He moved his eyes to Ambrose. Her cheeks were flushed as she ran next to him, her breathing uneven as she held Lily’s hand dragging her along. Even though her brows were pulled together in confusion, and her face was tight with her own thoughts, she didn’t let it stop her from doing what needed to be done.
Gods,she was beautiful.
How incredible she’d been.
Heknew she was powerful but the pull now unfolding in his chest—drawing him even closer to her—allowed him a glimpse of the power radiating beneath her skin, and she wasmagnificent. He’d never experienced something so awe-inspiring and he wondered if she could feel it too.
She had to.
The determination in his eye was matched with the one in Lily’s as she glanced sideways at him and they both understood.
It was time.
Everything was changing now.
Like it or not, Ambrose had to be ready.
He truly hoped she was.
* * *
Magnus swung open the door to his study and Ambrose, Akadian and Lily pushed in before anyone else could see them.
Ambrose placed her hands on the desk as she tried to catch her breath and her thoughts but her mind wouldn’t stop racing.
Lily survived. Akadian was alive. The gods had returned. The gods were alive.
“Magnus,” she breathed.
“I know, child.” He nodded and pointed a look at Akadian. “It’s time. Are you all ready?”
Ambrose’s eyes darted between the prince and her mentor. She had a million questions. For all of them. But they’d have to wait. “Ready for what?”
Magnus sucked in a sharp breath. “I want you to meet someone. Her name is Saray.”
A figure cloaked in black stepped from the shadows and Ambrose kicked herself for being so distracted she didn’t notice any other presence in the room. The being reached a hand up to pull their hood back and Ambrose had to stop herself from recoiling. The hand wasn’t scaled the way she was used to seeing, but sleek like the skin of a snake as she pulled backthe hood and revealed a face that so closely resembled a human had it not been for the same skin that coated her hand. Her eyes yellow, with sharp pupils and long blue hair that matched the shade of her skin.
Afemaledraconian.
“How is this possible?” Ambrose asked, wide-eyed. No one else seemed surprised but her.
“Hello,” the draconian named Saray spoke and unlike the harsh grating the males had, her voice was smooth.
“Who are you?” Ambrose straightened.
“A friend.”
“Are you here to help us?” Ambrose pleaded.
“Yes.” With that, Saray lifted her hand and her charge filled the air, a warm sensation filling the study with an electrifying build up.
Without thinking, Ambrose dropped her hips and pulled one of the daggers strapped to her thigh that she’d stolen from the metal mage and pointed it at Saray’s chest. The draconian simply shook her head, unafraid, and gave her a small smile. “I’m not here to harm you.”
“It’s alright.” Lily grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
“What are you guys hiding, why aren’t you shocked?” Ambrose accused, looking between her friends and mentor.
Saray swept her hand across the wall and the stone began to warp and dance as though made of water. She waited a moment before slipping her clawed fingers from beneath her sleeve and placed her hand against—no,through—the wall.
