Page 33 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

I involuntarily twitched.

Azulin settled a hand on my shoulder. “Be still.”

I nodded and willed my foot to not move. Elven magic was a powerful unknown, and I didn’t want to risk messing up the healer’s spell.

“Only a moment more,” Matius informed me.

The vine wrapping my arm loved that Azulin was touching me. It rippled and tightened, but not uncomfortably so. I glanced up at Azulin, but he was watching the elf’s work. Did Azulin’s vine respond the same way mine did? I would have to ask him later.

“All finished,” Matius announced. The magic in the room cut off abruptly. “It appears you escaped dragon fire exposure. Would you like to test your ankle out, my lady?” He extended a hand to me, but Azulin moved faster. He slid an arm around my back and lifted me in one smooth motion, easing me onto my feet.

I stood for a moment staring down at my normally colored feet. I could spot no signs of a cut or puncture beneath the grime. And they were blissfully pain free. Instinctively, I opened my mouth to express my appreciation, but Azulin’s sharp tug on my hair reminded me of his instructions.

Instead, I snapped my mouth shut and met the healer’s concerned gaze with a bright smile.

“No pain?”

I shook my head.

“Any other concerns?”

Before I could shake my head again, Azulin intervened.

“None, thank you. Please notify your master I wish to meet with him tomorrow morn. A personal appearance on his part will be required this time.” The king narrowed his gaze at the elf. “Am I understood?”

“Perfectly, sire.” Matius lowered his head in a sign of respect and backed out of the room.

However, neither Azulin nor Ghost relaxed after the door closed. We all strained our ears to listen to the retreating elf’s faint footfalls. The pair of males listened far longer than I. Their hearing clearly excelled my capabilities.

“Perimeter?” Azulin asked in a hushed tone.

“Secured.” Ghost stalked to the door and cracked it open. “Spells are in place, and the brothers are stationed on the balconies.”

Azulin nodded grimly. “Now logistics. How far do we have before she faints?”

“What?” I asked.

“About a dozen feet.”

Azulin motioned for me to show him my hidden hand. “That isn’t far. A guest room is out of the question, then.”

I raised my left arm, and the ripped fabric of my ruined sleeve fell away to reveal the golden tattoo. The surface of the leaves shone in the light and the vine rippled and warmed as though delighted to be exposed to the air.

Ghost muttered an oath. “A fae mate binding? With whom?”

Azulin wordlessly unbound the end of his right sleeve and rolled the cloth up, revealing a lean muscular arm. His vinehad gained one or two more tendrils since last I had seen it. However, I didn’t notice any growth when I checked mine.

“Why is only yours growing?” I asked.

“Yours is expanding too.” Azulin caught my arm and turned it so the back of my arm and the tattoo across it caught the light. I couldn’t see the vine, but Ghost’s eyes widened.

“You have three new leaves here.” Azulin’s thumb caressed the back of my arm. A warm flutter of something magical brushed my spine, making me shiver.

“So, the bonding isn’t complete,” Ghost observed. “There’s time to break it.”

The vine on my arm tightened, heating and constricting, but not painfully. Considering Azulin’s sharp glance at his own tattoo, his had done the same. The air filled with a tingle of power, and the contact point where the king held my elbow warmed.

“The pooka indicated otherwise,” Azulin muttered as he continued to eye his vine. It appeared to breathe, and then before our eyes, another leaf unfolded farther up his arm. “He said our magic is entwined to the point it is probably inseparable.”

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