Page 70 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

All of a sudden, I was in his arms. Jaxus said nothing as he scooped me up and strode from the workroom, right past all the flyers looking on. My cheeks flamed,

“Jaxus!” I hissed as soon as we were outside. “I can walk, put me down.”

We were already on our way back down the hall before I even finished getting the words out.

“Maybe you would have been able to walk if you’d stopped when your body begged you to a few minutes ago, but now I’m carrying you.” He said unapologetically.

“My body is fine. It told me so,” I muttered defiantly.

“Well, it lied to you.” His voice was almost sensual, and he spoke so close to my ear. It sent a deep shiver down my spine. He chuckled. “Good thing it doesn’t lie to me.”

THIRTY

KIERA

“Drink your tea first,” Jaxus insisted, fussing around again.

I refused to be anywhere near my bed after days laid up, but he was insisting on me being on the sofa with a blanket and plenty of medicinal tea for healing. Tea that he was blending himself from my garden, according to a recipe for cleansing he found in an old tome in the library.

I wanted him to go to the library for me to find a specific book I was missing on dragon bloodlines and their magics, but as always, it was a battle.

“Please, just drink the tea, Kiera. It’s good for you,” he pleaded.

I took in his hopeful eyes, the color of rich wild honey, and to my repeated annoyance, I couldn’t deny him. I took the tea from him and relented, sipping the brew. I wouldn’t admit it, but it had a similar taste to something Gran would make me as a childwhen the village had a winter bug affecting everyone. So it was probably a perfect tonic for my weakened immune system.

I had to admit I was feeling stronger and stronger by the day, and I knew it was in no small part because of his constant care. I was now based in my rooms and resting to Jaxus’ satisfaction, but I was being kept up to date with everything that was going on down the hall, which was helping ease the worry of still needing to rest.

It left time for us to research my theory on Nyx’s potential soul-bond to Kol, which was keeping me occupied. But we were getting nowhere fast and I couldn’t tell Jaxus that I knew where much more information could be found. It was frustrating.

There was a light tap on the door, and we both looked up to find my father in the doorway.

“I came to see how you were doing now that you’ve been discharged from our care,” he said, stepping in.

I opened my mouth to reply, but Jaxus beat me to the words.

“She’s doing well, still trying to do too much, but I’m taking care of her needs.” He said proudly, standing. “Take a seat. I’ll make you some tea.”

My father cut me a glance that I knew meant he was amused by Jaxus’ fussing. I was glad one of us could find humor in it.

“Sorry I couldn’t come sooner.” He came and sat in Jaxus’ place and gently slid my notes from my lap, taking a look for himself.

He read quietly for a moment and turned the page, taking in what I had in terms of a theory. As he came to the bottom of the page, his brows rose. “You think such a thing is possible?”

“I’d like to explore it,” I said, awaiting his thoughts.

He nodded, still reading. “You need to see what records we have here on multiple dragon births. I know they used to be more common, but with the decline in numbers over the last couple of centuries, they are almost unheard of now. Maybe there will be something in the library on the history of the dragon bloodlinesthat will give you a place to start. If you can find a time when some twins were recorded, it might narrow down the search for evidence in old healing ledgers from the time.”

“That’s actually a smart approach.” I agreed and looked to Jaxus because I was about to add more books to my library list for him to collect.

“Fine,” he huffed, handing Father his tea. “Since your father is here, I’ll go now and see what I can bring you back.”

I made a list of what we needed, and he slipped out, leaving us to discuss my ideas.

Father sipped his tea and looked over the cup as the taste hit his palette.

“Your gran would be proud,” he smiled.

“Not my work. It was Jaxus. He found the recipe all on his own.”

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