The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

"I wasn't the reason Rain is considering trying something that no one has ever done before." Noble looked at her husband in the lingering light of her Lucent Taper. "You are." 

"What do you mean?" Fort scrunched his brow. 

"Have you forgotten earlier today?" The brunette Master frowned. "Because I remember it quite clearly." 

"Oh," Fort tugged at the blanket, "That. Yes, I remember. I can't apologize enough for that. I was out of line to ever suggest you don't care. You care more than I'll ever be able to understand."

Noble felt his sincerity and she smiled softly. "I forgive you. You were having a panic attack. I had no idea that the memory of Seb still caused you such pain."

Because of his wife's depression, Fort had never gone through a proper mourning period for his eldest son. 

"Maybe you should visit a therapist." Noble suggested. "It couldn't hurt." 

"Maybe you're right. I'll look into it in the morning. I should never have snapped at you like that. You are my safe place." The husband held his wife's gaze. 

"Thank you. I love you." Noble sighed, wishing she could drop the matter. She continued, "But this conversation wasn't about me. It was about Rain. Whether or not you meant for Rain to hear them, your words had a profound effect on our daughter. She is terrified of hurting us. Of hurting you in particular." Noble felt Fort's emotions plummet. 

"She said that?" 

Nodding Noble patted her husband's arm. "She did." 

"I apologized and she said she was fine. Rain was so happy during the snowball fight and at dinner. She didn't show any sign of being upset anymore! I assumed she had let it go like she said..." Fort paused, considering his own words. "But teens don't really do that, do they?"

"Not usually, no." The lady graced him with a sad smile.

"So rather than insist on taking on a Nightmare, Rain jumped to a solution that she thought might make us both happy. She wants to try and achieve something that none in the Waking World has ever done, and all because of me?"

"That's about the size of it." Noble laid back on her pillow and looked at the canopy overhead.

"That sweet, crazy girl." The ambassador pressed his hands to his forehead. "Where did Rain even hear about natural Awakening? You said she went to talk to Sarai. Was it her idea?"

"No, I don't think so." Noble struggled to get comfortable.

'Is it getting hotter in here?'

"I know you didn't give her the idea," the father continued to think aloud.

"You are correct. I did not." Noble yawned. "It's been a long day. Goodnight!"

Dismissing the candle, the tired professor rolled over and pulled the covers up to her chin. She had just finished weighting it properly when a single word broke through the silence.

"Bee…"

The one word broke Noble a hundred different ways. She didn't like hiding things from her husband.

Was there a way to tell him what he needed to know without breaking her understanding with Sunny?

They had agreed that their conversation had not taken place and that to her Sunny didn't exist.

So what could she say?

"I know you didn't fall asleep that fast." Fort continued in the darkness.

"I didn't," she confirmed.

"And you know where Rain got this crazy idea about Awakening naturally?" The man pressed.

Noble shut her eyes tightly, her mind racing.

"You remember how I keep saying that Rain has this protection around her?"

"I do. You think it might be some sort of snake because Rain said something bit Cade."

Even in the darkness, Noble knew her husband's face scowled when he said the boy's name.

Fort sat up suddenly.

"Wait! Are you saying it's real?"

"What if I was?" Noble chewed her lip nervously.

"You are saying a serpent told Rain about natural Awakening."

"Not exactly. And I believe I called it a guardian." The professor could feel she was getting onto dangerous ground. "Before you ask any more questions, all I can tell you is that whatever Rain decides to do, she won't be alone."

"But!"

Noble found her husband's lips in the darkness. It was a little unfair, she had to admit, but the taste of his kiss pushed away any guilt she felt.

"You'll have to trust me. I'll tell you what I can when I can. For now, just be happy that Rain is keeping her options open and not jumping into a Nightmare like you feared."

"I don't want her getting in harm's way," the man admitted. "I want her safe forever."

"That's an unrealistic request," Noble clicked her tongue, "I think natural Awakening will run her into a fair share of danger as well." 

"That's not comforting," Fort frowned. "Isn't there any path that doesn't lead to her being reckless?" 

"I don't think so," Noble scratched her head, "but maybe you can get her to promise not to try anything too dangerous until she is at least eighteen."

Noble had asked the same thing of Sunny. Perhaps if both siblings promised, they might actually be able to manage it.

Fort calmed with her suggestion. 

"That's a good idea. It will give me a little more time to get my mind wrapped around the fact that she isn't my little girl. I will mention it when I go talk to her, which I suppose I should do sooner rather than later. Is she still awake?"

Noble felt for her daughter's emotions with her second sight. The teen was tossing in her bed.

Noble felt compassion for the young lady. Rain certainly had a lot on her mind.

"I don't think she will be sleeping much tonight."

"Then I will try and take one worry off of her mind. But first…"

Fort kissed his wife and then pressed his forehead against hers. "Tell me this: Natural Awakening—the process is safer than facing a Nightmare, right?"

Noble shrugged. "I've no idea what all it entails. You have heard everything I know."

"But Rain's Guardian knows?" Fort arched his brow.

"Nice try. You will not trick me into revealing something I shouldn't." Noble tapped her husband's nose.

"You already did," he leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "As long as Rain is safe, that is what matters."

He pushed the covers back from his side of the bed.

"I'll sort things out with our daughter and sit with her if she needs it."

"She is going to think you are still worried about her possible concussion," Noble summoned her Memory candle and handed it to her husband.

"And what if I am?" Fort challenged.

"Then don't ask her about the man who visited and almost destroyed Sarai's cafe today. You will think she is hallucinating." Noble chuckled.

"I'll keep that in mind." The ambassador paused. "Bee. Be honest with me. Are you worried about Rain?" 

The question encompassed more than just whether Noble was concerned about her daughter's head.

Noble smiled softly. "I always worry about her and for her—ever since the moment I met her. But right now with the way things are? I think Rain may be safer than she has ever been."

"That's good." Fort nodded. "I'll go speak to Rain. Who knows? Maybe that snake will talk back to me."

Noble opened her mouth to correct him and snapped it shut. She clicked her tongue.

"If you try talking to snakes, your daughter is going to think you are the one with a concussion."

"Fine, fine," Fort conceded. "I won't mention anything we spoke about."

"Thank you." Noble already knew this was the case, but it was still nice to hear it. "I love you."

"I love you more," Fort shot back, exiting the room before his wife could respond.

'You won't get away that easy!' Noble sent a wave of affection toward his retreating form.

As the light faded down the hall, she felt her gift be accepted.

Left with only the darkness as her companion, Noble lay down on her bed. Fort and Rain would work out their problem, or at the very least they would discuss it.

Maybe Fort would share about Seb or maybe he would focus on getting the promise out of Rain that Noble had suggested.

Whatever was going on in the other room, both people were calmly talking about it. So Noble felt comfortable releasing her consciousness to the embrace of sleep.

The future looked bright. Noble only hoped that the calm would last.

As usual, it wouldn't.