Page 45 of Draekora

Before Alex could inspect it further, the Path dropped them off in a vast room lit with numerous ancient bookcases andmyraes-lit sconces.

The Meyarin palace’s library was like a medieval fantasy come to life. The walls were lined with thousands upon thousands of books, with ladders leaning against the cases to provide access to the tomes on the higher levels. And there actuallywerelevels to the bookshelves. While the middle of the library was hollowed out straight up to the domed ceiling, there were second and third floors of books accessible by ladders, with narrow bridge-like paths circumnavigating the border of the room in between.

“I think I’m in love with this room,” Alex said as Roka led her to a polished table made out of timber from the Silverwood and held a chair out for her.

“The library is one of my favourite places in the palace,” Roka admitted. “The knowledge of the ages can be found in here. You could read for a lifetime and still not make your way though all the tomes on offer.”

Given that the Meyarin lifetime had no limit, barring early death, Alex knew that was quite a proclamation.

As if reading her thoughts, he grinned and sauntered over to one of the bookcases where he withdrew an armful of books, bringing them back to set down on the table.

“We’ll cover the basics tonight,” he said. “Our language is in your blood, regardless of whether you’ve grown up hearing it or not, so it shouldn’t take long for you to master it.”

Alex wished she could be as confident as he sounded.

Roka took a seat beside her and said, “Let’s start at the beginning.”

Fifteen

Hours later, Alex collapsed onto her bed,exhausted after Roka’s seemingly unending language lesson.

The prince had taught her simple words like ‘no’ (naha), ‘yes’ (sesu), ‘you’ (sae), ‘me’ (rae), ‘I’ (trae),‘please’ (nalahi) and ‘thank you’ (atari sae). They had progressed through the basics at blinding speed, aided mostly by Alex already understanding the language, and perhaps also by her Meyarin blood-induced accelerating learning. By the end of their session, she’d been stringing together simple sentences like, ‘Hello! How are you today?’ (Kendara! Le noran sae risa?), ‘Please help me, I’m hurt!’ (Nalahi suros rae, trae de frayon!) and ‘Would you like fries with that?’ (Koral enfriesde sae trivva?). The last was Alex’s idea of a joke, even if Roka didn’t understand the reference. But still, she felt as if she’d left her mark on the past just by educating the prince about the wonder of deep-fried potatoes.

Happy to finally be in bed after her insane day, she just started to drift off when a voice called to her.

Alex? Can you hear me?

Xiraxus?Alex sat up and turned to squint out over her balcony, seeing the romantic glow of the city at night but no draekon in sight.Where are you?

Draekora, he answered, surprising Alex that they were able to communicate so clearly despite the distance between them.Today was hard on you. I thought I’d check to make sure you’re okay.

Alex felt a bubble of gratitude at the draekon’s concern. If nothing else, her sojourn to the past had at least given her a new friend.

Yeah, just tired. Today went beyond my usual kind of weird.

You do feel tired, Xiraxus commented.I should let you get some sleep.

Even though he couldn’t see her, Alex frowned in confusion.How do you know how I feel?

Thevaelianalinks me to your emotions. Whenever you feel something strongly, I feel it too.

Alex wasn’t sure if she felt more amazed or violated by the idea of someone—draekon or not—being able to sense her feelings.

You can’t manipulate my emotions, can you?

No, Alex, he said with a deep chuckle.Your feelings are your own—I can just read them. Like how a moment ago you were filled with apprehension, but now you’re calming again.

She let out a relieved breath.Good to know.

You’ll feel even calmer after a proper night’s sleep. I’ll talk to you again soon.

Xira?she called before he could ‘disappear’.

Yeah?

I just…Alex hesitated, not sure how to articulate what she wanted to say. But then she settled on,Thanks for saving my life today. I know this whole situation is about a thousand different kinds of crazy and I haven’t been quiet about not wanting to be stuck in the past. But the truth is, everything happens for a reason, and I wouldn’t be here—alive—without you. So, thanks for bonding with me.

There was silence for a moment until Xiraxus responded,Aw, shucks, Alex. We’re having a moment.

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