Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

A n unexpected knock on the door had Archer, John, Emric, Dex, and me all moving. Emric tossed the small box to me, which I hid in my bed.

I was going to propose to Esta tonight. After the celebration ball we were about to attend. I had skipped the war room meeting this morning to plan with Emric and John while Esta had been preoccupied.

It was simple. With some help from John, I would do it here. On the balcony where it had all started.

I knew she loved me. Now that she was no longer ignoring our bond or quite as terrified, I constantly felt her love for me. Yet I was still nervous. The treaty had bought Esta only a few months. Much had happened in those months. But was she truly ready to have my ring on her finger? Because the moment she did so, she announced to the entire realm where we stood.

Together.

Dex pulled again on his jacket. He was looking a bit more dapper than he usually did for these things. He normally wore guard clothes, but since he was a guest of honor, he was in a suit which matched my own. And since he hadn't brought one, Archer had to raid Malachi's closet to get something which fit his broad chest. It did fit, but just barely. Miles was also ready to go, filling in for Dex on guard duty.

Emric opened the door a crack in answer to the knock. "Oh, hello, Your Highness ." He looked over his shoulder at me, which was suspicious as hell, but such was Emric. I gave him a nod, the ring long since tucked under my pillow until later. "We weren't expecting you."

Archer face palmed himself out of view of Esta.

She gave Emric a simple shrug. "I thought I would go in with Keir tonight."

When Emric opened the door wider and gestured her in, I tried my best not to gape. She was wearing a blood red dress and looking as stunning as ever. The image of her when she had first been shifted back into her human form flashed across my memory. How thin and unhealthy she had looked. The woman before me was radiating with health and beauty both.

A sense of pride threatened to burst through me, my own. That I healed her so she could rise like this once more. I'd merely been the catalyst, but I still felt proud. I'd done a lot of wrong things in the past five years, but this was not one of them.

My eyes slowly took in her gown, the inch of skin between the skirt and top, and that high slit that I had half a mind to?—

Keir, she snapped down the bond.

I shot her a grin. I have an idea.

An inappropriate one from what I sense. So can it wait until after the ball?

Only if it has to.

"This does not get any less weird," Emric said quietly to John. "Watching soul bound couples communicate telepathically."

"Mystifying," John agreed. "Beyond basic human comprehension. "

Emric studied the two of us so intently, my eyes snapped to his. "I suspect in both cases, the twins use it more for flirting than anything else."

Esta's lips twitched. "I can confirm you wouldn't be wrong on Keir's behalf."

He snapped his fingers. "I knew it."

She added, "Most of the time I am reminding him to keep his mind out of the gutter."

On that note, back to this dress, I sent her.

She groaned and playfully grabbed me by the arm. "Enough. Would you be my escort in tonight, please?"

I stilled. This was different. I knew we were now soul bound and that had changed things. But Esta had no escort for any of the events we had been to thus far. "Why?"

Her eyes were on mine as she said, "Because they need to get used to it. Also you, Dex, Nyx, and Zaire are the guests of honor. Seems right I should walk in with one of you."

But sure as hell not Zaire. I reached for her hand and brought it up to place a kiss on it, making sure to promise her with my eyes all sorts of other things for the night to come. "I'd love to. You know I'd follow you anywhere."

"In this case, you will not follow, rather be beside me. All of Dra Skor will either see it or hear about it later. Paired with the whispers of what we are, if we will bond, it will be quite the scandal."

I felt nothing but determination down our bond but still had to voice, "And are you ready for all of that?"

"At this point I'll burn to the ground anything or anyone who tries to keep us apart."

Emric snorted a laugh as he threw his jacket on, but I knew she was only half joking.

"Will we get to dance?" I knew both of us remembered the first time we had danced together. What it had led to.

"Of course. "

"Then lead the way, Dragon Queen."

Almost to the ballroom, I thought to ask her, "How long has it been since you have had an escort? Walked in with anyone?"

"Not since Zaire," she admitted.

John, Emric, and Dex were walking a good distance behind us. Maybe it was their presence, but down the bond, she added, I promised myself I would never need an escort again.

You don't. Need me, that is.

No, but I want you right here beside me. Tonight. Tomorrow. Ten years from now.

Unfortunately, we had hit the hallway of the ballroom so I couldn't do a damn thing about those words. For now.

Like the time she walked into the war room freshly in her human form, she entered the ballroom the same way, no stopping. It was a thing of beauty. And this time I was with her, stride for stride.

Someone announced, "Her Royal Highness, Queen Estalena Mallick." A pause. "And His Royal Highness, Prince Keiran Valanova."

We didn't slow, we charged into the room like we owned it. And I supposed she did; I was merely along for the ride.

She headed over to her throne in the corner of the room, as I knew she always did.

Remember the night you sat at the foot of my throne and spoke to me? Esta asked.

How could I forget?

I think I was yours from that moment on.

