Page 10 of The Silent Mountain
I take the moment to peek into Elio’s room, noting his small frame beneath the blanket. He is sleeping, but it’s a restless sleep. He keeps tossing around, a frown on his face, while his hands are tightened around the blanket. I wonder what kind of nightmares are haunting him and if they are similar to my own. I quietly sit down at the edge of his bed, putting my hand onto his. Favia and I don’t interact a lot. Most of the time, she spends in the spirit realm and only appears when I ask her to or when she truly needs to. Now she is here, though, and I can feel her power seeping through my touch.
“You are safe,” I whisper to my brother. “You are safe.”
The tight grip of his hand loosens slightly, and the frown disappears. Maybe he will sleep a little better tonight.
I leave his room again, nodding at Theodor, before walking through the corridor to my own chambers, which are at the end of the corridor right before the tower. There is a separate staircase that leads from my room up into the tower, in case I want to shift and rest in my dragon form. It’s the highest point of this area and allows me to see my surroundings from all sides.
I just briefly wash myself and dress in more comfortable clothes for the night before I eye my bed. I try it every night—to lie down and close my eyes and allow sleep to carry me away. But I never succeed. The only times I sleep are when I have over-exhausted myself so much that I drop unconscious. I could use a potion, but I don’t want to cloud my mind with magic.
A small fire flickers in the fireplace, and I sit down on the carpet in front of it. I close my eyes, steadying my breath and allowing my mind to wander.
Favian,Favia turns around when I enter her realm. It’s a beautiful room, made out of white marble and with light blue carpets and curtains. She has built this place in my mind, and while she is her own entity, we are connected. It’s hard for anyone else to understand what we are to each other. In a way, she is part of me, like a wolf spirit is part of a wolf shifter. But she is also her own person, and she is alsome.
She is my best friend and also a part of my soul.
You should sleep,she says while approaching me. She is looking so much better now. Back then, when we were held captive, she almost died due to being weakened.
I can’t,I tell her.
She turns away from me.I know,she says.Then let’s talk for a bit.
What do you want to talk about?I ask her.
Maybe the woman who is bound to you and by that also to me,she says with a smile.The Warrior Princess.
I don’t think I am a particularly good mate at the moment,I say.I would have made her happier if we’d met at a later point.
No,she says.Because the princess was hurt too. We are giving her time to heal, which is what she needs. She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t like you.She pauses.Do you like her?
I do,I say.
Favia smirks.Because she is your mate?
I think I would have liked her even without a bond between us.I can’t help but smile.Everything about her is likable.
Favia tosses her head back and laughs, but she doesn’t enlighten me on what she finds so funny. She stops abruptly, though, furrowing her brows.You need to return,she says, a certain urgency in her voice.Now. She needs you.
I don’t hesitate even for a second. Normally, I take my time when I meditate because hasty movements might give me a migraine, but there is no time for a gentle retreat when Alana needs me. I find myself back in my room, jumping up instantly and hurrying out of my chambers. My senses pick up footsteps and a ragged breath.
It’s coming from her! What happened? Who hurt her?
four
Attacks
*ALANA*
Ihaven’tseenFavianforthe remainder of the evening, but I’ve learned that it’s not unusual. This man works a lot, even more so than my brother, who has only recently become king.
The way Favian throws himself into his work worries me. I’ve been living here for a couple of weeks now, and I can only remember one day that he didn’t spend in his office until late into the night. I am a light sleeper myself and often hear him when he returns to his chamber. There are days when it’s almost dawn when he finally retires to bed.
I wish I could take some of the burden from him.
Then, do it!Ros encourages me.
What? Ask him if I can help?
Yes, you are his mate,she says.You are the future queen.
