“What is happening?” My eyebrows narrow in as I slightly shake my head. The water ripples, and the soft humming still echoes around us.
He sighs. “You are rising. You are becoming exactly who you are and…” He pauses, leaning closer towards me. “It’s a beautiful sight to see.”
“Koen,” I mutter out, my eyes still dazing from light to dark, as if I can fall asleep at any moment. “Where is Koen?”
Florian’s jaw clenches, rationally looking away from my view. “He is resting for the first game.” His lips part to deeply exhale, squeezing his eyes shut. “Do not go near him in the dormitory. Stay as far away from him as possible once I take you back. I haven’t seen this side of him before, something has shifted.”
No.I don’t want to go back.
How am I supposed to fight dragons in this condition? I fear if the men see me weak like this, they will finally rip out my heart from my chest. They will take my life. I begged Koen to never let that happen, but now, everything is a…mess.
“He won’t hurt me.” My trembling hand reaches up to gently rest my palm against his face. “He has had multiple chances to hurt me, to kill me, yet he didn’t. He stayed by my side every night in the dormitory to protect me. Sliced a man's hand off because he…touched me. He won’t hurt me.”
He won’t hurt me.I repeat this in my head, almost forcing myself to believe this.
He tightens his arms, his chest muscles flinching as my head rests against him. “The thing is Serene,” his eyes soften as they finally lock onto mine, “I’m not scared of him hurting you. I am scared ofyou hurting him. If he dares try anything, andI mean anything, you must stay alive no matter what. That is more important than any of this. Do you understand?”
“I would never.” I choke on a weak laugh. “I could never.”
“That’s what you say now.” Florian helps me to stand. My arms shake uncontrollably but I steady myself, my palms drifting along the surface as the light trickles around me. “If I can find the book of Azure, the written book from the Gods themselves, it will tell youeverything.Everything you need to know to fight those who will try and kill you.”
“I am not who you think I am.” I stumble back, catching my balance against the rocky wall that surrounds the Vitaei, my elbow resting over the ledge as I catch my breath. “I am Serene Quinnell, from Seattle, Washington. I am no warrior. I am no Queen. I am no Deskyiara. I am no—”
But as I go to speak, the stone from my arm begins to pulse like a heartbeat. Calling me towards it. Beckoning for me to… touch it. My finger traces around it, feeling the heat radiate from it, and drops to where my skin is bonded to it. It's as if the stone has melted to me. Forever bonding to me. My eyes widen as my breathing hitches. How is this even real?
“It’s connected to me?” My voice cracks, dropping to a shocked whisper. My eyes flicker in fear as I notice dark lines under my skin, marking down my arm in a pattern. “I—I don’t understand how this is real? How is this happening?”
He moves towards me, the water rippling out from him as the light flickers in the waves and dances across the surface. “It’s real. This is real. The Gods will not let you die tomorrow.” He grabs my shoulder tightly. “The Gods will protect you. I will protect you but…”
His lips tugs into a soft smile. “But you won’t ever need our protection once you unleash who you are. Don’t fight it. Give into it.”
“Give into what!” I grab his hand, ripping it off of me. I don’t mean to be angry. I know he is trying to help, but all of this is making me feel as if I have lost it. As if I have gone mad. I fearI am stuck here while Tilly might be fighting for her life, and I won’t be able to get to her in time.
“When the time is right, you will know.” His hand reaches out to me, the back of his finger gliding along my temple and down my cheek. “I will find everything to show you, to make you remember, that this is your home.”
“My home is Seattle.”
His hand drops. “Just because you were raised there, doesn’t mean that's home.”
The guards' boots thud against the rocky gravel path leading to the Vitaei. As soon as they enter the enormous cave, the crystals that brighten against the cavern walls and water instantly disappear, plunging everything into darkness except for the torches illuminating the entrance path.
“She must leave now,” one guard orders, holding a spear in hand. My throat tightens, rage tickling at my fingertips as I notice the blade's tip is stained with red. Is this the man who hurt me?
“She is ready.” Florian nods for me to walk out of the water.
But I am not ready.
My heart beats erratically knowing I will see Koen.
Fear prickles at my spine knowing I’m about to face a dragon.
But as I take my first step towards the unknown that awaits me outside of the Vitaei, my heart sinks.
Is this why he said he should have kissed me before the truth came out? Has he known all along that I might beher,or is there something more he hasn’t told me?
My lips tighten, pulling my emotions in. Hiding them from Florian and the guards. No weakness. I will not be weak again.
I can’t.
