Page 153 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
Still, when he thought of transforming, a nervous spout of energy and terror rippled through him.
He had seen the damage he had caused to the forest. The smoke had just cleared from the skies. Did he really want to risk burning down the world?
"Maybe it’s too soon. If you can’t do it, you can always try again another day," Kal said.
"I can do it. I just…" Struggling to explain his anxiety, Graeson closed his eyes and shook his hands out at his sides.
What was he doing? This was idiotic.
Leaves crunched, and he spun. He held up his hands and blurted, "Wait, you shouldn’t get close."
Kal entwined her fingers with his and lowered their joined hands. She gave him a gentle squeeze. "It’s okay to be afraid."
"I’m not afraid." Graeson sighed when Kalisandre arched a single brow at him. "Fine, I’msomewhatafraid of having my bones break again."
"Maybe it will be easier this time?"
"Maybe."
Truthfully, he wasn’t so sure.
Kalisandre made to say something, but before she could, something caught his attention in the sky. He grabbed her and dragged her to the ground, shielding her with his body.
"Wh-what’s going on?" she said from beneath him.
He put his hand over her mouth. "Shh."
Graeson didn’t move as the dried cornstalks shifted in the wind. Four drakonises flew over them, heading south, led by a smaller winged figure that looked to be a guard. Kallie froze beneath him, spotting them, too.
After a few minutes passed and Graeson could no longer hear the beating of their wings, he stood. He held out a hand to help Kalisandre to her feet.
"Where do you think they’re going?" she asked, concern flooding her voice.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, tucking her against him. "I don’t know. But wherever they are going, they seem to be in a hurry."
Chapter 60
MYRA
Myra didn’t knowwhen she had fallen asleep or what time it was based on the soft shadows in the room. All she knew was that there was a heavy weight pressing on her chest. She peered down and found Laurince’s arm resting on her. Looking back at his face, she noted his pinched brows and the flat line of his mouth.
With the fog of sleep still blurring her vision, she slipped her arm from underneath the blanket and went to grab his arm to adjust their position?—
Laurince’s eyes sprang open.
Myra barely had time to inhale before she was flipped over. In one fluid movement, Laurince was on top of her, holding her arms above her head. His eyes were wide, gaze frantic and unfocused. His chest rose and fell as fast as Myra’s heart rate.
"L-Laurince?" Myra breathed out, shock making her voice tight.
Gasping in horror, Laurince released her wrists instantly and sat back. "I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—" He choked on his words. His hands trembled as he held them up.
Yet, for some reason unbeknownst to her, heat rose low in Myra’s core as she felt Laurince’s thighs barricading hers and heard his heavy breaths. She forced her gaze back to his face.
Her jaw dropped, and she was struck utterly speechless.
Myra knew without a doubt that it was Laurince who sat atop her, yet he was not the same man whom she had fallen asleep next to.
"What? What is it?" Laurince asked, twisting around to see what had caught Myra’s attention.
