Page 129 of To Fight and To Fold

"I'll have to show Starspark, get his approval," she sighed happily. "But I think he'll like it." Starspark had a soft spot for Thea, after all.

Thea leaned down to kiss her cheek, so painfully chaste, and Aaryn thought… her dragon definitely wasn't the only one.

Aaryn wore the little dragon brooch with pride, petting it each time she settled it into place over her tunic or shirts.

Starspark had stared at it but a moment before blinking big green eyes at her and then flopping onto his back to sun his belly, not a care in the world.

She went about her day, and Thea hers. Their kisses stubbornly remained a memory for Aaryn.

The occasion to indulge just never seemed to arise. Either they were seeing to their own duties, tired after long days, or sometimes, the weight of the day seemed too heavy to satisfy such… desires.

And Aaryn was reluctant to admit it, but she was full of desire.

Thea was… impressive. She took care of so many things, saw to so many people. Aaryn heard her name from the murmurs of druids all around her.

Did you hear Thea cleared out the entire first housing of barracks to make room for more refugees?

Thea was at the school today, playing with the kids while parents figured out where to fit all the new attendees. She's so sweet.

Thea's training today. Do you want to go watch?

Aaryn had seen two girls scamper off toward ClawHold to apparently thirst over Thea.

She recognized the wiggling green jealousy knotted in her chest, and tried to dismiss it. Besides, Aaryn knew firsthand how competent Thea was during training. How fluidly she moved. How strong she was. If she could she’d go to watch Thea too.

Aaryn swallowed, pushed the thoughts away, and looked forward to when the healers dismissed her.

The day came sooner than she expected. They had plenty of staff to see to the everyday needs of Cloud Haven, now that everyone was settling down.

Which meant Aaryn was another day closer to awakening her magic—a process she was looking forward to more with every answer she politely pestered out of another Awakened.

In a different life, Aaryn could have been something so much more than Starspark's maid. They could've been bound together by magic itself, instead of separated by the crown's secrets.

There was no use pondering over what could've been. There was no changing it.

But she could mourn the person she could've been.

As she stared down at her palm, she knew that person could still be, after all.

Aaryn had a grand image in her mind. Of meeting Thea somewhere private, tucked away behind rocks and trees, with Starspark close. Of breaking her brand and welcoming the magic that should've been hers and Starspark's from the beginning. Of Thea there to help her ride the waves out, to steady her when it became too much, as she'd heard could happen from the other Awakened.

A lot of people go through it alone, but I recommend having a partner. It'll be like nothing you've ever felt before.

You'll definitely want some time to yourself for a bit afterwards. And that's alright.

It's kind of romantic, if you think about it.

Just make sure you stay hydrated. It takes a lot out of you.

Honestly, some of their comments were a little confusing, but Aaryn let them slide. She would learn for herself soon enough.

She walked the platform with Starspark as she pondered these things, watching the Awakened practice with their dragons. And what distracted her from these thoughts was the subject of said thoughts themselves.

Thea.

Across the way, Thea walked into the training grounds with a group of other druids.

Aaryn found herself walking toward them before she registered a familiar face in the small group, her steps faltering. It was Runa.