“Mirranda, nay!” Lathan roared, slamming his fist against the table so hard the dishes rattled. The entire family stopped and stared at him in shock. Lathan struggled to rein in his temper while Mirranda watched him, wide-eyed. He gulped in a deep breath, trying to slow his rattling pulse. “I am sorry,” he growled through clenched teeth. “I cannot allow it. It is too dangerous.”
A tense silence descended in the small but elegant dining room. At least once a week, Lathan gathered his family to share the evening meal. While they may discuss political happenings, all of them tried to leave arguments at the door and just be a family. Once Mirranda learned of the dinners, she insisted on Lathan resuming them, along with their shared breakfasts.
Unfortunately, she had also decided this would be an appropriate time to ask Lathan if she could try to help his father. Of course, his family sided with her, not realizing how much she gave of herself trying to fight the curse. They only knew what she had done for them and judged her power as limitless.
Lathan knew better than anyone the strain fighting the dementia caused Mirranda. But now his family perceived him as an unfeeling, uncaring brute. His gaze reluctantly traveled to his mother, who watched him with tear-filled hazel eyes.
“Mother, I’m sorry,” he said softly, his temper easing. “But you have no idea what Mirranda is risking.”
She looked to Mirranda. “I have no desire to place her in any danger, but if—”
“If there is a chance, I think we should take it,” Mirranda replied.
Lathan groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We know you can help strengthen the defenses against the curse, but we have no idea if you can bring someone back.”
“And we’re not going to know unless I try.”
“And what happens if he drags you with him? I lose my lifemate and my quest prize.”
“That is the exact reason why I have to try, Lathan. We have to discover why I’m your quest prize, what I need to do to help you find the answers for your people.”
“And if you lose your sanity, what good are you then?” He immediately bit his tongue. Prax’s claws, that sounded awful. “I’m sorry, Mirranda, but you know what I mean.”
“I know perfectly well what you mean,” she snapped. “Lathan, when we mated, you made me your queen, and that means I have a responsibility to your people as well. I am not one to ignore that responsibility if it becomes inconvenient.”
“Inconvenient? Mirranda, risking your life and your sanity is a great deal more than inconvenient.”
She glared at him across the table. Another weighted silence descended.
Lathan’s gaze fell on his brother. Revian sat stiffly in his chair. Lathan wanted to wring his neck. He was the one who put this fool idea into Mirranda’s head. Revian refused to meet his gaze; he knew Lathan was furious with him.
“You are missing the entire point,” Mirranda said sternly. “Granted, my choices affect you, but it is still my choice to make. This is my power and my decision.”
“Affect me?” Lathan growled. “Ancients have mercy, Mirranda, you have a penchant for understatement. Your refusal to see our mating as anything more than a human marriage is—”
“Downright irritating, I know. But I’m working on it.”
Lathan threw up his hands in frustration.
“I must do this. If I do not, then we will always wonder, always ask the question—what if?”
“And if we lose you? The Kindred not only lose the great magic Prax demanded I find, but there is a chance they might lose their king right along with their queen.”
Mirranda’s gaze dropped, and she toyed with her eating dagger. At least that consequence gave her pause. Slowly she looked up, her jaw firm, her decision made. “I must do this.”
Lathan’s fist fell on the table, rattling the dishes a second time. He started to argue again but snapped his jaw shut. Bracing his head in his hands, he tried to gather himself. Viciously reining in the fear surging within him so it wouldn’t overwhelm Mirranda as well. But there was also longing. He wanted his father back too. Almighty Ancients, why did he have to make these decisions?
“Lathan, it’s my choice. The decision has already been made.”
“And if I forbid you?” he muttered.
“Not a good idea.”
“I do not mean as your lifemate, but as your king.”
Mirranda’s brows crawled up her forehead. “I’ve never defied a king’s edict before, but there’s always a first time. I come from a country that fought a bitter revolution to throw off the chains of a monarchy, a nation that is proud of its independence and freedom. I was not raised to be subservient to anyone.”
“Prax’s claws, Mirranda, you are willing to risk your life, but do you care so little for me you are willing to risk mine as well?”
She blinked at him as if he had slapped her.
“That was uncalled for, Brother,” Revian said tightly.
Lathan shot him an arched glare. “Was it? I thought it was entirely called for. Risking her life is one thing, dragging me into the mud is entirely another.”
“I’m not the one who bound our souls together in the first place.”
