Page 114 of Silver & Gold

Seth slammed to his knees before Raider. Raider’s quicksilver had retracted, leaving its usual wounds. Seth touched his bowed head cautiously, unsure how he would react. Then Raider’s head came up, his eyes terrified. As Seth tugged at him, Raider fell into him, shaking so hard that he couldn’t keep a grip on Seth, but Seth didn’t let him fall.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m right here.”

“Get this—” Raider gasped. “Get this thing off me. Please, Seth, get this off me!”

The collar. Gods.

“Okay, baby, let me see it.” Seth ran his hands over the collar but found no clasp or button.

“Seth.”

“I’m trying, baby, we’ll get this thing off, just trust me, okay? Stay with me. Stay calm. Tell me that you trust me.”

“I trust you.”

Seth hunted in vain along the collar. “Julian!” he shouted. “Help!”

Julian came running across the bloodied floor of the throne room, leaping over bodies and fallen weapons.

“Isn’t there a control?” Julian asked.

“Smashed,” Seth answered, trying to keep calm so he could keep Raider calm. “Gods, help, please.”

“Adavasti!” Julian shouted then yelped when the ifrit popped into sight inches from his face, still glowing bright. “Get my exo-cranial—my magic hat!”

“Okay, Jewel-man!” Adavasti replied and vanished in a puff of smoke.

“Is he okay?” Nasrin asked, limping over to them, Zarina’s hand in hers.

“He just needs this thing off,” Seth said as he held Raider’s face against his shoulder and stroked his hair. Fuck, he was shaking so hard. “Stay back.”

Nasrin edged away with Zarina. Julian scooted back as well, giving them space.

“You with me, baby?” Seth murmured.

Raider’s head moved in a barely perceptible nod.

Adavasti popped into sight, startling Julian by smashing the bizarre contraption onto his head.

“Easy,” Seth warned as Julian scooted over.

Eyes wide, the young arcanist nodded. Carefully, he knelt beside Raider.

“Baby, Julian is going to get this thing off you, okay?” Seth stroked Raider’s head. “I need to know that you understand.”

Raider lifted his head, nodding. Kneeling, resting on his heels, he let Julian crowd into him. Julian rotated the magnifying lens in front of his eye and began examining the collar. The young arcanist was sweating, but his hands were steady. His touch was light.

Julian apparently found what he was looking for on the collar. Plucking a couple of tiny tools from his exo-cranial whatever, he set to work almost like he was picking a lock.

Raider closed his eyes. His hands were fisted at his sides, so Seth clamped his hands onto Raider’s thighs, making sure he felt that Seth was there.

The collar clicked open. When Julian removed it carefully, Raider shuddered. Then he flung himself into Seth’s arms and gasped, “I knew you’d be here.”

Seth hugged him back fiercely. “Always.”

CHAPTER 37

“ARE YOU OKAY?” Nasrin asked Seth as he emerged from the catacombs.