from her in response, the likes of which she had never seen. It resonated with a boom as it erupted from her fingers. The green wall rippled neatly around it. Alcander groaned before flopping back to the ground.
Wiping her hands on her pants, Kiora cleared her throat. “So did I need the playing field leveled?”
“Not always,” he grumped.
She started laughing and couldn’t stop. It felt almost as good as her magical release. Shaking his head, Alcander pulled himself to his feet. He offered his hand, his mouth pulled up on one side.
Almost wheezing at this point, she reached out to take his hand. As soon as her fingers wrapped around his, magic moved between them in a way she had never felt before, flowing and thrumming. She jerked her hand back with a start. The smile fled as he looked down at her. His gaze was fierce, but she could not discern the emotion behind it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Bonding
ALCANDER HAD DINNER DELIVERED to their tent that evening. They had fish, and lots of it. Fish stew, steamed fish, and some fish buns.
“Do they like fish?” Drustan asked, wrinkling his nose.
“Summoning food is dangerous,” Alcander said, taking a large mouthful of pink-fleshed fish. “It gives evil cause to look for rebel camps. So we work with what we have access to. Out here, it’s fish. Now be grateful and eat.”
“Of course, Prince Alcander,” Drustan said, deeply bowing his head. “Doest thou also command that I enjoy it?”
Kiora snorted fish straight out her nose, which was not pleasant. Alcander just
glared. “Oh come on, Alcander.” She giggled. “That was funny.”
“Thank you, Kiora,” Drustan said. “I have found that humor is a acquired taste, much like fish.”
Alcander delivered one of his cool gazes before returning to his dinner.
Kiora found the fish to be quite good, although the buns were oddly sticky. She was used to magical food being superb, and the buns were not up to the usual standard. But it was food, and after training all day, she was famished.
At the end of the meal, Alcander brushed his hands on his pants and stood,
offering his hand to Kiora. “Come.”
She raised an eyebrow, her mouth twisting ruefully to the side.
“Please,” he amended.
“Of course.” She took his hand, allowing him to pull her up.
“Ah, Kiora,” Drustan said with a yawn. “You bring out the best in all of us, I am afraid.”
“Thank you,” she said, oddly touched. “You get some rest.”
“I will. I am sure it won’t be long before Alcander expects me to fly to the ends of the earth.”
She hoped it wouldn’t be long. She was still determined to only give Alcander a day before they began making their way towards the Manor. Alcander did not acknowledge Drustan’s comment with a response. He pulled Kiora out of the tent and down towards the beach. Releasing her hand, he placed both of his behind him as he walked. “There are still so many questions I have for you,” he said, his voice subdued.
She glanced at him. He’s afraid of what we are about to face, she realized. Fear suited him—it made him real. “What would you like to know?”
“In your world, dragons are friendly?”
A knife stabbed at her heart as she remembered just how friendly they could be. “What made you think of that?” she asked, her fingers moving to her neck.
“Just remembering your first day with us.”
“Hmmm.” She ran her thumb across the scale that lay under her black top. “I am told that when the gate was sealed, all the dragons were friendly. By the time I was called as the Solus, there was only one left that did not side with Dralazar.” She smiled. “His name was Morcant.”
“You were very fond of him?”
“Yes.” A tear slid down her cheek. “He saved my life.” Her mind returned to Meros, remembering not only Morcant sacrificing himself to protect Kiora; but also when Morcant came to her at the gate, helping her to see right from wrong at a time when the lines were so blurred. “Twice.” She grinned, laughing through her tears. “He couldn’t stand Emane. Almost killed him, twice.” Alcander genuinely smiled in the moonlight. “But he was wise and strong and one of the most amazing creatures I have ever met.”
They neared the beach, and she sat down just out of reach of the lapping waves. “When he died, he made me promise I would visit his home, Toopai.” She sighed sadly, digging her fingers into the wet sand.
“Toopai?”
“Yes, do you know it?”
“Yes.”