Page 99 of Secrets of Avalon

Atlas pulls me up, into a sitting position. Gratitude swells in my chest. Without thinking, I throw my arms around him. "Thank you," I whisper.

A familiar growl vibrates through the air, and suddenly Hawke's arms encircle me. He pulls me against his chest, his touch igniting a flurry of sensations. Our bond flares to life. A tidal wave of intense emotions flood between us–relief, love, fear, possessiveness.

"Hawke," I breathe, drinking in his presence. His heartbeat thunders against my body, matching my own rapid pulse. I savor the warmth of his skin, the strength of his embrace. Through our connection, there are echoes of his terror, and the gut-wrenching fear of almost losing me.

Guilt gnaws at me. "I'm sorry," I murmur, looking up at him.

His eyes, stormy with worry, search mine.

I cup his face, tracing the sharp line of his jaw with my thumb. "I'm here," I reassure him, pouring all my love and certainty into our bond. "I'm not going anywhere."

Hawke's relief washes over me, tempered by lingering concern. He presses his forehead to mine, his breath warm against my skin. "I forbid you from ever doing that to me again," he whispers fiercely.

I snuggle into Hawke's chest, a soft chuckle escaping my lips. "I love you, so I'm pretty sure I can't promise that."

Hawke buries his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. His growl rumbles through me, a mix of frustration and affection. "You are infuriating, sweet girl. I love you so much, but you can't do that. You can't risk your life and expend your entire magick reserve."

Curiosity burns within me. I sit up straighter, tugging on Hawke's arm. "Did it help? Did the shield hold?"

Atlas' laugh rings out as he moves away from us. "Not only did it hold, Melinda. It disintegrated the darkness and all the golems in one blast."

My eyes widen, and my breath catches in my throat. A jolt of disbelief courses through me. How? How did I do that?

Heart pounding, I whip my head around to look up at Hawke, desperately seeking confirmation. His eyes lock with mine, and he nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

A wave of relief washes through me, so powerful it almost makes me dizzy. My magick helped. It didn't hurt the people I cared about. In fact, it protected them. A warmth spreads through my chest, chasing away the last tendrils of fear and doubt.

"Help me up," I say, suddenly eager to move. "Will it come back? The darkness?"

As Hawke helps me to my feet, his arm locks around my waist. The contact sends warmth spreading through me.

"After a display like that, I doubt the council will try anything similar again," Hawke assures me.

Wraith's voice cuts through our moment. "I agree, but we need to put feelers out to see who is with us and who is against us." He pulls back the curtain of flowers, Fen mirroring his action on the other side. "It is good to see color back in your cheeks, Lady Mayweather."

A wave of gratitude washes over me. "It's good to have color in my cheeks again. I've never felt that tired before." The memory of that bone-deep exhaustion makes me shudder slightly.

Hawke wraps an arm around my waist, steadying me as we step out from under the tree's canopy. I feel strong and each step is a small triumph. The scent of damp earth and blooming flowers fills my lungs. I like this room of the palace.

Kellan and Atlas follow close behind. As we approach the doorway, a middle-aged woman appears, her hands clasped in front of her crisp apron.

"Your Highness," she says, bowing her head slightly. "We've prepared a meal in the great hall. And I'm happy to say that your parents have also arrived back from Camelot safely and are asking about you and what happened with the shield."

Some of his tension releases at the news and my stomach growls at the mention of food. "I'm starving. Could we? But also, I need to change clothes. I’m still in a dressing gown."

Hawke's smile warms me from the inside out. "Of course."

As we prepare to follow Cora, Hawke turns to Atlas. "Will you be staying? Or disappearing back into the forests?"

Atlas bows, his eyes already darting towards an exit. "I do think I'll be better off on the outside, Prince Stormblood. Watch her carefully. This fight isn't over."

A chill runs down my spine at his words, despite the warmth of the solarium. As Atlas slips away into the gardens, I press closer to Hawke.

I’ve got you, he whispers through our bond.

I know. I answer in my mind.

“Now about that change of clothes and some food?” I prod gently.