Page 27 of Realm of Flames (Reborn 3)
The lull of the carriage had me going quiet for a bit as Marco and Henry talked about everything they had to do when they first got to the castle. Something I probably should have paid attention to, but I found myself zoning out, my chest feeling odd still despite having expressed the feeling to my mates. I honestly couldn’t tell you how long we even rode in the carriage, but it felt like around an hour or so, my gaze traveling across each and every person we passed. When we passed two girls younger than myself who were laughing about something and walking along the paved road, I couldn’t help but smile at their obvious friendship.
It also had me missing Jordan.
I hoped that everything was going okay back home. Not only with the aspect of her finding her mates—well, at least one of them—but everything else that I had brought into the realm of their pack. My hands tightened on my skirt, thinking about how Lorn and Pastor Malcolm were both locked up there, being questioned. A momentary surge of panic brushed through me until I let out a steady breath, remembering that neither of them could affect me here. We were literally in a different realm, and that concept made me feel moderately better. Until I considered the fact that them being on the pack lands meant that Jordan and her family were in danger because of me. I knew now that no one else viewed it that way, but I couldn’t help the sense of guilt that had my gut tightening, feeling as though I was responsible for bringing both problems into their lives and my mates’ lives.
If I had never come to Washington, none of this would have been an issue. I mean, I also would have been locked up, imprisoned, and eventually sacrificed to a witch coven apparently… but still, they wouldn’t have to deal with any of this. I also would have never met my mates, something that sent a dagger-like sensation through my entire being as a panicked noise left my throat.
I was confused when Henry suddenly pulled me onto his lap, my arms wrapping around his neck as I buried my nose against his throat, both his words and Marco’s not making sense to me as I tried to settle my heart, which felt like it was going a million miles an hour. I knew this was a panic attack. A smaller one, but very much a panic attack, and I took slow and even breaths, trying to calm myself down like Jordan had helped me do that one day. The concept of seeing the pack therapist she mentioned once again came to mind as I considered bringing it up to the boys for when we got back to Washington.
“Maya?” Henry’s voice had me finally looking up as I breathed through the guilt I was feeling. I could see the knowledge in his gaze as I just brushed my nose against his shoulder, knowing that this was something I had to work through to some extent. My mates would never make me feel guilty, even if something was my fault.
“My dragon is freaking out,” Marco admitted, his voice sounding pained and far closer than I realized. “Maya, baby girl, I need you to try to breathe through this. You know this isn’t your fault and you are not to blame. At all. Especially not for Pastor Malcolm, and for sure not for fucking Lorn.”
“I get what you’re saying,” I admitted softly, tilting my head against Henry as I met Marco’s gaze. “I really do. It just… it just doesn’t remove the guilt. I can’t help but feel like I brought this all to you. I mean, I literally did—”
“And we wouldn’t want it any other way,” Henry assured me softly. “I mean, I would prefer to kill both of them, but I would take all of these fuckers bothering us every day if it meant you being in our life.”
“Yeah?” I asked quietly.
“Absolutely,” Henry confirmed, and I melted into him, Marco’s entire disposition relaxing as I felt relief through our bond.
All too soon, my eyes widened as the light outside of the window changed, our carriage falling into the shadow of the massive castle. The gilded building shone against the sunlight as we pulled past the busy front and around the side. Honestly, the place wasn’t like any depiction of a castle I’d ever seen before. It was made of marble and golden features that highlighted these massive fire-like columns that surrounded it. Sandstone surrounded it and covered the path leading in, almost creating an illusion that made it waver, as if it wasn’t really there. The large open archway windows above glinted with a sapphire blue that decorated the inside walls and made me feel all that more excited about seeing the colorful inside. Especially since it appeared that each doorway and window was large enough to fit a full size dragon through. Okay, maybe not all, but a large majority. Flags that matched the guys’ uniforms flapped in the ash and floral scented air and I breathed it in, the familiarity of it once again tugging on that instinctive feeling of remembrance.
