Training For War: The Bond Once Severed Book 2 (Updating)

Transitions

Natalia stood at the edge of the Vale, her eyes fixed on the horizon where the Obogor Mountains kissed the sky. The Vale was peaceful, lush with life, and brimming with elemental energy. But today, she felt no peace. The power inside her, once a source of awe and possibility, now felt like a weight she could no longer bear.

The ground beneath her feet thrummed with energy, the earth responding to her every emotion, but Natalia struggled to contain it. Her powers were surging, harder to control with each passing day. And it wasn't just the magic. The Vale, which had once seemed like a sanctuary, now felt suffocating. The air was too thick, the mountains too close, and the weight of expectation pressed down on her shoulders.

How many months had it been? Natalia rubbed her growing belly and sighed. It had been long enough for her to feel the child's movement, long enough for her to wonder if she had chosen this path or if it had chosen her.

Her thoughts drifted to Raja, her bond mate, the father of her child—her anchor since arriving in the Vale. He had been her constant, her support through everything, and yet, she felt the tension growing between them. The bond they shared was still there, but something had shifted. How long had it been since they had shared a bed? How long had it been since she had desired it?

Natalia exhaled, the sound escaping her lips soft but heavy with the weight of unsaid words. She knew Raja was nearby, probably watching her, as he often did when she trained. His concern was palpable, but lately, it had been tinged with frustration—an unspoken fear that he was losing her, or worse, that he couldn't help her.

"Natalia," came his voice, low and steady, as if summoned by her thoughts.

She turned to find him standing at the edge of the clearing, his dark eyes fixed on her. He looked as he always did, solid and sure, but something in his expression mirrored her doubts. He had come to the Vale with her, but she could see it in his posture—the worry, the strain of trying to support her when he was still searching for his place in this new world of elemental magic.

"Raja," she said quietly, acknowledging him with a slight nod, though she did not move closer. There was a time when she would have, but now, even standing beside him felt different. The bond between them, once so solid, now felt stretched thin.

"You're pushing yourself too hard," Raja said, his voice carrying the familiar note of concern. "You need to rest."

Natalia sighed, looking away from him, back toward the mountains. "I can't rest, Raja. If I don't get this under control, I'll never—" Her voice trailed off, frustration bubbling up inside her. The words felt inadequate to describe the storm raging within her. "You know what's at stake."

"I do," he said, stepping closer, though there was a caution in his movements as if he wasn't sure how close to get. "But you are not alone."

She wanted to believe him, but deep down, she wasn't sure anymore. Since she had lost everything, she had grown strong and relied on herself. But this... this was different. Her powers were growing, becoming more than she knew how to handle, and the fear that she might lose control terrified her more than anything.

"I am not alone," she reiterated, her voice barely above a whisper, more for herself than him.

Raja's hand reached out, brushing against her arm, and for a moment, the warmth of his touch anchored her. But only for a moment. She stepped away, not because she wanted to, but because she didn't know what else to do. The distance between them wasn't just physical anymore.

"Natalia," he said again, his voice softer now, almost pleading.

She looked at him then, really looked at him, and saw the sincerity in his eyes. He had been there for her through everything. He was the father of the child, her bond mate, the one person who had seen her at her worst and still stood by her side. But there was also a weariness in him now, a doubt that mirrored her own.