Page 26 of Queen of Legends and Lies (Dragons of Tirene #4)

Chapter Twenty-Two

The training fields stretch out before us, a wide expanse of packed earth surrounded by low stone walls.

This is so much better than sitting in court all day yesterday. Even if my first day did end with a bang.

Sterling and I stride toward the center of one of the fields. A cluster of fire and water elementals stand at the perimeter, alert and watchful.

High overhead, dragons wheel lazily through the sky. Ryu swoops low, his massive wings casting flickering shadows across the ground as he lands with a soft thud nearby. He fixes us with gleaming golden eyes and snorts a puff of smoke, as if amused by our efforts.

Sterling turns to me with a clenched jaw. “Let’s do this.”

I nod, trying to quell my nerves. We have to master merging our magic, but the risks terrify me. What if we lose control again and unleash devastation no one can contain?

Ash Queen.

Pushing that thought aside, I reach for the core of my power, the raging inferno always simmering inside. I meet Sterling’s resolute gaze and will a connection to form, for our magics to become one.

Nothing happens.

Frowning, I try again, pushing harder.

Still nothing. Frustration slams into me.

I take a deep breath and center myself once more. This time, when I reach for Sterling, I can almost make out the gossamer threads joining us. But the ethereal tether slips through my grasp, dissolving like mist.

Dammit.

How did we do this before?

There must be a trick to it, a crucial element we’re missing. If we merged our powers in our dreams, without even trying or knowing connecting like that was possible, why is it so damn difficult now?

We try again and again, until my temples throb and exhaustion tugs at my limbs.

Each attempt is like hurling myself against a locked door that won’t budge.

My magic is there, waiting, and the chill of Sterling’s is right under his skin.

But that’s as close as they’re getting. Nothing’s coming out.

Not a blade of grass is singed or frozen.

“This isn’t working.” Sterling runs an agitated hand through his hair. “We’re going about it wrong, missing something.”

I want to scream.

People could die if we don’t succeed. The fate of the kingdom—the world, really—may rest on us learning to merge our magic. And, so far, we’re failing spectacularly.

“We can’t give up.” If only I could figure out how to seize those shimmering strands binding us and wrench them together. Weave Sterling’s ice and my fire into a perfectly balanced and immeasurably powerful unified whole. “It worked before. Why won’t it work now?”

My intuition tells me the answers are dangling just out of reach. Taunting us.

“Maybe we should try a different tactic.” There’s a wicked gleam in Sterling’s eyes. “Like how we merged in the dream. You know, merge physically, and then…”

My face flushes hot.

“Sterling!” I hiss under my breath. “If you think for one second I’m going to have sex with you in this field for the gods and everyone to see, you’ve lost your damn mind.”

He grins, completely unrepentant. “Oh, is that what you thought I meant? Since you mention it, that’s actually not a bad idea. Wild sex with you screaming my name?—”

When I slap my hand over his mouth, his grin widens. “So help me, if you don’t behave…”

He grabs my wrist, dragging my hand away from his mouth. “You’ll what? Punish me? Because we both know how that panned out yesterday.”

Heat unfurls low in my core. “People are watching. And this is important. So like I said, please, try to behave.”

Sterling gives me a long look, that wicked gleam still in his eyes, then nods. “All right. One more time.”

We gather our magic and square off yet again. I’ll make this work. I have to. Too much depends on it. I meet Sterling’s eyes, pouring every ounce of determination and will into forging that vital link.

And at last, just the faintest trickle of power flows between us before guttering out.

His eyes spark with satisfaction. “You felt it too.”

Hope kindles in my chest.

Progress.

We’re one step closer. And I won’t rest until we master this, no matter what.

The dragons and guards observe with rapt interest as we stubbornly begin again. We can do this. We must do this.

He steps closer, lowering his voice. “The dream, Lark. Remember how it felt when we merged?”

How could I forget? That soul-deep alignment, power flowing unchecked between us in a dizzying rush. Heat courses through me.

Sterling quirks a brow, no doubt noting my reaction. Bastard. “But it wasn’t physical. Not entirely. It was intense. Emotional.”

“The emotions!” I catch on quickly. “They were the key. We have to find a way to tap into that again.”

“By manufacturing feelings?” Sterling appears torn between amusement and disbelief. “This should be good.”

I roll my eyes. “You have a better idea?” When he stays silent, I give him a smug smile. “Didn’t think so. Come on, let’s…I don’t know. Think of something that really affects us. Something powerful.”

We stand there like a pair of uncomfortable statues, guards shifting and dragons huffing smoke in the background. I want to say our shared love should be enough. But I always have love for Sterling, and it’s not happening, so clearly that won’t suffice.

If he really is on to something, and I have to have wild, hot, passionate sex every time I want to merge…

No. There has to be another way. Because sex in a field full of onlookers? Hard pass.

