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I peered inside, needing to see how Vorzyr reacted, so I could gauge his state of mind.

He was leaning against the open window, his fingers digging into the windowsill, head hung, his body hunched over as he panted, clearly struggling for control.

Oh no.

Upon Kai’s aggressive entrance, he spun, eyes narrowing. “You can’t be here right now.”

“I can’t, hmm?”

“Kai, I’m not fucking playing,” he rumbled.

“Neither am I.”

He blew out a breath and shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m fine, okay? I shifted and flew in dragon form for hours, and now I feel better.”

“Is that right?”

A couple of beats passed before he managed to utter,“Yes.”

He could barely hold Kai’s gaze steadily. Not to mention, there’d been a break in his voice just from that one word.

And, more telling than anything else, he hadn’t sensed me hidden off to the side just outside the door.

My poor dragon.He was in so much pain.

I pushed into the room, making my presence known.

In spite of everything, he lit up. The moment his eyes met mine, something in him uncoiled. Like the dragon inside him had been thrashing against iron and suddenly found air. “Ariana,” he breathed. “I thought you were… I thought…”

“Kai told me that you needed comfort. So I’m here.”

His gaze flicked to Kai, softening a little as he realized what he’d done for him.

“Youshould have reached out to me and mind-linked me,” I told Vorzyr.

“I didn’t want to interrupt your big day.”

“You matter more to me than that. You being in pain does. All three of you.”

“I know… I just… I didn’t want you seeing me like this either… in a state… barely in control, or—”

“You don’t need to be at your best to be with me, to be around me. I want the real you, all parts of you. Even your pain. And I want to be there for any of you, should you need me, need comfort, need whatever in the world from me. I care about you. So deeply. Do you hear me?”

“Yes. Yes, I really do.”

I turned to Kai and stroked his arm. “I’ll see to him. I was going to surprise Nyx and watch his big presentation, give him support.”

“Say no more. I’ll go in your stead. I’d really like to see it for myself anyway.”

I brushed my lips over his and a soft groan came from him, before he looked between Vorzyr and me, then he teleported away.

I flicked the door closed with a brush of my magic, then stepped closer to Vorzyr.

“Kai told me what you all saw earlier. Talk to me.”

“I… I’ll be fine. I’m calming down more with every moment that passes.”

I folded my arms across my chest and settled in. “Is that so?”