The Guardian King

Chapter Twenty-seven

~ Phoenix

*

I stared at Ember in awestruck wonder. Despite her struggle with confidence, when the situation was dire she’d successfully healed me. My knowledge of our connection put me at an advantage. Awareness of the bond and its mechanics meant being capable of discerning bits and pieces of what Ember felt. In that moment, through the intensity of our connection, I could sense her wariness of me. I intimidated her. And over the past two weeks of mostly absence, I’d done nothing to improve that view of me. Yet there she was, pushing her feelings aside for the well-being of a man who’d done nothing to earn her care.

*

Ember avoided my eyes as she admitted to feeling the pull between us. I softly placed two fingers under her chin, gently guiding her gaze back to me as I said, “I chose you as my companion because I felt something towards you I hadn’t with any woman before.”

“What?” she whispered.

“Potential.”

*

Ember took a second to absorb my sentiment. She opened her mouth to respond, but our attention snapped towards the foyer at the sound of my door flying open. “Nic?!” Phyneas called in a panic. At the sound of voices, Ember quickly withdrew her hand from my bare chest and I immediately felt it’s loss. “In here,” I responded.

*

Phyneas came into my den with Gemma hot on his heels. They both exhaled in sheer relief upon seeing me. “Damn, Majesty, you really know how to scare a person half to death,” Phyneas said.

“Are you alright, Nic?” Gemma asked in earnest.

“I am perfectly alright, thanks to my companion.” Ember’s cheeks flushed at my statement.

“What the hell happened to you?” Phyneas wanted to know. “Your bike was found wrecked on the old forest road, with blood leading away from the site.” At the mention of my blood loss, I detected a shiver from Ember.

*

I provided a summarized version of my evening. When I’d finished my tale, Phyneas moved to examine my body. He reached for my hand, concentrating on the evaluation of my condition. After a moment, he declared in astonishment, “You have no lasting injuries.”

“I told you,” I replied as he let go of my hand. With a look in Ember’s direction, I continued, “My companion took care of me.”

“Emmie, you healed him?” She nodded at Phyn’s query and he added, “I’m impressed.”

*

“Phyn,” Gemma said as she lifted my blood-soaked clothes off the floor. He moved toward her, taking the garments from her hands as he muttered, “Shit.”

“It wasn’t as bad as it looks,” I claimed. My companion promptly corrected me, saying, “Yes it was, Nic.”

*

Ember moved to stand, but her strength failed and she wobbled. I instinctively got to my feet and reached for her. With an arm around her waist for support, I put a hand softly on her face and stated, “You’re extremely cold.”

“I’m always cold,” she responded meekly.

“Not like this. You expelled too much energy healing me.” Out of concern for her cousin, Gemma moved to Ember’s side. “You must have been in bad shape, Phoenix, to drain her this much.”

“Gem, take Ember back to her suite and make sure she drinks vita latrare before laying down.” I peered into the pale-blue eyes of my angel, reluctant to let her go, as I said, “I’ll check on you in the morning, mon ange.” When she nodded in acknowledgment I realized how weak she must’ve been if she hadn’t the strength to argue.

*

Gemma wrapped Ember’s arm around her shoulder and effortlessly took on most her weight, helping my companion out of the room. Phyneas tossed my blood-stained clothes back into a heap on the floor and faced me. I withdrew the trinket from my pocket, tossing it to Phyneas as I said, “Thanks by the way. Worked like a charm.” Phyneas observed the metal object in his hand, before he pocketed it, nodded, and said, “I’ll get you another one.”

“Phyn-”

“No arguments.”

“Fine.”

“Nic… about Ember-”

“Before you say anything… I’m well aware of what it means.”

*

I left Phyneas in the den while I ventured into my closet to retrieve a clean shirt, before returning to the main room. Apparently, Phyneas couldn’t let his thoughts go unexpressed. His hazel eyes bore into mine as he said, “She healed you completely.”

