It would destroy me.
Jax’s attention cut to me, and the ruthlessness of the Dark Raider shone upon his face, but it fractured for a split second when he saw me, and his features softened.
“Do what she said.Remove that collar from her immediately, and ensure she is not hurt in the process.”
Daggers shot from Saroly’s eyes, but she turned in her chair, and even though I’d done nothing to this female and in no way deserved her wrath, she looked ready to spit in my face.
But Jax’s magic had also commanded her not to hurt me, so even if she did want to rake her nails down my cheeks, she couldn’t. Just like she couldn’t resist his command to remove my collar.
My heart pounded painfully.
Lifting her hands, Saroly settled cupped palms around my throat. Her magic heated my skin so much that it felt as though I should be burning, but no pain came, only potent magic that had its own feel and fragrance. Sharp scents of gold wafted up to greet me, then magical tangs of silver and iron followed. Saroly closed her eyes, her jaw muscles pumping in rage while her body begrudgingly followed Jax’s command.
Not even a second later, a click came from the back of my neck.
A new texture on my collar rubbed against my skin, right by my mating mark. My fingers flew toward it of their own accord. A locking mechanism, which had magically appeared under its maker’s instruction, brushed against my fingertips.
Still scowling, Saroly swatted my fingers away and pinched the mechanism. A click followed, and my collar sprang open.
Just like that . . .it opened.
Eyes wide with shock, I watched as Saroly pulled back, bringing my unlocked collar with her.
Cool air rushed around my throat. Air that I couldn’t remember ever having felt upon my skin bathed me in freshness. I ran my fingers over my neck, around my throat, and against my mating mark just beneath my hairline. Naked skin greeted me.Naked skin.My collar was gone.
As soon as that realization hit me, a rush of cold energy blazed from the depths of my stomach, soaring upward through my frame as all of my lorafin magic coasted free. Shadows unfurled within me. My magic sang. My power surged. The sense that I’d had previously, that there was a missing piece to the puzzle of my magic, disappeared. The last final essence of my power clicked into place, and the second it did, for the first time in my life, I feltwhole.
Magnificent, heady power barreled through me. I jumped up and shouted, glee filling me so completely that I raised my arms and began to twirl in place.
Magic cascaded through me, around me, in me. So much magic. So much power. And I had access to all of it now, because I wasfree.
Finally, blessedlyfree.
Shadows blazed around me as tears filled my eyes, streaming down my cheeks. Thickness coated my throat. I cried in relief and joy, so overcome that I couldn’t see through the pool of moisture flooding my eyes.
But then the hazy image of Jax was there, standing before me. He wrapped me in his embrace. Strong arms held me, crushing me to his chest, and I hugged him back just as fiercely.
“My love.” His voice was husky and thick with emotion.
I held him just as fast. “I’m free.” My words came out choked as disbelief still filled me. I’d wanted this for so long. Full seasons of hope had been leading to this single moment, and at last, it was here. Finally, the suffocating magic that had caged me my entire life was gone. Blessedly and completelygone.
Tears of amazement continued to pour from me. I couldn’t hold them back. Couldn’t stop my reaction to the reality that had just occurred. For so many summers, I’d dreamed of this. But it’d always seemed to be just that—a dream. My entire life I’d hoped that one day, what had just happened, would finally be true. And now it was.
Sobbing, I clung to my mate.
Jax gripped me hard, his face buried in my neck as I cried and cried in happiness. Finally,finallyI was allowed to say goodbye to the slave life that I’d always known. I was a caged lorafin no more.
My potent magic continued to cascade through me as Jax held me, but I didn’t explode. I didn’t grow out of control. I had mastered my magic long ago, and IknewI was no longer a threat to others.
Another sob shook my chest, and Jax pulled back, just enough to cup my cheeks and kiss me.
I kissed him back just as hard, a laugh bubbling out of me. He joined in, his deep laugh joining my own. I suddenly became aware that his friends around the room were cheering and thumping the table in their excitement.
And when I finally wiped my eyes enough to clearly regard everything that was happening, it was to a sea of smiling faces.
Only Saroly wasn’t rejoicing, but for the life of me, I couldn’t find the will to care.
The gold collar,the choker that had been placed upon me, literally choking the magic out of me my entire life, sat on the table in front of us. Sitting there, it looked innocent. Harmless. Yet I knew if I slipped it around my neck and allowed that deadly lock to engage once more, its magic could affect me all over again.
