Page 59 of Dragon Throne: Part One

“Welcome home, Devenish Prince,”Thariondeclared.“You are whole now.”

Still on my knees while the breaths rushed in and out of me, I watched Tharion straighten to his full height and bow to me. His reverence spread among the others like a wave, until every single Dragon bowed to their new monarch.

* * *

By the time I returned to the city, sunlight shone brightly through the skylight, my glowing gaze was gone, and the market was already awake. The streets hustled and bustled with people prepping their stalls for the day and heading into the castle for breakfast and coffee.

My steps took me back to Evie, but once I reached the sixth floor, I found the Elevated Warriors stepping onto the hallway, probably on their way to escort the princess. Half of them froze when they saw me, unease clear on their faces.

Asher, however, casually made his way to me, greeting me with a bro hug like we did each morning. He was truly an incredible man, and I was thankful for his loyal friendship.

Arlo followed, hugging me tightly—she had always been a sweetheart. Her acceptance gave me relief, because she understood that being Raithian’s grandson was something I hadn’t chosen, and I had no control over. I returned her hug, placing a kiss on her cheek.

“Let’s face it. Prince or not, Wizard or not, you can’t live without me,” Harrison very rationally explained, and came to my side for a bro hug too. “In fact, you would be dead within a sun hour if I wasn’t always close to you.” He flexed his biceps, kissing them both. “Don’t worry, these babes will protect you.”

I snorted at that, pushing him away playfully to see him take his place beside me like Arlo and Asher had. An invisible line suddenly divided us from the rest of the guard, from the people who had become my friends, my family, but now doubted me because of the monster related to me.

“It is still me, guys,” I offered, my gut clenching with fear that I might lose them too. “Devenish or not, I’m still the guy you helped train, the one you have shared laughter and heartache with, fought side-by-side with and offered your friendship to. You got to know me and welcomed me as your brother simply because we were the same… and we still are. We all want to free our people from that monster who has taken so much from us, even the people we love, and rebuild the world that we never got to know.”

Eyes glistening, Hannah nodded and crossed the line, offering me a fist bump which I gladly returned. Elijah and Fletcher crossed too, giving me bro hugs, and joining the group forming on my side. When Finn and Islay exchanged a heavy glance, a silent exchange seemed to pass between them, but thankfully, they came to my side too.

“Thank you, guys. I can’t do this without you,” I admitted, seeing Harrison smirk.

“At least you admit it.” He lifted his hands in ajust sayinggesture and I pushed him again. Laughter escaped him as he staggered back.

“We are brothers, Brax. It’s too late for anything else.” Elijah shrugged.

Smiling at him, I realized Harper wasn’t there, and worry gripped me. “Where is Harper?”

A burdened breath left him. “I don’t think she can do this… not yet. She is in too much pain.”

His words stung because I knew he didn’t just mean physically.

Glancing in the direction of their room, I made my way towards it with Elijah by my side. He didn’t try to stop me, which told me he wanted me to talk to her.

The moment I entered the space, I found her lying in bed, silent tears falling onto her pillow. My steps slowed, but still called her attention to the entrance.

Her gaze saddened the second she saw me. “Not now,” she immediately argued, wiping the tears from her face. “I can’t talk to you. Not yet.”

The animosity in her voice made my heart constrict, but I nodded.

“We don’t have to talk; I just want to help you. Please, let me heal you.” Golden light engulfed my hand instantly, my magic rushing freely to the surface as I sat next to her on the bed.

After sharing my soul, power, and energy with the Dragons during the ceremony, something had changed in me.

Tharion’s words rang true, I was whole now.

“H-heal me?” she asked in shock, taken aback as her eyes fell to my glowing hand.

“Before becoming the Harbinger of Justice, my dad was a natural healer, as his father, and grandfather were. The ability was passed down to me, and now that my Wizard magic has awakened, the block holding my abilities back is gone. It is still new, but I think my Wizard and Dragon sides come together to enhance it. I can heal your injuries, Harper. Please let me.”

With an arm in a makeshift cast and strapped to her chest, Harper struggled to sit up, but did it without Elijah’s assistance—her gaze never leaving me. A part of her wanted me to help her, it was evident in the way she sighed, looking at my hand as though she could almost feel the relief that I would bring her. Yet, I feared the other side of her resented me for my connection to the one who’d done this to her.

“He killed her,” she finally sobbed, confirming my suspicion. “How can I do this? How can I trust you when your grandfather took my best friend from me? My sister?” she whispered the last word, pain gutting her being.

My throat closed as her sorrow and mine burned together. The pain of being compared to such a putrid being for even a second, even when I knew she didn’t really mean it that way was devastating.

“I amnothim,” I answered, putting all my hatred for Raithian in the distinction. “I didnotchoose that monster as my family. He fed on his own father and ancestors for power. He burned my dad to death before my eyes when I was only a child, crippled my mom and destroyed her mind from all the horrors he forced her to witness. He almost succeeded in killing me too, but she saved me. He isnotmy grandfather and willneverbe.”

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