“She did.”

“Though she’s been training just two weeks.”

“Yes.”

*

My best friend lowered to the edge of my favorite lounge chair, where he proceeded to stroke his five o’clock shadow. “You need to tell her,” he proclaimed. I considered his words briefly then firmly said, “No.”

“When are you going to stop keeping her in the dark?” he asked. I returned to my seat in the middle of the sofa and replied, “For the time being, it’s better this way.”

“Better for who? Her? Or you?”

“I can’t claim her as my destined companion until I’ve determined what I feel is genuine or merely a side effect of our God-given bond.”

“It could be both. It isn’t fair to her you’re withholding this information.”

“It’s a mercy.”

“How have you come to that delusion?”

“For years I’ve lived with the knowledge that there is one woman out there who I am supposed to love. My entire life has revolved around finding her and now that I have, I can’t be certain if what I feel towards her is of my own heart or of God’s greater plans.”

“God didn’t create the connection to make you love her. He entwined your destinies because He knew you would.” I considered his point and replied, “Perhaps. Either way, I am sparing her the burden.”

“Burden?!” he repeated in surprise. He then shook his head and muttered, “You’re so selfish.”

“Excuse me?”

“God’s given you a precious gift the rest of us can only dream of and you treat it as though it’s a curse.”

“It’s both, Phyn, don’t you see that?”

“No, I don’t.”

*

I leaned back against the sofa and exhaled in frustration. “Ember has gone through so much in such a short span of time. I cannot add yet another life-changing revelation on top of everything.”

“Sounds like an excuse to mask your fear,” he replied.

“And just what exactly do you presume I am afraid of?”

“You’re afraid, after dedicating most your life to finding her, she won’t want to be your queen.”

“The fact remains that she is, whether she wants to be or not. For the good of our kind, I cannot let her go even if I wanted to. And therein lies the curse.”

“And therein lies your fear.”

*

I ran a hand through my hair, shifted to the edge of the seat, and irritably asked, “Apart from telling her, what would you advise me to do, Phyn?”

“Stop avoiding her, for one. Your lack of presence is not helping the situation.”

“Noted. Do you have another point?”

“I do in fact. For someone who’s held onto a vision for nearly two and a half decades, you seem to lack faith in the bond you waited a lifetime for.”

“I do have faith in the bond. What I don’t have is time. Especially now that Soren is poking his stubby nose into my relationship.”

“If you hadn’t snuck away to meet with him, I would’ve warned you against triggering his unwanted attention.”

“Took you all of ten minutes to point that out.”

“I have my priorities.”

“Good to know your future queen comes above boasting about your intellectual superiority.”

“Good of you to admit.”

*

Silence fell momentarily as I rested my elbows on my knees with clasped hands supporting my chin. I could no longer afford to be passive. If I had any hope for my future with Ember, I needed to act. “What do you plan to do, Majesty?” my advisor wanted to know. “What’s your next course of action?”

“A test of my personal growth.”

“Meaning?”

“I don’t easily put my trust in others.”

“A fact you don’t need to tell me.”

“But… for Ember’s sake, I need to be here. It’s time I relinquished a few of my responsibilities. Knox is capable of continuing my research on the suspicious depraved activity. Starting tomorrow, I will take point in Ember’s training. When I feel she has a handle on navigating our world as well as her abilities, then I will share my vision with her.”

*

A double tap sounded at the door as my publicist returned to the room. I looked at her questioningly which she immediately understood, saying, “She perked up a bit as soon as she drank some tonic. But she still passed out the second her head hit the pillow. She was completely drained.”

“You should have stopped her when you were mostly healed,” Phyneas said.

“I would have if I’d realized how far she intended to go.”

*

Gemma sat beside me on the sofa, evaluated my disheveled appearance, and said, “You should probably get some rest too, after what you went through tonight.”

