Page 101 of Song of the Heart Scale
Would I go?
Could I?
The truth was, I didn’t know. Not really.
What would become of me in her world? Would I lose my dragon—this half of myself that had always been as natural as breathing? If I crossed that threshold, would it disappear? Or worse, would I remain what I am—immortal, untouchable, unable to age—while she withered beside me, leaving me in a strange world?
The thought made my blood run cold.
I closed my eyes and sank deeper into the tub, letting the water rise to my shoulders.
Cat was the first thing in my life I’d ever truly chosen. Not as a prince, not as a dragon, not as a weapon or a shadow—but as a man. I didn’t want to lose her. But I didn’t want to live in a strange world without her, either. An eternity spent wandering through a realm of glass and steel while the only thing that tethered me to it had long turned to dust?
Unthinkable.
But she deserved to go back. To her world. To her people. Even if I didn’t want her to. And if she stayed here for me... the guilt would eventually kill her.
“By the Immortals,” I muttered.
The steam curled around me like massaging fingers. My reflection on the surface of the water stared back—dark gaze, furrowed brow, shadows under my eyes that weren’t there before all this began.
What did I want?
A throne? No.
Power? I’d never had it, but I knew enough to know it came with chains.
What I wanted... was a life. With her. Wherever that ended up being.
If the portal opened again, and we defeated Thorne, and the war ended... would I take her hand and walk through that tear in the world with her?
Yes.
Yes, I would.
But first, I had to survive long enough to make that decision.
A knock came at the door. Light. Tentative.
“Your Highness?” It was one of the servants. “Do you need anything else?”
“No,” I said, more harshly than I meant to. “Leave me.”
Silence followed, then the soft shuffle of retreating footsteps.
I leaned back and rested my head against the cool marble lip of the tub. The world outside was spinning faster than I could keep up, and every decision I made felt like it came with a blade at my throat.
But if I was going to be cut open... let it be for something that mattered.
Let it be forher.
I closed my eyes, the scent of the oils and petals lulling me into stillness. For now, just for a moment, I let myself drift.
Because soon, the battle would begin again.
Another knock at the door jerked me from my reverie.
“I said leave me!” I growled, not bothering to open my eyes. Couldn't they grant me even a moment's peace?
