Let it burn.
Lure back your flame.
Let it burn.
I’m burning at your stake.
The crowd gasped and stared over her head. She followed their pointing fingers. The origami dragon was gone, replaced with a real one. Nathaniel’s amethyst heart glowed through the chest of his black and purple scales. His horned head reached over her, his wings spreading. She missed her cue, but he filled in the break in the music with a stream of fire that blazed over the heads of the crowd.
The arena exploded with cheers. She’d never heard them this loud or this wild. She looked between Nathaniel and Aborella. Just try it bitch. She sang on.
Your light, it crawls to meet
the darkness inside me.
Don’t you know that your energy
is the thing making me me?
Bring on your light.
I will be your queen.
Bring on your light.
I will rule your world.
Bring on your light.
I welcome it. I’m ready. I’m ready.
Let it burn. Let it burn. Let it buuuurn.
Aborella seethed at Nathaniel and then at Clarissa, her evil mind seeming to come to some nefarious conclusion as the music waged on. She raised her hands and purple sorcery crackled like lightning.
Her security was on it. They moved for her first, then feeling the danger, ushered the crowd back, giving Aborella room. The audience went along, clearly thinking it was all part of the show. Aborella didn’t even seem to notice.
She unleashed her power straight at Clarissa. It never reached her. Nathaniel’s scales flashed in front of her, taking the blow directly on his flank.
But Clarissa wasn’t about to allow Nathaniel to take the brunt of the blow. She sang out her next note and held it, her magic forming a protective barrier around his scales.
Purple lightning crackled and hissed, but Clarissa held her note. Her lungs began to burn and she could feel her face redden, but she put her entire self into it. All the love she felt for Nathaniel loaded her voice.
Aborella’s magic sputtered and died. Clarissa stopped singing. Nathaniel uncoiled and faced Aborella, his amethyst heart glowing as bright as a spotlight. Clarissa had a clear view of Aborella’s horrified face as Nathaniel’s massive taloned paw slammed down on her body, flattening her into the concrete just as the music came to its conclusion.
She met the gaze of her mate, his dragon’s beautiful purple eye winking at her. Then he disappeared into thin air, leaving nothing but a smear of purple on the floor of the arena and a crowd whose screams and applause rattled the walls.
Chapter Forty-Two
Nathaniel plunked down beside Gabriel in the last row of section 412 and watched his mate continue her performance as if a fully grown dragon hadn’t crushed a fairy right in front of her not five minutes ago. The crowd had closed the gap where he’d been, some even fighting over what remained of Aborella’s clothing even though it was stained with her purple blood. Everyone here thought it was part of the show.
“Are you sure she’s dead?” Gabriel asked. If he hadn’t been a dragon, he’d never have heard his brother’s whisper over the music. Good thing. The fans packed around them didn’t even turn their heads.
“No. Aborella’s magic is dark and she’s an immortal. I drained her completely and destroyed her physical body on this world, but what I washed from my hands and what remained on the concrete was not all of her. All I know for sure is that she is vanquished. For now.” Nathaniel gripped the armrests of his seat. He’d never trust the bitch was dead, not unless her body was actively decomposing in front of him.
“I thought not.” Gabriel frowned.
“You know you’ll have to go back, right?” Nathaniel looked at Gabriel with conviction. “The throne is rightfully yours, and Mother will destroy the five kingdoms if left to her own devices.”
“I know. I think Raven knows too. I always thought the law about dragons and witches was a warning. Now I realize it’s a promise.” Gabriel’s brow furrowed, the warrior Nathaniel knew he was coming to the surface. “I’ll need your help. You’re the only one who understands Mother’s magic. Without you, she’ll smite us from this world and the next.”
“You have my word,” Nathaniel said. “I promised Clarissa I would go on tour with her, but she’ll understand periodic absences.”
Gabriel nodded slowly. “You do understand that your mate is the third sister.”
