Page 130 of The Shadow Wand

But this is a big step for us both.

“You know,” I say, “Aunt Vyvian met with me earlier. To let me know she wouldn’t tell me any of the ‘secrets of the Sealing night.’ Instead, I got the impression that I was about to endure a military attack on my body.”

Lukas raises his brow, his lip tilting up. “Certainly not the evening I’ve envisioned.”

“Well, that’s a relief, Lukas.” A complex vexation rises within me, my brow tightening against it. “It’s not right, you know. How I’ve been kept ignorant about all this because I’m female.”

Lukas takes my other hand and rubs the back of it gently, affection warming his gaze. “I imagine you’ll catch on quickly enough.”

I glower at him. “That’s not the point.”

Lukas looks closely at me. “I know that’s not the point.”

“I’m angry. About a lot of things.”

“Good,” he says succinctly, losing the smile. “Hold on to that. Because it’s much better than fear.”

I study him. My subversive, warrior fastmate.

Wicked mischief lights his eyes. “When I’m done ‘ravaging’ you,” he says, clearly mocking the idea, “I’m going to reshield your lines with a tighter weave of magic.” He gives me a significant look. “But as soon as I can, I need to teach you how to shield themyourself. You’re too vulnerable, dependent on my magic like this.”

I throw him an appreciative look, both his humor and his frank offer steadying. Gratitude for his friendship rises as it hits me, just how much he’s sacrificing, jumping over to the side of the Resistance and now throwing his lot in with mine. Ready to risk his life to help me escape and survive Vogel. And it strikes me that I don’t mind, so much, being Elloren Grey while I face down my destiny.

“All right, then,” I tell Lukas as I glance at our clasped, fastmarked hands then raise my eyes to meet his compelling stare once more. “I trust you. Let’s get out of here. And go change these lines.”

We approach Vogel’s table, and I’ve a sense of every other magical force in the room suddenly being pulled to the side.

Vogel sets his penetrating, pale-eyed gaze on me, and I have to fight the urge to fold inward. He’s like a dark star, everything in the world now orbiting around him and that Shadow Wand.

“We’re to take our leave now, Your Excellency,” Lukas impassively states as I hold Vogel’s unflinching stare and wait for his Shadow power to crash through me, but he holds it back.

I think of the Lupines, of the refugees running for their lives, the wreckage Vogel is visiting upon the world, as my affinity fire rears and kicks up to a blaze just under Lukas’s tightened shield.

Enjoy your moment while you can, I silently rage.If I ever get hold of what’s inside me, I’m coming for you.

A shriek sounds above. My head jerks up along with Lukas’s and most everyone around us, unsettled murmuring rising as more shrieks sound and the orchestral music dies off.

A broken dragon horde tears through the sky overhead as sounds of surprise burst forth from all directions, the incoming dragons visible through the glass ceiling, the arboretum’s green light washing over their scaled black bodies. The ground thuds as first one, then another, then another dragon lands, lit by the surrounding green torchlight just outside the arboretum’s glass wall. Mage soldiers are astride the dragons’ backs, more soldiers riding in on horseback to ring the estate.

Lukas and I exchange a swift glance, his fire giving a quick, urgent pulse as mine surges under his shield, and I surmise that this is unexpected for him, as well.

Lukas rapidly collects himself. “Is there new concern about a Vu Trin attack?” he asks Vogel.

Vogel narrows his pale eyes at Lukas. “The Vu Trin seem to have been effectively subdued. But we need to ensure the safety of so many Council members and high-ranking military until we’re sure.” Vogel smiles as he casts me a knowing look. “And we need to keep Carnissa Gardner’s granddaughter well protected. Wouldn’t you agree?”

I catch the rush of tension in Lukas’s fire as my hope for escape implodes and fear overtakes me.

This goes beyond a guard to ensure safety during a Sealing night and Sealing breakfast.

This is an army to guard a Black Witch.

“Escort Mage Lukas Grey and his lovely fastmate, Elloren Grey, to their Sealing chambers,” Vogel intones, his pale gaze flicking toward the soldiers to his left. He gives me a narrow look, a flash of his power slithering over my shielded lines, an unsettling sting racing over the rune on my abdomen.

Ten Level Five Mage soldiers break off from the surrounding guard and stride toward Lukas and me, and I blanch at the feel of their combined power. It’s devastating, the sheer pressure of its incoming force close to blasting right through Lukas’s shield. And none of it is aimed at Lukas.

It’s all aimed at me.

“Thank you, Your Excellency,” Lukas says to Vogel with a polite dip of his head, “but such a large guard is unnecessary.”

---