Page 51 of Enchanted Crown
I kissed her back, this time slower. Knowing though she’d be right beside me for the next week, she’d be asleep for most of it.
As we finally pulled apart, I told John, “We are ready, old friend.”
He gave me a nod and gestured to Owen.
Owen laid a dagger in my palm. I briefly looked at it before my eyes were back at Owen’s. It couldn’t be.
“Krew insisted.”
“I—” Love for my brother burned the back of my throat. Krew had made sure the same dagger which had cut his and Jorah’s palms would do our bonding as well. Though he wasn’t here, he was wishing us good luck. Sending me a message of confidence.
Without another word, Owen gave me a quick hug and moved to stand behind John.
I sliced my palm first, my skin crawling with blue as my Enchantment readied. Then I took Esta’s gently, careful to hold it away from my already bleeding slash, to do hers.
To give the dragon queen credit, she barely even flinched. Her sharp intake of breath was the only signal it had hurt her at all.
Being sure to look her in the eyes, I pressed our palms together, locking them tight. “I willingly give you this power, Estalena RheaMallick. To protect, to empower, to honor. A thousand lifetimes may pass, yet I will stand steady, bound with you.”
Her eyes never left mine as she recited back, “I willingly give you this power, Keiran James Kairos Valanova. To protect, to empower, to honor. A thousand lifetimes may pass, yet I will stand steady, bound with you.”
And then as the slightest tingling started up, I willed that Esta take my power to protect her own. However much she needed to be safe, to save her country and herself, that is how much she could have. All of it if needed. The last thing I ever wanted to see was the dragon queen broken beyond repair. I did not know what would happen with us, how things in Dra Skor would come to a head or end, but I did know I chose her. I chose her now and I would keep choosing her. I would fight our enemy in the shadows or an entire army if I had to, all to keep standing next to her.
We stood there for what felt like an eternity before Esta closed her eyes. I knew she was going to shift now. In the next breath, I was holding onto a talon at the same time my Enchantment burst from my fingertips.
Esta took one step, only to properly lift her dragon head to the sky and let out a roar. A roar which was haunting in the best of ways. It was not an angry or vengeful roar like had shook the walls or broken windows. It was one of power. Strength.
Knowing she would not want to pass out in her dragon form, just as quickly as she had shifted, she was shifting back.
I saw her sway, and without thinking I moved to catch her, both of us landing on the ground, me breaking her fall. Our hands slipped and my magic slowly stalled. I had half a mind to put our palms back together, will her more of my power if she needed it.
It was Owen’s laughter I heard first, followed by John’s snort.
“You owe me coin, old man.”
“I did not bet against you, ratherwithyou,” John argued.
“Right. Well let’s make River pay up then.”
“I will be doing no such thing!”
I looked over at them to find them all on the ground also. I immediately sat up, Esta in my lap, drooping eyes and already looking ready to pass out at any moment.
“You all were knocked to the ground as well?” I knew my voice sounded as hurried and shook as I felt. I didn’t want to hope. I didn’t want to believe it unless it was certain.
John laughed. “Yes, my boy! And none of us who have seen the two of you recently are really all that surprised, now are we?”
“Keir?” Esta’s voice rasped.
“Sweetheart?” My voice was clogged with emotion.
“What’s wrong?” even as she asked, her eyes blinked slowly.
“Nothing,” I said around my emotions. “Not a damn thing.” I had to pause to swallow. “John thinks we may be soul bound. That’s all.”
Her eyes went wide for a moment, as wide as they could go while she was already half asleep. “What?”
I moved to kiss her hard. “Sleep, Es. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
