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The fabric began to melt into our skin as he said the last words, disappearing and becoming one with us. I fell to my knees, clasping his head between my hands, the move frantic as I stared into the eyes that had become my home.

“Mine,” I whispered. “You are mine.”

A smile split across Landers’s lips at the possession that flowed through my words as he placed a hand on my cheek, his thumb swiping away the silver tears that still fell.

“To death,” he said.

“And every life after.” His lips crashed onto mine as the words slipped from my tongue and I felt it.

Felt the moment our souls became one.

The moment our oaths snapped into place.

It was almost painful, the overwhelming love and devotion that flooded every vein, every vessel in my body. I could picture it, the atoms that made me, exploding and splitting to make room for the very fabric of his being to attach itself to mine.

Power exploded from our skin, lighting the air around us like fireworks as we disappeared into the first kiss of our new life together. Somewhere in the distance, the sky filled with song.

Not just the song of Ithia, but the song of dragons.

Chapter forty

ATALIIA

“Thisisabadidea, you realize that right?” I asked, my eyes flickering between Landers and Cin as I shoved my tarot cards into the pocket of my jacket.

Cin smirked at me. “I thought you loved bad ideas.”

“I likemybad ideas,” I said, pulling the strings on my satchel closed and throwing it over my shoulder. “I will not be held responsible for whatever dumb decisions he makes.”

Dukovich chuckled from where he leaned against the wall of Landers’s makeshift office, his arms casually crossed over her chest.

“Then do not let him make one,” Landers said, raising a brow.

“Do you have everything you need? Andrues’s healing tonics, supplies?” Cin asked as a crease formed between her brows. I could hear the worry braided into her voice as she picked at a splinter in the table, the crown on her head glowing against the dim candle light.

I pulled her hand into mine and squeezed gently. “We will be fine. I will see you again in eight hours.” She smiled softly back at me, nodding as I pulled my hand from hers and extended it to Dukovich. “Let’s get this over with.”

We landed in the center of the safe house, our boots connecting with the hard ground of the sitting room as I grabbed the ledge of the hearth to stabilize myself from the tether.

“Get ready,” I snapped. “We leave in fifteen.”

“Already am,” Dukovich said as he walked to the bar cart and began pouring himself a drink. My hand tightened around the strap of my satchel as I strode toward the stairs.

I could not believe I was back in this fucking place with him.

Anxious energy buzzed over my skin as I took the steps by two, the memory of our last time here creeping into my mind.

The way his hands felt on my skin. The way his fingers wrapped around my neck—

I shook my head.

I needed to get it together.

My shoulder pushed open the door to my room and I chucked my satchel onto the bed as I stepped into the lavatory. My fingers flicked toward the sink, filling it with cold water.

I needed a bath, a freezing one, to stop the need that had rushed my veins the moment we tethered into Ammord. But this would have to do for now. My hands dipped into it, cupping the water between them and splashing it onto my face. A heavy sigh slipped from my lips as I leaned onto the counter.

I had one job—one goal.