She will find her family and live a wonderful life without me while I stay in this fortress for many, many years to come.
I focus on these images. Simple, concise. I don’t think much more deeply than that.
While the redheaded priestess speaks to the line of Drahkitas and their Drak warriors, I imagine myself staying in this community for years.
I imagine what it would be like, to be content here. With friends.
I imagine the Drak curling Cordy’s hair behind her ear. Such a large, fearsome man, with a gentle caring touch. Is my Drak capable of that?
Yes, I imagine he’s capable. I imagine he’d hold me while I slept and tell me I’m beautiful.
The picture is so clear, I’m lost in it. Lost in the possibility of this beautiful, violent man who adores me. It makes no sense, and yet all the sense in the world.
“Let us start with our most challenging new recruit.”
I blink and the red-haired priestess is directly in front of me, hand out.
“You are a romantic one,” she croons. “While I’m pleased you have high hopes for your life here, he will never be what you want him to be. He will always belong to the Ancient One.”
My cheeks warm. My Dread stares down at me, but I don’t dare look at him directly. I swallow and then accept the priestess’s hand.
I will be here for a long time,I tell myself.
I will make friends and bathe and eat and live a good life here in the fortress.
Once we are closed off in the separate room, I release a breath.
Blythe eyes me carefully. Deidre stands before the golden symbol on the back wall, watching us.
The door shuts, but Blythe remains, her sharp gaze stuck on my chest.
“Much has changed since we last met,” she says. “I am very sorry your last reading ended in such… chaos.”
I frown at her tone. Does that word have more meaning I’m unaware of?
“It was rather unusual, of course,” Deidre says from across the room. “But there was little we could ascertain from the debacle. The previous reading is lost to us. But today, we will find a new one.”
I swallow and nod.
“It was scary,” I admit.
Blythe steps between me and Deidre, ensuring my attention is centered on her alone.
“Moira has had concerns about you, and that previous reading did not help.” She caresses my cheek. I don’t know who she’s talking about. “But it’s very clear to me that she is being paranoid. You are nothing of concern to the Ancient. A lovely girl who caught the attention of a powerful man. Do you know what he has agreed to in exchange for claiming you?”
I frown. “I didn’t think he needed to agree to anything.”
“Usually, no. But he caused a heap of trouble to claim you, so to keep you, we required a commitment. He has bowed to every request we have made. It is clear you have much power over him. Use it. Use it, and we will reward you.”
“How would I use it?”
Her smile is cruel. “I believe you can figure that part out on your own. He is important now. He is Nihilian Drak. Do you know what that means?”
“It means he is a leader?”
“Of sorts, but so much more. Inside his body lies the spirit of Nihil. All of our warriors have the spirit, but not all are powerful enough to use the magic. And among those, fewer still are powerful enough to become Nihilian. He has much to prove, since he has accepted that spirit as part of his body.”
I take a step back, hands clenched together. “What does that mean?”
