Chapter Forty-Four

Back in my body, I opened my eyes to see Vax leaning over me.

"Zix!" His hand stroked my face. "Love, are you all right?"

"Yeah," I whispered, my throat raw. "I'm good. He saved me." I looked over to the left.

King Lyrandir stood up, then swayed.

"Ly!" Aras steadied him.

"I'm all right," Lyrandir said gruffly. He met my stare.

"Thank you." I sat up with Vaxarion's help. "I don't know what that was, but I saw you in there. You pulled the fire out of me."

Lyrandir grunted.

Vax helped me to my feet but took most of my weight as he faced Lyrandir. "I'm in your debt. What price do you demand?"

Lyrandir looked down at his hand. In it, Ensarena's Eye glowed.

"Ly," Aras said in a warning tone.

"I could rule Serai," Lyrandir whispered. He looked up and met Vax's stare. "You told me you'd pay anything."

Vax stiffened. "I did. And I'm a man of my word. Is it the Eye you demand?"

"Lyrandir!" Aras shoved the King.

Lyrandir stumbled, but his grip didn't loosen on the stone. He growled and faced off with his lover.

"Oh, fuck," I whispered. "It's got him."

"Stay back, Mate." Vax eased me away from the brewing battle.

"Let it go, Ly," Aras said.

Lyrandir bared his teeth.

Aras dove for the King's stomach.

The men rolled across the floor, snarling and snapping at each other. All the King's guards and Aras's sailors stared at the two helplessly.

"Vax, help him," I said.

"I cannot, love. This must be settled between them."

"The Eye is influencing him!"

"I know that. And the might of another Dragon won't help. Only love can save him now. Love and the mercy of the Goddess."

I let out a breath and turned my attention back to the men.

Aras was wrestling Lyrandir, trying to get the Eye away from him without hurting him. Lyrandir had no such hindrances with Aras. He slashed out, and Hulfrin blood flew in shining arcs. Aras only growled and punched his lover in the face.

"Ly, fight it!" Aras said.

Lyrandir knocked Aras's legs out from under him. Then he launched himself atop the Hulfrin. Aras was a huge man, big even for a Hulfrin. But Lyrandir was a Dragon. Nothing could beat a Dragon. The wimpiest, scrawniest Dragon would kick the ass of the best fighters from any race.

I winced as Lyrandir bashed Aras's head onto the floor.

"That's love?" I asked Vax.

"Yes, it is," he said firmly. "And it's Lyrandir's only chance."

My mind spun. I saw the Dragon King in that spiritual realm, reaching for me again. His mind had been clear in the Eye. And he had saved me. He did that not for me, but for Aras. Now Lyrandir was tearing his lover apart. The guilt I felt was overwhelming.

"Stop!" I shouted.

It did nothing. The men kept striking each other.

"Aras, you have to stop," I tried again. "Only love will reach the King now. Show him love, not violence!"

Aras glanced at me and it cost him. He took a punch to the face. But he shook it off and faced Lyrandir. "I love you, Ly."

Lyrandir snarled and clutched the stone tighter. Blood seeped from between his fingers. In a moment, he'd realize that he didn't have to physically fight anyone. He could use the Eye.

"Kiss him!" I cried.

Aras shot forward, grabbed Lyrandir's face, and planted one on him.

At first, Lyrandir fought, tearing at Aras's arms and trying to move his head. But Aras held tight, keeping their lips together even though Lyrandir's were tight in a snarl. He didn't budge even when blood poured down his arms. And through that trauma, love sprouted. It bloomed, sucking up the King's madness like nutrients. Love sought love. Called to it. Summoned it forth to bloom with it. One flower became two, but they bloomed on the same stem. And love's dual-bloom was so beautiful that even the power of a goddess couldn't detract from it. No one could look away.

With a groan, King Lyrandir let go of the Eye and gripped his lover instead. The stone clattered to the floor, and Aras kicked it in our direction. Vax snatched it up and pocketed it.

The kiss went on and on, but no one made a sound or looked away. We watched, every last one of us wearing expressions of joy, relief, and compassion. This wasn't just their celebration. It belonged to all of us. The entire world. They had saved Serai with their love.

When they drew back from each other at last, Lyrandir's first word was his lover's name. "Aras," he said. "I'm so sorry, my love." He looked down at Aras's arms and made a broken sound. "Oh, Gods. Did I do that? Fuck. Aras, I'm—"

"Look at me." Aras grabbed Lyrandir's face. "It's nothing. You're a fucking hero, Ly. You saved Zixin for me. You risked yourself because I asked you to."

Lyrandir stared at Aras for a long heartbeat. "I risked the entire world for you, Aras. Not just me. If the Eye had taken control of me, I would have burned Serai until it was mine. And it nearly did take me. But you were stronger than the magic."

"Not stronger. Just more determined. I wasn't going to stop until I had you back."

"That is strength, Aras. You conquered the Eye for me." Then he smirked. "You truly love me. And for your love, I would do it all again. Anything you want, you will have. Even if your whims destroy the whole fucking planet. I will get you the moon if you desire it."

Aras chuckled. "I don't want the moon, Ly. I want something much harder to get—you."

"You have me until that unwanted moon falls from the sky." Lyrandir took Aras's hand and headed out of the room with him. But he paused at the side door and looked back at us. "Don't think I've forgotten that you owe me, King Vaxarion. One day, I'll collect."

And then the lovers left, followed by the King's Guard.

"Now, we're leaving," Vax said, as if daring the Gods to deny him again.

"Not yet," I said.

"What?" Vax growled.

I ran over to where my diamond necklace lay forgotten on the floor and snatched it up. Holding it aloft like a prize, I declared, " Now , we can go."