“That’s my point,” I replied. “Because of Ember, I don’t need to.” With knitted brows of puzzlement, Phyneas looked at me and said, “Wait… are you saying, on top of healing all of your injuries, she also rid you of exhaustion?”

“That is exactly what I’m saying.” We sat in stunned silence as my closest friends took in the weight of my revelation.

*

Gemma was the first to recover from shock as she pointed out, “I can’t believe that she’s been struggling with confidence, meanwhile she’s more powerful than all of us.”

“All the more reason she needs to discover the extent of her abilities on her own,” I said. “It won’t do her any good for us to tell her how powerful she is if she doesn’t trust herself.”

“Hopefully being able to fully heal you tonight helped her overall outlook.”

“I’d like to think that it did,” I said.

“But it would help her a lot more if you explained your connection.”

“Don’t waste your breath, Gem,” Phyneas said, “I already tried barking up that tree. His Majesty is as stubborn as ever.”

“I will tell her when the time is right.”

“Adlegatio is coming up,” Gemma pointed out, “along with the tenth anniversary of your reign.”

“I am aware.”

“I suggest you tell her by then. If you wait any longer, you’ll only make it harder for her to trust in what you claim.”

“Agreed,” Phyn added.

“I’ll take it under advisement,” I muttered. Gemma looked at Phyneas in exasperation, to which he responded, “Take what you can get.”

*

“While you’re at it, I have something else for your consideration,” Gemma went on.

“What is it?”

“When I reached out to Master Belaby and explained the reason I wanted to meet with him, he insisted on a video call. Once I made it clear my inquiry was on behalf of Jonas’ daughter, he became very forthcoming with what he knew. He’s kept the information to himself all these years for fear no one would believe him, or worse, if anyone did, he would end up like his former pupil.”

“What information?” I asked.

“He knew what Jonas had been investigating at the time of his death. And if you hadn’t gone off half-c****d, you could have avoided tipping off Soren.”

“Tipping him off to what exactly?”

*

Gemma tossed her black hair over her shoulder and shifted to face me better, putting her elbow on the back of the sofa as she answered, “Jonas suspected, and was in the process of investigating, the possibility that Soren’s entire reign was invalid.”

“Invalid? Invalid how?”

“Belaby claims Jonas believed Soren had somehow cheated his way through The King Trials.”

“That’s impossible,” I stated.

“Belaby agrees and that’s exactly what he told Jonas. But since Jonas’ unexpected death, Belaby wondered if he may have stumbled onto something he wasn’t meant to find.”

*

My stomach turned and my mind raced over the uncertainties surrounding Jonas Ellison. To think, even for a moment, someone could cheat their way through The King Trials undermined the entire process and brought our entire hierarchy into question. If Soren had succeeded in stealing the right to rule, had he been the first to do so? Or was our history littered with unworthy kings?

*

I looked over at Phyneas, the only one between the three of us fully dressed, and asked, “What time is it?” He looked at his watch and replied, “Quarter till four. Why?”

“I need to talk to Ambrosia as soon as the sun rises. Hopefully my grandfather shared with her the details of his work. With any luck, she could have a clue that leads to the truth.”

“If she had information about Soren, wouldn’t she have shared it with you long before now?”

“Not if she believed it to be irrelevant. And it’s not as though I have many options at the moment. Since I’ve inadvertently made my intentions known to Soren, I’ll have to be cautious with whom I speak regarding my suspicions. There’s still many on the court who are loyal to him.”

“Nic, do you think Jonas’ theory actually bares any weight?” Gemma asked. “I mean, you’ve been through the trials, is there even a shred of possibility anyone could claim victory who wasn’t truly deemed worthy?”

“I don’t know. I want to say absolutely not, but the circumstances around Jonas’s death, his missing file, and the attack on me after speaking with Soren definitely makes the theory worth looking into.”

