Page 66 of Earth Dragon
He had numbed himself to everything for the past year, letting his fear rule him. He had lied to himself and pretended that he was contentedly building walls around his kingdom to protect the people, when it had been all about protecting himself. The numbness had allowed him to remain blind to the truth, but the numbness he now felt was unlike any other.
It was a lacking.
Deep down to his core.
The earthmagic no longer flowed with his blood.
Chapter 16 - Shannon
Shannon stood in the middle of the small herbal garden. She had closed her eyes, thinking about Ewan, searching for the reason why he was the key to unlocking the crystal. She should go get him, bring him with her, work with him since he seemed essential. But she could not go back down there.
Because he had apologized.
She had thought that she would want him to grovel, but the sincerity in his eyes had been enough to immediately melt all the righteous anger right out of her. She did not want to stay mad at him. She wanted to know whether he had brought the mating bond back on the table simply because it was the perfect cover, or because he felt what she felt.
Was that why his presence kept making the crystal react?
She wanted him, but there was a thrill of fear deep within her hearts. Did she really want to tie herself to another man. It wouldn’t be the same as a blood bond, but just as powerful. She had never been on her own. He had told her she would be free to go once her father was defeated.
If he was defeated.
Her hearts began to race, and she drew a steadying breath. It didn’t help. She was headed into another anxiety attack when she felt a pair of cool hands on her shoulders. She opened her eyes and met the gaze of Queen Blair.
“Easy,” the queen said. “You can do this.”
“I’m scared,” Shannon said, the confession feeling good leaving her lips.
“I know,” Blair said as Maize and Ionna joined them, the three queens encircling Shannon. They placed their hands on her shoulders, encasing her in their steady presence.
“You’re not alone in this,” Maize said. “This magic you carry in that crystal, it wants to help you. What do you fear most?”
Shannon closed her eyes again, but they shot open when her father’s voice rang out in the quiet of the backyard, saying simply, “Me.”
He was there, stepping out from the shadows, unwrapping the dark cloak that had obscured him from sight. How long had he been there? His eyes were glowing dark blue with dragon fire, his inner dragon awake and present, making her inner dragon growl in discomfort within her.
“Lord Taggart,” Maize said, her fingers having tiny bolts of lightning appear between them as she drew on a counter spell for any magic he might throw at them.
“My queens,” he greeted. “And my daughter,” he added. “Shannon, come here.”
She swallowed, her hearts beating so hard in her chest she had trouble catching her breath. There was a shiver running up and down her spine, making her feel the need to hunch her shoulders and lower her gaze, the way she had as a child in his presence.
You are wrong.
Her mother’s voice in her head and she pulled her shoulders back, shaking her head slowly at his request. She would not have stood her ground had she not been surrounded by three fierce females, but her mother’s voice at least served to keep her rooted rather than press between them to run up to him.
She felt ill at the thought of asking his forgiveness, bowing to his will.
And yet her hearts careening in her bosom made her feel about ready to pass out.
If you ever disobey me, you will go in the box, and you shall stay there.
The box.
She had not thought of it in years. It had been his favorite punishment when she was young. He would put her in the box and lock her in for an hour or two. Sometimes longer. And if she ever came within a league of stepping across whatever line he had drawn at her feet, the threat would be levied at her of how the box stood ready and waiting for her.
There is no box that can hold me, she replied, the voice firm.Not when it’s not just me facing you, father.
“Then give me that crystal,” he said, reaching out a hand into the air, but she held on tightly.
