Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Liora’s POV

No, no, no.  I didn’t see this coming. All my confidence crumbled right there and then. I was not going to let someone die because of my pride. Definitely not Kysen. Not when I was finally starting to see him differently.

Knowing my mother, she really could if she wanted to.

“Mother, I-” I began to talk, ready to beg for mercy, but she flicked me off.

“But,” she said, a finger raised, “I won’t. Just because I would like to see where your newfound stubbornness leads you.

Relief washed through me. Thank Green.

“You will continue this training,” she said after a beat, voice colder now, “with the Dravon heir. But just know, it is because I want you to. I will be watching. One reckless mistake, and you’re both done. Do you understand me?”

‘You're both done’. That statement sent chills through my entire body. What was that even supposed to mean?

“Yes ma’am,” I said quickly. Not because I liked her terms, but because at least she acknowledged my decision. And she wasn’t going to kill Kysen. At least, not yet.

The silence after she left stretched out in the empty hall. My chest was heavy, my stomach twisting, but… somehow I felt lighter than before.

Vyrmoth’s voice nudged me, “Wow Altharos, I did not know you had it in you. Quite impressive, you did not crumble”

Honestly, I did not know I had it in me either.

“I nearly did” I said, as I finally moved from the spot I stood.

My legs felt like jelly, like they were literally about to give away, so I flew to my room instead.

“But you didn't" he stated.

‘I didn’t feel brave,” I muttered. “I was terrified.”

“You were brave anyway,” he said simply. And for once, I didn’t argue with him.

I flopped on my bed, my arm supporting my upper body and I glanced out the window at the silver-tipped mountains beyond the castle walls. The wind was strong today, pulling at my hair, teasing, and Vyrmoth’s presence tingled in my chest like a distant current.

“It’s going to be really hard to hide these powers, especially now that my mother will be watching," I said, and Vymorth stirred.

“We cannot let them know of it yet. You cannot control your powers yet, little one. There are many people just waiting to exploit something so great,” he explained.

“I'll have to talk to Kysen about it then” I said, mostly to myself.

Kysen…

I sank back onto the bed with a tired sigh, eyes half-closed. I replayed the day in fragments, the crack of the stone under my hand, the warmth of Vyrmoth’s power flowing through me, Kysen’s calm instructions, the way his eyes lingered just a second too long when I succeeded and how it made me feel, and the warm conversation we had just before we called it a day.

It was all exhausting but exhilarating at the same time. I turned onto my side, hugging one of the pillows to my front. My muscles ached in places I didn’t even know existed. My hands were still a little shaky from channeling power that wasn’t entirely mine. My mind, though, was worse. It wouldn’t slow down.

“You did well today,” Vyrmoth reminded me, his voice more proud than teasing this time.

I exhaled sharply. “I don’t know how much more I can handle.”

I meant it. We only trained for a few hours and it was already taking a physical toll on me, and we had to do it everyday.

“You will learn,” he said gently. “Strength is not in never being tired. Strength is in continuing, even when you are.”

I smiled faintly. “You always know what to say.”

“Of course,” he replied smugly. “It happens to be one of my finest traits”

I huffed softly and rolled onto my back, staring at the carved ceiling above my bed. The carved runes above my bed glowed faintly with protective magic, soft and constant. I’d grown up under them, but today they felt heavier somehow, like they were pressing down on me instead of guarding me.

Silence settled for a moment and somehow he made his way into my thoughts too.

What was wrong with me?!

The thought of seeing him again made my stomach twist, not with fear, but with something warmer. Something I wasn’t ready to name.

No freaking way.

“You’re distracted,” Vyrmoth noted.

“No, I’m not.” I argued.

“You are thinking about his eyes.” he said, much to my annoyance.

I groaned. “Can you not narrate my thoughts?”

“No, I’ll stop when you finally learn to separate our emotions and block me out of your head” he said and I groaned again. So annoying.

“Can’t wait.”

I sat up slowly, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. I was so restless.

“Do you think he realizes that he’s risking a lot by training me?” I asked.

I’m sure he knows the trouble we’re brewing. I wonder if his family knows yet.

“He knows that,” Vyrmoth replied. “And yet, he stays.”

That mattered more than I wanted it to.

“Vyrmoth?” I whispered.

“Yes, little one?”

“What if I mess this entire thing up?” I asked.

“You probably will,” he said calmly.

I frowned. “You’re terrible at encouragement.”

“You will mess up,” he repeated, “and then you will get back up.”

“What if I fail?” I asked again, like a curious kid.

He didn’t answer immediately, like he was hesitating.

“You will,” he said finally.

My heart dropped. “That’s not very reassuring.”

“You will fail,” he repeated calmly, “because everyone does. Even queens. Even ancient beings bound to storms. Failure is not the end. If anything, it is the beginning.”

I swallowed. “And if my failure gets someone hurt?”

“That,” he said, “is why you must learn faster than fear.”

Silence stretched between us again.

I rolled onto my stomach again and buried my face into the pillow. “I don’t want him to get dragged into my family’s mess.”

“Kysen Dravon chose you,” Vyrmoth said quietly.

“Why does it feel like I didn’t give him much of a choice?” Even though he was the one who made me see reason, the one who kept trying till he got through to me, it still felt like I trapped him.

Like this was all a game in my mother’s world.

“He probably feels the same way, little one.” Vyrmoth said and I sighed hopelessly.

I let out a slow breath.

My life wasn’t mine anymore. Not like it ever was, but now that I finally bonded with my drakyn, it was even worse. I spent so much time focusing on bonding, that I forgot it would cost me even more of my freedom.

My freedom? My life? It was all gone.

It belonged to the throne, to my mother’s expectations, to things I didn’t even understand yet… and to a Dravon heir who had chosen to stand beside me in a war he didn’t start.

Tomorrow, I will face him again, and I will train harder.

And tomorrow, I will start lying better. To my mother especially.

Not because I wanted to.

But because survival in this family demanded it.