Friends

Friends
Mara

We ride for a few hours, not moving incredibly fast, but quick enough that we have to slow down to let the horses catch their breathes.

“Are you feeling okay?” Thane’s deep voice reaches me, his chest vibrating at my back.

All I offer him is a nod of my head, but he senses it, humming his acknowledgement. No one else speaks, and the silence settles over us, only broken by the steady rhythm of hooves against the hard ground.

It’s so steady that I immediately notice a set of hoofbeats moving faster than the rest. I turn my head toward the sound, looking through the trees.

My eyes widen as I take in the queen, her dark hair spilling from the hood she has pulled over her head.

She catches my eye and gives me a small smile.

The last time I saw her, the magic inside me had been so overwhelming that I could barely think when she was near me. Lyssara’s presence had recognized her, and everything inside me had gone wild trying to reconcile the two women.

I feel the magic pulling at my chest, and I tense, breathing slow as I force myself to keep control. I don’t want Lyssara attempting to take over again. They might be mates, but she’s not mine.

Sour pain spreads through me, the magic inside me dulling.

I grimace, wanting to apologize for such a thought, but there is not much regret in me. Especially not after she attempted to take over my mind without permission.

She pulls on the reigns, slowing her horse so that it walks right beside ours. The Queen studies me for several seconds before her eyes drop to Thane’s arms around me.

A slow smile spreads across her face. “I’m glad you are feeling much more comfortable now.”

Heat rushes into my cheeks. I can’t help it. I glance down at myself, at Thane’s shirt that hangs around my thighs. At his arms wrapped around my waist.

“Yeah.”

The silence that follows is so awkward that I don’t find it in me to look in her direction. Thane is tense behind me, no doubt hating the situation he’s in.

The queen sighs. “Mara.”

I look over at her, pressing my lips together before forcing myself to speak. “Yes?”

She smiles sadly. “I would like for us to be friends.”

Her gray eyes are so intense, and yet they do not take away from the gentle warmness of her face. Her words sound so genuine, and there’ not a part of me that wants to deny them to her.

“I know the time we met was difficult.”

I lower my gaze. “I didn’t like trying to fight for control of my own body.”

Her gaze moves over my face, searching. Then her expression softens. “I’m sorry.”

“She really wanted to be with you,” I say.

“And I with her.”

“Now I feel like I should be the one apologizing,” I whisper.

She swallows, her gray eyes growing distant. “No. Death is a part of life I should be used to by now.”

The magic inside me pulses. I know Lyssara is fighting so hard to keep her composure, to not fight me right now and be with her mate. I tensed, trying to fortify my mind. I did not want the overwhelming rush of another soul moving through mine.

“I bet you miss her,” I say, feeling the onslaught of longing.

“More than life itself.”

The words are quiet. I don’t know what to say to that and I feel bad for even bringing it up. The least I could do at this point is let Lyssara take over.

My heart pulses hard in my chest.

But I’m not ready yet.

The Queen gives me a small smile when I can’t find it in me to say anything else. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to make this easier for either of us.”

I look down at my hands. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to treat me like I’m fragile.”

Her eyebrows lift. “Does that mean you agree to be my friend?”

I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

The Queen adjusts the reins in her hands. “I loved Lyssara. I still do. But you are not here to replace her. I see you as your own person, and I’m sorry it did not feel like before.”

I stare at her, some of my trepidation disappearing.

I’ve spent so much time thinking about Lyssara as the Oracle whose magic lives inside me, as someone whose memories and power have become tangled with my own existence.

But this woman knew her. Loved her, and somehow, she can still look at me and see Mara. Not just a body carrying her mate’s magic and soul.

I clear my throat, eyeing Kaelith as he rides way ahead of us. By the stiff posture of his shoulders, I can tell that he is listening to every single part of our conversation.

I don’t care.

I turn toward the queen. “Do you know what happened to the wards?”

She frowns, her eyes shifting to Thane, then back to me. “Did no one tell you anything? “

I shake my head. “We were kind of in a rush.”

“Your magic. It’s very strong. Did something set it off?”

My breatch catches, rememberning how it felt as if my heart was being split in two. As if my own magic had to stitch it back together. Is that what caused this.

I wince.

Her gray eyes move over me. “Lyssara’s magic was also very strong. But yours feel different.”

A chill runs through me despite the warmth of Thane’s body behind me. “How different?”

“I don’t know. Lyssara was powerful enough to frighten kingdoms. Powerful enough to alter the course of wars. She started this war that we still find ourselves in, but what I felt from you, I’ve never felt anything like it.”

My fingers tighten around the edge of Thane’s shirt. “Is that bad?”

The Queen considers me. “No. But it is dangerous.”

I grimace. “That’s… comforting.”

A soft laugh escapes her. “I would apologize, but it’s the truth.”

I smile despite myself.

Her expression warms. “Get some rest, Mara. Your body has been through more than you realize.”

I nod. “I will.”

She holds my gaze for another moment, her gray eyes softening. After a small nod, she turns her attention back to the path. “I’ll leave you to Thane, then.”

My cheeks heat immediately. Her quiet laughter follows as she gives her horse a gentle nudge, moving slightly ahead of us.

I watch her for a moment.

There is something comforting about having her here. Truly, I can see her as a friend.