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“I don’t know yet,” I reply, truthfully. We have no clue who should be the next king. As Taranus pointed out, I once thought it would be me, but after the prophecy was revealed—well—let us just say I know that I am not who is to lead our world.
My future as king was a dream and nothing more.
“Who’s to say another man would be any better?”
“They have to be,” I tell her. “We can’t be destined to be led by Taranus. It’s a fate too horrible to consider.”
“It could be destiny, though,” she replies, “And sometimes we’re just dealt a shit hand.” Her jaw tightens, and I get the impression she’s somewhere far away from here. Perhaps back in her Austin where life was simpler, even with her illness.
“I promise you, Ember from Austin, that I will do my best to protect you until we can get you to the rightful king.”
“So I can spread my legs and give him babies? No thanks. I just want to go home.”
“Then I will get you home.”
She snorts. “Impossible.”
“Hasn’t your trip here shown you that nothing is impossible?”
Her eyes close, and she leans back against the wall. “Maybe this really is just one horrific nightmare.”
I don’t reply, not wanting to rip away her false hopes that this is all a fable. Instead, I stare at her, memorizing the angle of her jaw, the shape of her nose, all while I silently plead for her to open her eyes again so I can see the honey glow once more.
Ever since my first dream of her, I’ve been drawn to her. Wishing for sleep so I could imagine her again. I’d never actually believed her to exist, though. I’d always assumed she was nothing more than a figment of my pained imagination. Even after the seer’s prophecy, I’d been reluctant to believe she was real.
But now that she’s here, I know my dreams were more than that and that I was shown her because I am destined to protect her.
To shield her.
To die for her.
And if it comes to that, I will gladly fall on my sword.
