Chapter 11
Soren
After spending the morning wearing a fresh path through the fields around the house and brushing Ash’s pelt until it glistened, Olin offered to work on sword training.
He sensed my anxiety and feigned needing help to freshen up his battle skills.
The truth is, he’s beyond competent with a blade.
As if he would need it, anyway. His beast form is far deadlier than even the mightiest of forged weapons.
But I spar with him, nonetheless. And by the time sweat has drenched every inch of my clothing and streams from my brow, the sun dips low in the sky and Clara calls us in for dinner like a pair of young lads.
She insists we bathe before stepping foot in the dining room, and I am completely famished by the time I settle at the table.
Thorn returned to his home, seeing the rest of the council off as they departed for their villages to share the news of an impending battle and the need for volunteers to train and strengthen the rebellion.
Clara stays, and I sense she is feeling the weight of Aurora’s absence just as heavily as I am. I’m grateful for the company and thankful for the meal she cooked. Without Aurora around to care for, the idea of cooking just doesn’t hold the same allure.
There is nothing I love more than feeding my woman. Well, I can think of a few other things that I enjoy doing with her, but if I dwell on that, I will be hard and aching. I’m sure I will get reacquainted with my hand over the next several days.
Olin offers to stay as well, but I insist it isn't necessary. He has a farm to tend to. He needs to get things in order before it comes time to train others. But I don’t like the idea of him on the frontline of this impending battle, much less Aurora.
I’ve never known war and didn’t live in the time of King Caledor’s reign, but the tales I’ve heard have unsettled me.
I fear for my loved ones and the rest of Silverveil.
But I can’t let my thoughts get the better of me.
People are relying on me to serve as their stoic sentinel, and I won’t let them down.
For now, I will train and prepare people the best I can.
I climb into bed after dinner, Olin having returned home and Clara turning in for the night in one of the guest rooms. But sleep evades me without Aurora’s warm, soft curves pressed against me.
I roll over, facing her side of the bed.
Closing my eyes, I breathe in her heavenly scent of lavender with a kiss of citrus.
This is our first night apart since Isolde held her captive many months ago. My heart quickens at the memory.
Once again, she is being held by an unpredictable presence and what have I done to stop it?
Nothing. My stomach churns. I am not enough for her.
I can’t protect her from danger. Caelum took her from me and I did nothing to stop him.
He wrapped her in his arms and carried her into the sky.
Away from me. I’m angry at myself for being so complicit.
I throw off the covers and pace the floor to my window. It’s a clear night, the moon bright and low in the sky. I look to the north, desperately wishing I could see the haunting outline of the Silverveil mountain range. But the Shadows are several day’s ride, and my vision gets lost in the trees.
When I learned Aurora had to go without me, a protectiveness flared inside me like never before. I thought I would burst with rage. But now that she’s gone, I’m empty. Hollow. Anger and worry bubble beneath the surface, but they’re overshadowed by the overwhelming sense of loss.
Of being cleaved in two.
Ever since I heard her heart’s silent call in my dream and laid eyes on her near the river, she has filled my days with a warmth I thought I’d never feel.
But somehow, this feels worse than when Isolde stole her away. This time, she went willingly.
And while I understand why she had to go, the pain hits harder.
I don’t have it in me to stay in Riverholm, doing nothing to get her back. How can I? She’s my light. My everything.
I rub the bridge of my nose. My eyelids are heavy but I fight against the tiredness.
My cabin in Whispering Glen sits only a few miles from the base of the mountains. My heart lurches at the thought.
I can go there.
Yes, I will travel to Whispering Glen so I can be near Aurora and plan her rescue. Certainly, Thorn and the council can handle training for a few days.
I have half a mind to get dressed and leave immediately when I remember the strange looking glass Caelum tossed to me when he stole Aurora. I rush to my dresser and grab the silver metal piece, flipping it open. It rests in the palm of my hand while it casts my reflection back at me.
