Page 18 of Tortured

Aneirin grabs my arm and halts me. “You swear it.”

I glare at his hand touching me and then lock eyes with him. “She will be safe as long as I’m not with her.”

Aneirin nods.

A timid throat clearing has us both looking to the side. The High Emrys stands beside us, with a folded paper in her hands.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“It’s for your brother,” she says. “For his eyes only. Make sure he destroys it after reading it.”

I take the paper.

“Don’t be tempted to read it. Caedryn will see.”

I tuck the paper into my breast pocket. “I understand.”

Aneirin snorts. “Are you meddling this once, Mother?”

“No. Not really. Prince Kelyn already knows how special Niawen is. These are just some words of hope.”

“Yeah, right,” Aneirin says.

“And her whereabouts.” The High Emrys grins at her son and then turns to me. “Don’t dare peek, Kenrik.” To my surprise, she leans in and kisses my cheek.

I pull away, with wide eyes. “I promise.”

Aneirin bugs his eyes at me, probably amazed by his mother’s audacity.

I stiffen and bow to them. “It’s time I was off. Thank you, both.”

With that, I stride away. Seren, take me home.

I’m in the square waiting for you.

Chapter 9

I am sad to leave the immortal paradise of the emrys because of the beauty around every turn, but I am not sad to leave the stuck-up, self-righteous people who are indifferent to mortal cares.

And even more sadly, I have one more task before I separate myself from my family forever.

Seren glides over Cynwrig, the place of my birth. Its gloriousness creates sorrow in my spirit.

This will be the last time I lay eyes on it.

Aneirin and Caledu escorted me back to the portal. Caledu scowled but didn’t say anything as I stepped into the mortal world. He was probably just glad my trip was short.

And useless.

I learned nothing to help Niawen or myself.

Seren and I, after making slow circles in the air, descend it to the palace.

Thank you, Seren, for giving me time, I say.

Your pain is my pain. A dragon always feels what her rider does.

You honor me by calling me your rider.

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