Page 161 of Ashborne Phoenix

I sucked in a breath and took a step back, but I caught myself. “I… I understand.”

She looked up at me with concern. “Do you?”

I nodded. “Kham knows what you meant. He showed me.”

Something softened in Terra’s posture. “Oh… good. Good. The dragons are so wise. Then, let’s go. Your mate is weary, but she’s eager to see you.”

I nodded, and followed her out, muttering a reluctant thanks to Gil as we walked out the door. He clapped a hand to my shoulder and squeezed, then let me go.

Reunited

SOUNDTRACK: Take Me Back to Eden by Sleep Token

~ GRACE ~

I was curled up on a long but narrow bed in a dim, quiet room. Terra had left some time before. Other women came in every few minutes. They were kind, and spoke softly. They made no demands. They examined my stomach, my eyes, or my fingernails, which seemed strange. Yet, they only asked brief questions, then encouraged me to rest.

My eyes wanted to drag closed the moment they left, but I was scared to let myself sleep. I had learned that the last time I did, I didn’t wake up for days.

‘Thank you for staying close, Koa.’

‘I will not leave. I will remain. I watch. If you hurt, I will find you.’ She sent images of herself clawing through a window, tearing down the castle stones to reach me, and even though it was terrifying, I smiled.

‘You always know what to say, Koa.’

‘I never know good words. But I love.’

‘Yes, you do. You love very well.’

I almost drifted off then. But a jolt from Voski in the bond sent my heart racing. Terra must have found him and told him. She’d said that she had to get permission to bring him here, and she’d asked me if she could tell him.

At first, I’d said no. That it should be me.

She sat next to my bed and put her hand on mine. “I don’t claim to know Voski well, but can I tell you that I know men? Or perhaps it’s best to say, I know these men? Furyknights. I think… I think he may benefit from some warning. If you don’t want me to tell him, I won’t. But if you’re only worried for him to hear it—don’t. I think I know how to prepare him. It would be good for you to not have to be nervous. To let your body rest. But it’s your choice.”

I’d thought about it and shrugged. I was so weary. “It’s up to you. If he asks, or if you think he needs to know before he gets here, you can tell him.”

She nodded and patted my hand. “Good choice. I’ll get him here as quickly as possible. Until then, try to sleep. I know he’ll want to speak with you. So it’s probably good to rest while you can.”

I’d nodded, as if I would take her advice, but I didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to fade. I didn’t want to possibly miss the moment he arrived. And now, sensing him draw near, I was glad that I hadn’t. I wanted to see—

The door opened too quickly, swinging back on its hinges as my mate rushed into the room, searching and finding me, his eyes locking on mine.

“Oh, thank God.”

The tears shocked me. I’d been eager to see him, grateful, a little nervous. But the moment I saw his face and watched the fear fall away for joy, my vision blurred, and tears spilled over my lashes before he’d even slid to his knees at the side of the bed, throwing his arms over me and pulling me into his chest.

“Grace… oh, thank God.”

I clung to him, all the strength I didn’t think I had suddenly there as I dug fingers into his back, his shoulders, his hair, whispering his name through lips thick with tears. He whispered back, kissing my hair, my cheek, my lips, my neck.

And as he gathered me in, blankets and all, and lifted me to his chest, pulling himself up onto the bed and sitting with his back to the wall as he curled me up in his lap… I sobbed.

‘Grace… oh, my sweet Grace. I was so scared.’

‘Me as well.’