*

Phyneas and Gemma were part of my inner circle for a reason. As my closest friends they were skilled at talking me through difficult situations, but when the talking was through they went into active mode. Phyneas sat up straighter and asked, “What do you need us to do?”

“Send someone to take care of my bike.”

“Already done.”

“Gemma, make sure the press doesn’t get wind of what happened.”

“I’m all over it,” she replied.

“Assemble a team of seekers to search the woods where I was attacked,” I instructed Phyneas. “I need a link to Soren’s involvement or a fresh lead in the unlikely possibility he wasn’t responsible.”

*

My advisor nodded and asked, “Anything else?”

“Yes. Have Sadie take the week off from training Ember. Tell her I’ll be taking up most of Ember’s time with telekineses. Until I am certain she’s not involved with her uncle, I don’t want her anywhere near my companion.”

“Please don’t make me talk to the ice queen,” Phyneas complained. I looked to Gemma who said, “I’ll take care of dealing with Sadie. Is that all?”

“From you, yes. Thank you, Gemma. As for you,” I turned back to Phyneas and said, “call Min and have her make me a new jacket.”

***

After my friends left, I enjoyed a scalding shower, taking care to remove the last traces of dried blood. Not a scratch or a scar remained on my amber skin. My angel had completely healed every cell in my body. Instinct told me she’d just scratched the surface on what she was capable of.

*

Refreshed and dressed, I returned to the den where I used the armoire key to access my hidden hobby. Over the next hour, I carefully sketched Ember’s feminine details on paper. After attempting to do so for months, I finally succeeded in capturing her beautifully unique features. I credited my success to the amount of energy she’d poured into me that night.

*

As I stared at my companion’s likeness, I considered the advice of my friends. Logically what they said made sense. Yet something in my gut urged against it. My internal compass, the one that pointed straight to my destiny with Ember, led me to the conclusion she wasn’t ready to carry the weight of her future. For now at least I needn’t worry about finding the words to tell her. I could only pray when that day came our bond would prove stronger than her doubt.

***

When the sky began to lighten I set out to seek a conversation with Ambrosia. I had to knock twice before she came to the door. “Are my eyes deceiving me?” she asked as her expression morphed from surprise to delight. “Or is this my work-obsessed grandson gracing me with his royal presence?” She moved back, opening the door to me. Once inside her quarters, I took her hand, kissed it, and replied, “Forgive the early hour, Rosie.”

“Psh, you know I am always available for you.”

*

My grandmother led me into her living space and gestured for me to have a seat on the settee. She adjusted her dressing gown and made herself comfortable in the wingback chair. The footprint of Ambrosia’s chambers was a slightly smaller version of mine, however, nearly unrecognizable due to the vast difference in decor. Where my domain was cool, modern, and masculine, hers was a blend of her own eclectic style, consisting of floral wallpaper, lace window dressings, and gilded antique furniture.

*

“Should I be concerned by this early visit?” she inquired, kicking off the conversation.

“Not yet.”

“Yet?”

“I was hoping you might have some insight to offer on Soren Lamond.”

“Soren?” she replied in confusion. I gave her the simplified version of my desire to find information on Jonas for Ember’s sake and an altered version of why I suspected Soren knew more than he was willing to share.

*

“And so,” I said, wrapping up my explanation, “I thought perhaps Grandpère expressed to you any details which may shed light on Soren’s true character.” Ambrosia remained quiet for a moment, collecting her thoughts, before she said, “Leon was very loyal to the monarchy. However, as I’m sure you remember, he had little respect for the man.”

“I do remember, but I don’t remember Grandpère ever specifically saying why.”

“Out of loyalty, he never spoke ill of his king. But I witnessed a great weight lift from his shoulders when he retired. And a lightness return to him when you took on the role of king.”

*

“Did you ever ask him about his relationship with Soren?” I inquired.

