The roaring crescendos. Feet stamp again and again, sending ricochets through the stone surrounding the beach below.
65
You’re Free Now
The chants continue to echo through the palace. Even once we’re back beneath the covering of the royal mountain, I can hear the guttural shouts.
My forearm is throbbing more and more as my adrenaline fades. Jarron growls. Then I feel a rush of warmth in my chest. Pins and needles cover my entire right arm. I hold it out like my own arm is going to bite me. “What is that?”
The pain eases. “It’s not completely healed,” Jarron says, “So be careful with it, but it’s close.”
“You—How?”
“We are linked now. You have access to my magic, remember? You’ll gain more the closer we get to—” He clears his throat.
I smirk. “Is bonding a dirty word?”
“Not at all. I just know you’re not ready for that yet.”
I feel like it’s more of a technicality at this point. Maybe I’m too young to make an irreversible decision, but I’m pretty confident my mind will never change, not about him.
“But you are still barely healing from death—why did you give up some of your magic for this?”
He glares at me like I’m an insolent child. “You were in pain. I will be fine. I just need some time to gain my energy back.”
I’m not sure it was a wise choice, but I thank him regardless.
If it’s even possible, I swear the cheers are growing continually louder.
Jarron chuckles. “They’re calling you the poisoner queen.”
I suck in a breath. “Really?”
He smirks and again pulls me into his arms. “You’re incredible.”
I shake my head against his shoulder in disbelief.This is real.
Yes, bright one, this is real.
I pull back and look up at him. My demon. My mate. My entire future. “Is that it? It’s over?”
“For now.” He pulls me into his arms and plants a soft kiss to my lips. “The work is far from done, but after a few weeks with no new claims, the tension will ease. You and I can discuss how far we’d like to go to ease the concerns. Or leave here and never come back.”
“You and I?”
He shrugs. “I mean it. We’ll talk about what we could do and what it will mean. The risks versus the rewards. But if you want to leave this world and do… anything else, I will do it. You choose. You’re in control now.”
I heave a big sigh of relief. I’d like to learn what those things are that he thinks will ease the concerns here, but having the option of going back to Earth and justlivinghelps me breathe easier.
“Welcome home, Candice!” Jarron’s mother says, back in her human form for the first time. She throws her arms around me, and I accept the embrace warmly.
Jarron’s father, Emil, gives me a sweet smile. “We are so glad to have you here, officially.”
It’s my second time in the palace after accepting Jarron’s mark, but this is the big one. Our enemies are destroyed. The war is, well, not entirely over, but the pressure alleviated.Our challengers are defeated.
“I’m very glad to have you back, Liz,” Jarron says to my sister standing awkwardly a few feet away from the rest of the family gathering. She holds herself tightly, hands squeezing her arms.
Liz gives him sad eyes and doesn’t respond. She and I still have a lot to figure out as well.
