Page 66 of The Magic of Eternity
“I took two of those shots. I think… I think I took on your affinities,” she breathed, her eyes wide and still locked on mine.
“Can you read my emotions?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t before I touched you, but I can now. You’re disgusted and ashamed, but you’re also hopeful. Hopeful that I can do this for you?”
Not taking my gaze from hers, I dropped to my knees. “Please help me, sweetheart. I’m begging you. I can’t— I can’t—”
“I know, baby. I know it hurts. Give it to me,” she murmured, running her hands through my hair. Green and gold wisps of color began to circle the two of us, her eyes searching mine and then there, I felt her presence. It went against every fiber of my being, all my training, to let her into my head. But I did.
I watched as black, tainted memories in the form of fog began to wrap up her arms. I began to panic, not wanting those vile images in her brain.Oh gods, what have I done?Just as the fog began to creep up her neck, her eyes flashed black and the fog dissipated, the sounds of my past screams echoing around us until the very last bit of it lifted.
We slumped together, breathing heavily, holding each other tightly. “How do you feel?” Saige asked, wiping the moisture from my cheeks.
“Like I have the best woman in all the realms. Whatever you did, it worked. I don’t know what you took from me, but I’m so fucking glad you did. Never tell me, Saige. Promise me? Whatever version of me that was just here with you—I don’t ever want to be that man. That man was dead inside.”
“My Guppy,” she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears.
“My whole fucking world.” I hauled her against me, taking her mouth with a fevered desire that she gave me right back. That was Saige. Anything we threw her way, she threw right back, usually harder. Fucking perfect.
“I love you,” she breathed, nibbling on my bottom lip. “You sure you’re okay? That was pretty intense.”
My hands couldn’t stop touching her skin, seeking contact wherever they could. “I’m more than okay. I missed you so much.”
She pressed a quick kiss to my lips, before rising to her feet with a determined look, her eyes glowing gold again. “I have something I need to go do though.”
“Wait, what?”
She stepped from the water, and the moment her foot connected with the stone floor, everything shook. A small tremor at first. Then, the intensity increased, with her wings, tail, and horns exploding from her body as her anger built.
“Sweetheart,” I said gently, walking slowly in her direction. Her tail flicked, and the fury within her was so potent, it was nearly choking me. The ground rocked as she took a step away from me. “Shit.Shit.” I sped through the water, desperate to stop her. Her magic was roaring, and it was the perfect recipe for a disaster.
Saige’s low growl reverberated through the room, as the sound bounced off the cavernous walls. The hair on the nape of my neck lifted at the animalistic noise. Without warning, her wings snapped out wide to their full size and vines exploded from everywhere. They crept down the walls and seemed to slither out of the damn pool. Fuuuuck.
‘Guys, you need to get back here immediately. Right the fuck NOW!’I barked, opening the mental connection to the other five men who would be able to help tame her. My eyes widened as I watched the vines start to trail after her like snakes.
I hopped from the pool and followed, not letting her out of my sight. The air around me became charged, and the sound of a pop—followed by cursing—let me know the others had arrived.
“What the fuck is she doing?” Bram demanded, rushing to my side. The six of us were trailing behind her now, the ground still shaking. Nothing was being knocked over yet or falling from the walls, so I’d take that as a good thing.
“She wanted to talk about what happened while we were apart, so I told her. Or I started to... and she lost it. Her fucking eyes are glowing! She said she was going to kill them all, but I thought she’d calmed down. She seems to have taken on our affinities, thanks to that extra shot she took during the battle—she actually managed to remove some memories from me. Then this started, and I don’t know what’s happening.”
“Firefly,” Faris called out, and the vines paused in place, twisting around each other like living beings. “Firefly, we need you. Come see your mates, let us hold you.” We held our breath as she turned slowly to face us.
“She feels threatened, feels her family is threatened. Female dragons—especially pregnant ones close to giving birth—aren’t known for their patience or forgiveness when it comes to their mates and children,” Bram explained, keeping a wary eye on her. “I’m sure the injections amplified everything, too.”
“By the moon,” Kai whispered, a deep purr rumbling from his chest. Saige’s glowing eyes flashed over to Kai when she heard the sound. “Cub. You look beautiful.” Kai blinked and his eyes transformed, closely matching our woman’s.
Her chest heaved as she stared at Kai, and a sound that I’d only ever heard from him before slowly escaped her. It was a rumbling, relaxing sound—a purr.
“Jesus,” Cam whispered in awe. “She’s a shifter now?”
The shaking finally ceased and the vines began to slink away, disappearing up the walls and out of sight. We all stood there like fucking fools, staring at our mate. She looked every bit the epitome of a fertility goddess. Her large breasts were swollen, matching her belly, as she stood proudly, baring herself to us. Red lines had popped up along her hips and stomach at some point in our time apart. Her body had stretched and reformed itself to prepare to birth two babies.
“I... I need...” she whimpered, her eyes fading back to green as we swarmed her.
“Whatever you need, baby girl, we’ve got you,” Cam promised.
Sloane wrapped his arms around her from behind. “What’s wrong, kitten? Do you need to lie down?” My heart clenched at the sight of him holding her, his large hands spread over her belly. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
