Page 67 of A Fate In Moonstone

“Um I’m not supposed to do anything that lets Verin know I’m not his daughter. Won’t he scent us?” I was worried about showing off my new powers on accident, but this wasn’t something I could control.

Desmire released me and shook his head.

“No. It’s a shifter thing, and more powerful ones. Werewolves, dragons, unicorns, owls have the gift of sight. Celestine and Magrithia are the only ones with those gifts in the owl lineage, and they won’t tell.”

I didn’t know who Magrithia was, but if he said they were safe, then I trusted him.

“But Verin mustn’t know. Which is why I came. You need to know what the fire and dragon feel like. Then you can remain under control until it’s time to strike.”

His silver eyes did their thing, and I wondered if my hazel irises did that too. How similar were we? Hopefully there was time to get to know each other.

“Fire is the element of change and passion. Emotions are the fuel and can easily be ruled by anger. You have to watch your emotions.”

I listened as Desmire showed me how to control the fire within. Which surprisingly came easily as he explained the connection. I was a fiery person anyways.

The dragon shifting, on the other hand, didn’t come so quickly.

My father explained that he wasn’t born with the gift, but the ancient dragon called the Onyx dragon gifted him a piece of his core after rescuing the beast.

So, it would likely take some time, but at least I knew what to expect.

I’d feel the power simmer, then explode. Bones would break, body would grow, and I’d turn into a great creature with scales, wings, and a tail. The appearance would be different than his. Perhaps mine would be blue to match my sapphire core.

Rune helped where he could and promised to keep training me in the woods until I got it.

Desmire wouldn’t be able to fly in often. Verin had spies everywhere.

“Thanks for today.” I gave him a hug and stood back just as Rune pulled me in, his arm across my waist.

“I’ll see you soon.” Desmire turned to make for the larger clearing for his dragon to fit through, then paused. “I love you, Sapphira. Be careful.”

He didn’t wait for me to say it back. Maybe he was scared I wouldn’t, and I didn’t even if he could hear me. Desmire shifted and shot into the sky.

And the bond in me ached, much like it did when my mother was gone for days.

“We need to get you back to the palace. It’s been a long day,” Rune said against my frizzy hair.

I wrapped my arm over his and squeezed.

“Yeah.” I’m sure there was a list of things to do in preparation for the wedding. I had to keep up appearances with Tor.

Plus, if I was going to figure out Verin’s plans, I needed to be around him.

Which reminded me…

Rune and I walked hand in hand through the woods. I updated him on everything mother said and what I’d figured out thus far.

His face got harder by the minute and I knew if he could, he’d steal me away from this palace.

But that wasn’t what I wanted.

Instead, he vowed to be there with me every step of the way with a kiss before parting at the waterfall.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“Wonderful aim, little gem.”

Today was hard.