Page 60 of A Touch of Royalty

“Who, Mother?” She knew, somehow, what the Mother meant. “How do I bring them to me?”

“They already belong to you, my child.” The Mother said. “Your Phoenix, his flame burns for you.”

“Yes, Mother.” Emryn nodded, her mind spinning far too fast. “How do I speak with your messenger, Mother? My soul? Should I free it?”

Emryn watched the Mother’s statue turn its eyes on her. “Do not.” The Mother’s voice sounded like doom. “Do not.”

“Yes Mother,” Emryn bowed again, touching her head to the steps. “I hear, I obey.”

“Go,” the Mother said before her voice faded and so did the pressure of her presence.

But Emryn had one more thing she needed to do. All healers knew how to turn inward, and she needed to see if she could find her soul.

Her mind, her conduits, all the way down to the core of her. To the depths of her fire, seeking the source.

“Emryn.” The voice rang her head like a gong. “It’s not time yet, go back.”

“But-”

“No, my heart, not yet.”

40

STOP

Cas was waiting directly in front of the door and it would take an act of the Mother to move him from his place. He didn’t think anyone in the Mother’s House had nefarious intentions toward Emryn, but religious fervor could quickly turn to something else, and he was more certain than ever that Asan’s plan was a wise one.

She could not be kept completely out of the limelight, it was impossible as Princess of Rodilla, but they could keep the wings covered until she could learn how to conceal them. And she would be slightly safer that way.

The door behind him opened and Emryn stumbled into his back, wrapping her arms around his waist. He could feel her shaking slightly, and he turned to face her.

She looked pale, tired, and that was more than understandable. “Emryn?”

“I’m ready to go home now.” She buried her face in his shoulder. “I found the bird. He refused to speak to me.”

“We will discuss it back at the manor,” Asan said quietly. “If your business is concluded, we should return so you can rest.”

“Yes please.” Emryn looked over Cas’ shoulder at Asan. “There is nothing more I can do here.”

When they returnedto the manor, Cas took Emryn to their room, and nearly jumped out of his skin when she reached for him, pulling him in to kiss him.

He wrapped her in his arms, kissing her back. There was a question here, in her kiss, and he wasn’t able to figure it out before she pulled back slightly and looked at him.

“Yes, darling?” He kissed her forehead. “Is there something that you need?”

“Yes, but I don’t understand the consequences.” She sighed. “The Mother said- but I still don’t know who she’s talking about even though I can hope it’s you.”

“Back up, Emryn, tell me what the Mother said.” He led her over to the bed and knelt in front of her. “Talk to me, and we can figure it out.”

“I have three people I’m supposed to find,” she said. “The Phoenix, the Seeker, and the Flame.” She took a shaky breath. “And today, she said that my Phoenix burns for me, that he’s close and already belongs to me. So I think it’s you, but I don’t know what happens if I’m right.”

“What do you think needs to happen?” Cas asked, head spinning slightly.

“I don’t know,” she said in a shaking voice. “I wanted to ask you to take me to bed, but again, I don’t know what happens if I’m right, or even if I’m wrong.”

“Darling, you are thinking far too hard about this,” Cas told her. “What do you want? Be selfish for a moment.”

“I’m bad at that,” she sighed. “I just want- I want you to care about me, Cas, and I-”

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