“It’s time for Natasha and Rose to be reunited,” I say, collapsing against my chair in the dining hall. I tip my head back, looking at the chandelier and trying to ignore the weakness threading through my body as Ran and Rose work to heal my broken body.

Hans nods, but Jenny frowns. “Are you certain you are ready for such a thing, dear? The library is quite far.”

Ran licks my cheek, and I feel the itching, burning sensation of a thousand needles as she and Rose focus harder on healing.

Rose especially gets a bit heal happy, and I bite my tongue to keep from squealing like a baby when my ribs burn with red-hot pain and I can feel something inside me as if a hand were stitching up my ribs. Not pleasant, I assure you.

Silver places a hand against my forehead. “She’s burning up.” His voice is all at once concerned and confused.

“I’m… fine!” I spit out through clenched teeth.

“Hans, get the nurse,” Jenny commands, sitting beside me and holding my hand.

Hans races out the door quicker than I’ve ever seen. He’s normally so calm and collected and if he runs… It's because he wants to and does it at a pace he can handle. This time he nearly collides with the doorframe.

“What’s happening, dear?” Jenny gets a wet washrag and places it against my forehead.

I sigh at the refreshing coolness against my skin. “Ran and Rose… Healing,” I get out, gasping when my ribs finally mend and Rose moves on to my leg. I tremble uncontrollably.

“It’s alright. It will pass soon,” Silver says, rubbing circles on my back and pushing the hair from my face.

I nod, wrapping my arms around my middle to hold myself together. I bite my lip.

“Can I take you to the sofa?” Silver asks, his voice soft, but it sounds loud to my ears.

I nod again, not remembering healing being this painful before.

Easy, Rider. I’m so sorry. We normally did this while you slept… but Rose has become impatient. I will take some of this for you.

The pain eases a bit, the parts that were unbearable receding to a bit more bearable level. I shake my head, a tear squeezing from the side of my eye. No, Ran. Don’t.

Too. Late, she hisses, and I look up to see her curled on the ground, her body shaking with every whimper.

Silver gently picks me up, and I gasp, hiding my head in his shoulder. “Would you rather be with Ran?”

I nod into his shoulder, and he eases me beside her.

I cling to her neck, and we shiver and whimper as one soul, one body, and one mind.

I don’t know how long it takes, but when at last the painful heat recedes and Rose sends a flush of coolness through my veins, I know it’s been a while.

Jenny pushes my hair from my forehead, kissing it. Her face is pale and drawn. “Are you alright now, my dear?” she asks, her voice just as weary as she looks.

I nod “I am.” My voice comes out a croak, and Silver hands me a cup.

The fresh water soothes my throat and my stomach, and it growls for more than water.

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Jenny and Silver share a look, and Hans returns, his eyes wide and flashing. “The nurse went home. What are we to do? There is no one to help—“

Jenny places a hand against his lips. “She’s fine, dear. Thank you.” She presses a gentle kiss against his lips.

She pulls back and Hans looks a bit dumbfounded. “What did I do for such a thing, my love?”

Jenny laughs, looking back at me. “Think you can handle it from here, dear?”

I nod, smiling broadly. “There’s a bedroom right down the hall. Don’t suppose you two could make use of it?”

Jenny squeals when Hans sweeps her into his arms. “Oh, I assure you, we’ll make use of it,” Hans says with a wink.

Jenny slaps his shoulder, trying not to laugh. “Hans, do not say things such as that!”

“Night, Guardian,” Hans says, retreating into the hallway and taking his wife up the stairs.

“Goodnight, dear! If you need anything, come find us,” Jenny calls back.

“I wouldn’t do that, were I you, minx. Just find us in the morning.”

“Hans!” Jenny gasps, and I hear a loud thwack.

I laugh, sitting back against Ran, who wraps around me like an oversized fur cloak. I hug her tail to my chest.

“They’re happy.” I jump at the voice, forgetting Silver was still around.

I roll my head over to him, finding him looking after the two love-dragons with a hint of longing on his face.

I turn my head back to the door, smiling. “They are. They deserve it.”

“So do you.” I turn my head to find him watching me with a lazy smile.

“I am happy,” I say, realizing it’s true.

He tweaks my nose, and I wiggle it like a rabbit.

He chuckles, standing up and offering me his hand. I stare at him.

“Are we going to take Rose back to her fairy?” he asks, leaving his hand out.

I let him pull me up, and he steadies my shoulders when my legs threaten to give.

“Are you alright?”

I look up to find his eyes not that far from my own, despite our height difference. His silver eyes watch me with intensity, searching my face for answers. He takes a hand from my shoulder and uses it to brush the hair from my forehead, his eyes never leaving my face.

My lips curl in a slight smile, and my heart pounds in my chest for reasons I don’t care to explore as tingles trail from where he touched my forehead all the way down my spine.

“For the first time… I can well and truly say I’m fine.”

He chuckles, leaning his forehead against mine. “You’ve no idea how happy I am to hear it, mea tigris.”

His scent is a bit of wild oak and stately pine mixed with citrus and warm fire. I relax, just letting him hold me for a short time.

But then I pull back, looking at the ground as I cough awkwardly.

“Mae tigris?” he mumbles.

“Hmm?” I ask, fiddling with one of Ran’s ears from where she lay on the ground, pretending to sleep. She’s definitely gotten bigger. Her ear comes up almost to my waist when she’s laying down.

He puts a finger under my chin, turning my face to look at him.

“Mae tigris, I will be there to support you when I can and as I can. If I ever do anything that makes you uncomfortable, you tell me, alright?”

My face grows warm. “Erm… ok.”

He kisses my forehead, giving me plenty of time to pull away had I wanted to.

“You deserve to be treated like a princess. And if I don’t, many will have my head on a pike.”

That startles a laugh out of me. It’s a breathy thing that doesn’t quite know whether it’s a laugh or a sigh.

“I—I need to return Rose,” I say, peeking up at him.

His eyes show understanding. “Alone?”

“Yeah.”

“I will likely be gone by the time you return. Is that alright?” His eyes look a little disappointed, but I’m thankful he’s not gonna fight this. I feel like this is something I need to take care of. Rose and Natasha helped me so much, and I don’t want to betray their trust by bringing in someone they don’t know.

Something inside me twists with disappointment that he’ll be gone, but I know this man must have a life, too.

“You need to live, Silver. Don’t let me hold you back,” I say, meaning every word.

“Sweet Aria, you have taught me the meaning of living. You do not hold me back. You push me forward into a new day that looks ever brighter than the last. Never lose your light, mae tigris. You are more precious than a diamond and wrought tougher than golden glass.”

I duck my head. My cheeks, that were cooling down, are once more hot and flaming.

He smiles, showing pearly white teeth, kisses my hand with a bow and takes his leave, looking back one more time to send me a wink.

The rogue.

Ran’s ears perk up and her nose twitches as she sniffs the air. She lifts her head, her tail slapping the rug with a dull thump as it wags. Were there anymore love in the air, I’d be a pony. I huff out a laugh through my embarrassment.

What am I to do with you, sister of mine? I say.

Her tail wags in a circle and her mouth parts in a wolven grin as her eyes sparkle. She yips and licks my face, covering me in slobber.

“Ran!” I scold, trying not to laugh as I wipe my face.

Just cooling you down, two-legs. You were gonna combust.

RAN!