Page 69 of Ashborne Phoenix

‘Bring light, Voski. Bind your mate in light—in love. Not the darkness of fear or hate. You’ll only harm yourself.’

Mother snapped fingers at the servants, gesturing for them to set up and striding toward Grace, explaining the rites in impatient tones. I stood at the center of the room letting them flow around me like a rock that parted the river. But as I mentally recounted the steps of a Cruor binding, and the rites they’d expect, when I considered how I might divert her from them, all I could see was disaster.

Any Cruor wanted the binding rites, and the marriage ceremonies, because they increased their power. To remove her from any of the rituals would be a clarion call for my true allegiance and motive.

If only there were a way to convince them I had a more powerful—

I froze as inspiration hit.

‘Kham!’

I felt his attention perk as I shoveled my ideas toward him. ‘Can you find other dragons? Will they help you?’

There was a beat before he answered, and a prickling sense of unease, but he answered in the affirmative. ‘Koa can call the Wild Ones.’

‘Perfect—bring as many as you can. Keep them out of sight of the castle until I tell you.’

‘It will mean being out of range for a time.’

‘I know, but we need them.’

Kham sent a rush of reassurance, then pulled away and I felt him fade. Grace caught my eye from where she was being seated at a bench, no fewer than three maids working on her hair and powders, while my mother continued to snip and instruct.

‘I asked them to find more dragons. In case we need assistance.’

‘I gathered.’ She sounded uneasy.

‘Trust me, Grace. This will look ugly, but just follow my lead. Let yourself react normally—but only speak to me through the link. We can’t let them know I see you as anything more than a pawn for my power.’

Her nerves were apparent, but the bond swelled with love and trust as well. ‘Just tell me what to do. We’ll finish them.’

I was so overwhelmed by her simple trust—which I didn’t believe I’d earned yet—the restraint it took to speak without reaching for her made my words to my mother sound tight and slightly threatening.

“Explain the ritual in detail so she knows what to expect. I’ll bathe and change.”

Mother turned on me. “You will stay out of sight! Their guards are down. They finally believe the last barriers are removed. Burk’s kept her parents out of the castle, and says he won’t lift the lockdown until they’re married, so there’s no chance of any other interruption. I suspect Breckon doesn’t want to risk them choosing you over him. You keep your head down and wait. Let me carry her through this, and when it’s over, I’ll bring her to you.”

I didn’t hesitate, but strode to stand over my mother and dropped my voice as if to keep the words from the servants, but it made my voice gravel as I snarled at her.

“I don’t care how we do it—but she ends tonight bound to me, not Breckon. Let the fucker die for all I care. But I swear, Mother, if you don’t hand her back to me tonight, I will bring every ounce of power I possess against both of you.”

“Both of whom?”

I leaned right down until our noses almost touched, then hissed right in her face. “That baby is mine. I’ll remove it from her myself rather than give its power to any other man… or woman.”

Conflicting emotions chased themselves back and forth behind her eyes—thrill that I embraced my power, shock and anger that I’d threaten the child. Nerves as well, though I wasn’t sure if that was because I’d worried her about the baby, or her own safety in my hands.

She licked her lips. “Of course, son. Of course. I told you, trust me. I was angry because I feared you’d tipped our hand. But you’re here now… I can fix this. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, I’m not. I’m coming out of this with the woman, the child, and the mark, no matter what it takes. The only question is whether you’ll be there at my side, or strung up as one of my defeated enemies,” I muttered. Then I turned on my heel before she could reply and strode out of the room.

‘Trust nothing she tells you,’ I reminded Grace as I stormed down the hall. ‘I’ll be near, whether you see me or not. I won’t allow her to separate us again. You have my word.’

Blood Alive

~ GRACE ~

‘She’s given me a veil to cover my face. But it’s me,’ I sent to Voski desperately, as Lady Ashford led me into that tower chamber.