Born of Flames

Chapter 51 ~ Rise of the Renhaels

    Tarion blinked his eyes open and squinted against the sunlight filtering in through the crystal windows. A heartbeat later, his eyes widened when he noticed the empty space in the bed where Morana had been. He sat up and placed his hand on the sheet.

    It was cool enough to suggest she'd been gone for a while. He scanned the room swiftly, but there was no sign of her. Just before he could get out of bed, the blanket over the door rustled and Morana entered.

    Tarion breathed a sigh of relief and pushed loose hair back from his brow, shaking his head. "Where have you been at such an unreasonably early hour?" He asked.

    Morana only smiled and slipped onto his lap, touching a kiss to his temple before answering. "I had a few goddess duties to attend to."

    "Already? You've only been one for a day."

    "Yes but I figured that the sooner I adjust to it all, the sooner everyone else will too."

    Tarion frowned, catching the note of hesitation in her voice. "You're worried about Delmar, aren't you?"

    Morana turned her face away and rested her cheek against his shoulder. Tarion combed his fingers through the ends of her hair, gently untangling a few locks. "Yes," she finally admitted. "He was wary of my power before and now..." Her shoulders slumped as she sighed. "Something tells me he won't like me any better now."

    "Maybe not," Tarion agreed. "But he'll also be less likely to try to control you. I think he'll learn very quickly that you'll take orders from no one, if he hadn't picked up on that the last time we spoke. Besides, I don't think it was you he didn't like."

    "He just didn't understand your powers and he was trying to protect his people in the best way he knew how. When he sees you and understands what you have become, he's going to realize that you are now his best way to protect them." Morana didn't resist when he guided her face up and met her gaze.

    "Our people were afraid, but now they no longer have to be. And neither do we. Asterria is free. Our people are free. We are free. I know none of this is going to be easy, but I do know that we're ready for it now. I know that I will be there for you no matter what, and I know you'll do the same for me. We were both forced to endure our greatest fears, and we both overcame them. We will overcome this too."

    "You're ready to be King then?" Morana asked softly.

    Tarion nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting. "I wouldn't want to see my father's crown on Delmar's head, or anyone else's."

    "And...you think the people will accept a goddess as their Queen? They won't see me as another Astaroth?"

    "They have accepted you since the day they met you, Birdie. Why else would they call you their Phoenix Queen? I think they'll be even more eager to crown you now, especially when they see your wings." He eyed the radiant limbs with obvious admiration.

    Morana's cheeks darkened with a heavy blush before her wings faded from view. "I mean it," Tarion added in a more serious tone. "You are ready for this. We both are. The Council will see it, and our people will too."

    Morana exhaled slowly, then nodded, her smile blooming once more. "In that case, we should meet with the others later and discuss our next plans. I suppose we should return to Arcan soon."

    She knit her brows and Tarion tilted his head, waiting for her to speak whatever thought had come to her. "I guess I should've asked before but I never thought about it. What order will our names go in now that we're married? I assume normally I would become a Cadhael, but..."