Ember of Hope

When his mother returned; Valiance and Raegan met her at the edge of the town. The light in her mate’s eyes was like a million stars shining in the night sky. His smile had such brilliance she’d never witnessed before. When Tamara D’evreux came into sight; he ran towards her, picked her up in his arms and twirled her around. Tamara giggled like a little girl and Raegan couldn’t stop the lone tear that escaped her eye. She could see her own mother in Tamara’s face. The way she was smiling was so like her mother’s that she couldn’t help but smile herself. Maybe fate had returned her mother in another face because in the short time she had known her mate’s mother; she’d become very dear to her heart.

When finally Valiance put his mother down; Raegan went to give her a hug and welcomed her home. She couldn’t fathom the happiness Tamara must be feeling at finally being able to return home to her beautiful family. According to her; King Alex had found her in the human world and brought her back.

Even though they’d wanted to complete their mate bonds as soon as they returned but one thing after another kept them from doing so. The full moon was just a night away and the Katherine would start her spell to reverse the curse. And nobody could think about holding a ceremony at a time like this. Everybody was so anxious about what to expect. So the mating ceremony was delayed till after the first moon. And Raegan learned that the presence of a druid in the ceremony was necessary. Because of the delays they hadn’t yet called for them.

The council had decided against taking Katherine to the Velarian border where she’d first cast her curse. They considered it unsafe in case she pulled another stunt or somehow Velarians got wind of her or the king’s return. So they’d be taking her to the Northwestern border deep into the red mountains near the wastes that spread vast between the kingdoms of Evreux and Velar in the north. Valiance had filled her in on the details of the ritual and where it would be held. So she’d asked him if they could go watch it together. He was reluctant at first. He didn’t want to take her anywhere near that witch but then he’d agreed to take her as long as they stayed far away from sight.

Although Raegan was adamant to show a brave face in front of her mate who was still torn about her suffering and blamed himself for it; she still feared… she feared every single day spent without being completely mated to Valiance… she feared she’d lose him again like she’d lost everyone in her life. She almost lost Valiance to fate and she almost lost Sarah to death. This ceremony could not come sooner as far as she was concerned.

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Valiance had taken his mother to the town’s market and even though they’d asked her to join them, she made an excuse. She wanted Valiance to spend time with his mother without having to think about her. Besides she needed to talk to Damien as well. She had a feeling that if she didn’t intervene; those two would continue to skirt around the issue and not want to be the first to raise a concern.

It was a few days after the upheaval of the king’s return and Valiance and Damien had taken to teaching her to shift into her dragon. She hadn’t yet mastered the natural grace with which everyone around here shifted. They made it seem so easy and seamless. Yet it wasn’t like that for her. Valiance said it was because she was new and every young dragon was like that in the beginning but she became frustrated. This was a good way to start with Damien.

She’d asked Nina for help and she’d taken Sarah to her grandmother’s house for lunch. Raegan found Damien exiting the gates of the arena, as she’d expected, and joined him on his walk. “Hey little dragon, how’re you doin’?” Damien put an arm around her shoulder and used his other hand to mess her hair.

“Leave my hair alone” she shrieked.

“Ask nicely” he still had his hand in front of her face; wiggling his fingers threateningly. She flipped him off; laughing. His hand returned to her hair; making a bird’s nest on her head. “Apologize” he shook her a little in his grip.

“I’ll let Valiance do that” she grinned.

“You really think I’m afraid of your big bad mate?” Damien raised an incredulous brow at her.

“Actually I think you are, yes” her teeth remained at display.

“Wait till you see me kick his ass in the festival. It’s coming up soon”.

“Oh really? Like you did last time? Or the time before that? Or…”

“Okay okay I get it. No need to rub it in. But this year’s gonna be different. I have a good feeling about it”.

Raegan took the opening as the opportunity it was, “Does this feeling have anything to do with a certain blonde?” she teased. Damien’s cheeks actually reddened. “Oh… my… God. Are you blushing Damien?” her resulting cackle was satanic. Damien pushed at her shoulder, “Shut up. I don’t blush”.

“Oh my cute little friend you are so blushing”. Then she sobered up for what she had come to talk about, “Anyway, how are things going between you two?”

“Fine”. The answer in itself was indicator enough about how fine things were.

“Come on Damien talk to me. I know things are far from fine. I know you two”.

“We are just taking things slow”.

“I call bullshit. Damien even a blind man can see how both of you keep skirting each other all the time. I’ve barely seen you two together”.

Damien sighed, “I don’t know Raegan I just want to give her time and space so that she doesn’t feel she is obligated to be with me just because we’re mates”.

“But there’s something else bothering you too, isn’t there?”

They had now cleared the streets of the town and were now in the open. She could see that Damien was debating whether to tell her or not. In the end he decided to go for it, “I feel ashamed Raegan. I should’ve waited for her but I didn’t. I don’t deserve her”. He looked so miserable. Raegan had to stop him right there.

“Damien this is pointless. You’re beating yourself over something you have now no control over. You didn’t know when you’d be finding your mate if ever. If she isn’t your first, you aren’t hers either.” Damien growled low in his throat. “Oh get over yourself. It’s not news to you, you knew it already. My point is that stop letting your past ruin your present. You’re together now and that’s all that matters.”

He nodded, “You’re right. I’ve just been afraid I guess. I’ve lost everyone except Val. I almost lost her”. And she could understand him so much better because she had the same fears for so long. And if not for Sarah she didn’t know where she’d be right now.

“I know Damien. Trust me I know. Valiance had asked me to complete the bond but I asked him to wait. And when I was there… all I could think about was what if I never make it back to him? But I made it back and she did too and that’s the most beautiful thing to ever happen to me… to all of us.”

Damien smiled and pulled her in a hug and they stood there… just two friends who’d lost too much… reassuring each other with their silent support.

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