Chapter One Hundred & Thirty Four

Chapter One Hundred & Thirty Four
Nora's P.O.V

Instead, the fire curled across the marble, raced over the ceiling, then dissolved into hundreds of glowing strands that hovered in the air like living stars.

My breathing came in ragged gasps.

"What..."

I looked from the fire to him.

"...How?"

Rael never loosened his hold on me.

His voice remained calm, the same steady anchor it had been from the moment he'd arrived.

"I told you."

His hand rested against the back of my head as the last violent wave passed through me.

"You couldn't hurt me."

The trembling slowly left my body.

The pressure in my chest eased.

The fire that had felt like it was trying to tear me apart now drifted lazily around us, almost... content.

I looked down at my hands.

The green glow beneath my skin was still there.

Only now it wasn't fighting me.

It was listening.

"I don't understand," I whispered.

Rael waited until my breathing steadied before answering.

"You've spent so much time containing your power."

"I had to."

"You did."

His thumb brushed gently across my temple, moving a damp strand of hair away from my face.

"But this realm doesn't suppress what you are."

I frowned.

"So it..."

"It amplifies you."

The realization settled over me.

"It is."

"But that's not all."

I searched his face.

"This realm is responding to your presence."

I blinked.

"The realm?"

He nodded once.

"It has waited centuries for its queen."

My eyes drifted around the bathroom.

The green flames still floated peacefully through the air, illuminating the stone with a soft emerald glow.

"It recognized you."

"No," Rael corrected quietly.

"It recognized itself."

A chill ran down my spine despite the warmth surrounding us.

I looked back at the fire.

It no longer felt dangerous.

It felt...

Happy.

Like it had finally been allowed to breathe.

"I've been fighting it this whole time."

"You've been surviving," he corrected. "There is a difference."

I sat there for another long moment, letting everything settle.

Then another thought hit me.

My eyes slowly dropped.

Then dropped a little farther.

I blinked.

The realization slammed into me all at once.

I wasn't wearing anything.

I had been in the shower.

And Rael...

Was still kneeling in front of me, one arm around my back, the other steadying me after

I'd nearly brought half the castle down.

For one long second neither of us moved.

Then I started laughing.

Not a little laugh.

A full, helpless laugh that doubled me over.

Rael looked at me, completely confused.

"What?"

I looked back up at him, trying—and failing—to stop laughing.

"Well..." I managed between breaths, "...this makes the second time you've seen me naked in a shower."

His eyes widened just enough for me to catch it.

Something that almost never happened.

"I suppose..." he said after a beat, "...it does."

That only made me laugh harder.

"You have the worst timing."

"You called my name."

"I know I did."

"You were in danger."

"I know."

"You asked for me."

"I know!" I laughed, wiping at the corners of my eyes. "I'm not saying you shouldn't have come."

His expression remained perfectly serious.

"I would have come regardless."

"I know you would."

That answer softened my smile.

Of course he would have.

He would have walked through fire itself if I'd called.

My laughter slowly faded as I looked at him again.

Only then did he seem to realize the situation from a different perspective.

His gaze shifted away almost immediately, settling respectfully over my shoulder instead of on me.

"I should..." he said quietly.

"Probably."

He stood at once, offering me his hand without looking directly at me.

I accepted it, letting him help me to my feet.

The moment I was steady, he took a deliberate step back, giving me space.

"I'll wait outside," he said.

His voice was as composed as ever, but I caught the faintest hint of embarrassment beneath it.

I couldn't help smiling.

"Rael."

He paused at the doorway.

"Thank you."

He looked back then, meeting my eyes.

"There is no need to thank me."

"There is."

A quiet silence settled between us.

Then he inclined his head.

"I'm glad you called."

Before I could answer, he stepped out of the bathroom and quietly closed the door behind him.

I looked around at the cracked marble floor, the lingering wisps of emerald light, then down at myself.

"...Well," I muttered to the empty room.

"I really need to finish this shower."

After finally finishing my shower—and making absolutely certain I was properly dressed this time—I pulled on a pair of black leggings, an oversized charcoal sweatshirt, and my combat boots before running a towel through my still-damp hair.

I caught my reflection in the mirror.

"You survived one morning," I muttered to myself. "Only an eternity to go."

A small smile tugged at my lips.

I made my way downstairs, following the smell of fresh coffee and something sweet drifting through the castle. The halls were already alive with activity. Staff moved with quiet efficiency, each greeting me with a respectful nod as I passed.

It was still strange.

Yesterday I had been just... Nora.

Today an entire kingdom bowed their heads when I walked by.
I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to it.

The dining hall doors stood open.

I stepped inside—

And stopped dead.

My eyes slowly traveled down the length of the table.

"...Rael."

He looked up from the papers he'd been reading, setting them neatly beside his plate.

"Good morning."

I ignored the greeting.

"...Are we expecting company?"

His brow furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

I pointed dramatically at the table.

"There is enough food here to feed an army."

Fresh fruit.

Stacks of pancakes.

Eggs.

Pastries.

Fresh bread.

Several kinds of meat.

Potatoes.

Cheeses.

Even desserts.

It looked less like breakfast and more like a royal banquet.

Rael looked at the spread, then back at me.

"No."

"No?"

He shook his head once.

"This is breakfast."

I stared at him.

"...For who?"

"For you."

Silence.

I blinked.

"Rael..."

"Yes?"

"There are approximately four hundred pounds of food on this table."

"I didn't count."

"I don't think anyone counted."

One of the butlers standing nearby looked like he was trying very hard not to smile.

I pointed at the trays again.

"I physically cannot eat all of this."

Rael looked genuinely puzzled.

"You don't have to."

"Then why make it?"

He folded his hands together.

"It has always been prepared this way."

"For centuries?"

"Yes."

"For one person?"

"Yes."

I rubbed my forehead.

"This kingdom is going to bankrupt itself feeding me."

A faint smile touched his face.

"I assure you..."

He gestured toward the windows overlooking the sprawling lands beyond.

"...we'll recover."

I laughed, walking toward the table.

"This is ridiculous."

"It is tradition."

"I've noticed this place really likes tradition."

"It does."

I reached for a strawberry, taking a bite before pointing it at him.

"We're changing this tradition."

His eyebrow lifted.

"Oh?"