Page 56 of Wrath of the Dragons
Cayden sits forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “What magic of hers are we trying to awaken?”
“The ability to enter my dragons’ minds,” I say. “To see through their eyes.”
“For what purpose?” Finnian asks.
“The cages on the border,” Ryder responds, and Finnian’s face pales. “There was a report by one of our spies in Imirath, and we all believe whatever is in those cages will be targeting Elowen and the dragons.”
“To give the ritual a higher chance of success, Elowen will have to deprive her senses,” Saskia says. “She needs to entirely focus on her bond with the dragons and give in to it, but she’s unpracticed in magic. In many cases, an anchor is used, which is a person deeply tethered to the potential mage who will keep their hands on them throughout the ceremony.”
“Young mages in Thirwen are sometimes transported to the ice fjords to awaken their magic. Some believe it has something to do with magic in the water and others think it has to do with the freezing temperatures,” Cayden adds. “I’ve heard of this tactic before, but I don’t know anything about anchors.”
“They provide a pathway back once she’s not in her own mind. If Elowen can’t find her way back to her body, then she could become…stuck. Asena will be returning with Ophir shortly to aid in the ceremony, since they’ll know more regarding the topic.”
“Stuck?” Ryder questions. “We have a war to fight and my queen might bestuckinside a dragon?”
“She can’t risk herself like this!” Finnian exclaims.
“Elowen will make up her own mind,” Cayden cuts off their hysterics in a stern voice and turns to face me as the other three bicker among themselves rather than projecting their doubts onto me. “When did you start speculating about your abilities?”
“Saskia and I were discussing the matter when you returned to camp to deliver the news of Imirath’s succession. I was going to tell you,” I insist. “Everything happened so fast.”
“It’s fine. What do you want to do?”
I dryly swallow. The idea of being unable to return to my body is unnerving, but I have a duty to my dragons, and I can’t let them down again. “I have to try. I know it’s a risk, but I won’t be able to live with myself if my inaction tonight harms my dragons.”
He nods like he expected me to say this and darts his eyes to the side to glare at the others. Their bickering still fills the room. “Don’t listen to their doubts. Everything you need to survive this lives within you.”
I reach forward to squeeze his hand and open my mouth to thank him for his reassurance, but something entirely different overtakes my thoughts when I look down. “Is that my name?”
“Yes,” he states evenly.
I gape at him, unsure whether to kiss him or question his thought process. “How are you so calm about this!”
He lifts a brow. “Because I’m the one who put them there.”
“Them?” I lift his hand so I’m able to get a better look at it, and sure enough, the same tattoo is mirrored on both sides. “You permanently inked my name on your finger, Cayden!Twice!”
“I had to do it twice. I can’t see your name on the outside of my finger. This one is for me.” He holds the inside of his ring finger in front of my face to showcaseElowenwritten in my delicate handwriting. “There may be times I have to take my wedding band off so I don’t damage it, but I did this so you know my vows will always be upheld.”
I drop my face into my hands. “You’re insane.”
“Stop acting like you don’t love it.” He tugs at my wrists until he can see me again, and a devious smirk slides across his lips when I can’t hide my smile any longer. This must’ve been his appointment in Ladislava a few hours ago. But his ease disappears when he turns back to the group, raising his voice above theirs. “Elowen will perform the ceremony, and if the three of you don’t stop bickering like children, I will forcibly remove you from my house and bar you from entering for the foreseeable future.” Silence cloaks the room immediately, and Cayden leans his head on the back of the couch, slipping his eyes shut as a sigh escapes his lips. “Fucking finally.”
Chapter
Twenty-eight
Elowen
I step out of my bootsbeside the river that curves throughout the property, cringing when my bare foot hits the frosty ground. A small waterfall spills into a pool at the base of it before thinning out and continuing its path through the trees.
“Elowen,” Asena says, timidly speaking my name despite me ensuring her titles would only complicate matters unnecessarily. “Saskia told me she informed you of the concept of an anchor.”
“She did.”
“Due to the gods blessing your union, we believe Cayden to be your strongest option.”
I lift my brows while untying my cloak. “And if I don’t believe in the gods?”
