Chapter Fifty

My dragon hated it when she did that. It made my heart hammer in my throat.

Why in the Hell had she jumped?

Once I caught her, she didn't even respond to the glare I gave her on the ride back to the mountain. Toby and Sasha stood on the porch of the cabin with worried stares. Amara moved her feet and gestured for me to let her down.

She bent at her waist, braced her palms on her knees, and took deep breaths.

"Amara," I hissed. "What the hell was that—,"

She stood up with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I gave up my powers to save Toby. I don't have them anymore."

Oh God ...

Toby's face contorted into shock and then guilt. Sasha covered her mouth with her palm, while Amara wiped the tears from her face.

"Are you sure?" I asked, stepping forward and interlacing my fingers on the back of her neck. "You're sure—,"

"I'm positive," she said, her bright blue eyes full of tears. "They're gone."

This was the first time in my life that I didn't have a clear thing to say. Toby stepped off the porch and walked over.

The unspoken words between them were heavy.

Apologetic.

Grateful.

Toby pulled her in for a tight hug, and she rested her head against his shoulder. He looked over to me, and for the first time since I'd known Toby, I saw him cry.

"Thank you, Amara. I'll never be able to repay you."."

She pulled away from him. "You're welcome."

Toby sunk his fingers into his hair and sighed deeply. "I can't believe this is happening."

Amara lost eye contact with him and pointed forward. "I need to use the restroom."

My heart broke as she hurried into the cabin.

My dragon wanted to chase her, hold her, and make her whole again, but I had no way of doing so. She'd given up her powers to save my best friend. How we would get them back was a mystery, and one I wasn't sure we needed to delve into.

The magic you were born with was God-given.

Magic you had to obtain would lead you down a road not worth taking.

Toby turned to me. "I'm so sorry this happened.."

"I need to go check on her. You know she's happy that she chose you over her powers. She"s just sad that she"s missing a part of herself."

I followed her scent to our bathroom. The door was cracked, no water was running, and there was only the sound of her heavy breathing coming from the corner of the room.

She had both hands wrapped around the bathroom counter, her head hanging low and her body hunched as if she was hurting.

"Amara."

She didn't move.

I walked over, sliding my fingers up her spine, grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her to a standing position. Her face was pale, tear streaks crisscrossed down her cheeks. "Baby," I whispered, pulling her into my chest. "I'm so sorry."

She sniffled. "My powers are gone."

"They are," I stated.

She pulled away to look up at me. She looked like the girl on the bridge. The girl I followed to her house and looked into her window. "I'm nothing without my powers."

There was so much honesty in her voice. Amara thought she needed powers to be seen.

"Little Mouse," I said, helping her onto the bathroom counter, and barricading her in with my body. "You don't truly believe that, do you? Please tell me this is your emotions talking?"

Amara turned her gaze toward the floor. "I felt powerful. I didn't feel like the little girl that was shoved into the attic anymore. I felt like someone that was supposed to be with you. How could you even consider me for a queen?"

I dropped my forehead to hers, breathing in the taste of her mouth and the smell of her skin. "You don't know how perfect you are without it. Do you know what drew me to you?"

She gave me a sheepish look. "The mate bond?"

I chuckled. "That, but even before I realized you were my mate. Seeing you on the bridge that night, something heavy twirled inside of me. When those big too-blue eyes settled on mine, I wanted to trap you against the bridge and keep you there. Your spirit spoke to mine. That caring heart. The pride you carried within yourself after everything Helena did to you. Your bravery, Amara. I didn't know you had those powers when I pursued you. I don't care about them, and you shouldn't either. They'll never be the reason I want and love you."

Amara closed her eyes. "I love you."

I held her until I heard someone tap on the doorway.

"Dorran?"

Amara began to wipe her tears from her face while I faced my brother. "Mother wants to see you."

"It's not the time."

"She's begging the guards to let Father go. She's beginning to cause a scene in the courtyard. You need to come and stop her."

Amara glanced at me in the mirror. "Let's go. I'm fine."

