The Claiming (Book 3)

Chapter 15

     Cera was awake but had yet to open her eyes. The warmth of laying in Brae's arms enveloped her and she knew she wasn't ready for their time to end. Brae brought his hand up from her shoulder and ran his fingers through the hair next to her ear. Smiling at his caress she knew what he would say before he broke their silence.

     "Refusing to open your eyes?"

     Cera nodded, grabbing on to him tighter and pulling herself closer. She began to relive the past two days alone with Brae. The moment they walked into the cave and under the tree, they had turned to each other and promised that they would not speak of what would happen until after their two days together. No Obram, no family members, no battle to the death. This time alone was for them and their bond. Brae held out his hand for Cera and smiled, leading her behind the tree and parting the leaves. The darkness behind the tree hid the entrance well and without the map, no one would ever be able to tell there was a passage. Cera held up her palm, molding it to the fireball that was resting in her hand. Flames licked upward toward the passage ceiling as they walked past the hanging leaves. They walked for less than a minute when they came to four separate passages that began with stairs. Following the map, they took the set that led away from the cave and found there was enough room for them to walk side by side up the winding stairwell. Cera was about to comment on how many steps were set into the mountain when they emerged into another hallway with four more passages. Brae stopped to look at the map but Cera couldn't help herself, "So I have to ask again, are the mountains here even solid or do they all have passageways and living spaces?"

     Brae laughed lightly, "I'm going to say yes to both. This is very detailed, but it looks as though all these passages lead to sections of the hideaway and I only have symbols to go by to guess at which room we want. Well, except for that passage directly across from where we entered. That's the one that would lead us here from Trill's."

     Cera smiled as her stomach performed numerous rapid somersaults, "And which room do we want?"

     Brae grabbed his stomach and smiled in return, "All of them." He leaned his face down toward Cera, "We are never going to gain control of this."

     Cera leaned into Brae, "Control is overrated."

     Before their lips met a door closed. They both looked up into Great Mother's face and quickly found their control.

     "Welcome to the main passage. I did not mean to intrude. I came to make sure nothing of mine that I wanted was left behind as this will be your new hideaway. I expected to be gone before you arrived, but I found myself lingering. I am very happy to pass it down to you, Brae, but am saddened by giving it up as well. Many happy memories are here for me. All the rooms are quite large and fully furnished. There are clothes there if you need them. I have left the family tree in the living space for you to view if you choose to."

     Brae stared at Great Mother as she stared at the ground, "You are welcome here any time. I would never ask you to stay away from the home you shared with Noa."

     Great Mother placed a hand on her cheek, but kept her eyes downcast, "I will never be able to enter here after today. Noa told me about the magic of this place once, how succession was implemented for this place alone. You are able to enter because you are Noa's heir and Cera with you because she is your intended. Now that you have crossed the threshold by the cave this place belongs to you and Cera. I do not know if that would have been different had Noa had siblings, but I don't believe that Crina or Tarn will be able to inhabit this space unless..." Great Mother paused.

     "Unless I die?" Brae didn't hesitate to finish her sentence.

     Great Mother took a deep breath before answering, "Yes. Lastly, all of these doors lead to each room listed on the map, but once inside you will be able to reach all of the other rooms as well without having to come into this main passage." She walked forward, passing Brae and Cera and then turned back, "Be safe. Cherish this time together and don't worry about control. The bond will never distract you from what you have to do, it is there to help and guide you for your entire lives together."