Page 62 of Enchanted Crown
“What is it?” he asked, immediately tensing into soldier mode.
“It is my mate,” I smirked. More loudly, I added, “I can sense your mischief, you know.”
“Damn bond,” I heard Esta mutter before a blast of her power hit me. It felt warm and was gone as fast as she’d sent it.
“Direct hit!” Jorah cheered from where she hid around a nearby tree.
“But a horrible one,” Esta added.
I spun toward them to look at Esta. “Would you really like to start this, Es?”
“I—” her eyes trailed along my wings. “No. Why are you so good at it?”
“The gentle and small amounts of palm magic are far harder to master,” I told her. “You’ll get there.”
“You two are going to be a lot to be around in the coming weeks, aren’t you?” Malachi asked.
Esta crossed her arms as she walked over to us. “You know you could always get your own significant other to flirt with, Malachi.”
I choked on a laugh before moving behind Esta. “Do you know what form your magic is yet?”
She shook her head.
I stood behind her. “I want you to send a breeze. Not a heated one, just a simple breeze. But think of it moving slowly. As if dipped in molasses. Slow, slow, slow.”
She inhaled sharply, and I didn’t know if it was because of my breath on her neck or because of her magic stirring.
“And if it’s still moving too fast, which might happen, I’ll send out my own to slow yours down.”
Without any other urging, she sent her magic out of her fingertips, to sweep toward the forest and turn back toward us. It was much slower this time. I could see the blueish purple streak had wings.
So as promised, I sent out my own power to hers, to slow them further.
Sure enough, as soon as I did, the blue and purple magic slowed together enough to reveal that the wings were attached to a raven. One to match my own as they flew together.
“A counter,” Malachi said. “You get a dragon’s strength, wings; she gets your raven one.”
“We match.” The grin that crossed my face was unstoppable.
Esta laughed. “Who would have thought after our bonding that I’d be the one with a tiny bird.”
“You were stuck with me no matter what, even if I was the tiny dragon.” I brushed a kiss to her cheek.
“Naps are going to be required for all,” Jorah stated as she gestured for the castle. “You two get some rest before you leave for Dra Skor in the morning. And this calls for celebratory cookies.”
“Not going to argue with that.” Malachi immediately followed her toward the castle.
I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head. It looked like Jorah’s cookies gained her yet another admirer. I wrapped my arm around Esta as we followed them toward the castle.
“I wish we could stay for longer,” Esta admitted, eyes taking in the castle. “I’ve been asleep for a good portion of our trip.”
“We will handle a few things in Dra Skor and then we will come back,” I promised.
“Your home is lovely, Keir.”
You are my home now,I told her down the bond.The rest are just places I find comfort in. Both Wylan and Dra Skor can and will be that for me.
“But first homes are special,” she argued. “This place built you into what you are today. A man I couldn’t be prouder of.”