"Esta." I leaned in to whisper at her ear. "You have to quit sending me things like that if you would like us to make it through this night. "

She laughed the most brilliant laugh, and I was all too happy to stand there like her fool.

Amory arrived and spoke briefly with Esta before Esta stood to officially start off the night. She handed me a champagne flute as Amory signaled for the music to stop. The ceiling windows were open wide, resulting in the room being far colder than it typically was. But there were enough shifters healed that they were being used, and that felt far more important than the temperature of the room.

"Tonight," Esta began. Without asking, I unleashed my magic to help carry her voice throughout the room. "Tonight we come together in the most bittersweet of fashions. We celebrate the death of a betrayer to Dra Skor." She had to pause for the applause and cheers around the room. "May this serve as a reminder to anyone who dares to cross us. Dra Skor is rising in strength. She will not go quietly into the night, and thanks to the efforts of Prince Keiran and our Wylan allies, we are not only healing, but we are rebuilding at a rapid pace."

The people were taking in her every word and breath, and I knew they would go to war for her with the snap of her fingers.

She lifted her champagne flute. "Two salutes. The first of which to Prince Keiran, General Zaire Willothorn, Nyx Cantrell, and Dex Chabot of Wylan. When I was shot down, they not only sought out my revenge, but delivered swift justice as well. Your bravery is unmatched and you four are the reason we celebrate tonight."

The room collectively pounded their chests twice before taking sips of their drinks. I wondered how many years of balls such as these it would take before that became less eerie.

Esta inhaled deeply and took a moment to look around the room. "As we say often here, it is never too late to rise again. And so we have. We will not stop until every last shifter is healed. Until every last betrayer of Dra Skor is found and dealt with. Anyone who stands in our way will forge themselves the same fate as Enoch found. Our only enemies are now those remaining within us. Though they may hide like cowards, we will hunt them all down until we have captured their last breaths." She lifted her glass to them. "Dra Skor is not only back, she is better. To Dra Skor. Danger unto death!"

"Danger unto death," they said together back to her before taking another sip.

And then before most people had put their flutes down, a dragon roar split the air, and Zaire dove into the ball room in his dragon form. Now I knew why the windows had to be opened all the way.

One after another, all of the healed shifters swooped in and landed in the ballroom, the people inside moving instinctively to make space. I heard another dragon roar I recognized as Nyx, but to keep up appearances that he wasn't yet healed, he must have been circling outside. I knew Esta tried to get him to shift for this event, but he'd refused. He wanted to stay a spy for as long as Morana was free.

And then those healed in their human forms shifted and took off for the windows or balconies. The result was that it was a chaos of fur, scales, and roars. Dozens and dozens of shiftings going on around me, and dammit if my wings didn't beg to be freed too as I felt that pinching right between my shoulder blades.

But I knew with the whispers about us bonding, I needed to keep them contained for now.

I swallowed hard, moved by the sight of so many shifters. Able to do what they were always supposed to do, shift back and forth between their two forms. How different this was from my first ball here, where I had been told what these events had once been but had never seen it myself. Until now.

The stomping picked up. Softly at first.

Not far from me, I found Nana Mallick keeping beat with her cane. She winked at me .

Esta shifted and launched toward the windows, letting out the roar which caused the rest to join her. It was so loud, a mess of human and animal sounds. It made a shiver travel down my spine.

Who was Morana to ever think she could take on Dra Skor?

Esta was speaking to a group of three of her father's old generals, and I could feel her annoyance as clearly as if it were my own. It had already been a long night and I was antsy to return to our room. For that ring to find a home on my soul mate's finger.

So I patted Malachi on the shoulder, told him and Amory I'd be back, and moved to rescue her.

I strode for her purposefully, reaching a hand out as soon as I got within reach.

Her eyes hit mine. "Yes, Prince Keiran?"

"Come here."

Her lips twitched. "Bossing me around again?"

"Only when you allow it, but you did promise me a dance."

"So I did." She took my hand and allowed me to pull her onto the dance floor, leaving her father's generals in our wake. "Thank you," she whispered.

I pulled her in close, close enough that if there weren't already whispers enough, there would be now. I whispered in her ear, "Have I mentioned how stunning you look tonight?"

She laughed lightly and whispered back, "You didn't have to."

We danced to three songs, content to take in the ballroom and the symphony of shifting going on as the Enchanted of Dra Skor apparently took turns going from the bonfire outside to the ballroom inside. I had never seen so much active shifting, the hope in the room palpable.

Esta shivered slightly, So I took off my jacket and gave it to her .

"Thank you," she said on a sigh. "Let me go finish my duties for the night, and we can leave whenever you'd like?"

"The sooner the better," I told her.

"Too soon would be quite the scandal," she observed. "But I have to go check in on the patrols." We had wondered if the ball would cause Morana to move. "Thus far, we have nothing."

"She's not stupid," I reminded her, thinking of the war room meetings all week long and how we had all deliberated about Morana and her location. "She knows she cannot take on all of you at once, and if she did a thing tonight, that'd be exactly what she would sign herself up for. Her own execution." I paused. "She evidently just wants what you have always had. That's why I agree with what Malachi told you about making sure you are never alone. Whether it be in the castle or on patrols."

