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“Where?” she asked.
When Tari gave me a look, I said, “If here isn’t safe, then return to Abyssus. We’ll find you there.”
I smiled when my sister gave me a nod of approval.
“And if there isn’t safe?” she asked.
Where else was safe? “Then return to Aunt Malvolia’s castle,” I finally answered, worried that my sister would disapprove.
Tari sucked in a sharp breath but didn’t argue with my choice.
Aurora’s jaw dropped. “But I thought she was bad.”
I didn’t bother arguing with her on that point. “She won’t hurt you.”
“How do you know?” Ember asked as she stroked her wilted fruit doll.
I balled up my fists. “Because she knows your mommy and I would destroy her.”
“Promise me you won’t fight the demons,” Tari pleaded, her lower lip quivering while she grasped Aurora’s hand. “That you’ll flee.”
Aurora leaned against Tari, draping an arm over her shoulder. “But I can hit all the fruits, even in the highest trees. I’ve been practicing with Dada Ash.”
“Darling, demons aren’t fruits.” Tari brushed a strand of hair out of Aurora’s eyes. “All you’ll do is anger them with your slingshot, and I shudder to think what they’ll do to you.”
“Okay, Mommy.” Aurora’s shoulders sagged as she went boneless against her mother. “We’ll flee.”
“That’s a good girl.” Tari sniffled then held out her arms again. “Give Mommy hugs, darlings.”
I had to turn away when Ember and Aurora clung to their mother, sniffling into her hair. I hated this. It wasn’t fair that after two years apart, Tari was being ripped from her children again. I might be separated from the children and Nikkos for weeks or even months. How would I endure?
After a lot of prodding from Ash, Tari reluctantly let go of the girls and stomped over to Bea, cinching the saddle with jerky movements while tears streaked her face.
I swallowed back my sorrow while Nikkos, Finn, and the girls watched us from the shadow of the temple.
“This should be more comfortable with only two of us,” Tari said to Ash while checking the packs strapped onto Bea.
Drae grabbed my elbow while nodding toward Blaze. “You’ll ride with me today, then with Blaze tomorrow.”
I nodded my agreement while biting my lip. “So long as you don’t threaten to drop me.” Of course, I was referring to the time Drae had threatened to drop me mid-flight. This had been when he was angry with me for thwarting his plan to kill my parents and before we’d discovered that Thorin, not my parents, had murdered his parents.
He rolled his eyes to the heavens. “I’ll never live that down, will I?”
“No.” I laughed, swatting his chest, “But don’t say you don’t deserve it.”
His cheeks colored as he pulled me against his hard chest, projecting the next thought into my head. I would sooner cut off my own hands than drop you, my love.
I tenderly stroked his stubbled cheek, getting lost in the mahogany swirls in his eyes. I know, and I love you for it.
He brushed his nose against mine, our lips touching for the faintest of heartbeats, and I wanted nothing more than to disappear with my alpha mage and have my way with him.
A roar sounded above us, then a huge shadow passed overhead before Isa landed with a thud.
She bowed before us, and that’s when I noticed the leather saddle on her back.
Aren’t you riding on me?
I gave a start as the dragoness looked from me to my sister.
