*Saoirse*
I woke to early morning sunlight streaming in through the window and gently bathing my face. I moaned a little bit, flexing my muscles, which were still sore from Rhys’ attention to just a few hours earlier. I smiled with my eyes closed at the mory of his smooth body moving against mine.
My smile fell slightly when I reached my arm out and found the space beside empty. I sat up slowly, rubbing so sleep from my eyes and scanning the dimly lit room.
Rhys was gone.
It didn’t cause any particular worry. He struck as an early riser, especially considering all the responsibilities he had as a prince. He likely couldn’t sleep in if he tried to. He probably woke before dawn each day just out of habit.
I was an early riser as well, so I heaved myself out of bed and started to get ready for the day. I was still apprehensive about the responsibilities that had been thrust upon , but this morning, I awoke with a new sense of courage. I knew that I had Rhys to thank for that.
He believed in much more than I believed in myself. Being with him didn’t just make feel alive. It made feel as if I could accomplish anything.
As I slipped out of my nightgown and dressed in so light clothes that were perfect for training, I couldn’t help but rember the way Rhys said my na the previous night and the way his hands caressed my body as if I was the most precious thing in the world to him.
His love for made even more determined to save our realm.
I glanced at myself in the mirror, turning so to make sure my light dark pants and tight long-sleeve top were straight and free of wrinkles before I slipped out of the room.
I would head out to the large courtyard in the middle of the garden I had stumbled upon a couple of days earlier. With the trees and bushes surrounding it, the slightly raised platform would be a nice, tranquil place for to focus and practice harnessing my powers.
When I first felt the surge of magic go through after handling the staff, I never thought I would be able to control it even slightly. The energy felt out of control. Although it was inside , it hadn’t felt like a part of .
My musings were interrupted when I passed by the throne room. The voices were muffled at first. I walked a bit faster to avoid eavesdropping on Axureon and whatever eting he was currently having.
I froze right in front of the door when I heard my na. Even the sound of my na might not have been enough to cause to stop, but I recognized Rhys’ voice imdiately. My breath caught in my throat. I stepped closer to the large double doors.
“Forgive ,” Rhys said in a gentle but firm voice. “But I must admit that I am unsure if you truly comprehend the psychological burden that prophecies can inflict.”
I felt my eyes grow wide as I now confird that Rhys was talking about . I felt my hands shake slightly as I strained to hear more, unsure if I really wanted to but knowing deep down that I needed to.
Axureon’s voice was deep and as smooth as velvet as he replied. “I’m afraid I’m not quite sure what you an by that,” the dragon shifter said in a flat voice. “More often than not, prophecies co to fruition despite the psychological well-being of those involved. I fail to understand the point you are trying to make.”
I couldn’t see Rhys’ face. I knew him well enough now to know that while he was extrely good at being calm and diplomatic during conversations like these, I also knew that his expression would have changed slightly. I could imagine the tick in his jaw and the ways his light-colored eyes would flash with frustration.
I could also imagine the way his shoulders would rise and fall slightly as he took a calming breath. “I’m uncertain as to how well you understand how much you are demanding of Saoirse.”
A little spark jolted through at the sound of my na being uttered in this context. I held my breath as I waited for the ancient dragon’s reply.
There was a tense silence that stretched for a couple of monts before Axureon responded. “I regret to confess that the allure of long-awaited salvation may have blinded us to the cost that young Saoirse will likely bear,” he rumbled finally.
Rhys didn’t respond. I tried to imagine the look on his face from the dragon’s admission. I quickly pushed the thought away, fearing that he was likely furious and trying to hide it behind that hard mask that made my heart constrict painfully whenever I saw it.
Axureon must have read so anger in Rhys’ expression because he continued, and his tone was very slightly apologetic. “We grow desperate as our numbers and hope dwindles. Ti is very quickly growing short. All I can do is look at the signs and acknowledge that the staff has responded to her.”
I sucked in a sharp breath at the mory of the energy coursing through my body for the first ti. My hands curled into fists at my side.
