Page 132 of Fate of the Sun King

The door swung open, and two of the king’s warders entered.

“Your Majesty,” one of them said. “The Final Tribute has escaped the palace.”

CHAPTER FORTY

LOR

PRESENT DAY

The following day, Nadir and I ride for the clearing where we practiced with Tristan last week. As we pass the same ruined temple, I stop to study it with new perspective, thinking of the task Zerra assigned to Cloris. Though she changed the subject, Cloris seemed to suggest Zerra needed the ark to save herself. But from what, exactly?

The stillness in the clearing is a direct contrast to the chaos building inside Aphelion. Between clashes with the low fae and the mounting spectacle of the bonding, the city walls have become a noose, cinching a little tighter every day.

Despite the calendar showing it’s winter, the temperature has been creeping up all week, and sweat is already beading on my forehead, a line running down my temple. I wear a light sleeveless top, the fabric clinging to my flushed skin.

We dismount from our horses and walk to the middle of the clearing.

“Do I need to put myself in mortal peril today?” Nadir asks, eyeing the pile of rubble we were responsible for creating last time.

“No,” I say. “I have to learn to do this without that being the reason.”

He approaches me and circles my waist. “I never properly thanked you for saving me from my father that day in Heart,” he says, his voice rough. “Without you protecting me, he would have won.”

I blow out a shaky breath. “It was strange, but at that moment, all I saw was white-hot rage, and I didn’t understand yet why it affected me that way. I would have done anything to protect you. I wanted to make him suffer for that moment and for everything he’s ever done to you.” My words pitch lower until I’m practically growling them, and Nadir smiles.

“I love it when you’re possessive, Heart Queen. It makes me so fucking hard.”

To prove his point, he grabs my ass and yanks me closer, where I feel the proof of his claim.

“Well, get used to it,” I whisper as he kisses the curve of my throat. “If anyone dares lay a hand on you, I will make them bleed. I once broke a woman’s arm for stealing my soap. Imagine what I’d do if someone hurt my mate.”

“Zerra, I will never get enough of you,” he murmurs into my skin, and I believe him because I feel the same.

“Maybe we don’t need to practice. How about a skinny dip under the waterfall?” I tease, and he groans.

“Yes, we do.” Then he pulls up. “Maybe if you’re a good girl and do as I say, I’ll reward you.”

Then he winks, spins, and walks away as I roll my eyes at his back.

“I heard that!” he calls.

“I didn’t say anything!”

“Let’s go, Lightning Bug,” he says, turning around with a smirk. “Show me what you can do.”

My hands ball into fists, and I squint at him, focusing on the churning in my veins. That door that’s still locked but has taken on a less dense and solid quality. I’m tearing it down, bit by bit, but can I do it in time for it to matter?

As I concentrate, a trickle of magic sparks through my limbs while Nadir continues backing up, putting more distance between us. When he seems satisfied, he sends out ribbons of light towards me but not in aggression. They wind gently around me as my magic responds to him with bottomless want.

A shiver ripples over my body as my lightning emerges. Only this time, there’s no uncontrolled torrent. This time it surfaces slowly, twisting up my arms in jagged lines following the curve of Nadir’s magic as they twin together like dancers waltzing over glass. I exhale in surprise, mesmerized by how this feels like an extension of me. I remember this sensation from so long ago.

I look over at Nadir, and even from across the clearing, I can see his pride. He pulls his magic back, leaving only mine, and I continue to marvel at it. It’s so remarkable, this gift. I truly thought it was gone forever. It’s still not all quite there. It’s muted, and that door is still closed, but it’s leaking out, and I’m sure it’s getting stronger.

When I healed Tristan, it crested so close to the surface and to breaking free.

Two abilities live inside me: one to destroy and one to create. Something tells me I will call on both many times before all of this is over.

Nadir sends another burst of magic hurtling my way. I lift my arm and block it, and our magic meets, crashing together and spreading apart in a halo of red and green and blue and purple suspended in the air. I can’t help but think it represents the two of us, contradictory and at odds but also yielding to each other to create something that makes my bones ache and my blood simmer.