Ember of Hope
Chapter 77

Coming back home knowing that she wasn’t a danger to her loved ones anymore was a good feeling. Tamara looked at Raegan’s beaming face and smiled. It was around lunch time and Valiance would be coming back to the fortress for lunch. She could surprise him there if he didn’t feel her presence first. She kept her side of the bond locked so that he wouldn’t know everything but the man was too sharp to be taken off-guard most of the times. She held her wrist in the palm of the other hand and looked at the bracelet molded to her skin. Every time she felt the grip of it around her magic an elated feeling filled her.

When they reached the fortress; she asked one of the sentries if Valiance was back for lunch. He was. With a giddy heart she bid goodbye to her mother in law and skipped towards the kitchens. She peeked inside, found the coast clear, and tiptoed towards the dining room. Valiance was fortunately sitting with his back to the door and in front of him was one of his students who was here for training from another city. He looked up as she approached but she put a finger to her lips to keep him quiet and he averted his gaze with a little smile. All of Val’s students knew her. Most days they even trained together.

She was about to tap Val’s shoulder when her surprise was ruined by none other than Damien - the dumbass, as he announced her presence from the doorway, “Raegan you’re back”. She whipped her head around and pinned him with a venomous glare, “Really dumbass? You couldn’t tell I was going to surprise him? No, I’m not back, it’s a hologram of Raegan because if I was here in real; I’d be beating you over the head”. Valiance looked at their exchange in amusement before standing up and pulling her in his arms with a bone crushing intensity.

“Val, baby you’re killing me”. She gritted out and he loosened his grip before capturing her lips with the same intensity.

“Ugh, get a room you two”. Ryder – the student chimed in and Raegan flipped him off before pulling Valiance out with her. She’d missed her mate.

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The second moon had come and gone in Raegan’s absence. She’d been practicing in the early mornings with Tamara and then in the arena with Val and General Roth. And she’d been getting better. She’d beat three out of four opponents in the last trials and even though General Roth was a man of few words; she could tell by his shining eyes that he was proud of her progress and it was no small feat to gain his approval. She was over the moon as things were finally getting in order.

The only thing worrying her was Valiance’s behavior. Ever since she’d come back he seemed a bit quieter. As promised; he hadn’t blocked his bond from her so she could feel it through the bond too. He’d been struggling with his emotions but when she asked him about it he asked her to give him time. That he wasn’t ready to talk about it. She hadn’t asked him again to give him his space but it was eating at her. She had a suspicion that it was because of her leaving him behind but that was necessary for so many reasons. It didn’t mean she was happy about it.

She’d talked to Sarah about it when it became too much to hold in. she told her everything that had happened in Armas. What she had to go through in order to get the bracelet on.

“Now it makes sense. It all makes sense.” Sarah turned to her with wide eyes, “It’s not because you left him behind Ray”.

“Then why Sarah?” she was impatient to know what Sarah had realized.

“We didn’t understand then but when you were gone he was just so miserable that Damien and I would just drag him out of his room and take him with us to wherever mood struck. We’d just be sitting there and talking and suddenly he’d go deathly still. Now I understand that he was feeling your pain through your bond”.

And it made sense to her too. Why she hadn’t realized it on her own she didn’t know. Maybe because Valiance’s behavior had been worrying her too much, “You’re right. This must be it Sarah” she slapped a kiss on Sarah’s cheek, “You’re the best. I love you”.

“I love you too honey”.

“I love you three” Nina appeared behind them like an apparition. The three of them resumed their walking and talking. They had decided to finally return to their own world and deal with things there as well – namely; telling Sarah’s parents about everything. It was no small feat and even though they were one of the coolest and most understanding parents in the world; it was still an unnerving task. And they’d be taking Nina with them to finally show her their homeland. The five of them would be going to the human world in a few days and Nina was excited like a child but Damien on the other hand was beyond himself with worry. And his anxiety wasn’t helped by Sarah and Raegan having a field day by making up stories of what terror Sarah’s parents used to be with every boy she ever brought to meet them.

Valiance, even though enjoying Damien’s discomfort, was worried as well. He just hid it well but not from Raegan. He knew how important Sarah’s parents were to his mate. They were like her own and they had to accept Valiance for her.

“I can’t go” Damien announced one night while they were all gathered around in the kitchens for dinner while discussing their plans. “They won’t like me for their daughter and kick me out. Besides I don’t know how to meet human parents… any parents for that matter. I haven’t even met my own since I grew up”. Damien was completely freaked out and they couldn’t hold their laughter anymore. They all burst out laughing at once at the spooked expression on his face. He seemed like he was going to be sick any minute.

“What are you guys laughing about? This is funny to you, yeah?” he hissed. “What if they ask Sarah to dump my ass and stay with them? Huh babe? What will you do then?” he pinned her with a piercing gaze which to anyone else would seem livid but every single person sitting with him could tell it was a deep rooted fear speaking… fear of losing her… fear of not being good enough for her. It was time to ease the poor guy.

“Relax Damien. Nothing like this is going to happen. We were all just messing with you” Raegan said with an encouraging pat at his shoulder.

“They’re cool. We’re just going to meet them Damien. They’re not going to kick you out and they won’t abduct me. You need to Chill.” Sarah chimed in with a wink. Damien huffed; clearly not entirely convinced still.

“Man they aren’t healers, just relax already.” Valiance grinned as Damien’s cheeks turned red.

“Shut up asshole”. All of them burst into laughter.

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