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affirmatively. “That place has everything we need. Can you land on the roof without drawing too much attention?”
    Asher doesn’t answer me, but changes course, staying high until we’re right over the mall and dropping suddenly with his wings folded against his sides. He sits me down gently on the roof, taking a few steps backwards so that the flames of his transformation aren’t too close.
    He practically runs out of the fiery vortex in his human form, barrelling toward me with an expression so desperate and terrified it shocks me. I guess his emotions aren’t as easy to read when he’s a dragon. His arms surround me, pulling me into his chest as his shaking hand cups the back of my head.
    “I’m okay,” I whisper into his ear, my fingers skimming lightly through his hair. “Really, I am.”
    “You hit your head when you fell,” he says, pulling his face away from my shoulder and pressing his lips to my hairline.
    “No, I didn’t,” I lie.
    “Yes, you did!” he snaps back, his fingernails digging into my arm as I pull away. “I saw it. Surely, gravity works the same way now as it did back then, and I’d imagine that hard floors have the same ability to break bones and crack skulls and-”
    “Ash!” I interrupt him, finally giving into his unrelenting embrace and hugging him back just as hard. He groans pitifully, sinking his head into the crook of my shoulder and shuddering. Some of the tension leaves his shoulders after a few moments. “I’m sorry that I scared you,” I murmur. “You were right, I shouldn’t have tried that.”
    “Lindy, I didn’t mean that… I shouldn’t have voiced my concerns so hastily and insulted you, that’s not what I intended.”
    “Well, your concerns were spot on. I totally failed.”
    “That Council has no idea what they’re talking about. They played on your fears, pushed you into trying something that you weren’t ready for, hadn’t prepared for. Maybe if you had time to practice, or do some research-”
    “That’s the thing, Asher. I don’t have time. You don’t have time. The Renewal Celebration is in less than a week and if I don’t fix this, we’ll both end up in prison, but it won’t be the same one this time and we’ll never see each other again and I’ll… I spent the whole time thinking you were a dream and now you’re here and I don’t want to lose you if I can stop it and-”
    “Calm down, little witch,” he says, brushing my hair away from my face and running his fingers across my cheek.
    “But-”
    Asher interrupts me again, but with a kiss instead of words. My jaw is shaking as I part my lips to let more of him inside, melting into his arms as the heat of his mouth fills mine. “I’m not going anywhere,” he assures me.
    “But the curse, the celebration…”
    “I am not concerned about that and you shouldn’t be either. I don’t need a Council of heretics and traitors to stop this, and I certainly don’t need you to… uh,” he stammers, clearly trying to find the right words to avoid offending me. “I don’t want you to risk your safety for me. If you want to explore your newfound magic on your own, that’s fine.”
    My eyes narrow at him as I bite my tongue. I certainly don’t need his permission to do anything, let alone that. Asher breathes out an exasperated laugh, running his hand through his hair. “I meant to say that’s wonderful,” he clarifies. “I know how much that means to you. But it’s for you. You . They are not using you. I will fly you to the other side of this planet and you can kick and scream the whole way, but we are done with that Council.”
    “Asher, I know you’re the King but-”
    “The King of what ?” he snaps. “A bigger cave? Gnomes? Cats? What if I don’t want that?” Wow. That possibility had not occurred to me. “Because I don’t think I want that. I was a kid when my father died and I didn’t want to ascend to the throne then, but that was my duty and the people,