Max still wasn’t moving. And now there was a grayish cast to his scales.
Worse? Falcyn was now as pale as Blaise. His hair had gone snow-white.
Concerned, she dropped her gaze from his face to the small bowl he held in his hand that contained blood. “Are you all right?”
Sweat beaded on his forehead and upper lip. “Tell me what do you love most about my brother.”
“The way he makes me feel.”
“And that is?”
She swallowed hard. “Like I can fly. Even when I’m in this body without wings, he makes me feel like I’m in the clouds, looking down on the world.”
“Then breathe into him. Let your breath be his.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Embrace the dragon, Seraphina. Breathe into him.”
Cupping Max’s snout, she did what Falcyn said. Then waited…
And waited.
Her heart clenched tight as Max remained still and pale. “Nothing’s happening.”
His hair darkening, Falcyn touched Max’s body and the moment he did, a deep, dark crimson light shot through his cells, illuminating them like a flashlight through skin on the darkest night. Translucent and bright.
Before she could move, Max drew a deep breath and opened his eyes.
Sera gasped. “Max?”
He blinked slowly. “What happened?”
“Do you remember anything?”
Groaning, he laid his head back, then cursed. “Falcyn…” He immediately shifted to his human body to stare up at his brother. “You broke your oath.”
His gaze went from Max to Sera. “Sometimes it’s worth it. We are brothers, after all.”
And with that, Max knew that Falcyn had finally forgiven him. “Thank you.”
Falcyn inclined his head to him. “Remember the cost I’ve paid for your life today. Don’t ever waste it and don’t make me regret it.”
Max held his hand out to him. “Never.”
Falcyn tucked his hand into his and shook it, not as a man, but as a drakomas. Then he cupped Seraphina’s cheek in his hand and kissed her forehead. “May peace and happiness be with you, only.”
As he withdrew, she caught his arm. “You’re not leaving after this, are you?”
“Drakomai are creatures of solitude.”
She glanced to Max before she turned back to Falcyn and smiled. “But they can learn another way. And I’d like to get to know my brother-in-law.”
He met Max’s gaze with an arched brow.
“You are always welcomed at my nest. Especially since we’ve lost Illarion.”
“What?” Sera gasped.