Maddox Drakencrest didn't know it yet, but he was about to learn what his matebond felt like for the first time-ish.
He resisted the urge to kill the King of Light who had his forehead pressed to Guinevere's.
Blinding white light poured from him and into her, turning the row back to noon-bright.
Dark magic rose out of her chest like strands of black smoke, dissolving in the light. All of it but one thread of it. But that was future Maddox's problem, and future Maddox could go fuck himself. Present Maddox had bigger fires.
Then one drunk genius asked, "Is she good?"
When no one answered, the peanut gallery shitstorm began.
"If she's dead, I start looting. That's the deal."
"He shoulda taken the fuckin' gold."
"She's breathing, I think. Look!"
"Nice work, boys! Sent one evil package away and kept the hot one. Absolute professionals."
