Page 122 of A Dance of Water

The dragon’s claim warred with his desire to use her. And Graves hoped his dragon would win.

"Because of her," intoned Tharen. "She redirected her powers." The mage’s eyes raked over her as he spoke, before falling to Graves. "I told you the best way was to tire her out."

Graves tightened his hand into a fist. "But not try to kill her."

"If I wanted her dead, she’d be dead." The mage flicked his fingers, and the wind around Bastian’s wrists dissipated. "Besides fucking one of us would be just as dangerous as being crushed by a tree."

Now free, Bastian stalked forward and pressed his chest into Tharen’s side. "If you ever do that again?—"

It was Vale who cut off the vampire’s threat. "And you’ll risk the dungeons. Would you truly wish to part from her for a night and leave her to us?"

Bastian ran his tongue over the point of a fang as he stepped back. His eyes found Luella, anger turning to anguish.

"We saw what we needed. She has power." The King bent and reached for Luella, but Azgorath held her away, chin dipping to present his horns as a threat. "I will take her on the journey back to the castle."

"No," the demon grumbled, curling around her protectively. "I will not give her to you after you almost let her be killed."

Vale cocked his head. "The same offer stands. Test me and find yourself back in the dungeons. Or better yet, I will not allow you to accompany us the next time we train her. Then, see who will protect her."

Me,Graves found himself thinking.I would protect her.

Vale took the sleeping Princess and held her like a babe in his arms, her limp head falling to his shoulder.

"It’s time to go," Vale said, heading for the horses.

Graves walked around the tree, still held aloft. He wondered if it would be stuck forever, or if the vines would eventually snap under the weight.

As they readied to leave, Graves gripping the reins as he setastride his steed, Vale looked to him. Luella was curled against the King’s chest, her cloak thrown over her body as she shivered. The rain was the softest drizzle, but the air held the promise of a violent storm.

"Do not forget, you helped get her to this point." Vale snapped his reins as he signaled his horse onward.

Graves didn’t flinch away from Vale’s prideful stare. Unashamed, he said, "I know."

And he wouldn’t change anything.

The bargain with Tharen was needed. The Tenebrae would not wait, not for forever. And forever was what it may have been if matters were not taken into their own hands.

41

LUST OR LOVE?

LUELLA

It was quiet in the bathing chambers, and Luella rubbed the edge of her blindfold sleepily, unsteady on her feet. Her thin robe did nothing to ward off the damp chill within the room. Her chest ached from the overuse of power.

She could almostfeelthe inviting steam that wafted from the bathing pool, but the invitation was not one she wished to accept. Her hands shook as she imagined the water of the bathing pool to be dark and murky, hands crawling from its depths to drag her under.

She did not know how long she stood there, but a hand against her shoulder jerked her from her hazed stupor.

"Lu," Az mumbled behind her. His chest pressed against her back, and she leaned into him, resting her head against him. His hands cupped her shoulders, and he swayed them from side to side. "My Lu. How are you feeling?"

She swallowed. "Tired." And she was, desperately so.

Even after she had awoken in her bed, wearing nothing but a thin shift and no undergarments—the thought made her blush, wondering who had changed her while she was unconscious—she wanted nothing more than to sleep. Perhaps her drowsy state was why she contemplated a bath. Or because she felt dried streaks of mud on her body, caked under her fingernails. Her skin was itchy and dry.

Az swept her hair away from her neck and pressed his lips to hershoulder. She shivered but stepped away from him, abashed as she said, "I probably smell like wet dirt."

Az cupped her cheeks. "You smell like you, Lu. Strawberries and creamed sugar," the demon said, pressing his face into the crown of her hair and inhaling deeply. "My favorites."

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