The realm may have its problems, but this place had me absolutely mesmerized. I hadn’t even realized I was pressed against the window until Henry gently touched my shoulder. I looked back at him and Marco, who were both watching me with curiosity and a bit of amusement. I blushed and moved to get out of the carriage as we came to a stop.
From the minute that I stepped out, I could feel eyes on me, most of which I could ignore, but I felt far better when Marco tucked me against him, a soft hum of appreciation breaking from my throat at how hard and warm he was. My hands were slightly shaky from the range of emotions I had been feeling but I kept my head up, imagining how Jordan would handle this situation. If my mates could be strong and confident, then I could be as well, even if I didn’t feel the same on the inside.
Men dressed in similar uniforms to my mates but without such elaborate crests led us through a large series of arches that almost reminded me of a driveway towards the large castle. The structure itself glinted with what I realized was a magical barrier, my ears ringing as my phoenix fluttered through my chest, my lips pressing together so I didn’t let out the embarrassing noise of excitement and confusion that threatened to escape. After entering into a long series of hallways, I found myself listening to what Henry and Marco were talking about, Atlas having joined us upfront. Behind us, I could hear Croy and Sai talking to Bella, who was meowing, a lot and happily, as well as the twins, everyone seeming a bit tense but overall in better spirits than I had expected after our conversation this morning. Maybe the castle didn’t have as many bad memories for the twins? I hoped that was the case.
“The royal physician will see us at pretty much whatever time today,” Henry explained, and affection rolled over me. The reminder that these men were here, in a place they didn’t seem to like all that much, purely because they wanted to ensure my phoenix and I were healthy, had me feeling beyond grateful and honestly pretty special.Loved.
I hadn’t been exaggerating when I told Bella that we loved these men. I just hadn’t fully worked out how to tell them that fully without stuttering or sounding like a total weirdo. It was far easier to do so when it was just one on one, but as a group? I just didn’t want to assume that they felt as strongly, although my phoenix completely disagreed. Maybe it would be easier once our bonds were formed more? My lip caught in my teeth again in thought.
“We also have an audience with the queen tonight,” Marco reminded, his hand running over my back softly. “Larry and Edmund weren’t wrong—they are going to want an update about everything going on in the Earth realm.”
“At least we will handle both today, hit two birds with one stone,” Atlas mused. “Although, I’m a bit worried you’re going to be tired after portaling for the first time, angel.”
“I’m okay,” I promised and then narrowed my eyes at him. “And no hitting birds.”
Birds? Why would we hit birds? My magic tightened around me, my phoenix clearly upset with his words. It was odd now, knowing how present she was, and it seemed to be a growing experience ever since shifting, her ability to communicate with me becoming more and more solid and evident.
“What?” Henry asked, looking amused.
Atlas’s eyes lit up with realization as a chuckle left his lips. “Poor phrasing. It’s a figure of speech, I promise, angel.” I softened slightly with the use of the nickname again.
I also tried to not feel stupid for not realizing it was a figure of speech… but then again, who would hit a bird? Whoever came up with that clearly wasn’t a shifter.
Before I could respond back, we arrived at a set of gilded doors that had two sapphire-colored knobs that were in the shape of fierce and dangerous looking dragons. My hand immediately reached out to touch them, ignoring the guards’ attempts, but before I could do so, they creaked open on their own. My brows immediately went up at the pure luxury that seemed to pour from the walls and create a waterfall of white marble, diamonds, gold, and sunlight. I knew I should be getting used to wealth at some point, but this was at a level I had yet to experience back on Earth.
Everything here was just so…sparkly.
“Henry,” I whispered as we walked into the room, the guards shutting the door behind our group.
“What’s up, sweetheart?”
“Is it just me or is everything here sparkly?” I asked sincerely.
His chuckle was warm and soft. “Dragons have a particular love for beautiful things, so it’s not all that surprising.”