My brow furrows. How does this stupid thing work?
I turn it over in my hand, making sure I’m not missing a secret lever that would fire up the magic. Placing the glass close to my lips, I whisper, “Aurora?”
I wait in silence for a minute, feeling like a fool speaking to myself. All I want is to see her. To look upon her lovely face and know she is alright. I want to hear her voice and gaze into her bright blue eyes full of love and warmth. My heart aches at the image of her in my mind.
Just then, the metal begins to pulse and glow, a soft white luminescence that ebbs and flows. I glare at the mirror, bewildered. Suddenly, the reflection flashes white, erasing my image.
“Hello? Soren?”
My heart flutters at the soft voice rippling through the looking glass. The white reflection fades and I’m blessed to see the face of my beloved staring back at me. I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. “Aurora! My Flame.”
She mirrors my smile. “Hi, my love.” She sighs as though a weight has settled on her shoulders.
My joyous expression is replaced by one of concern. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m not hurt. I’m fine. It’s just been a long day.” She closes her eyes and sighs again. “And I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. So much.” I want so badly to reach through the glass and caress her cheek. To ease some of her troubles. To take the burden from her. “Have you spoken with Arc? When can you return home?”
Aurora opens her eyes, and light blue eyes pierce mine. “We talked. Things didn’t go quite as I hoped.”
Heat rises in my veins, and I am about to demand answers when Aurora is nudged out of frame and my eyes gaze upon a young woman with sleek, dark hair and deep brown eyes.
“Arc is an asshole, and he’s keeping us locked up here until I produce magical powers and then god only knows what he plans to do with us if that happens.” The words stream from the woman’s mouth at an alarming rate.
“Camryn!” Aurora exclaims.
The woman grins and narrows her eyes. “You must be Soren. Rory’s hunky sentinel.”
“Give me that!” Aurora commands.
Camryn giggles. “I can see why she’s obsessed with you,” she says before a flustered Aurora jabs her out of frame.
I bite back a chuckle. Obsessed with me. Oh, if she only knew how Aurora commands every waking thought of mine. And even those of my dreams.
Aurora looks at me sheepishly, brushing her wild blonde waves behind her ears. “Sorry about that. Camryn can be a bit brash.” She looks to her left and grimaces.
I smirk at her. “You’ve told her about me, huh?”
She rolls her eyes. “Of course I did. But Camryn makes it her mission to make me uncomfortable in front of people.”
“That’s not very kind of her,” I tease.
Camryn huffs. “Oh stop, it’s all in good fun.”
My face hardens. “But what is this I hear about Arc not allowing you to leave?”
Aurora sighs. “I was going to tell you tomorrow. I’ve got a ferocious headache, and I don’t even know what to say.
He doesn’t believe me about the travelers and the rebellion.
He wants to see if Camryn has powers and do his own research.
But I’m okay, really. And I’ll talk to him tomorrow about coming home. ”
The weariness on her face tears me apart. I want to press her further, but I can see her exhaustion.
I take a breath. “Okay, we can talk about it tomorrow after you’ve gotten some rest. I am sorry you’ve had a challenging day, and if I could trade places with you, I would in a heartbeat.”
“I know,” she replies, smiling faintly.
Camryn perks up behind Aurora. “Aww, isn't that sweet?”
“It was nice to meet you, Camryn,” I say.
“You as well, sexy Soren!”
Aurora looks over her shoulder and scowls at her friend, emitting a chuckle from both of us.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you, too,” Aurora replies.
“Sleep well, my love.”
“You, too,” she says as she yawns.
With that goodbye, the light fades from the looking glass, and I am again met with my reflection.
While seeing Aurora put my heart somewhat at ease, the information about Arc holding her hostage fuels my anger and emboldens my plan to do something. I can’t sit idly by.
Tomorrow, I will leave for Whispering Glen. Until then, I will sharpen my blades as any hope of sleep has evaded me.