I had convinced myself that I needed to get to know you, to find whatever it was I was looking for. I’m still not sure I have found what Xanthia needs. I know now that I have found what I need.
I love you, Alianna.
This may all be too much. Too soon. Too…. deceitful. And, if you decide this is the case, then I would never blame you for deleting my number, deleting this message, and pretending that you had never met me.
Just know that when I do return to my homeland. I will never forget you. You will hold a piece of me from now until this world crumbles to dust.
I am sorry.
Rionan.
***************
The sky outside was dark. Rionan was clearing the pile of glass that was on the floor of his hotel suite. He had mended the bedposts, as best he could, for now. He had thrown away the dead flowers, unable to bring himself to inject them with life, as he had done in the gardens for Alianna.
Rionan felt sick with the ache inside him. This was his punishment, inflicted upon him for his selfish, awful acts. He knew this.
Head in his hands, he spoke aloud to the power that flowed in his veins.
“I am lost. I’m here, in Porthan. I searched. I developed a relationship with Alianna. Everything I have done has fallen to pieces.”
He let out a long, shuddering sigh, fighting with the rising feeling in his throat. “I have failed Xanthia. I have failed my people. If the Realm shall fall, then it will be my fault. What am I to do? If there is anything, one last thing I can do, one last place I can go, then tell me now. Tell me now, or Xanthia will be in ruins. What am I todo?”
As if in answer, he heard three curt knocks on his door.
21
Soul-Bonded
Alianna stood face to face with Rionan, relief washing over his face as he opened his door to see her there. He remained tentative, cautious, but a small smile played on his mouth.
Rionan looked like the man she had known. His appearance was, to her, normal. But this appearance was a lie.
She pushed past him, into his room, and looked around in shock at the disarray. Whirling to take it in, she faced him. Alianna did not need to speak for him to understand the question on her face.
“I didn’t think I would have company here again,” he explained, sounding defeated, “so, I didn’t have it cleared.”
She stepped towards him, brow furrowed, anger dripping from her.
“Whatever this is, this act,” she pointed a finger at him, motioning up and down across his body. “You drop it, now. You show me who youare.”
Without further argument or hesitation, Rionan shifted into his Xanthian form, remaining unmoving as his eyes rested on Alianna’s face. She took in a slow, steady breath as she stared at him.
“I need you to explaineverything.”
***************
Alianna listened wordlessly as Rionan told her.
“I come from a Realm called Xanthia. It is separate from yours, like…a pocket of a place that is just out of reach. Magic can be used to travel between Realms. Powerful magic, like mine.”
“Xanthia is made up of four territories: The North, South, East, and West. I am Lord of the West.”
He paused, waiting for her to interject. When she did not, he carried on.
“Xanthia is given life by the four Lords that govern it. We each hold a power that is much greater than any other Xanthian. Magic, if you will. The power comes from us, but also comes from Xanthia itself. When we take over as Lord of our territory, we give ourselves to Xanthia. It cannot exist without us, and we without it.”
“Our power fills a Well which lies in a sacred place within our territory. The Well powers the land. Like…a magical network. Wegive life. Nourishment. Health. Without four functioning Wells of Power, Xanthia will begin to crumble and corrupt.”