Rhys’ voice was flat now, but I could tell he was holding quite a bit of emotion back. “Saoirse never desired power, only purpose. I ask that you consider that when you ask more of her.”
I gritted my teeth together and tore myself away from the door before I could be caught eavesdropping. My heart was hamring hard against my rib cage as I burst out of the palace doors and hurried down the path to the secluded spot I had scoped out for training.
I stopped in the middle of the private plaza and finally allowed myself to take so deep, calming breaths as I processed the conversation I had just overheard.
Rhys had t with Axureon without my knowledge, and they were discussing that I was the savior ant to save our two realms. I couldn’t help but wonder who had initiated the eting. Had Rhys been so concerned for that he thought he had to go behind my back and confront the dragon shifter on his own?
I quickly dismissed the thought. I couldn’t imagine Rhys doing sothing like that. He would have talked to about it. I swallowed hard. Did that an then that Axureon summoned Rhys to get him alone? Worry twisted my gut at the thought. I forced myself to take another steadying breath so that I could begin my training for the day.
I started with a ditation, closing my eyes and focusing on the magical energy inside of myself. I imagined it flowing from my core all the way to my fingertips. It felt like a necessary way to begin training since I needed to be able to call upon my powers to do anything. It was also extrely difficult to do so when the abilities had been dormant for several hours.
It took a while for to find that warm energy inside of myself. I couldn’t quite get it to the edges of my fingertips. I gritted my teeth hard before giving up and consulting the ancient texts I had lugged with .
I sat cross-legged on the marble tile before flipping one of the ancient texts open, finding what was supposed to be a fairly simple technique to master turning other objects invisible. I had been able to make Rhys transparent when we were escaping the Dragon Valley but hadn’t been able to do so as easily since then.
I wondered if it was because I had been under great emotional stress when rescuing Rhys. I picked up a small rock and concentrated on it, trying to make it invisible. I was far too distracted by the conversation I had overheard. I tossed the rock aside with frustration.
I bit my lower lip, realizing I didn’t know how to feel about Rhys intervening on my behalf. I was touched that he was doing so out of concern for , but I also couldn’t help but feel like he might not think I could handle it.
If Rhys did think that, maybe he was right. I found that thought to be the most disturbing of all.
I gave up training after a couple more hours, needing to seek Rhys out. I stood up and made my way back into the palace, trying to move swiftly and not wanting to be seen by any of the dragon shifters. I wasn’t afraid of them exactly, but it was clear they didn’t like .
I finally found Rhys on the balcony of the bedroom we were currently sharing. I knew he heard co in from the way his back stiffened slightly before imdiately relaxing again. He was gazing out over the Dragon Valley. As I ca up to stand beside him, I saw that his expression was pensive.
He turned to look over at . My breath caught at the uncontrolled smile that imdiately lit up his features. His clear joy had been imdiately returned in the look. I could feel my heart thrumming excitedly as I looked into his sparkling eyes.
And just like that, the fear of thinking Rhys didn’t think I could handle being the savior seed to crumble away. I was still afraid, but it just took looking at Rhys to know he just had my best interest at heart.
I was left breathless as Rhys put his arm around my waist, tugging against his side. I felt myself relax against his warmth. My eyes fluttered shut, seemingly on their own.
“This is truly an amazing place,” he said after a mont of peaceful silence. “I’m shocked that sothing as vital as this valley has remained hidden for so long.”
I nodded in agreent, resting my head comfortably against his shoulder as his strong arm tightened around , holding protectively. I asked the burning question before I could stop myself. “Do you feel burdened by its revelation?”
He froze. I knew he could tell that I overheard his conversation with Axureon. I could almost hear the gears turning in his mind as he debated how to respond to .
I decided beforehand that it didn’t matter how he responded. I was going to steel myself in this decision. It would hurt to know if he didn’t approve, but I knew he would stand by no matter what, regardless of my decision.
He shifted so that he was facing . His gaze was serious. I held my breath as I waited for him to speak.
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