Page 59 of To Fight and To Fold

Maybe he hadn't had a choice.

As they neared Carissa's room, the sound of voices echoed through the hallway.

All of their steps slowed as they left the stairs, spilling into the next hall.

In front of Carissa's door… was the prince himself. With a few guards.

"Your majesty?" Carissa asked, her voice cracking. "Have you found him? Great scales, please tell me he's alright. This isn't…"

Aaryn laid a hand on her shoulder. She didn't think this was a death notification. The prince looked far too relieved at her presence.

"Tethered Carissa, Tethered Aaryn," he tacked on upon seeing her. "Guard Runa," he added. "We've come to see Tethered Carissa."

"Is it about Rolim?" she asked.

He nodded sharply.

"Is he alive?" she begged, and stepped toward the prince.

He hesitated, then—"We believe so. And we believe he will return. That is why we need your help."

Aaryn studied them. This had to be about the druids. She wanted to demand that she be included, but what place was it of hers?

Carissa turned toward Aaryn and squeezed her hand. "It appears your kindness is not necessary, but thank you for offering it anyway."

Right, she wouldn't have to ask the prince about Rolim's location after all.

"Then I suppose I shall… retire," Aaryn said, attempting to catch the prince's gaze. It flicked once in her direction, dismissive, before turning his attention to Carissa.

It wasn't as if she could announce that she wanted to help with whatever was going on. It wasn't her place as a Tethered, and no one else was supposed to be aware of their training sessions, how close they'd become, outside his First Guard. Friends, surely?

So was he going to just let her walk away, knowing that curiosity would burn her up in the meantime?

Aaryn waited until the prince and his guard had left the hallway with Carissa, reassuring her that everything would be alright as they disappeared around the corner, their steps echoing through the stairwell.

"Tethered Aaryn?" Runa asked, and Aaryn snapped to attention. "Are you alright?"

She turned a fake-feeling smile toward her guard. "As alright as I ever am. Shall we return?"

In her room, Aaryn trailed to the window that overlooked the dragons’ caves, the training and grooming grounds. It was empty. The caves were dark. The dragons were likely asleep and their Tethered the same.

Except Carissa.

Meanwhile Aaryn was alone, in her tower, wondering and waiting.

She glanced up at the crescent moon and wondered…

What, exactly, was she waiting for?

Aaryn blinked giant eyes awake, huge talons stretching from the tips of her fingers, digging into the earth. Her heart began to race as she realized she was with Starspark. Or she was Starspark.

Oh, how she wished she could run her hands over his scales once more, scratch beneath his large chin. Instead, she felt his hum vibrate her own scaled torso.

"It's okay," a familiar voice cooed, and Aaryn's breath caught. "I told you I would try to find her, and I still intend to do so."

Thea.

She rounded Starspark, and Aaryn fixed her eyes on the familiar figure. The short hair still surprised her, unruly and jagged, framing her face, lips turned down.