Page 281 of The Queen’s Shadow

“Push energy into it.”

“On it.” I nodded, and closed my eyes, trying to focus. I had done this once before, when we had first been attacked by the widowmaker. It was how I had ended up bonded to her in the first place. But she had already been pulling energy from me then. It had been easy. This felt like trying to push a car from a dead stop. I wasn’t good at this type of shit, but godsdamn it I had to fucking try.

‘Kitten, you need to wake up and take what you need to heal.’ I pushed the words down the bond, but she didn’t respond. I tried to dig in and connect with the parts of myself that allowed me to regenerate, but I couldn’t feel anything.

‘Kitten! Please! I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing with this shit, you need to help me.’

With my eyes still closed I reached out and grabbed her hands, hoping physical contact would help.

Finally, there was a flicker.

‘Kitten!’

‘Rycon?’

‘Yeah! It’s me… you need to take energy from me. Quickly! You’re fucking dying.’

I felt a flare of confusion. Her consciousness was slow and clumsy.

‘Come on Kitten, don’t die on us. You’ve got the Prince of Pricks fucking sobbing like a little girl over here. If you start it, I can push the rest like last time.” I urged her.

Finally, I felt it. It was like she weakly installed a tiny siphon, and my energy started to roll down the bond toward her.

‘Fuck yeah!’ I cheered. Now that there was a clear line of power installed, I could feel it. I pushed as much as I could manage down the line and my eyes flew open as I heard her gasp.

“Raven!?” Amon rasped, as she jerked in his lap at the sudden rush of power. We both watched in awe as her flesh healed before our very eyes. I felt her arm mend beneath the flow of my energy and a massive grin erupted across my face.

Her eyelids fluttered and she came to, looking up at Amon, who was staring at her as if he would never look away from her again.

She reached up and touched his wet cheek, frowning.

“Don’t be sad.” She whispered. “We’re going home.”

He choked on a sound that came out half like a laugh and half like a sob. The Dark Prince pulled her into him, burning his face in her neck.

“Yes. Yes we are.”

Amon

With Ash Nevra dead, the rest of her soldiers fled. Rycon told me he saw Kieran leave with the soulforge, which didn’t make any sense. The wizard should have died with his bonded, but I filed that away as something to worry about another day.

Right now, I couldn’t think of anything other than the fact that I was going home with my mate. Something I had never thought I would get to do again.

The sea drakes took us back to Pride. It was terrifying to me that there were apparently secret natural portals that allowed travel through The Court’s wards. Considering everything that had just happened, I was grateful they existed, but I was worried that knowledge of these portals would spread.

Considering recent events, and the fact that Ash Nevra was now dead, this was another problem that I allowed myself to file away to worry about another day.

We landed in the training ring, and I dismounted, reaching up to help Raven down. She didn’t need my help, but she let me do it anyway, knowing I was using every excuse I could to touch her.

I never wanted to stop touching her now that we were back together. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. Our friends and her father gathered around, wanting to celebrate and congratulate her, but I couldn’t allow it. I couldn’t share her right now.

I tugged her away from the group and my shadows coiled around us. She put her hand in mine, giving my fingers a squeeze.

“Give me a minute, I’ll let them know we need some time alone.” She whispered, and I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck, resting my head against hers. I swallowed, but nodded. Even a minute felt like too long.

I could feel her father staring at me, but I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge him. I could do nothing but stare at Raven as she hugged him, and whispered in his ear. He looked concerned, but nodded to whatever she said to him. She gestured to Conrad and Nytara.

“Conrad, can you get Nytara set up with a room? She can stay with us until we figure everything out.” Raven smiled up at The Siren, who looked uncomfortable with Raven’s easy acceptance of her. Conrad nodded, grinning.