Born of Flames

Chapter 2 ~ Reasons for Tension

    "Can you believe them?" Morana grumbled as Tarion followed her into the house.

    She'd been complaining about the Elders, Delmar especially, ever since they left. Tarion had simply let her while remaining silent himself. He had his issues with the Council too, but he was too drained to waste energy griping about situations they couldn't change right now.

    "Ugh," Morana huffed again and slumped into a chair. "They can't possibly believe it's safe to forget about Astaroth now." Tarion winced and ran his fingers back through his loose dark hair. Morana glanced at him and her mouth twitched into a frown. "What is it?"

    Tarion shook his head with a faint chuckle. "You miss nothing, Birdie." He claimed the chair beside her. "Before you arrived, Delmar was saying that it might be time to stop putting so much energy into searching for someone who may not be alive. He thinks it's time to leave Astaroth in the past and move forward, and show the people that the Council is doing so by crowning us King and Queen."

    Morana's jaw dropped and indignation flooded her gray gaze. "Foolish old male. You'd think he would know better after what we've endured all these centuries. How can they dismiss this after Oriana herself warned me that he could return?"

    Tarion just shrugged. "We've spent months searching for any sign of Rhidian and found none. Several of the Elders think he must've died from the wounds Gaelen gave him."

    He could tell by the tension in Morana's slumped shoulders that she wasn't pleased by the news, but she said nothing, only sighed and rose once more. She drifted across the room and lifted a few sheets of paper off of a desk.

    He recognized them as pages they had copied from the ancient black book they'd found at Drenusha's Library. They had copied these pages after the battle, still not wishing to remove the book from the Library even though its protective enchantment was dormant again.

    Morana thumbed through the pages, her mouth curling sideways. "I think I need to go look through this book again. The Elders might be willing to leave this in the past, but I can't. Not yet. I have to make sure I've investigated every angle and know there's nothing more I can do."

    Tarion inclined his head, offering no input. He already knew his mate's thoughts as plainly as his own. She had to do this because if Astaroth did return and they were unprepared, she was afraid their people would blame her.

    She was the Phoenix, descended from the god Hadeon who created Astaroth, and the mortal vessel that possessed his power, born only once every thousand years. It had been her destiny to destroy Astaroth and she'd thought she'd done so, only to learn that it was possible for him to survive.

    As much as Tarion hated to admit it, her fears were very well founded. But no matter what proved to be true, he would stand by her side through it all, just as she had for him even after she learned that he was Astaroth's Angel and had done terrible, wicked things at the will of his master. Tarion rose and Morana looked up when he stood beside her.

    She set the pages down as he wrapped his arms around her, pressing his nose into her caramel hair and drinking her scent deeply. Morana returned his embrace. "I'm sorry," she sighed. "I don't mean to worry or stress you any more than you already are. I just...I can't let go yet. I have to know."

    "I understand," Tarion replied. "And you don't have to apologize. Your fears are mine and we'll face them together. I think you're right. We shouldn't set this aside until we have all the answers we can find. If you want to go to the Library, I'll arrange our absence."

    "Have I ever mentioned how much I adore you?" Morana laughed softly.

    Tarion tapped his chin in mock thoughtfulness as Morana lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Maybe once or twice, but I don't quite remember," he teased.