“But you reaffirmed it; you spoke the words of the oath.”
He sensed rage roar within her. Ancients have mercy. For a brief moment, he wondered if she did have a dragon spirit within her, that of a fire dragon.
“All right,” she growled. “You want a fight? You got one, mister.”
Lathan rose as she shoved her chair back and stood. Good glory she was furious. Her entire body trembled.
“Everybody grab a scorecard,” she said through clenched teeth, “’cause this is going to get ugly.”
“Mirra,” he said gently.
“Don’t ever think I don’t consider your well-being first! But we have to find the answers to this. We . . . I . . . have to know.”
He lightly gripped her shoulders. “Mirra, I love you.”
She took a breath to continue her argument then abruptly released it. “Oh, damn. How do you always know how to take the wind out of my sails?”
He pulled her into his embrace, resting his cheek against the top of her head. Glancing up, he saw his mother hurry everyone from the room. She gave him a commiserating glance as she closed the door behind her.
Mirranda rested her head against his chest.
Lathan rubbed her back, allowing her to grab hold of her emotions and struggling with his own.
“I’m . . . I’m sorry,” Mirranda said.
“So am I.”
“Now what?”
“I know not, Mirra. There is no easy answer for this. We do not know what will happen to either of us if our bond is broken in death . . . or strained with insanity.”
She nodded. “I know there is a risk, but I honestly think I should do this. And I’m not just saying that to defy you.”
“I know, and I am not resisting just to demand control over your life.”
“You have very legitimate concerns. I wouldn’t be all-fired excited about you going out and risking your life.”
Lathan sighed heavily, his arms tightening around her. He knew the choice had already been made. She also had a very valid point: they needed to learn the truth of her power. “You are my love. Seeing you place yourself at risk goes against the very nature of my being.”
“That’s my point. We are in this together . . . partners. I’m not some fragile china doll you need to place on a shelf, fearing I might be broken.”
“Aye,” he said reluctantly. He kissed her softly and escorted her from the room. “If you insist on this, then I insist on you getting plenty of rest tonight.” He knew he did not have much of a choice, they truly needed to learn all Mirranda could do, but his heart remained troubled.
L
The next morning, Lathan walked with Mirranda through the long corridors of the castle, still debating the validity of this decision. She would try to pull his father from the dementia. He had not told his family, knowing they would loiter in the area and worry.
“Are you sure I cannot convince you to wait?” he asked softly, his fingers tightening on hers.
“I’m sure,” she said.
“Mirra, I do not wish to make you more nervous, but you must understand. There are binding spells in place to keep my father from using his magic, and they are at their limit. Unfortunately, the moment we enter the room, they will be disrupted . . . useless. My father is very much in his prime, even though his hair has turned gray. I honestly do not know if I will be strong enough to keep his magic in check.”
She hesitated, looking up at him. “But I thought Ahjan—his dragon—was sane. The dementia affects only your father’s mind.”
“Ahjan is sane, but their souls are bound, so my father still has access to very powerful magic. Ahjan cannot prevent him from tapping the power. He is a golden dragon, remember. Should my father wish to cast a spell, the most Ahjan can do is try to keep him from remembering the incantations. Forget not, he nearly killed Revian.”
Mirranda lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “I have to try.”
Lathan’s heart tightened in his chest. She was wonderfully brave, but would he be strong enough to protect her?
“We will protect her, Lathan,” Aro whispered. But even the dragon did not sound as confident as Lathan would have liked.
They turned the corner to his father’s room, and Lathan whispered a quick prayer to the Ancients. Two guards stood at the door. They bowed, and one reached for the keys on his belt.
“Your Majesties,” the second one said. “Your father has not had a good morning. Perhaps it would be best to come back later.”
“We will see him,” Lathan said.
The guard bowed again. The first unlocked the door and quickly stepped inside.
Lathan heard an inhuman snarl, and he left Mirranda at the door. His father stood in the corner, frothing at the mouth like a rabid animal. His amber eyes were wild. His long red-gold hair, now flaxen with gray, was matted and tangled. He wore only a torn tunic and leggings, his feet bare. A ragged beard grew from his jaw. He saw Lathan and lunged.
Lathan quickly tapped his earth magic and whispered a rooting spell. It froze his father in place but Lathan nearly staggered under the power drain it took to hold him.
Mirranda stepped in, gasping when she saw his father. The second guard followed her and closed the door.
