Chapter 59: 59-Contrasting lives
"Little one," Aeltharion rushed to his sister’s side on the bed. He observed her carefully, keeping Sseraphis’ warning in mind as he confirmed with hus eyes that she was breathing and seemed to be I’m recovery.
He took Aenyra’s hand in his, a heavy weight lifting off of his chest as he glanced at her pale complexion, knowing that she was going to be alright.
"You had me worried sick there for a moment. I thought that you’d kick the bucket before I did, and the thought scared me," he expressed.
Aenyra’s fingers twitched. Aeltharion sighed, relief washing over him. "Oh, I thank the heavens that you called Sseraphis in time, and he was able to save you without any complications."
Hearing measured footsteps behind him. He twirled his head around and spotted Sheana coming in. She walked timidly as though scared and hesitant.
"Come closer. I don’t think she can bite," he flashed her the friendliest smile he could muster.
Sheana found courage in Aeltharion’s smile and walked over. Unlike Sseraphis, who was guarded and mean to her, Aeltharion offered her warmth that made her feel it was alright to be herself, to feel what she felt and to fancy Aenyra.
His warmth was the kind that she had never received from anyone. Not her father, not her indifferent sister, not the beasts around her and certainly not Aenyra.
Once again, she didn’t know what to do or how to act. She was well adept on how to act against enemies, her cunning father, indifferent sister, and irrelevant beasts, but nothing of her lessons taught her how to act against kindness.
"Why are you standing there," Aeltharion lifted his body up a bit, reached out, and grabbed Sheana’s hand before gently pulling her to sit on the bed next to his sister. "You won’t have the chance to be this close to her when she wakes up, so I suggest you enjoy this feeling while you can."
"Aren’t you worried about my intentions towards your sister?" Sheana asked, playing with the fabric of her gown, completely nervous about Aeltharion’s possible answer to her question.
When silence followed her question, Sheana panicked. She didn’t want to believe that he changed his mind that quickly or that his earlier kindness had been fake.
So she veered around to confront him, only to find Aeltharion leaning down with his head resting on his sister’s body as he slept off.
Sheana remembered that he was sick and dying and figured he needed his rest, especially after the hectic hours of forcing himself to stay awake as he worried for Aenyra’s safety.
She smiled, her heart going out for the sovereign. She regretted her earlier remark about Aeltharion when the dragon saved them from the illusion. She felt they were misplaced.
Aeltharion was a kind soul, a warm dragon, and the first beast to ever treat her softly. "No wonder Aenyra defends you so bravely," she said, her eyes shining as tears welled up in her eyes. "Why couldn’t I have been fortunate to have a brother like you?"
She turned her attention back to Aenyra, her heart full of envy. Aenyra had everything she could only ever wish for in her dreams; a powerful presence that commanded attention and respect wherever she goes, a loving family, a protective brother and a caring, good with medicine brother-in-law who proved that he can do anything to keep her safe.
The life Aenyra had was in contrast to the life Sheana lived. Even though they were both princesses from powerful bloodlines and were powerful beasts, they were different in every way.
Despite growing up around family that loved and supported her, Aenyra grew up cold and isolated while she grew up with a father who tries to kill her evety second of every day and she turned out warm and social. The irony didn’t elude her.
"What would it look like if you fell in love?" She wondered.
Would Aenyra be as kind and warm as her brother Aeltharion? Would she be as possessive and supportive as Sseraphis? Or would she be playful and scared of commitment like Nytherael?
Sheana knew the answer she wanted. She would love for Aenyra to be as loving and warm as Aeltharion, when it came to Sseraphis, she hoped thar Aenyra would keep his possessive nature, his caring personality and his ability to treat all kinds of wounds and poisons, because with her father after her life, goodness knew she needs a full time physician by his side.
As for Nytherael, she hoped Aenyra would take from him his ability to spend shards on her, play along with her wild side, and act as close as partners in crime.
"I want you to get better soon," she held her hand, squeezing gently. She activated her vital essence and sent out her inner flame to Aenyra through their locked palms.
The flame travelled through Aenyra’s veins and warmed her whole body. The temperature was just right. Enough to warm her up without inflicting ant or making her uncomfortable.
Sheana felt whole. For once, she found a use for her inner flame that made her feel like being born a phoenix was a blessing and not a curse.
"Wake up soon. I miss you fighting with me so much, Aenyra."
Aeltharion opened her eyes, his face smiling. He had pretended to sleep to see how Sheana would treat her sister when she thought she wasn’t being watched, and she surprised him.
’For how long are you going to keep pretending to sleep?’ He asked his sister through their dragon link in their minds.
’Until she leaves,’ Aenyra replied.
She was lost on how to open her eyes and let known that she had regained consciousness. Sheana was sitting close, holding her hand while flame sharing with her like it was the most natural thing to do.
She wondered if Sheana knew how intimate flame sharing between beasts was and the implications behind it. It reminded her of the burning kiss that Sheana planted on her lips when they were stuck in the illusion by the hut.
Aenyra felt even more hesitant to wake up. She hoped sleeping would take away the strange feeling twisting in her heart and make Sheana leave.
And the question, "What would it look like if you feel in love?" Aenyra was sinking in the hollow of confusion.
’She’s not going to go away just because you’re too scared to face her,’ Aeltharion told her.