Nathaniel’s skin prickled. “In theory. I understand my mate is bound with Raven and her sister Avery in some way. Aborella came for her tonight to kill her, not because she wanted Clarissa dead but to take away Raven’s power.”
“You don’t remember then, the tale of the Three Sisters, from school?”
Nathaniel’s eyes widened and he turned from watching the performance to focus fully on Gabriel. “Ancient history, Gabriel. These are not the same three sisters.”
The hard truth that sparked in Gabriel’s eyes was totally and completely chilling. “No. They are their descendants and the ones the prophecy foretold. Together, they are more powerful than anything in this universe. Even Raven does not understand the full extent of it. She does not know the prophecy or the history as I do.”
“Then how do you know it’s real?” Nathaniel asked. “There are many stories and many prophecies.”
Gabriel threaded his hands over his waist. “My mate had a vision of the goddess when she delivered our child. She was dead, Nathaniel. Her heart stopped beating. When she came back to me, she told me she’d met Circe. And the prophecy she shared with me was too close to the one we learned to be a coincidence.”
Nathaniel swallowed. “The whelp… Your child is the result of mating between a dragon and a witch. You are the heir. Your child is the prophesied destroyer of the kingdom of Paragon.”
“Yes.” Gabriel stared at Nathaniel’s mate onstage as if he hadn’t even heard it. It took a full minute for Nathaniel to put it all together.
“Your child is the only hope for Paragon,” Nathaniel whispered. “We always thought the destroyer was a bad thing. The mating was forbidden because we feared the result. But now, it means… this means…”
Gabriel glared at him, his jaw tight. “My family will sit on that throne and bring peace to the five kingdoms, and not because we desire to conquer but because we desire to liberate. We will save Paragon from the empress. We are the ones the goddess foretold.”
Nathaniel’s hand instinctively sought out the pipe in his pocket, anxiety flipping his stomach. “And Clarissa is part of it.”
Gabriel leaned back beside him as they both took in the crowd, the lights, his mate’s magical voice. “Yes.”
Chapter Forty-Three
It was late by the time Clarissa had wrapped up her act, met with fans, and signed autographs. She’d stripped off her costume, hairpiece, and makeup. Then there was the hard conversation with Tom. Words were said, words that could never be taken back. But that’s what happened when you violated someone’s expectations. She’d figured as much.
Tom had staked his career on her ongoing success, and she’d told him she wasn’t interested in being a pop star anymore. All things considered, she thought he handled it well.
Security walked her out to her car, where she anticipated Emory would be waiting. Instead, she found Nathaniel leaning up against the Mercedes and staring at the stars. When he saw her, his mouth spread into a wide smile.
She took off at a run and leaped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his hips. He did not disappoint. Catching her, his big arms enveloped her in protective warmth and his face buried in her neck.
“Oh God,” she said. “My God, Nathaniel, I thought you’d never get back. And Aborella, she would have k-killed me if not for you.”
“Shhh. Shhh.” He kissed her cheek. “We got her. I have you now. You’re safe.”
He opened the car door for her and she slid in. Once he was in place beside her, she tucked into his side agai
n as Emory took off for Mistwood. “I missed you so much. Tell me everything.”
He gave her the condensed version. “I had no idea that Aborella would strike tonight. I simply came to see you perform and acted when I saw her in the crowd. Truthfully, I thought it would take her longer to recover from what we did to her in Paragon.”
“I’m lucky you did. Even with my voice and magic in place, I’m not sure I could have stopped her from hurting me or one of my dancers by myself.”
He placed a kiss on her temple.
“Why do you think she came after me? Why not Raven?” It was a question that had weighed on her all night.
Nathaniel thought about how to tell her the truth. “In my world, there is a legend, part history, part folklore, about three sister witches. In the early fourth century, long before I was born, the kingdom of Paragon was attacked by the kingdom of Darnuith—in our world, the kingdom of the witches. The witch queen of Darnuith, who attacked Paragon—which was under the rule of my uncle King Brynhoff at the time—was one of three sisters. She’d risen to power quickly, and her magic was unparalleled. The uprising was thwarted, and Brynhoff credited the Goddess of the Mountain with his victory.
