Page 60 of Dragon Throne: Part One

Tears left her eyes, her walls crumbling with the truth in my story, knowing I’d suffered at his hand too. She slowly shook her head, holding on, fighting herself not to let go of the resentment she had placed on me. I couldn’t fault Harper for that, because I knew pain like this was almost easier to deal with when you had someone close to blame.

“He killed my family. He killed my friend,” she whispered, her words catching on a sob as she lifted her gaze to mine. “And now you—”

“And now Iwillmake him pay for taking Penelope from us… for taking my father from me and robbing me of a normal childhood with my family. For taking everyone we ever loved,” I finished for her, the muscles of my jaw tensing with every word.

Sobs escaped her, and she threw her good arm around me, clinging to me even through the pain the action brought her. “I’m sorry, Braxton.”

“It’s okay.” My arms wrapped around her back gently and I cradled her head. Firmly holding her to me, I let my healing energy pour freely into her while she cried.

When the tears finally subsided, Harper leaned away, a deep frown capturing her features. “It’s gone…” she mumbled, glancing at her arm and stiff leg. “It’s gone!”

Her hand hurriedly ripped away the brown bandages and wood structure that formed the makeshift cast of her arm, and she rotated it vigorously, finding no injury or pain. Her fingers flew over the bandages on her leg too, ripping it all as fast as she could, then jumped from the bed, standing on her own two feet.

“You healed me, Braxton!” she squealed, jumping like a mad woman. “You truly healed me!”

Elijah’s hand squeezed my shoulder in a silent thank you, and we chuckled, seeing Harper jump on me next, sending us crashing off the bed.

When we finally made it to the hallway, Harper walked next to us in hersky riderarmor, just like the rest of the guard. The girls immediately rushed towards her, hugging her, glad she seemed healed and in better spirits.

“Here,” Asher offered, pressing something to my chest. My black and gold, retractable spear with the Devenish Family crest that Kingston had his daughter, Skylar, made for me.

Sweet relief crashed into my being. “Thank you, Brother. I thought I’d lost it when I engaged Raithian.”

He gave me a knowing yet reproaching stare. “Do I need to tie the spear to your hand again?”

I snorted at that. “Probably.”

His lips twitched. “We need to do something about that unsteady battle stance of yours.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Grinning, he patted my back. “Let’s go get you into your armor and find the princess.”

That reminded me I was still in one of the t-shirts that Willow handmade for me, and linen pants. Willow… The ache returned, but I needed to focus on one thing at a time.

Nodding, I ran up the stairs ahead of the others to get ready before Kingston came out of his room and had my head.

Entering the room, I found Evie in a beautiful jewel green top and skirt, embellished in a way that always reminded me of Indian dresses…

She was not alone.

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