Page 157 of Fate of the Sun King

He stopped her from proceeding, snagging her chin in the cup of his hand as she gave him a quizzical look. He channeled his magic out, spiraling colorful whirls of light as Zerra’s smile stretched.

“Your magic is so lovely, Herric,” she said.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Then he forced it through his ring as she continued to watch the patterns he sketched. It took several moments before Zerra sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead as she sat back.

“I’m suddenly not feeling well,” she said as he funneled more magic into the ring.

“Why don’t you lie down?” he asked, helping her back to her seat. “Close your eyes.”

She nodded as her lids drifted shut, and he used the opportunity to filter out a stronger thread of magic. He stood over her as she lay oblivious, more and more magic surging into his ring.

Gods, how he loathed her. He wanted to kill her. He wanted to end her.

He would destroy her and make sure everyone knew what a wastrel she’d been.

But this wasn’t working. While it was causing her plenty of discomfort, this wasn’t killing her.

He sliced off the source of his magic and watched her, his chest heaving with the effort of expending so much power. The sound of his serrated breaths roused her from her stupor, and whatever she saw in his eyes caused her expression to pale.

“Herric?” she asked, sitting up as she tried to scramble back. “What’s wrong?”

“Zerra,” he snarled, his hands balling into fists.

“Get out,” she said, her voice wavering as she tumbled over the back of her divan. “Get out!”

She clung to the furniture, screaming at him to back away. Terror rolled in her eyes.

He realized he’d made a mistake. He’d been too impatient. Pushed too far and revealed his hand.

A moment later, he found himself once again on the surface, standing alone in the middle of the wind-whipped mountains under the dark Aurora sky.

“Zerra!” he screamed at the stars, and he wasn’t surprised when no answer came.

She couldn’t reach him down here, but neither could he return to the heavens without her invitation.

But that was okay.

It was obvious he couldn’t kill her himself.

This needed more strength than he possessed on his own.

But now… he had a plan.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

LOR

PRESENT DAY

With my hood pulled up, I wait in the bustling crowd with Nadir at my side. We all agreed he would escort me into the palace because he’s in the best position to protect me, given my still inconstant grasp on my magic.

And quite frankly, I thought he might kill anyone who suggested otherwise.

Not even Tristan tried to argue, and neither did I, for that matter. I want Nadir with me because I know there’s no one I’ll be safer with. I look over, catching the flash of his dark eyes under his own hood, smiling to myself in spite of everything.

My mate. My heart. The man I fell in love with despite the rivers we had to cross to get here. The hurts and the betrayals we had to overcome.