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Somehow, I knew he would.
What worried me was what he would wake up to. A death sentence or an empire waiting to be ruled?
His black wavy locks cascaded over the pillow, framing his face. The silver ring nestled in his left ear glimmered faintly, his only adornment. It was strange not to see his eyes open, to feel those intense emerald orbs graze my face. I swallowed hard as my eyes fell upon the broken stumps of horns that protruded from his forehead.
His heart and his horns. He had given both freely. Even though doing so had left him in agony and susceptible to Avriel's ploy.
He had never been one to take the easy way out.
Even in his stillness, there was a serene strength emanating from him.
Unable to resist the pull of my emotions, I lay down on the bed beside him. Reaching out trembling fingers, I lightly traced the outline of his features, gently caressing his skin.
This bond between us defied logic and reason. It had led me from wanting to stab him to wanting to do far different things.
Now the urge to protect him from harm rose above all else.
An image came unbidden. Draven wielding flames as he brought down harpy after harpy on the bridge.
My skin prickled. How had he done such a thing? Had he known he was capable of it until that moment? If so, why had he never told me?
How could he have offered to train me without confessing we shared such similar powers?
He had to wake and soon. For this infuriating man had secrets upon secrets and one by one I was determined to uncover them all, no matter how hard he resisted.
When an hour had passed and there had been no alteration, not that I had expected any, I rose and I changed out of my clothes, bathed, and put on my nightclothes.
Lying down on the bed beside him again, I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.
But all I could think of were the horrific deaths that I had witnessed in the Blood Rise. Tomorrow, I would enter the final trial alongside Avriel and Lyrastra. They were more prepared, probably better trained, had a multitude of finely honed magical abilities, and one of them would stop at nothing to kill me at every opportunity.
I flipped onto my back, folding my hands over my chest.
I was decent with a sword. More than capable with a bow. I could throw a blade. I was fairly quick. I was smart.
I could wield flames, if I was permitted to use magic. Though who knew how well.
Then I thought of the ring of fire I had left dancing around Avriel and smiled to myself.
Whatever happened tomorrow, I knew one thing for certain. I would not be Avriel’s easy prey. I was no Rhea or Brasad.
He would find me much harder to kill... for I would be trying my best to kill him right back.
I closed my eyes and willed sleep to come for me.