Kurus Ahjan snarled and raged, forcing Lathan to exert even more power over the spell to keep him controlled. “If you must do this, do it quickly,” Lathan said through clenched teeth.
“Your Majesty,” the first guard, an earth dragon, said. “May I assist you with the spell?”
“Aye,” Lathan said tightly. He almost sighed in relief as the magical burden eased.
Mirranda stepped forward, ignoring Kurus Ahjan’s snarling. She spoke softly, as if she approached a wild animal. Indeed, Lathan’s father was exactly that.
“Ahjan tells me he is trying to cast a spell,” Aro said. “Fortunately, he cannot remember the words, and Ahjan is trying to keep them from him.”
“Tell me if he succeeds in remembering.”
“I will, rest assured.”
Mirranda, moving slowly but with certainty, touched Kurus’s face. He tried to flinch, but the spell held him. Lathan felt her Spirit Elemental surge and reach out.
Kurus suddenly battled Lathan’s spell with all of his might, his dementia lending him the strength of the insane. Lathan felt beads of sweat form on his brow. The guard next to him cursed.
“Mirra, hurry!”
Her Spirit Elemental swelled in power. She cupped Kurus’s face in both hands, closing her eyes in concentration.
For an instant, Kurus went absolutely still. Lathan sensed the first stirring of sanity. Suddenly, he howled.
“Fire!” Aro roared.
Lathan snarled a counter-spell.
But it was too late. The power of Kurus’s incantation exploded, and flames enveloped Mirranda. He heard her scream even as he lunged forward. Her Spirit Elemental surged with a might he had never felt before.
The power flung her backward. She crashed into a heavy table, shattering the wood as if it were glass. The power also knocked Kurus away, slamming him into the wall.
“Nay, Mirra!” Lathan cried. He dropped to his knees and pulled her into his arms, her body limp. Terror blurred his thoughts. He summoned his chalice magic, seeking to heal the burns, but hesitated in surprise. Her dress was singed in places and soot blackened her cheek, but otherwise there wasn’t a mark on her. His thoughts scrambled. She should have terrible burns. But his magic could find no injury other than a few bruises from being thrown against the table. Even those injuries were not as dire as they should have been.
“I don’t believe this,” Aro murmured in awe. “Her Spirit Elemental protected her.”
“It did what?”
“Behind you!” the dragon snapped in warning.
Kurus rose, lurching toward him. Lathan, still holding Mirranda close, roared with the power of the dragon bellow. If Kurus continued, Lathan would attack with the instincts of a dragon.
Both guards moved in front of their king, their weapons drawn.
Kurus stopped, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. “L-Lathan?”
Lathan tried to force down the primal fury boiling within him. He gazed at his father, who stood dazed and swaying slightly.
“Lathan, what happened?”
“Father?” His voice remained a growl, barely recognizable as human.
Kurus pressed the heels of his hands against the sides of his head. “What happened? Who is this girl?”
“Aro?”
“She did it.” Aro’s surprise grew. “He is sane once again. Ahjan no longer fights him.”
“But for how long?”
“His sanity is fully restored. As Mirranda has done for all she has touched, the pain of the curse is gone.”
“Gone?”
“For now. The curse, along with its pain, will return, but as with all the others, your father’s defenses are strengthened. The curse will not threaten him again for some time.”
Lathan’s heart lurched. Mirranda had succeeded. He gazed down at her, still unconscious, but he did not sense any serious injury.
“I do not understand this.”
“Even I am struggling to keep up. It appears as if her Spirit Elemental acted as some sort of shield, protecting her from the fire spell and from her fall into the table. She was able to break through the madness of the curse and pull your father back to sanity moments before he attacked her. The effort has exhausted her, for it was no small feat.”
“Indeed,” Lathan said, only now allowing himself to acknowledge his relief. He lifted her from the debris.
“Lathan,” his father said. “I didn’t . . . did I?”
“I fear you did,” he said sadly, knowing his father had not meant to hurt Mirranda.
“Forgive me,” Kurus whispered. “Who is she?”
“My lifemate.”
Kurus paled. “Your . . . lifemate?” He rubbed his eyes. “And my wife . . . your mother, is she . . . ?”
“Well. I will call her in a moment. Father, allow me to see to my mate, and then I will come back and explain everything.”
Kurus nodded silently.
Lathan cradled Mirranda against his chest and faced the guards, who stared at Kurus in awe. “Remain on duty. I will return shortly.”
