Chapter 61 Valen
VALEN
…standing in the middle of a clearing in the woods with the leaves rustling and the smell of grass and wildflowers strong in the air.
In fact, it looks a hell of a lot like the place I first Shifted with Irena on my back.
We took off from here, after I drank from her for the very first time and then flew over the Poison Dessert.
And in fact, there she is—standing just a few feet away from me. I start to walk towards her, but I see there’s a man with her already—a tall male with long black hair and broad shoulders—I can only see his back since he’s turned away from me.
What the fuck? Who is this fucker? I feel a growl of pure possession rise in my throat as I watch him cup her face and lean towards her.
I rush over to grab him by the shoulder and pull him away…only to find that my hand passes right through him. What the hell is going on here?
“Hey—get your hands off her!” I growl but when I try to step between them, I catch a glimpse of the stranger’s face.
With a shock I realize that he is me.
The strange man that Irena is speaking with is none other than myself. I study my own face, which is filled with hope. Then I look at Irena and see that her pretty features are etched with regret.
“I’m sorry, Valen, but you know what we had couldn’t last,” she is saying. “My people would never accept you. And my mother and brother would never allow us to marry.”
“Come with me, then,” I urge her. “After you give your mother the Healing Draught, of course. We’ll fly away together and live in my land where no one will tell us we can’t marry.”
She shakes her head.
“I’m sorry but I can’t. My duty is here—I must be certain my mother is healthy and well and support her until she can take up her duties as ruler again.”
There are tears in her eyes as she speaks, but determination in the set of her shoulders and the lift of her chin.
I feel my heart tighten with grief and the look on my face—the other me, I mean—reflects that emotion fully.
“I’ll never forget you,” she whispers and stands on tiptoes to kiss me. I can almost feel the warm press of her lips to mine as I watch this happen.
And then she turns and walks away.
I watch her go, my heart fisting in my chest. I try to remind myself that this could be just a lie the Door of Uncertainty is showing me.
But if that’s so, why does it feel so true? And where is the real Irena? The princess I saw was just a shade.
I begin to worry for her safety. I was holding her hand just a moment ago. How did she get away from me?
I start to look for her but then I’m blinded by a flash of light and I…