Chapter 538: New Magic
"He came back?"
Fyren’s face twisted in confusion, but I didn’t respond, already succumbing to exhaustion. As I drifted into darkness, I felt his arms tighten around me, lifting me from the ground. Then, everything went quiet.
The next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. There was a bed off to the side, the sheets a tangled mess, as though someone—likely me—had been pulled from them. The likely culprit was curled around me, and I couldn’t help but smile as I reached out, idly stroking Fable’s fur. His tail wrapped around me like a blanket, my body nestled against his side, head resting on his shoulder.
With him here, I could rest assured this was real life, not another vision meant to trap me. Somehow, I’d survived the night without one.
He stirred at my touch, one of his large, golden eyes slitting open to stare at me. A soft rumble filled his throat as I yawned and stretched. I felt surprisingly good; my mind was clear, and my body was well-rested. It had been so long that I’d nearly forgotten what it felt like to close my eyes and not immediately need to fight off sleep.
Surrounded by Fable’s warmth, I lingered a moment longer before disentangling myself from his tail and standing. The air was fresh and cool, sending a shiver through my body, but I just rubbed my arms vigorously and cast a ward.
Fable looked skeptical, curiosity emanating from our bond. All at once, the heat emanating from his body seemed to grow, and my hands instinctively twitched as if drawn toward him. I needed that heat. It would be so cozy and comfortable.
I groaned and rubbed my horn, forcing myself away. Fable’s surprise grew, and he raised a paw as though inviting me to lie back down.
"Oh, stop that," I giggled softly, flicking my hair behind my shoulder. It had grown wild from the night’s adventures and tangled sleep and would be in dire need of brushing. "Just because I got up on my own for once doesn’t mean anything."
He waited a moment longer, and, seeing that I truly intended to stay awake, rose as well.
"It’s not that unusual," I grumbled, feeling his judging gaze as I searched through my spatial ring. "I get up all the time on my own."