Page 32

I t’d been four long, exhausting days since my first dinner with the Valwain, and I finally felt confident enough in my earth and plant wielding to say I had it under control.

I’d been training with Teagan and Chess from dawn to dusk every day, taking advantage of every moment we could since we had to start heading back to Cairnyl in a few days.

Apparently the officials back at The Haven were not very happy with the Valwain at that point in our stay.

Robyn let it slip that we were all supposed to be back by now, but he extended our time here for over an extra week in order to let me have time to train in peace.

At first I'd felt guilty, knowing that I messed up their plans. But Robyn reassured me that my training was of the utmost importance—not only so I could defend myself if need be, but so that I didn’t accidentally hurt anybody when we did return to Cairnyl.

For the past four days after training, I had attended dinner with the Valwain, then headed to bed, falling asleep soundly in the arms of my husband.

Honestly, it’d been the best sleep of my life.

I finally felt comfortable and safe with him, and I could tell he felt the same with me.

I could feel it. I didn’t know if I was worthy of him, but I was trying my best to be.

We decided to take things slow, but I’d been enjoying every spare moment I could get with him.

In terms of progress, I was able to call to the earth and plants at will now—sprouting different plants from the palm of my hand and pulling chunks of earth out of the ground, moving them around as I pleased.

Earth and plants came easy to me, as they felt like an extension of the Northern zirilium I already had some control over.

I found that it felt extremely satisfying to have this power over my abilities.

For so long, my zirilium had ruled over me.

It was comforting to be able to rule over them for a change.

It was difficult at first, having to disconnect my emotions from my zirilium.

I’d been able to call to air with ease, but even lightning was still tied to my feelings.

Teagan worked with me patiently until I could focus solely on the zirilium pumping through my veins, instead of getting distracted by my own emotions.

Once I was able to practice getting past those hurdles, I was able to apply them to my other zirilium. I even made it storm, thunder and lightning included, on command yesterday.

I pulled the front doors of the cabin open and stepped into the early morning light.

The sun had just risen, and I couldn’t help but let out a yawn.

I was definitely still not used to being awake this early, but Quinn insisted on getting as much out of the day as we could.

She was positive that crystal wielding wouldn’t come as easy to me as earth or plants, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t concern me to a degree.

I pushed away the worries trying to take over my mind, pulling my long hair into a ponytail. I flexed my hands afterwards, still not quite used to this new weight on them.

After this morning, I wasn’t sure anything could rattle my good mood. Even Quinn.

I slide gently out of bed, trying my best not to wake Robyn. He’s usually up with me by this time, but today he seems extra tired, so I try to let him rest.

Ultimately, I’m unsuccessful. I feel his hand wrap around mine, trying to tug me back into his arms.

“Come back,” he groans without opening his eyes.

I can’t stop the smile that lights up my face.

I squeeze his hand affectionately, then let go. “If I miss my first day of training with Quinn, I think she’d march right in here and drag me out by the ear. Please, let me keep my dignity.” I chuckle.

Robyn simply groans again in response, and I can tell he knows I’m right.

I head to the washroom, quickly getting dressed in dark gray training leathers that Quinn gave me, insisting I wear them today. They’re somewhat thicker than the usual leathers, but I’m not complaining.

It’s only while I’m getting dressed that I realize the necklace housing my moon stones is missing from my throat.

Trying not to panic, I pad back into the main room to ask Robyn. “Have you seen my necklace? I think it might have slipped off while I was sleeping and—”

I pause mid-sentence as I stare at Robyn, still shirtless from sleep and sitting on the edge of the bed facing me. His hair is unruly and sticking up in random places, and my heart lurches at the sight.

That’s when I notice the small, brown box he’s holding in his hands. It even has a small bow on top.

I stop in my tracks, standing just inside the room, and stare at the box a moment longer before meeting his eyes. I know he sees the question there, and feels my confusion in his chest. He stands up after a heartbeat and crosses the room to stand before me, then holds it out, offering it to me.