“He claimed the goddess had decreed that for the greater peace, there must be an alliance of kingdoms. The Highborn Court was formed with Paragon as its head, thus giving the kingdom of Paragon power over all five territories. Although each kingdom is independent on paper, Paragon, as the protector of all, has ultimate power over all. Since then, there has been a tenuous peace. But there is a marked difference between the way Paragonians talk about the five kingdoms and the way others do. We say that the realm of Paragon is divided into five kingdoms, led by the kingdom of Paragon.”
“And what do the others say?”
“Before the uprising by Darnuith, the realm was called Ouros and Paragon one kingdom among five. Many outside of Paragon still call our world Ouros. But while ancient maps are labeled Ouros, all maps since the Witch War label our world as Paragon with the Kingdom of Paragon delineated as the capitol.”
“I can’t imagine the other four kingdoms appreciate that. No wonder there’s political unrest. But how does that translate into Aborella trying to kill me?”
“There is a prophecy among the Darnuith that one day the descendants of the three sisters will return and that the progeny of a witch and a dragon will destroy the kingdom of Paragon. Aborella tried to kill you tonight to get at Raven because Gabriel and Raven’s child is believed to be the destroyer, the one foretold, the weapon the three sisters would use to conquer the kingdom of Paragon. You were the most vulnerable, so she targeted you. I can only assume she’d learned you’d be at the O2 the last time she was here, the night she took your hair.”
A dull humming had started in her ears, and Clarissa shook her head as if to clear it. “Are you saying that my existence… my connection to you and to Raven and Avery… that you believe it was prophesized in your world. Like… like… in your mythology?”
He nodded. “We think, perhaps, yes. I didn’t believe it at first, not until Gabriel brought it to mind. But there’s no doubt Raven and Gabriel’s child is the one foretold. It all fits.”
Ooookay. She leaned back against the seat and swore. What was she supposed to do with that? “It’s a lot to process.”
“Right, well, you don’t have to worry about anything.” Nathaniel brushed a hand over the sleeve of his suit. “I’ll be there, every night at every concert, from now on. I’ll protect you. No one from Paragon or anywhere else is ever going to hurt you again, and Gabriel and Raven can go about their lives and decide what to do about Paragon. We don’t need to be involved.”
She swallowed. “Aside from the idea that I should or could simply set aside what you’ve told me about Paragon to pursue my career, there’s something you should know.” She turned to look him in the eye. “I told Tom tonight that I’m retiring. There’re a few more appearances I’m contractually obligated to complete, but then I’m ending it.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders, his brow furrowing. “Why? Clarissa, I promise you, nothing that has happened requires you to sacrifice this. You love to sing. You live to sing. I know my world is terrifying right now, but I swear to you I protect what’s mine—”
She shook her head and laughed. “I know. I know I could do it. Tonight was our best performance ever. We’re trending everywhere. Everyone is talking about the show. Tom said it was a concert for the history books.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I’m not willing to pay the price of fame anymore.”
“Clarissa…” Nathaniel looked contrite, like he regretted what he’d said to her over breakfast about her chosen profession.
“No… no. Nathaniel, you were right about that. All these years, I’ve been terribly lonely. Surrounded by fans but always alone. I thought it was enough. But spending every holiday with the people you work with because you have no real friends or family isn’t living. It’s a prison.”
“You’d have me. I’d be there for you, always.”
“Yes. I know. But I don’t want it anymore. I love to sing. I’ll always sing. I want to become an indie artist. Release music on my own terms. Perform in small venues, intimate ones for me and a few dozen fans. No more arenas. No more crowds of thousands. No more Tom.” She placed a hand over his heart. “I want to have a home, maybe a family. Let’s face it, I have more money than I could ever spend. I don’t need to work and I just… I just…”
“What sort of family?” Nathaniel asked. Dark clouds moved in behind his irises, and his expression became gravely serious.