Lathan carried her into the corridor. Mirranda’s eyes flew open, and she struggled against him. “Easy,” he said, almost dropping her.
She focused on him, and he put her feet on the floor.
“Are you all right?”
“I have a terrible headache, but otherwise I’m fine. I just need to sit down for a moment.”
He helped her to one of the small divans lining the corridor. Sitting next to her, he held her close, waiting while she recovered. He had been so afraid the fire spell had injured her. He remained silent as she gathered herself. Then he felt her fingers toying with laces at the throat of his tunic. She opened it slightly, her fingers brushing his skin, lightly tracing an intriguing pattern along his breast bone.
He bent his finger under her chin and lifted her face to look at him. Her sapphire eyes were still slightly glazed. Lathan sighed heavily. “You have no idea,” he whispered.
“What?”
“If we were not mated, if we were instead just a husband and wife, our souls not bound, I would still not be able to bear losing you. There would be a wound on my heart so grievous it would never heal.” He brushed his thumb over the velvet softness of her lower lip. “I do not want you doing this again, Mirra, for anyone.”
She closed her eyes and shivered. “Believe me, I won’t. Touching his mind . . . feeling his insanity . . . it was awful.”
“I promised to talk with him. You need to rest.”
She shook her head, her lips tugging upward. “There you go again. I will be fine. Go see your father. I will join you in a moment.”
“Mirra—”
“Shoo!” she said, flicking her hands at him.
Lathan could not resist a smile. “If you insist,” he replied, brushing his lips over hers. He rose and returned to his father’s room.
Servants hurried in and out of the room. Kurus was now dressed in his usual impeccable manner, his flaxen hair brushed and tied at the nape of his neck and his face freshly shaved.
Kurus faced him. His dark hazel eyes shifted to bright blue as he offered his hand. “Son.”
Lathan hesitated only an instant, accepted his hand, then pulled him into a rough embrace, which Kurus returned. “Welcome back, Father.” His heart swelled with the joy he had previously restrained. He couldn’t believe Mirranda had truly succeeded.
“I do not understand what has happened,” Kurus said and gestured for him to sit.
Lathan noticed the broken table had been removed. Another servant, wide-eyed and a bit fearful, entered with a tray bearing wine, meat, and cheese.
“I . . . I thought I fell to the dementia, and you are now king.”
“Your sanity has been renewed, Father. I will cede the throne if you wish to return.”
Kurus shook his head harshly. “Nay, Lathan, the duty is yours by right. I know you will be a fine king.”
Disappointment cut through him. He had held out a faint hope that Kurus would return to the throne and relieve him of the responsibility.
“I fear I am not as fine a king as you believe.”
Kurus scowled at him. “How can you speak such words? You have found what we have always sought, a cure for the dementia.”
Lathan shook his head harshly. He rose and paced, dragging his hand through his hair. “It is a solution I will not allow again. I will not have my queen put herself in such danger.”
“How is it this girl is your queen and not Widar Breoll, after all the negotiations we—I—went through? What has given this girl such great ability? I know you are concerned for her, but your duty is first to your people. If she can cure—”
“Nay!” Lathan growled, his voice rumbling of the dragon. He sucked in a breath, fighting to control his emotions. Slowly, he explained his quest and the magic Mirranda possessed. “She is not merely my wife, but my true lifemate.”
Kurus’s eyes grew wide. “You found your lifemate?” he whispered. “Not only found her but Prax has deemed her our hope for the future?”
Lathan nodded, returning to his chair and taking a drink of wine.
“So you no longer battle the curse at all?”
“I cannot put to words how much I savor this new freedom,” he said, smiling. “Because we are mated, Mirra’s soul protects mine. She can use her power to help other Kindred but cannot stop the dementia entirely. Even you will return to battling the curse, but her Spirit Elemental has strengthened your defenses.”
Kurus nodded, pinching his bottom lip thoughtfully. “But this is terribly hard on her?”
“Aye. Mirranda has such a great heart; she gives too much of herself to help our people. As her lifemate, I swore to protect her from all harm, even that she might inflict on herself by overextending her power.” He lifted his hands helplessly.
“You are right, Lathan. I apologize for my thoughtless words. Mirranda must be protected.” He paused and smiled. “And I understand your position wholeheartedly. But what of Cerwin and your brothers and sisters?”
Lathan smiled. “Aro, call the others, tell them it is urgent, but do not tell them why. I wish to surprise them.” He winked at his father. “They do not know we were attempting this this morning. They shall be in for a surprise.”
