Two Worlds; True Mates

Chapter 2

Falyn Pov

I stepped into the bathtub with a heavy sigh, my eyes closed as I relaxed into the hot water. It was amazing how far we’ve gone, the ability to turn the knobs and make hot water or cold water, and to unplug the drain and the water draining away without all the heavy lifting from before or waiting for the water to boil. I thought about Arlo’s words, and frowned. I couldn’t help but wonder what it was my parents wanted to talk to me about. Mother hasn’t been around much at all the past few years, spending late nights with the witches, training them and making sure they were ready for the tests she gave them, increasing their power and their knowledge, and learning her own with the new pages to her grimoire as well. I missed her, but I understand the importance of her calling, and while I worried that my mother was stretched too thin, I was proud of her for everything she’s accomplished over the years. I strived to be just like her, trying my best to help others, but to rule with a level mind and a strong sense of justice, just as she’s always done.

Knowing I couldn’t stay here for long with everyone waiting for me, I reluctantly sat up and grabbed the soap, gently scrubbing away the sweat and dirt from the training grounds as I absently tried to run all of the possible scenarios in my mind once more. I couldn’t help but wish Sage was here, despite the fact that he was happy where he was and I was happy he was where he wanted to be. I miss him so much, and it’s been hard the past five years without him constantly at my side worrying over every little thing and watching me like a hawk, but I had to admit him not being here was good for me as well. Without his constant protection and scrutiny, I really branched out, maturing gracefully, and adapting not only to my new title but my new life as well. Despite that, it’s been a while since the last time I had seen him, and I knew if he was here he’d already know what it was my mother and father wanted to talk to me about. He’d sneak into my room and brief me about it, so I was prepared for anything. Mother had been so busy with the young witches that she hasn’t had time to open a portal to Sage’s dimension lately, and unfortunately, he hasn’t even had a chance to meet Arlo or find out I have a mate, to begin with. I desperately want to tell him, to hug him close and make sure he approves of Arlo and cares for him the same way I do, and I want nothing more than to see my brother-in-law and their beautiful sweet Rune once more, but I don’t mind waiting until mother is ready. She was exhausted, training her magic day after day, and studying the scrolls late at night, her hand running through the papers as she translated the words into different languages only her magic could read. More than anything, I couldn’t wait for the time I could take over for her, giving her free space to do her training with the witches and the scrolls without needing the added pressure of the kingdom to run as well.

I wasn’t entirely surprised when I opened my bathroom door and saw Amelia sitting there casually on my bed with one of my books propped in her lap. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail on top of her head, her dark brown eyes were lowered to the book in her lap, and as I closed the door she looked up and gave me a soft smile, pulling a fan out of the pocket of her purple dress and flicking it expertly across her face. I sighed, leaning over and grabbing the fan from her fingers, throwing it across the room as she huffed at me. “Princess Falyn! That’s not proper etiquette at all.” She said with a frown.

I smiled, shaking my head at her with a shrug as I quickly grabbed a dress of my own and moved behind the changing screen, pulling off my towel and changing into the dress. “You don’t need the fan, Princess Amelia. It’s unnecessary. I’ll have you know, I’ve never even held a fan in front of my face before. It’s simply a waste of time trying to memorize all the ways to hold a fan, to flirt with it, to hide my expressions. If I want to flirt with a man I’ll use my words, not a few twirls of a fan.” I said as I stepped out of the screen, my back to her as a silent plea to help me with the buttons.

However, it wasn’t Amelia who stood up to help me, but another swift set of fingers against my back pulling tightly at the strings and slipping the buttons through the holes as I sucked in a deep breath, my hand pressed against my stomach to try and help with my breathing. “Not that I even use a fan, but you forget yourself, Falyn. Not all of us are engaged to the handsome Arlo.” I heard Amelia sigh and giggled, knowing she was rolling her eyes behind us as the sound of a page turning was heard once more.

I turned around and looked at my best friend with a soft smile, shaking my head at her. “Delphine, when did you get here? I thought you were back at the werewolf kingdom for a few days.” I said lovingly as I wrapped my arms around her neck and hugged her tightly. Delphine’s parents were emissaries to the werewolf kingdom, and she grew up moving back and forth between the kingdoms, spending all of her free time in the Dragon kingdom with me. Now that she was older and her parents retired, she took over the title of the emissary. But with Jaelyn having portals that helped move people from one place to another easily through the fairy realm, the title of emissary was mostly there for decoration. She only really went back and forth to the werewolf kingdom when she was visiting her family, and chose to live here in the Dragon kingdom with me instead, so we didn’t have to be apart anymore. Amelia and Delphine barely liked each other, both competing for my best friend title, despite the fact that they both held it. I had known Delphine most of my life, but Amelia and I have grown very close over the past five years, and both women hold a special place in my heart. Delphine had her long brown hair pulled into a low ponytail hanging loosely over her shoulder and against her chest, her brown eyes were shining as she smiled, kissing in the corner like crescent moons as she hugged me back tightly, rocking me side to side in her excitement. It didn’t matter if it had only been a few days, I missed her when she was gone and I was glad she was back again.

“Not too long ago, I’m not staying. Your parents said you had an important topic to discuss. I just knew you’d need help styling your hair and getting your dress on before I left.” She said as Amelia snorted, muttering something about being right there and perfectly capable of helping as I smiled at Delphine in a way to tell her she was being a brat, but I loved her anyway. “What do you think the topic is about? This is so exciting!” She said, standing behind the chair as I sat down.

Delphine’s nimble fingers slid through my tangles as she reached past me to grab the brush. “It’s something about Lord Arlo, from what I’ve heard, but other than that your parents are keeping their lips pressed tightly together on the subject,” Amelia said, flipping the page once more. I had a feeling she was barely even reading the book, mostly pretending she was doing something so she didn’t have to look at Delphine.

I snorted, rolling my eyes at them as Delphine turned around and stuck her tongue out at Amelia’s smug face, happy she knew something Delphine didn’t. “Ladies, please, I’m sure they’re waiting for me,” I said, holding up my hands as I tried to stifle a burst of laughter, both of them snapping their eyes to me with soft smiles of love that I wished they’d look at each other with, so all three of us could be best friends instead of them just glaring at each other all the time. As Delphine finished giving my hair a loose braid and draped it gracefully over my right shoulder, I sighed, standing up and stretching, trying not to breathe too deeply with this dress, and smiled. “Well, let’s get this over with,” I said with a soft chuckle, feeling slightly nervous.