I didn't believe her for one second. There was a heartache in her chest that my dragon felt. It was dangerously dark and heavy. "You should stay with Sasha—,"

"No," she said. "I want to come. Please don't leave me here by myself."

Damien lifted both eyebrows. There were questions written all over his face. "Come on then."

Amara hurried out of the room, and slipped past Damien, while I followed behind her. Damien stopped me in the doorway. "Is everything okay?"

"No, but they will be."

I didn't stick around to chat. I whisked out of the cabin and toward the mountain. Sasha was hugging Amara when I walked out.

"We're going to the kingdom. Mother is causing a scene."

"Do you want me to come?" Toby asked.

"Stay. I'll call if I need you."

Toby looked disappointed, but he didn't argue. I helped Amara into my arms and stepped to the edge of the mountain. Damien stopped beside me and glanced over at Amara who avoided his eye contact.

She was ashamed.

It hurt me more than anything else to know she felt less than everyone else. When everything settled down and we took our place on the throne, I'd spend every day trying to build her up.

I didn't need a siren.

I just needed Amara.

I leaped into the air, nosediving toward the kingdom, Amara's hair flying around me, her scent driving me harder toward the bridge. It was empty of guards when we landed. Amara moved so I would let her down.

Damien landed next to her, placing his palm on her shoulder, which drew her attention. "I hope you know that I'm glad you're going to be Queen."

He turned swiftly and walked into the castle.

I was thankful for his kindness.

I guided Amara through the door, following Damien's scent down the staircase toward the first level.

Mother's voice came from outside of the front doors. My dragon grew pissed at her attempt at making a scene.

The guards standing inside, straightened as I arrived.

"Open the doors."

They scurried to open them inward, showcasing my mother on her knees, begging the outside guards to release my father. She looked disheveled, her makeup running down her face. "Get up," I hissed.

"Dorran!" she shouted. "Thank, God. Tell them to let your father go. Tell them this is all a big misunderstanding."

My gaze shifted around the courtyard. There were humans and dragons staring daggers at us. This was her attempt at making me look like a monster.

"Get up, Mother—,"

"Dorran. Tell the guards to let your father out—,"

"Pick her up and toss her in with him," I said coolly over my shoulder.

"Dorran!" she shouted. "No!"

Both guards grabbed my mother's arms and began to drag her into the castle. The stir of whispers and upset chatter circulated the courtyard. "As you all know," I said loudly. "We were attacked by sirens. I warned my father, and he did not listen."

"Your mate!" someone shouted. "She brought them here."

Amara shifted nervously, while I blocked her with my wing. "She did not. They came after her because she had their blood. We asked my father for help, and he did not want to save her, because my mate isn't a dragon."

Another round of shock hummed amongst the crowd. "I stood up to him after he attempted to hurt her and hung my best friend. She saved his life and gave up her magic. She is as you knew her before. The cute blonde that waited your table at her father's restaurant. She's not a dragon, and I don't care. I don't need a dragon mate to rule the kingdom, and that is what I plan to do. I'm going to take my father's throne, put this town back on its feet, and rule like a true dragon king."

Amara pushed my wing down and stepped beside me. "Amara will be my queen. If anyone has a problem with that you can find another kingdom. I am dealing with my father tonight. Tomorrow, we will begin to build this kingdom to its glory."

Grabbing Amara's hand, I walked us back through the double doors, and into the castle. Many dragons were standing around listening, waiting for me to give them orders.

It felt unreal.

My dragon stirred inside of me. He loved the authority.

He loved the position.

Amara had been right. What would have happened to my dragon if he hadn't taken his rightful place on the throne?

"No one is to speak to my parents. They are in the cells because they betrayed me. They tried to kill my mate. I'm going to deal with them. Tonight you fend for yourself. Tomorrow, we'll make a plan."

I caught Glendora's gaze through the crowd and there was pride that rested there. She winked at me and whisked off to her chambers.

A guard cleared his throat behind me. "I'm sorry to bother you, King Dorran. Your mother is requesting to speak with you."

Amara squeezed my hand. "Do you want me to wait upstairs?"

"No," I said. "She's going to see what she allowed my father to do to you and apologize to my queen."