His father grinned as Lathan rose to greet his family at the door.
Mirranda joined him, holding his hand. “Are you sure you feel well enough for this?” he asked. Her face remained wan.
“Are you kidding me? At least allow me to see the fruits of my labors.” She leaned against his side, resting her head on his shoulder.
He chuckled and pulled her hand to his lips. How could he deny her?
His mother was the first to hurry around the corner. “Lathan, what is it? Is something wrong with Kurus?” She looked at Mirranda and tears immediately filled her eyes. She covered her mouth with trembling fingers. “Oh, Ancients, nay. It didn’t work.”
Lathan’s heart twisted, seeing his mother’s fear, and he almost spoke, but Revian and his sisters slid around the corner, all appearing terribly worried.
“Did you try?” Revian asked Mirranda then glared at him. “Prax’s claws, Lathan, why didn’t you tell us?” He saw his mother crying, and his face paled. “Please, nay, do not tell me Mirranda failed.”
“Very well, I will not tell you,” Lathan murmured and opened the door. His mother sprinted through and slid to a stop.
Kurus rose, smiling. “Cerwin, my love,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Cerwin choked on a sob and threw herself at Kurus, who wrapped her in a warm embrace and held her while she cried.
“Papa?” Merlia whispered.
Lathan couldn’t help the broad grin that escaped him as his parents were suddenly surrounded by their children, laughing and crying joyously.
Kurus hugged his daughters. Revian stood back a pace, gaping at his father. Finally, the girls released him, and he looked at his second son. “Revian.”
“Praise the Ancients,” Revian whispered, embracing his father with enough force to crack his ribs.
“I can feel the joy within you,” Mirranda said, gazing up at Lathan.
He grinned at her, unable to deny the warmth in his heart as he watched his family. “Thank you, Mirra.” If only his youngest brother, Dirkin, could be here, but he had not returned from his far-search. And little Reyn, the baby of the family—
Lathan stopped his thoughts abruptly, and Mirranda moved closer to him. “I know you miss her so much, Lathan. I wish I could have found a way to—”
“Nay,” he replied and lowered his head so his lips hovered inches above hers. “Reyn is in a place of joy where pain can no longer touch her. That fact is also thanks to you.”
“I can’t believe it worked,” Revian said, stepping back to grip his father’s shoulders and look at him. “You are hale again.”
Kurus inclined his head toward Mirranda. “I have my new daughter to thank for it.”
Revian quickly approached, taking Mirranda’s hand in his. “Thank you. I know this caused terrible division between you and my brother . . . but it is . . . Prax’s claws, Mirranda, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Revian, but—”
“Just wait until the others learn of this. You truly are our salvation.”
“Nay,” Lathan said firmly, silencing his brother. “Revian, this was too hard on her. The risk is too great.”
Revian’s expression fell, but he nodded in understanding.
Kurus strode to Mirranda, took her hand, and bowed low. “My dear daughter, forgive me if I hurt you.”
“No harm done, my lord,” Mirranda said.
“Nay. Do not stand on such formality. You are my son’s mate, my daughter. Please call me Kurus. I cannot express my gratitude, Mirranda.”
“There is no need. Just seeing you together as a family . . .” Her voice broke and Lathan saw a sheen of tears in her eyes. “Just seeing this makes it all worth it.”
“I think,” Lathan said, “this calls for a celebration. We shall have a revel, tonight, in Father’s honor.”
“A wonderful idea, Brother,” Revian cried. “I cannot wait to see the council members’ expressions.”
Lathan’s humor faded slightly. “Father, I know you will not return to the throne, but will you at least return to the council? I find myself in sore need of your wisdom.”
Kurus arched an eyebrow. “You have grown, Lathan. I would be honored if you accepted my return into the council.”
“Wonderful,” Revian said, clapping his father on the back as Kurus wrapped an arm around Cerwin’s shoulders. “Now, let’s plan this revel. I want to take everyone by surprise when you walk through the door.”
Lathan glanced down at Mirranda and pulled her aside as the others gathered around his father. “I still think you should rest, my sweet.”
“I will.” She gazed up at him and caressed his cheek. “Actually, just seeing this look on your face, feeling the joy within you . . . I would do this ten times over.”
“Mirra, I cannot tell you how much this means to me.”
“You don’t have to, Lathan. I can feel it.”