“Have we met?” she responded sarcastically. “Of course I asked him. So frequently in fact it began to strain our marriage until I ceased pressing him.” She cleared her throat and continued, “Though I cannot be certain, I got the feeling towards the end of his career, Leon’s silence was driven by his desire to protect me from potentially dangerous information.”

“And you have no inkling on what that might’ve been?”

“None whatsoever. I’m not even sure my feelings are valid. It was so long ago.”

“I trust your instincts, Rosie.”

*

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help to you, Bijou,” my grandmother expressed, “but I am happy to hear you’re taking care of your companion. Your absence has been weighing on her.”

“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you’ve noticed.”

“It’s easy to spot if you know what to look for.”

“Which you do?”

“Leon and I may not have been destined, but I know with every fiber of my being he was indeed my soulmate. Ember is the other half of you and you of her. She may not know why yet, but now that she’s met you, she will feel your absence in her bones. I believe it is what’s inhibiting her progress.”

“Actually… about that.”

*

I proceeded to inform my grandmother that Ember had healed me the previous night, however, I claimed my inquiries had been caused by crashing my motorcycle and nothing more. She pursed her lips and she said, “How fortunate you are to have a companion blessed with the gift of healing, considering your love of that death trap.”

“Indeed.”

“I would advise not mentioning this occurrence to your mother today. She’s still quite sore over Ember’s presence.”

“Today?”

“It’s Sunday, Phoenix. Did you forget?”

“I guess I did.”

“You can’t keep avoiding her.”

“I can’t?”

“Phoenix.”

“I know. You’re right.”

“Although, perhaps if you ask nicely, your companion would accompany you.”

“I will ask, but I’ll not hold my breath.”

***

I left Ambrosia when her breakfast arrived, deciding it was no longer too early to check on Ember. Up to the third floor and down the hall, I reached her doors and softly knocked. She’d mentioned to me her routine of early morning walks and for a moment I began to think I’d already missed her, until I sensed her come to the door. Through a narrow gap, she looked out at me and said, “Hi.”

“Hello,” I responded. “How are you faring this morning?”

“Um, fine I guess.”

“May I come in?”

“Sure.”

*

Ember moved back, opening the door to me. I slipped through the opening then turned to look at her. She wore a faded pair of jeans with a holes in both knees and a worn light-blue sweater she clenched the cuffs of. When she moved passed me, I caught a whiff of her shampoo; eucalyptus and spearmint, a combination I’d always been fond of.

*

In the living room she gestured to a tray of food and said, “Are you hungry?”

“You’re offering to share your breakfast? You must be warming up to me.”

“You had a rough night, nearly dying and all.”

“And thanks to you there’s not a scratch on me. It would be selfish of me to take any of your breakfast on top of last night’s generosity.”

“You’re welcome.”

*

Though she made a good attempt at lightness, there was a subdued edge to her demeanor, likely due to draining her energy the night before. But I had to be sure. “Ember, how are you, honestly?”

“I’ve been better. I just didn’t sleep well last night. But at least I don’t have training today.”

“About that, I had a favor to ask of you in your free time this morning.”

“What do you need?”

“I typically have brunch with my mother every Sunday morning. I’ve missed the past two Sundays due to other obligations, but I need to be there today and was hoping you’d make the meal more enjoyable by joining us.”

“I doubt your mother would use the word ‘enjoyable’ in that context.”

“All the more reason she should spend time in your presence; to see how wrong she is.”

*

Ember chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, prompting me to say. “You never need hide your true feelings from me, little dove.”

“Alright then. I saved your life… do I really have to endure your mother’s presence?” I chuckled softly and replied, “No, you do not. You’ve already done more than I could ever ask of you.”

“You’ve done a lot for me too,” she mumbled sheepishly.

“Then you’ll come with me?” Her face grew tense and I immediately put her at ease. “I’m kidding. It’s my fault you are weary today. You should definitely stay here and rest. You’re going to need it.”

“I am?”

“Yes. Come tomorrow, I’m taking over your training.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~