“Nonsense, little one.” Dagan decided it would be best not to ever mention that Falden was so old, he never revealed his true age, not even to Dagan. He kissed her hand, wanting to banish the fear and uncertainty from her eyes. Someone handed him a long, fur-lined cloak and he wrapped it around her shoulders. The clasp clicked closed and he murmured, “You’re the perfect age to be my queen.”
“Okay,” Sasha nodded and straightened her shoulders. “Let’s do this.”
Falden held the smoky crystal orb out in front of him at shoulder height. He spoke a few words in a language that didn’t sound like Caldorian and Sasha strained to understand, but it was no use.
The crystal began to grow larger, just like the one she and Dagan used in their binding ceremony, only this one had no pedestal. Soon the
