Page 25 of For Ever More

The power surges like a dam has broken. Jin’s shield strengthens to harness the force of the torrent—except this time, rather than being unleashed, it is drawn like thread around a skein, channeled into his shield. Exhilarating, to wield such power again. Terrifying, should I lose control. Light surges from me and Jin, weaving into glowing cords that circle the ancient tree like a shining cage, the rose quivering—

“Be careful. You’re using too much.”

Jin’s voice sounds distant, my body thrumming—alive, a tingling in my veins.

“Stop, Yining. You’re endangering yourself,” Jin says fiercely, louder now.

His urgency pierces my daze. I struggle to rein in my magic, harder to harness so great a force. I’m shivering as more of Jin’s power floods into me, trying to help me regain control… like he’s afraid too, as he crushes me into a rough embrace. I struggle against him, still snared by the magic, but he sweeps me onto my toes, then presses his lips to mine in a hard kiss. My eyes go wide, my heart racing as his lips part mine, his breath intimate and searing. The desire to use my power loosens, replaced by another… as dangerous and forbidden, the heat surging through me a different kind of magic.

I pull away, yet we stand so close his breath grazes my cheek, the light in his eyes fire-bright. As his head drops to mine again—I push a hand against his chest. Not that I don’t want him, but I fear what he stirs.

“Did you hate that? Even when it helped you?”

“Did you do it just to help me?” I demand.

“No.” His gaze holds mine. “You know how I feel, you felt it too. Lie to me if you want, to everyone else—but don’t lie to yourself.”

I swallow, my fingers pressed to my mouth. “Don’t do that… next time.”

“Next time, I’ll wait to be asked.” A note of challenge lifts his tone.

“You might wait forever.”

“If that’s how long it takes,” he says, a curve to his lips.

As I scowl, Jin moves to inspect the rose. The edges are still wrinkled yet a warm shimmer emanates from its petals, trailing across the solitary Radiant Sky Tree.

“It worked,” he says with relief. “The barrier is in place.”

“How long will it hold?”

“Maybe a week. The shield doesn’t continually draw on your power, but uses what you yielded to protect this place. Once the magic is consumed, it will vanish—a barrier but not the cure.”

He inclines his head to me. “I thank you. Even if you did not wish to come, what you’ve done has helped us immeasurably.”

A knot forms in my chest. I feel like the thief I was, the liar. I’m not just doing this to keep my promise, but for myself too. Already, my grasp over the dragon’s power feels more secure. Using it each time wrestles it a little more under my control. Helping him and Thorn Valley—helps me too. He’s training me without knowing it. I won’t need to endanger Dian.

But I don’t tell him. I won’t give Jin another hold over me.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

JIN AND I REMAIN IN THE GROVE UNTIL I REGAIN SOME OF my strength. Only then do we ride back toward the pier.

“How is Prince Zixin?” I’d avoided asking this earlier, but now the weight of obligation sinks over me.

“Alive,” Jin replies curtly, a slight tensing to his jaw.

“You’re hiding something.” My tone grows taut. “Is he hurt? Tortured?”

His eyes flick to my face, cold and sharp. “Wouldn’t His Highness deserve it? After all he did to those he oppressed, to you and your sister?”

I suppress the urge to agree. “That was not our deal,” I say instead. “He trusted me to bring him to safety, and I entrusted his care to you.”

“He is treated well, though that will change if he attempts to betray us or escape.”

“What else?” I ask, catching how Jin’s gaze shutters. In our time together, I’ve learned more about him too.

“Prince Zixin asked to see you,” he tells me reluctantly. “He won’t say why.”