“I know Quinn is going to be tough on you these next few days, and I figured these would come in handy. Think of it as a training gift,” he says, and I can feel him beginning to get nervous.

His nervousness spreads throughout my chest, reflecting my own. “Are you sure? I mean, you didn’t have to. I really don’t deserve anything—” Robyn reaches a hand out, grabbing one of my own in his, eyes meeting mine.

“My love, if I could, I would capture the moon for you in a heartbeat. You deserve the world. And until I can get the moon down from the sky, these will have to do,” he says. I can hear in his voice how genuine he is. It’s in this moment the warm feeling returns in my chest.

Tears spring to my eyes as he speaks, and I nod, not trusting myself to speak as I slowly take the box from him. When I finally lift the cover off, I gasp as I realize where my necklace has gone.

Inside lays a pair of leather gloves, a shade of gray so dark they’re almost black. They’re fingerless, just covering the main part of the hand, knuckles, and wrist. And on each of the ten knuckles sits a different stone.

On the left glove sits five moon stones, each gleaming their usual silver-blue sheen.

I recognize the varying shapes of them as the same stones from my necklace.

The right glove, though, holds five sun stones—stones I’ve only seen on other people, like the bracelet with four stones Robyn wears, which matches Teagan’s.

They have a golden-yellow gleam to them, like tiny suns captured inside each one.

Robyn begins to get nervous as I stare at the gloves, taking in their beauty, and starts trying to explain himself.

“Teagan helped, and we both stayed up super late last night trying to make sure they were perfect for you. I actually picked out the sun stones myself, the same day those flowers sprouted from your tears. I’d been holding onto them ever since.

I wasn’t sure about taking the moon stones without your permission, but Teagan and I made sure we could make them back into your necklace again if you decide you don’t like them.

I considered making the gloves with new moon stones, but you’ve already adapted to these stones’ energy, and I didn’t want to—”

“Robyn,” I say softly.

I hear him inhale sharply. “Yes?” he asks, his voice just as gentle as mine. I can tell he’s anxious and worried, waiting for my approval.

“I love them,” I say finally and look up to meet his gaze, a smile stretching across my face. He searches my eyes, as though he’ll find me lying, but I know he can feel how genuine my words are. His relief when he realizes I truly do love them is palpable in my chest.

“Help me put them on?” I ask. Finally, his face breaks out into a smile matching my own, his dimple on full display. I can feel how proud of himself he is, and how excited he is that I accepted his gift. It makes my heart clench with so much emotion, I’m unsure if I can handle it all.

I clenched and unclenched my fists over and over, stretching out the fresh leather on my hands.

The weight of the gloves would take some getting used to, but they were so comfortable they were already starting to feel like a second skin.

Somehow, Teagan and Robyn were able to get my hand size exactly right.

It was odd, not feeling the weight of my necklace against my chest. I’d always been conditioned to hide what I am, so having my stones on full display for the world to see was almost…

terrifying. Yet in another way, it was also freeing.

I even stopped wearing my eye patch after the first dinner with the Valwain.

They all knew what I was anyways—there was no point in trying to hide it from them.

This whole trip had come with so many changes, I wasn’t sure what to do with it all.

I could still feel the warmth of Robyn’s fingers on my skin from where he clasped the gloves closed.

He had been more than happy to help me put them on.

I ran a finger over the same spots his skin touched mine.

I was so focused on thoughts of my husband I didn’t hear Quinn approach until she cleared her throat, making me jump.

In an instant, I was standing straighter, lifting my chin slightly and tucking my wings closer to my body. “Good morning,” I said after a beat of silence.

Quinn didn’t answer at first—she just observed. She looked me up and down intensely, like she was deliberately looking for flaws of some sort. When she didn’t find anything to critique me on, she simply nodded once, then said, “Let’s go.”

At that, she turned on her heel and walked away without another word.

I was so dumbfounded by the interaction, I had to jog to catch up to Quinn, who hadn’t stopped walking. I followed her as we walked off the cabin grounds and toward the forest, and I took this time to observe her, too.