His Royal Mate

3

It wasn’t like him to consider taking his own life, but he was in a crazed, desperate state of mind. I immediately shifted out of my wolf and ran as fast as I could toward him. I didn’t care that Polonius was there with Sire Vanoire and an entire army of Crypt Claw warriors—I had to get to Lex. I wasn’t sure what the extent of my new powers were, but I didn’t care. I felt stronger and more able to handle whatever would come.

“Stop!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Please stop!”

I raced to where Lex was perched on the edge of the lava pit. The sound of my voice made him freeze, and he turned to me.

“Don’t jump, Lex! I’m here!”

“Aria.” The look of relief on his face stilled my terror.

I raced into his arms, and he picked me up and held me. It felt good to be in his embrace again. We fit together perfectly, like our bodies were made for one another.

We held each other for a moment, both stunned that we were reunited. Following my instinct, I looked up and kissed his lips, and he returned my kiss with a passionate one of his own. We were lost in each other until Sire Vanoire cleared his throat, alerting us to the fact that there were several other people standing there, including Polonius.

Lex gently set me back onto my feet and whispered in my ear, “Don’t ever do something like that again.” His words were harsh, but his voice cracked with concern. “I can’t lose you again.”

“You won’t, but my life ending is not a reason for you to take your own,” I quietly scolded him. “Should we ever be separated by distance or death, your life is still worth living. You wouldn’t have survived that jump, Lex. You’re not a mage, and the magma would’ve killed you.”

“If you were dead, there wouldn’t have been anything to live for,” he said softly, his arms rounding my body one more time before we turned to face the crowd.

“It worked,” I whispered to him while we looked at the sea of confused and angry faces. “I’m a wolf mage.”

Lex looked stunned and surprised for only a second before his face broke into a smile. He squeezed me tighter, then focused on the Crypt Claw Warriors, all poised to strike. Beside the formation of angry Crypt Claw were Cheyenne, Sire Vanoire, a few Royal Guards from Navarrah City, and Polonius. We had quite an audience, yet there was no mistaking the passion in our kiss.

That kiss told Polonius, the Crypt Claw, and those from Navarrah City watching that Lex and I were, and always had been, in love.

Chapter 2

Lex

Aria was alive! I couldn’t think of anything else, just the fact that she had survived the impossible. She’d jumped into a pit of molten lava, and come out moments later looking more radiant and beautiful than she ever had. I wasn’t thinking of Sire Vanoire or Polonius watching us, nor was I considering that my brother was right there beside me; I knew Cheyenne would be thrilled for our reunion. I’d kissed Aria with reckless abandon, grateful to see her alive. Now, we faced a sea of angry expressions and had to contend with the fact that we were actually on the run from Polonius and his men.

At the moment, I didn’t care. I had Aria back, yet she was different. Not only was she more radiant, but her aura and light seemed brighter, like she was becoming a beacon for her people. She exuded such an immense amount of power, I could feel it electrifying the air.

She had changed. While I didn’t doubt she still loved me, I couldn’t help but wonder if things going forward would be different between us. While it wasn’t a consideration for the moment, with Polonius about to charge at us, it was something for us to discuss at a later time.

Moments of Aria’s life and the times people had risked it flashed before my eyes as I looked at all the scowling, disgruntled faces. Polonius had tried to electrocute her and left her weak and disoriented. Sire Vanoire attempted to drown her and would have succeeded had I not intervened in time. And I’d just freed her from the trap that Polonius had set in Harlance Varian’s workshop in the Onyx Rah castle. There, he’d tried to bury her alive. Yet, none of those attempts to end Aria’s life had freed her mage. It had taken her diving into the very pit that had destroyed her ancestors to finally transform her.

“Magnificent,” Polonius said, biting back his rage. He turned to his soldiers. “Everyone, please leave us. Lex, Sire Vanoire, and Cheyenne, you will stay. I’m releasing my soldiers because I’m not going to fight you. I ask that you give me the same courtesy.”

Immediately, the Crypt Claw soldiers drew back and retreated.

“Royal Guards,” I addressed the small troop we had gathered. “Fall back. Cheyenne or I will let you know if there is any danger.”

While they grumbled and protested under their breath, they retreated into the shadows, ready to reemerge at the first sign of trouble.

Polonius bowed his head to me, then looked at Aria. “Impressive,” he said to her. “You survived.” His words were full of awe.

Amadeus, looking older than his years, came forward. His body was weak, and he could hardly take the few steps needed to stand by Polonius’ side. I heard Aria gasp beside me, but Polonius didn’t even flinch, nor did he regard Amadeus in any way. Clearly, he had power over Amadeus and didn’t care what was done to him. Amadeus was a servant to his master and had no value beyond the use his magic served.

“I not only survived, but I’ve unlocked my mage, and we have magic beyond my wildest imaginings,” Aria said before she transformed into her wolf.

Her wolf was massive and strikingly beautiful with a trail of diamond patches from her ears to her tail and on the tips of her paws. She stood before me, a magnificent creature. Polonius was visibly impressed, and for one moment, forgot his hold on Amadeus. Amadeus, too, was inspired seeing his own daughter’s massive wolf. He looked like he might rebel against Polonius and attack him, but as Aria put her wolf away, Amadeus slunk back into an exhausted depression. The hands he had lifted to attack drifted softly down to his sides.