My mind races, struggling to conjure up a shared memory that might spark a strong enough surge of emotion.

Finally, Sterling clears his throat. “The night Blair died? We were together for that.”

An icy fist clenches around my heart at the memory. “I remember.”

It had been a lovely dinner together. Much like the ones we have now.

Bastian, Leesa, Agnar, and Blair joined us in Sterling’s apartments.

Then, out of nowhere, Leesa revealed her corruption by picking up her knife and slashing Blair’s throat.

Our friend’s blood had painted the room, splattering on the table, the food, even my face.

It was our first time seeing how the drachen corrupted. No one could predict or prevent it.

He reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Focus on that. Remember how you felt. Use it.”

I close my eyes, allowing the emotions to wash over me. Across from me, Sterling does the same, tension lining his features. And slowly, fitfully, I search for the first gossamer threads of our entwined magic.

Fragile, but undeniably present.

A spark flares, there and gone in a flash.

This is almost what I felt the first time. And for sure it’s what I felt with Agnar when we fought the corrupted army.

My eyes fly open to meet Sterling’s stunned gaze. Had I managed to merge my magic with Agnar as well?

“Again.” Sterling braces his feet, ready for another round. “Stronger this time.”

I nod, mind already rifling through every intense experience I can dredge up. The sorrow and horror of watching Blair die and knowing Leesa was the one responsible. The fury that shot through me at the sight of her black eyes.

One by one, I let the emotions those memories produce fill me up inside, allowing them to pour through my veins like lava.

A muscle ticks in Sterling’s jaw as he does the same. And with each memory, each burst of emotion, our elements catch and tangle. Growing with every passing second.

Messy and uncontrolled, the merge ignites, crackling between us. It’s working. Inch by hard-won inch, we’re figuring out how to join our powers.

I meet Sterling’s fiery gaze, savage triumph pulsing through me in time with my heartbeat. We’re doing it. We’re one step closer to having the weapon we so desperately need.

Like a star being born, magic bursts to life.

Fire spews forth, crashing against a solid wall of ice that’s suddenly formed.

Heat and ice. Fire and frost. The magic arcs from my body to his and back again in a ratcheting loop.

The combination of power and emotion swells inside me like a cresting wave.

I can feel it, can feel him, can feel everything. The merge is working, a maelstrom contained only by our straining control. Better and stronger than ever. It makes sense now that when this happened before, and I wasn’t in control, our magic affected everything around us.

Sterling’s laugh is fierce and victorious. I mimic that laughter, drunk on the power of our combined strength. This is what will win us the war. How can it not?

Without warning, the white-hot flare of power spikes. Magic sears through my veins.

Too much. Too fast.

Panic flashes across our bond, and I realize Sterling’s control is slipping too.

Before my very eyes, our merging magics start to push against each other. As if both things are trying to manifest in the same space at the same time and fighting to see which will take over.

Shit, shit, shit.

Gritting my teeth, I try to reel it in, to shove it down. But the magic—a living, writhing thing—fights me. Power strains at the seams of my skin, threatening to break free.

Sterling’s eyes widen. “Lark!”

I know what he wants and what we have to do. With a monumental effort, I wrench my power back, holding it in an iron grip. And Sterling does the same, wrestling the merge under control through sheer force of will.

Inch by agonizing inch, the magic recedes.

Power dims from an inferno to a more manageable blaze before snuffing out completely.

In its wake, we’re both left gasping and shaken. For a moment, all I can do is cling to him, my face buried in the perspiring skin of his neck.

That was too damn close.

Way too close.

“We’re getting better.” Sterling voices my earlier thought with grim humor. “Maybe a little too good.”

The trembly laugh that punches out of me transforms into a small coughing fit courtesy of my dry mouth and throat. “You think?” Slowly, I disentangle myself from him, pulling on the reins of my galloping heart. “We have to figure out how to direct it. Control it. Before it controls us.”

He shivers, jaw clenched. “We will.” He clutches my hand, gripping my fingers like he’s trying to convince us both. “We’re going to master this, Lark. Whatever it takes. We don’t have a choice.”

“Sterling,” I wrap my hands around his, shocked at how cold he is, “you’re freezing.”

“Yeah.” He nods, holding back another shiver. “Maybe I’m not as recovered as I thought I was. Or maybe it’s a result of our merging.”

Funneling heat into my arms, I wrap them around him.

“Let’s call it a day. I’m parched. You’re cold.

Let’s head back to the palace. Your mother has a plant that makes a wonderful tea.

It helped me when I was dehydrated before.

I’m sure it will help you too. We’ll both feel better after a pot of that. ”

With one arm still wrapped around him, I lead us back to the palace.

I knew the risks when we started this. Knew the danger we were courting in attempting to merge our elements. But with our enemies closing in and time running out, what other option do we have?

Even if the process kills us.