After Lorelai left Eventide, Aolis wasn’t able to speak to me daily like we had been. I had tried calling him the night I spoke to Anastasia, but he didn’t answer. I left him a message letting him know I loved him and that we needed to talk. Instead of letting myself become lost and lonely, I threw myself into my studies, making Buppig proud, and learning the ways of sword fighting. Samlael was an excellent fighter and an even better teacher. He was patient and kind with me, but he didn’t go easy on me. For the first month, my muscles were so sore that without Hera’s healing power, I don’t think I would have been able to lift the sword the next day. But I am a Guardian, and an Alpha female and thankfully, I heal and I learn quickly. Fighting with a sword is strengthening muscles that I didn’t even know I had, much less needed to be stronger. Hera had begged me for weeks to run through the forest, and one night, when I couldn’t sleep, I decided it was time. I have been walking throug

It’s the morning that Aolis is due to arrive back home. I’m so excited that I can barely contain myself. I make it to training but Samlael can tell I’m distracted. He smiles at me. “The Prince is coming home, today, correct?” He asks me. I smile so brightly, my face feels like it will split in two. “Yes!” He chuckles. “Go on, then. You won’t be mindful enough to spar today and I’d hate to ruin your reputation as a Guardian by defeating you over and over.” “Thanks, Samlael.” I say, reaching up to kiss his cheek. He blushes slightly before nodding. I forget, the elves aren’t touchy people. Thankfully, Samlael seems more embarrassed than angry with my actions. I race back to the castle to have breakfast with Ailduin and Anastasia as I’ve been doing every day since I got back from Eventide nearly three months ago. I’ve just sat down and started to eat when Buppig comes stomping in. “Why din ya tell me Hera received the blessin’ of the Ceryneian Hind?” I can tell he’s upset because

I feel the grip around my heart ease when Aolis tells me that he has no intention of rejecting me. He’s always been so patient and understanding with me, but this is something different. This impacts his people too. We spend the rest of the afternoon talking about anything and everything. After eating, we move to the couch. I don’t know how I never realized that Aolis gives me his complete, undivided attention every time I speak to him. When I think back, I realize that there is almost no one else in my life that has done this. Even my parents have always had something else going on that they needed to deal with and so, while I know they love me and do listen to me, hours after starting our conversation, Aolis isn’t looking tired, he doesn’t look bored. He is completely and totally invested in what I’m telling him. When the feeling of his love for me rolls through me, I need to be closer to him than I am. I get up and crawl into his lap. Since he was always older than me, this was my

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised about Aolis’s protectiveness, but this is his birth mother. And in truth, she didn’t do anything that would hurt me, it was just about the taste of the tea. I heard the thunder rolling away and I know that Aolis is calming down. I’m lost in Aolis’s eyes, his fingers running over my cheek when Faunalyn clears her throat, reminding us that we’re not alone. Aolis pulls his gaze away from mine. “Since you manipulated my mate, without either of our knowledge, I think we should know what your tea tastes like, Faunalyn.” I watch her jerk, almost imperceptibly. Obviously, she has a mate out there, but he’s not here. Hmmm, I’ll have to get more information on that later. “Kiwi and melon.” “That sounds lovely.” I say, trying to soothe things over. It’s quiet for a moment, the conversation having made things a bit uncomfortable. “So, what stories have you heard about me?” I ask her as Aolis and I sit again. She looks at Aolis, as if making sure this line

When I left Aolis at the border of Araphyra, I had no idea it would be so long before I saw him again. It’s been a month. He’s been chasing after Lorelai, but she keeps getting away from him. He says that certain parts of the land are darkening, which means that they are siding with Lorelai and turning against Aolis and Ailduin. Every time I mention joining him, he tells me its not needed, that he is fine. Tonight, like most nights, I’m laying in our bed, remembering my one night with Aolis, wishing he was here, frustrated that he won’t let me join him. I finally give up, throwing the blankets off of me and getting up. Hera, sensing my plan sits up in my head, excited. ‘I get to run again?’ ‘Yes. Maybe if I start letting you run more often it will wear us out.’ ‘You are worn out and by association, so am I. It’s not the lack of exercise, it’s the aching heart.’ She says. She’s been as mournful as I have been. We’ve barely reached the forest line and I’m stripping off my clothes a