I lift my gaze up to the scorching sun, closing my eyes and steadying my breathing.
My eyes glance downward, and I begin to read.
You saved me.
Once again. I would have shifted if it weren’t for you. You reminded me of the times where life was… good. A time in my life where I thought love was enough. You were enough. And let me tell you, you are more than enough. You are the air I breathe. You are the very thing that keeps my heart beating. You will be the one that will bring me back from the darkness.
I have fallen so far since you last saw me and I wonder if I will ever be strong enough to climb back up to be the man you once loved.
I pray to the Gods every night that I will be. I beg them to forgive us for loving each other.
And I promise, my little Spark, that when the time comes where we will no longer hurt one another, when we will no longer have the capability of our love killing each other, I will fall to my knees and look up into those eyes of yours. I will give you all of myself,at last, forever. And if that time comes again, where I must give you my last ember in order for you to survive. I shall do it without ever hesitating.
I will fight by your side till the day I die because I love you and only you.
My heart shall forever only beat for you.
I know I only gave you the light inside of me that night. The light that the Gods granted us to survive. But damn it, Serene… I would have torn my own beating heart from my chest, offering it up on a bent knee so that yours could pulse with life once more.
I will die, over and over again, in order for you to live. For you to rise and become what you are meant to be.
The God of Fire chose you, my love.
The Gods chose you to become the Scorching Queen. Our true Queen.
Burn anyone, including me, whoever dares to try and stop you.
Yours forever,
Koen.
I wipe the tear that has fallen down my cheek, glancing around to see if anyone has noticed my weakness.
ThatKoenis my weakness.
And damn him for reminding me of this.
NIGHT HAS COME, AND PURE silence has fallen in the Pyre.
Dryden is keeping his distance from me, which is surprising, and Death is resting against the rocks that create the archway entrance of the Pyre. His arms are crossed, and his foot is upright against the wall as he waits for me.
My hand wraps around my reins, the Fireninze walking beside me as she brightens the darkness everywhere we walk. The fire cracks in the air, popping sounds vibrating as embers float away.
He pulls away with a deep sigh once I walk up to him, whistling towards his horse, the Iycekazie. His horse of ice is adorned with black armor with golden swirls that resemble wings, reminiscent of Koen’s horse from the Ice Realm.
“You waited?” A brow of mine lifts, walking side by side to him as his hands are clasped behind his back. “Your horse doesn't need reins?”
He scuffs, his lips pulling into an amused smirk. “No. My horse doesn’t need reins, neither does yours. You just need to trust it.”
“How the hell do you ride then?”
“Its mane, my gloves…” He holds out his hands, midnight-black leather gloves covering his skin. “I hold on with these. Trust your horse, don’t let the Royals tell you otherwise. The horses are smart, and they know who is good and who is not. If they don’t feel you are worthy enough for you to ride, you will know it.”
My brows knit inward, slowly unraveling the reins around my hands and lifting it from my horse's head. The Fireninze shakes her head, embers catching in the breeze.
“And Serene, you should know that you won’t burn from the fire, don’t be afraid to hold onto her mane.” He leans towards me. “You don’t need reins to control her, you need your heart to connect with her.”
“Don’t make me regret this,” I tease as I brush her neck and we continue to walk to where the race will take place. “Who will be coming tonight?”