She gave her head a sad shake. "There was a time I would have gladly handed over the crown to her. I was so done with it all."

"I'm glad you didn't."

"I'm glad you showed up. Unannounced. Entirely too sure of yourself and stubborn."

"Forever your moon," I laughed.

Forever mine, she promised as she headed in Malachi's direction.

I led Esta to the balcony, where John had set up some candles and lanterns for me. A blanket and pillow sat there. The same blanket and pillow I had given Esta in her dragon form when she slept on my balcony.

"What is this?" Esta asked.

"Romance?" I made quick work of retrieving the ring from its hiding position and put it in my pocket.

She laughed. "You can romance me in a bed with perfectly good cushioning so both our backs aren't hateful in the morning. "

"Humor me." I pulled her down to the ground next to me. "This is where so much of our relationship started and has happened."

She sat between my legs, her head leaned back on my chest as she looked at the moon. She was still wearing my jacket, but I grabbed another blanket and tossed it over her legs.

"And I just want to spend a moment with you before we leave for Corsha in the morning," I continued.

"I already feel your worry."

"And I feel yours," I said back.

At exactly the same time, we laughed. As if we were both wondering why we were doing this to ourselves. Fixing the realm felt entirely less vital when I had a soul mate to protect.

She turned to look me in the eyes. "I promise, Keir. I will not go on any patrols alone. I will not go anywhere without Malachi. And with you and Amory gone, there will be no rushing into danger headfirst, unless if it's after you." A pause. "Even then, I will listen to you. I will use our bond so that you do not have to fear for me or watch me plummet to my death."

"Thank you." She had understood my need to go to Corsha. And though she had wanted to go with us, she also knew with the hunt for Morana ongoing, she was needed here. Her parents had been released for the first time tonight from their holding rooms to come to the ball. Jagen and Charlotte had opted not to go, afraid for anyone else to find out about Charlotte's pregnancy.

Nana and Esta were working together to figure out what to do with the rest of the Mallick family and who to trust given Morana's moves. Someone had to be helping her, we just didn't know who.

Needless to say, too much was going on in Dra Skor for Esta to escape. Even if only for a few days.

"And I promise to you that I will send you constant updates and will do my best to not start a war," I offered .

"I do not worry about you, I worry about me in your absence," she admitted. "That I will be in a difficult sort of mood."

I will come back, I reminded her. I will always come back. And there is something I need to do before I leave.

Let me guess, we're back to the idea about my dress?

Eventually, I promised as I kissed her temple. I momentarily moved her, reaching in my pocket for the ring. As I grabbed the metal band of it, I had to fight off a dozen different emotions at once.

More gifts? She asked as I gently placed the ring in her hand. Her purple magic flared slightly, whether it sensed my own emotions or hers.

As she looked to her palm, all I felt was her surprise.

"If you need more time, please say so." My inhale was shaky. "My heart is yours. We are two strong heart beats of the same rhythm. Mine calls out to yours, yours to mine. So marry me already."

Her eyes glistened in the moonlight as I continued. "Marry me. I don't know how long this mess with Morana will take to clean up, but I know that every day spent without you as my wife is a waste. Plan it for whenever you'd like, but marry me. Don't make me starve for your touch, our connection. My love for you is only sharpening, becoming more fierce as you finish carving yourself into my heart. So be with me. Let's not wait for the darkness to leave Dra Skor, let's chase it out together."

She let out a laugh before throwing her free arm around me and kissing me soundly.

"Why are you even nervous right now? I'm saying yes."

I let out a breath. "Because you needed time."

"I also informed my advisors we would be getting married."

"So your answer is yes?"

She kissed me again, her voice sounding gritty with her own emotions. "Yes. A thousand times yes." She looked me in the eyes. I will burn the shadows themselves until none of them can reach us.

I moved to slide the ring down her finger, the move far more intimate than I could have ever expected. She had walked in with me on her arm tonight, and tomorrow she would be wearing my ring on her finger.

She made a noise which could only be categorized as a squeal while I was doing my best not to lose it entirely.

I'd had the jewelers make this specific stone, one they created which sparkled far more than the other gemstones. It was still a diamond, but specially made. And I'd asked for it to be quite large as I knew how Esta loved her trinkets.

You didn't lie to me. She turned and wrapped herself around me. You told me on this very balcony what feels like a lifetime ago that if you gave me an engagement ring, it would be far larger.

I was surprised she remembered that moment. We hadn't been anything to one another when I'd said that. Nothing but pure joy and happiness came chasing down our bond. She was truly surprised but happy with all of this.

So you like it? I asked though I knew the answer.

I love it.

As my lips found hers, I found it odd that despite all that was brewing around us we could have this small pocket of joy.

I didn't know what tomorrow and the trip to Corsha would bring, but I did know that Esta was going to be my wife .