She drew back. Had she made a terrible mistake? Her words rambled out all at once. “I… I thought because we were mated that your family would become my family. I mean Nick, Maiara, Sabrina, Avery, and I seemed to bond while you were gone. I felt connected for the first time.” She sighed. “Oh hell, I was wrong. They don’t like me, do they? I’m so bad at reading people.”
Her hands went to her head, but Nathaniel caught her wrists. “No, you’re not. My family is your family and always will be. Any of my siblings would do anything for you.”
“Then why do you look so grave?”
“Children between dragons and witches are rare,” he said. “Forbidden, as I mentioned. Gabriel and Raven’s child was conceived with the help of a magic spell. She died giving birth, and although they were able to revive her, it was touch and go for a time. Children won’t happen naturally between us, and the magic to make them happen would be dangerous.”
“Oh.” She blinked at him. She’d known he couldn’t impregnate her. They’d covered that much before when they’d become lovers. She’d just never fully understood why.
“We should have talked about this… before.” He tucked her hair behind her ear.
She sent him a soft smile and tugged at the cuff of her sleeve. “It wouldn’t have made a bit of difference, Nate. You are mine, and our claiming each other was long past overdue as far as I’m concerned. But truly, when I said family, I didn’t necessarily mean children, although someday I wouldn’t mind providing a home for a child who needs parents— an orphan like me. Right now, I just mean you, your siblings, Tempest and Laurel if they ever warm up to me. A home… Love… Warmth. I’m tired of feeling like my every breath is pulled into my lungs for someone else.”
Nathaniel ran his fingers along the inside of her thigh from her knee to the hem of her skirt. “Then so it shall be. If you truly want to make a change, we can build you a studio at Mistwood.”
“Life is too short for anything else.”
Nathaniel turned serious. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
Her stomach tensed. Was her mortality a problem for him? “Yes?”
“There is a way I can make you immortal like me, and I hope you’ll accept it.”
It felt like all the blood had drained from her face. Her skin went cold. She thought she’d understood what it meant to
be mated to a dragon, but never did she assume it came with immortality. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. If I feed you my tooth, you will live as long as I do.”
“Your tooth.”
He nodded once. “It is how it always has been and always will be for dragons. Do you think you could be bonded with me for all eternity? The tooth will keep you young and impart you with health and strength.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. He squinted at her. “I mean, have you ever done this before?”
“With Emory.”
She mulled it over for a few long moments.
“Does the length of commitment scare you?” A muscle in his jaw twitched. His commitment had already been eternal.
At once she knew her answer. “No. It doesn’t scare me.”
“Then yes?” His eyes met hers and flashed amethyst.
“Yes.”
He reached into his mouth, and with a tug she thought must have hurt, extracted something white and too long to have fit in his jaw. He closed his fist around it. A surge of magic rippled across her skin. When he opened his hand again, there was a purple pill the size of a Tic Tac in his palm. “Take this and it is done.”
“That’s it? Just swallow it down?”
He nodded. She took the pill and placed it on her tongue, then swallowed it without hesitation. Immediately she felt warmth bloom from her stomach and branch through her limbs like lightning. She closed her eyes as energy charged through her blood and her connection with Nathaniel became a palpable thing, a taut, invisible string between them.
Her eyelids flipped open and he was there, focused on her, his masculine presence almost overwhelming. She wanted him. Wanted him in her.
Every cell in her body came alive at the feel of his fingertips lightly caressing the sensitive flesh along the inside of her thigh. She desperately wanted to yell at Emory to drive faster. She remembered the feel of Nathaniel rising behind her onstage, felt the sheer power that seemed to surround him. All that magic, all that feral, tightly coiled strength, was right here in her arms. She needed him. She needed to feel him inside her, to know he was hers on every level.
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