Page 92 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“We will invoke our rights. You won’t have to live in thecapital. He can’t keep you there forever. It violates our treaty.” Casimir slammed his hands down on the table.

“The treaty is countermanded by the ryder covenant,” I tried to say, but I was cut off by Casimir’s father.

“That is not stated anywhere. We have laws and agreements that govern healers above all else to keep the stability of all the kingdoms. We are a finite resource that must be protected. If you must have your flyer, he can be here with you while you are doing your duty to your line.” He turned to Casimir. “Son, I don’t think you should allow her to return. If she is in the king’s clutches, it will be much harder to have her returned to you.”

I set my teeth. “I have work there I have to complete. I cannot move back here. I only came back to rest and?—”

Casimir cut me off again. “If you still need to rest, surely they are overworking you and risking your health.” He stepped into me, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. “We need to protect our kind. You are an asset.”

“I am a fae, not an asset.” I shoved his hand off me and tried to push past him, but he grasped my wrist and tried to pull me into him.

I drew in a breath, about to lose my temper, but I didn’t have time.

Casimir was slammed into the wall next to me with Jaxus’ fingers coiled tightly around his throat, his feet dangling inches from the ground.

Jaxus radiated heat, his skin shimmered gold, and his eyes changed. All dragon. Magic coiled around his fists, and the threads between us tightened, his power and mine swirling together.

“Touch her again without her consent, and I’ll break every one of your fingers. If you even think to raise your voice to her and I will do more damage to your precious bloodline than you ever dreamed possible.”

“She is my—” Casimir started, his voice a strained squeak, but Jaxus flexed his fingers and cut him off completely.

Jaxus glanced at me. “If you wish me to have restraint, Firefly, now is the time to tell me.”

I shook my head. “No.” I didn’t want to prevent him from doing anything. He returned his focus to Casimir.

The rest of the guests looked on, aghast but unwilling to challenge the barely constrained dragon in our midst.

“She is your nothing,” Jaxus hissed. “You do not control her. You will not attempt to keep her here. I will see that she has autonomy. She is my ryder. She is bonded to me. I will feel it any fucking time you are close to her. Any time she is upset or her magic is pulled. If you so much as breathe in her direction, I will know. So watch yourself, healer, because I’m watching too. Do you understand me?” Fire licked at his lips, singeing the tips of Casimir’s hair.

Casimir tried to nod, but the hand on his throat prevented any movement or sound from leaving his throat.

As fast as he’d grabbed him, Jaxus let him go, and he slid to the ground. He stayed in a seat against the wall, clasping his throat and taking deep, scratchy breaths.

Jaxus pressed his eyes closed and breathed, shoulders heaving. “I need to leave before I burn this entire city to the ground,” he said quietly, only for my ears. Then he turned and left before I could stop him.

I turned to Gran, searching her face.

“Follow your heart, Firefly.”

THIRTY-SEVEN

JAXUS

Ihad to block the thought of Kiera with that arrogant prick from my brain as I stalked towards Kiera’s treehouse. Imagining it caused too much pain. If that was her choice, to be with him, I would respect it, even if it would kill me. How, I did not know, but Kiera’s happiness would come before my own.

“Jaxus, wait,” Kiera called. I stopped short of the stairway to her home and didn’t turn. I breathed through my rage without facing her as she caught up to me. I would not use my frustration against her. None of this was her fault.

She stopped behind me and touched my back, training her fingers on my shoulder as she came around to face me. I stiffened.

“Please, don’t. I cannot handle it.” It was impossible to keep the strain out of my voice.

Kiera prickled, piercing gaze boring into mine. “What can’t you handle?”

I pressed my eyes closed because if I looked at her a second longer, I wouldn’t be able to control myself. “You.” It was the most honest I could be. How did I even begin to tell her what I felt for her? What knowing she was betrothed to that—that, fae, did to me. I couldn’t. Not when I’d been forced to lie to her since we met. It didn’t seem right. This was impossible.

“What about me? ” She sounded affronted.

I shook my head, keeping my eyes closed to not have to see her working through her emotions and adding to my own.

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