Page 3 of Crown and Dragon

“Your fancy Weaver belt?” Maiwenn squeezed water from her hair.

Titus’s brow furrowed in a perfect big-brother-protector type of expression. “Your magic worked up there, right?”

“Yes.” The belt sparkled and the light brightened.

Maiwenn stepped closer. “Whoa. What is happening?”

The dancing light flashed. Tahlia shut her eyes against the white flare of it. When she opened her eyes… Her stomach dropped.

The belt was gone.

The others gasped, joining her in shock.

Marius touched her arm and studied her face. “Do you feel unwell?”

“No. I feel the same…” The warmth was still there, but this time, it sat along her skin. She untucked her tunic from her weapons belt and eyed her stomach. A faint red pattern showed beneath her navel. She ran a finger over it. It was smooth, but… “The belt is—it’s inside my body now?”

Marius took a knee and grabbed her hips. He brought her close and his gaze peppered her stomach. “I see its pattern. Yes. Definitely. Did the goddess ever mention this would happen?”

She held her tunic up and squinted at the markings. “No.”

Lija?

Yes?

Do you know anything about my belt? It just, um, disappeared into my body.

Ah.

That sounds like you know things.

I always know things.

Yes, yes. Please, can you tell me anything?

The magic has likely grown used to you. It agrees that you are its keeper. I wouldn’t worry about it. Your power likely doesn’t want to rely on physical presence or varieties in the spiritual plane to interact with its wielder.

Tahlia exhaled.All right. Thanks.“Lija suggests that the magic has fully accepted me as its wielder and doesn’t want to rely on physical something blah blah something or other.”

“Your dragon talks like that?” Maiwenn asked, a hand on her hip. She blew her Fae-white hair out of her face.

Donan snorted above Maiwenn’s head, obviously standing up for Lija.

“No, Lija is very well-spoken,” Tahlia said.

Donan lowered his head and blinked at Tahlia as if to say he appreciated the comment.

“Commander?” Titus started.

Marius was still on his knee in front of Tahlia. She didn’t mind his fingers on her waist.

“Yes, Titus?” Marius spread a hand over Tahlia’s new inking of sorts and delicious chills swept down her body.

“If you’d like us to survey the area and leave you two some privacy to discuss this development…” Titus shrugged, his smile barely restrained.

Marius’s eyebrow flicked upward and he glanced at Tahlia’s face, a teasing light in his eyes as he whispered to her, “If I were king…”

He waved off his words and stood, his thumb running over Tahlia’s wrist briefly as if to secretly say he wished they could have some alone time. Heat rushed through Tahlia’s body and her heart beat hard. She swallowed.

---