of them to get past their rough history.

“Sure.” He kissed me again. “Just for you.”

The two of us quickly bathed, dried, and dressed.

I’d just slipped on the silver gown he’d brought for me as he dressed in a black tunic and pants when there was a loud pounding on the door.

“King Tavish,” Struan yelled so loudly we could hear him from inside the bathroom. “We need you and Lira now. It’s about the woman who attacked Lira.”

7

LIRA

My heart dropped, and my lungs seized.

Tavish’s anger blazed within me, and he rushed to the bathroom door and yanked it open.

A deep, threatening growl came from near the bedroom door, indicating that Nightbane sensed a threat.

I refused to be left behind, so I marched right behind my mate so we could face whatever the threat was together.

When we reentered the bedchamber, I had to press my lips together, attempting to hold in the laughter.

Struan had the door cracked, and the fur on Nightbane’s neck stood up as he readied to attack the guard if he risked opening it further. I jogged over and scratched his neck. “He means us no harm.”

Nightbane quieted as Tavish opened the door. “What the blast is going on?”

“There’s been an attack.” Struan winced.

“What does that mean?” Tavish’s wings expanded, and now, I didn’t sense any discomfort from him.

Some of the weight on my shoulders lifted. He didn’t seem to be in pain anymore, which meant he would be at full strength when handling his people.

Struan’s wings went taut. “She’s been attacked, and there’s no way to prevent her from dying.”

“We need answers.” Tavish shoved past Struan, flying in the direction of the prison. Terror and anger wound within him like a thunderstorm building between two drastic temperatures in spring in Savannah back on Earth.

I flapped my wings, hoping I could keep up. My healing magic must have started working when I hadn’t noticed because they only ached when they moved instead of causing pure agony.Tavish, I can’t get there as quickly.

Stay in the bedchamber, and instruct someone you trust to stand guard outside. Something dangerous could happen in the prison, and I need you safe.

My pulse raced, and my breathing quickened. I couldn’t believe he’d taken off, thinking I couldn’t protect myself.

With my magic regenerating, I could potentially heal the woman enough for her to survive, but I needed to reach her side before she passed. And then, when it was handled, teach Tavish a lesson of his own. “Struan, can you carry me there? My wings still aren’t completely better.”

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