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Carlak started running toward the stairs. “What happened?”
I ran behind him, breathless with worry. But still, I managed to call out, “I think its his magic. It’s taking over. And he doesn’t know how to control it.”
I was guessing, of course, but that explanation made the most sense to me. Especially when I remembered the bright purple sparking in his eyes as I’d run.
Carlak paused at the base of the stairs, the scent of smoke in the air. “That stupid bastard,” he growled, then began taking the stairs two at a time.
I was right on his heels, my heart racing in my chest. I’d never moved so fast in my life.
“Where is he?” I called out to Carlak when we both reached the top of the stairs. I covered my mouth and began to cough from the smoke. It was everywhere. In the halls, filling the rooms. But I couldn’t see Anthony anywhere.
“I think he’s on the balcony,” Carlak called, pointing ahead of him down the hallway.
I took a deep breath and ran through the smoke down the carpet runner, in the direction Carlak pointed. I knew I shouldn’t be anywhere near this danger, but I couldn’t help thinking that this was my fault.
And I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to Anthony.
He had lost control, all because I’d called him out on something that had been torturing him since he was child.
Wrong or not, misguided or not, he was clearly in pain. I’d done nothing to help him. In fact, I’d made it worse. In my own pain and feelings of rejection, I’d lashed out at him. Rightly so, maybe. But this was going to have devastating consequences, I could already tell.
The heat of the flames in the hallway made me flinch, but I kept running.
The smoke made my eyes tear up, but I ducked and weaved around the flames until I burst through the open door out onto the balcony.
Carlak was close behind me. I turned to see if he was coming but a wall of fire and smoke rose up, cutting him off from my sight.
I blew out gasping breaths, trying to steady myself and stave off panic.
The night air out here in comparison to the fire inside was freezing. I shivered, then turned back to see Anthony standing on the balustrade, still dressed, and no sign of his dragon.
“He, I called out, still gulping for breath. “Whatcha doing out here?”
“You shouldn’t have come back,” Anthony said, his voice a deep growl.
He didn’t turn around.
I put my hand to my chest, my heart thundering beneath my hand. We were so far up. I had learned that this was the highest tower in the castle. And it was a long way down.
“Are you planning on flying us to safety?” I asked. “Because I’m not sure I can get back the way I came.”
I glanced behind me, amazed that I’d managed to make light conversation when the fire was burning up the castle.
Anthony didn’t say anything, but I felt his anguish permeating the air between us. He wanted me to leave, so he could stay here in his tower of solitude, stewing on his feelings.
Time to change tack. I’d seen so much beauty in this man, and I had to find a way to reach the prince who wanted my love. He had to be inside there still, surely?
“How strong is this fated mate bond you’ve been talking about?” I asked, shivering as much because of fear than because of the icy cold air. I could still feel the hot furnace behind me.
“There’s no stronger bond than that of a fated mate pair,” Anthony said, then slowly turned, his eyes glowing with a silvery magic I’d never seen before. Previously, his eyes had flared purple. Was this his true magic? Was he finally letting it free? “Nothing stronger.”
“Really?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Then why are you burning down the castle that your mate is staying in?”
He pressed his lips into a thin line.
“What was your plan?” I continued, because it was obvious he couldn’t or wouldn’t answer. “Burn it all and then fly away again?”
He shook his head.
