“Don’t play dumb, Raithian!” Braxton roared back, not seeming to care that he had the Warlock in his face. “Stop sending Azazel to follow—!” His words cut off suddenly, and he turned around, the glow receding from his eyes. “Fuck! What an asshole!”
“What happened?” I reached for him again, grateful he was unharmed.
“He’s gone.” Brax let out a frustrated sigh, focusing on me. “He denied it and disappeared somewhere. I have no idea where he went or what this means.”
Utterly perplexed, I glanced at him. “What do you mean he denied sending the beast? If Raithian didn’t send him, then who?”
“I think Azazel might have been following me on his own.”
“What?!”
A heavy sigh sank Brax’s chest, and he looked beyond me to the mirror, his gaze focusing on himself while he processed the information.
“What happened when you faced Azazel earlier today? Were you able to feel him like you do the others? Did you connect to him?” My hands lifted to his cheeks once more, calling his attention back to me.
“I’ve tried to feel him in the past, but he’s not part of the tree. He’s fully disconnected from us, which I think is the reason he can’t see us when we are invisible.”
And by see us, he meant the Dragons.
“But this time, something came through,” he continued. “It was only for a split second, but I think I was able to get through to him. I heard a heartbeat.”
“His heartbeat?” I asked, intrigue capturing my being.
“I don’t think so. It was much faster than anything I’ve ever heard, and Dragons’ hearts actually beat slower than ours. Whatever this was, it seemed important to him. Meaningful. It felt like he was fighting to communicate with me, but there were no images, no memories. He didn’t speak. He only sent me the sound of a heartbeat and left. Nothing else.”
A strange emotion sliced through my mate’s expression, telling me that whatever he felt in that moment, with Azazel, had rattled him. Dropping one hand to his chest, I gently caressed it to help him calm, and pulled him down to me, resting our foreheads together.
In that moment, a realization floored me.
Braxton had a connection to the Sky Gods’ race that no Soulris had ever experienced. Their “origin blood” ran through his veins, fueled his power, healed his soul, and the way he was looking at me right now said Azazel might no longer be the four-headed beast to him… but one of his own.
And that scared me.
19
Leaning into me, Braxton slowly claimed my lips, his hands pulling me flush against him as they curled around my waist.
The kiss was deep, hard, and sensual all at once, inciting my need for him. My body instantly melted against his, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. Tilting his head, he deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping against mine as though he needed me to ease the ache churning within him.
“Ahem! I’m about to be very offended that you two did not ask me to join.”
Braxton’s chuckles tickled my lips, and we turned around to see half of Harrison’s eye peeking into the room.
“Are you two descent? Because Asher is still traumatized from the other day.”
“You can come in,” I answered, fixing my dress as I stepped away from my mate. “What do you mean Asher is traumatized?”
“Nothing,” both Braxton and Harrison answered in unison, and I narrowed my eyes at them.
“You can come in!” Harrison shouted back, and Imogen entered, followed by Quinn, Harvey, Louis, Charlotte, Aaron, and Edward.
“Are you coming back to the party, darlings? Need I remind you this celebration is literally for the two of you?”
“Is that why you came to look for me with all six members of my guard?” Brax replied, arching an eyebrow at me.
“And Harrison,” I added.
“Thank you for noticing I’m here, Princess.” He winked.
“Oh, him? He’s just my companion for the celebration.” Imogen pulled him closer, making Harrison grin widely.
“Incorrigible.” I shook my head at him, lips twitching. He’d been flirting with Braxton’s mentor since the moment she joined our ranks.
“I brought them because they need to get used to being your shadow, just like the Princess’ guard is,” Imogen explained, sending a reproaching glance to Aaron and the others.
“Our apologies, Dragon Master,” Quinn offered for all of them with a head bow. “It won’t happen again.”
“What is it with you people and titles?” Brax asked, making everyone snicker. “I’m still Brax, or Braxton, and they don’t need to be my shadow during a party, Imogen,” he chided, sending a pointed glance at his mentor. “Asher is with Skylar down there.”
“I agree. My guard is currently rejoicing. Harper is with Elijah, Finn with Fletcher, and even Kingston is enjoying some time with Willow. Let them go dance and enjoy themselves.”
“Thank you, Brax!” Charlotte squealed, hugging him, and rushing out of the room with excitement.
“Dragon Master!” Quinn scolded, walking out after her and making me chuckle. Charlotte was just too endearing to be that formal.
“Fine, let’s go back,” my mate agreed, taking my hand in his. “You want me to dance? I’m about to show you all how it is done.”
Laughing, we all walked out into the hallway, and I was glad we would have a chance to just mingle and enjoy the celebrations with our kin.
“Do you plan to show us how to dance too, Princess?” Harvey asked, and I adamantly shook my head.
“Oh, no. I plan to sit down and enjoy Brax’s—”
An invisible power hit Braxton’s chest, blowing him back, and wrenching his hand out of mine before he slammed against the floor.
“Braxton!” I rushed to his side.
“Protect the princess!” he yelled, a ball of golden energy materializing from thin air and shooting from his palm just as strong arms captured me, pulling me back before I could reach him.
His energy ball crashed into the wall at the end of the hall, rock and dust exploding everywhere. Braxton swiftly stood, only to be blown into the wall next to him with a hit to his shoulder. His power reacted again, like a reflex, firing into the cloud of dust.
“What is happening?!” I shouted while Harrison shielded me with his body, getting me away from my mate.
“Don’t you see him?” Braxton bellowed, firing another shot. “Raithian is here!”
My heart lodged in my throat, my head snapping to the hallway. How was this even possible? How had the Warlock transported into my castle when he had never been here?
“Attack!” Imogen ordered without hesitation, and Braxton’s guard rushed forwards with Charlotte swirling her spear as though she wanted Raithian’s head as a prize.
Quinn and the others ran into the smoke with her, showing the kind of courage only wielded by seasoned warriors. Braxton’s body bounced against the ground, the latest attack sending him skidding across the hallway.
“Stop, I have to help him!” I ordered when we reached the stairs; before Harrison could carry me over his shoulder and take me out of there. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will fight you with every ounce of skill I have if you don’t let me go right now!”