ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my Beta Readers: Stacey Bradley, Dawn Yacovetta, and Tina Santacruz Del Rosario. Thank you for your willingness help me at the last minute, being excited about the story, and for your honest feedback. I truly appreciate you!
I also want to thank my mods: Shawn Wood for helping me manage my VIP reader group and entertain the readers. You are the best!
Thank you to my wonderful readers, and my ARC TEAM for their support. I love you all.
And last but not least, I want to thank my family for believing in me. I love you!
BRAXTON
Tendrils of gold energy darted along my arms, eagerly gliding, and shimmering down my skin like leathery vines.
Magic.
Pure. Unhindered. Powerful. Newly claimed magic.
A power gifted by the Elementi Caelestes, otherwise known to our people as the Sky Gods, or the Celestials. For many here, they were only a legend, a myth, but I had seen them with my own eyes. I had experienced the creation of this realm, of my realm, uncovering truths that my time in the human world could have never prepare me for, and now, nothing would ever be the same.
Good. I didn’t want it any other way.
The tendrils followed the path my veins created until the thrumming power reached my fingertips. It sang and hummed in my blood as I welcomed it as part of me. With every calling of my Devenish magic to the surface, it became easier to me, until it almost felt like it was an entity of its own. A force ready, and eager, to execute my every wish…
Now, if I could only figure out how to wield it as a weapon.
Evanna’s chuckles reached me when I made a face at my own thoughts, my gaze fixed on the sparking energy that danced over my fingertips. I could heal life-threatening and otherwise unhealable wounds—which was pretty impressive on its own, and I was grateful for it—but that was only a result of my Devenish side influencing Dad’s ability passed on to me.
This power had also intensified and strengthened my connection to my Dragon family—again, incredible—yet I needed to find out what it could do by itself and what I was truly capable of when wielding it.
A soft hand slipped into mine, our fingers intertwining and successfully breaking me out of my thoughts. Evie winked at me when my eyes finally lifted to hers, offering me a smile that said she had no doubt I would figure it all out—hopefully sooner rather than later because the sinister voice in the back of my mind whispered time was not on our side.
We continued towards the landing pad, our brothers and sisters flanking us while the chief and Imogen walked ahead, apparently discussing something important.
Taking a settling breath that failed to push aside the nagging feeling in my gut, I pulled Evie to me and leaned into her ear. “Have I told you that I love you recently?”
Her lips twitched, but her attention remained on the hallway that led out of the dining room. “Not in the last thirty sun-minutes. Frankly, I was getting concerned.”
A slow grin captured my mouth, and I slightly brushed it against the sensitive spot below her ear, causing a shiver to visibly rush down her spine. Enjoying her reaction to me that never failed to amaze me, and the softness of her skin against my lips, my grin widened. “I love you.”
Sky blue eyes glimmered when she turned to me. “I love you too.”
“Not in front of the children, please. We are very impressionable.” Harrison’s words made everyone chuckle, and I glanced back, playfully narrowing my eyes at him.
“What? I’m not complaining. I enjoy the shows; the two of you are very entertaining.” He laughed when Elijah halfheartedly pushed him.
“Brax!”
Quinn’s voice stopped me mid-stride, and Evie immediately let go of my hand. We turned to find my friend jogging towards me with the gang. Edward, Aaron, Charlotte, Louis, Harvey, and Thea stopped a few feet away, immediately dropping into a bow when they realized their princess was with us.
“I’m so sorry, Princess Evanna,” Quinn immediately offered, “I did not realize I was interrupting royal business. I thought it was just the Elevated Warriors walking.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” Evie assured, instinctively assuming her royal manner. “They do a fine job of concealing me when they walk around me this way.”
“We just wanted to say hi,” Charlotte added, her gaze shifting to me. “It’s been a while.”
It really had been.
“We are truly sorry about Penelope’s passing, Princess… Guard,” Aaron offered.
“Please accept our deepest condolences,” Harvey added. “We grieve as one.”
“My most sincere thank you,” Evie accepted graciously, but her muscles tightened at the reminder of our loss. “We were on our way out, but you may have a moment to talk to him.” Evie smiled at them, placing a hand on my arm as she looked at me. “We will wait for you outside.”
“Thank you.”
With a small nod at my friends, she graciously turned and continued walking.
The guard hesitated for a second, not sure whether to stay with me, their prince, or continue with their princess.
“Arlo, Elijah, Finn, Fletcher, and Hanna, remain with the princess and the chief. Harrison, Islay, Harper, and I will stay with Braxton and meet you all outside once we are done,” Asher ordered without missing a beat.
With a swift nod, the others resumed their places around Evie and Kingston, while Imogen made her way to my side.
Confusion captured my friends’ faces, unsure of why the guard had split in half to remain with me, something they had never done, and I felt bad for not being able to tell them the truth. Soon.
“How are you guys?” I asked, pulling in Quinn for a hug and knowing I couldn’t stay for long. “I’ve missed you.”
“We have missed you too, Friend,” Harvey, the usually quiet one, offered with a sincere smile, giving me a bro hug before I greeted the others. Charlotte’s hug was a bit more heartfelt as she squeezed me. I squeezed her too. She was an absolute sweetheart.
The gang’s eyes immediately went to my torso, sweeping over the large scar now in full view. Aaron, Edward, and Thea exchanged a discrete glance while the rest pretended not to see. Neither of them brought it up or asked any questions.
“You know the guard,” I began, introducing my brothers and sisters since they only knew of them as the Elevated Warriors. “Asher, Harrison, Islay, and Harper.”
“Commander.” The guys immediately bowed at Asher, who shook his head.
“We are not in training or the Legion. You can call me Asher. Any friend of Braxton’s is a friend of ours.”
“Okay… Asher.” Charlotte grinned, completely star-struck by him. Not that I could blame her, Asher was good-looking and as badass as they came, but I doubted Skylar was the type of girl to share, and he only had eyes for her.
Also, Kingston would skin him alive if he even dared to look at anyone other than his daughter.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Islay cooed so smoothly that she was only missing a bike to lean against, and a black leather outfit.
My eyes immediately shifted to see who she was flirting with, and I found Quinn grinning crookedly back at her.