Was that really Dadan? Had I really seen him holding me? He looked so worried. I didn’t want him to look worried.

  Those fragmented thoughts and memories wandered through my mind. Everything was so fuzzy. It was like watching a movie where you kept losing your spot. Had I been kidnapped by that horrible man before being stolen away by the wolf king? How long had it been since I left the heaven realm?

  What had happened to Dadan?

  That last thought stirred me to action. Curiosity and concern boiled up within me.

  And then it came. The delicious scent of chocolate. I twitched my nose as the sweet bouquet of sweets tempted me. My body began to tingle, and then a terrible ache followed. Was that horrible god torturing me again?

  That terrible thought made my eyes fly open. I sat up so fast that I crashed into someone seated beside me. His strong arms wrapped around me which was a definite plus when my weak body crumpled. My chin rested on his shoulder and a gentle scent of lilacs filled the air around me.

  I managed enough strength to turn my head and found myself staring into the relieved eyes of Lord Eastwei.

  A heavy blush accented my cheeks. I would have pulled myself from his hug but I didn’t have the strength.

  “You are finally awake.” His voice was so soft that I barely made out the words.

  I tried to speak but my parched lips couldn’t work right. Dadan turned his head to Puren who stood behind him. “Fetch some water.”

  Puren nodded and darted from the room. While he was gone, Dadan adjusted my pillows against the wall and leaned me in a seated position against them. He reluctantly released me but one of his hands slid down and settled atop mine. It was still there when Puren returned with a glass of water which Dadan accepted.

  “You have not had anything to eat in two weeks, so drink this very slowly,” he commanded me.

  My eyes widened but my throat was still too dry to make any exclamation. I gladly parted my chapped lips and he tipped the water into my mouth. The water felt refreshing on the way down but it splashed rather hard inside my empty stomach. I had only consumed half the glass when I felt an uncomfortable gurgling inside me which made a faint noise.

  Dadan drew the glass away and studied my face. I continued my blushing spree under his keen, handsome gaze. “How do you feel now?”

  I whetted my lips and managed a nod. “Better.”

  Dadan turned his head to catch the eye of his servant. “Inform Prince Yushir and Lady Arian that she is awake.”

  Puren bobbed his head and darted from the room to give the joyous news. Now I was alone with the imperious dragon lord.

  Dadan’s sharp eyes returned to me and there was a new emotion in those depths. He was curious and, dare I say, hopeful.

  “Speak sparingly if you must, but answer me truthfully: are you the cat I rescued from the land realm?”

  Ah, shit! I shouted at myself as a lump formed in my throat. Think, Anna, think! What won’t get you thrown into the dungeon? Or worse?

  Dadan grabbed something from the bed and held it up. It took me a moment to realize he held half of the cat chocolate bar I had made for him. “Did you make this for me when you left?”

  I swallowed the lump and did the only thing I could think of doing. I told the truth. “Yes,” I croaked out.

  “And you were that cat?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  I turned my face away. “Yes.”

  “Have you always been able to transform into a cat since you became a goddess?”

  I shook my head once. “I. . .don’t know. . .how. . .I did it.”

  Dadan set his hands in his lap as he studied me. I squirmed beneath his silent perusal and a few whispered words came out. “Will I. . .be punished?”

  The fire god’s gaze fell on the cat in his lap. He held it up and examined its sheen. “No.”

  My heart practically sank into my stomach from relief and I dropped my head against the pillows.

  “You will be schooled.”

  I jerked my head up and blinked at him. The effort made me slightly dizzy. “I what?”

  “I will teach you to control your magic,” Dadan explained as he lowered the cat treat and returned his attention to me. “You have far too much ability not to be trained, otherwise you may cause injury rather than heal it.”

  “Heal it?” I repeated as I cocked my head to one side. “Heal what?”

  He didn’t get a chance to respond as hurried footsteps stampeded down the hall. Arian appeared in the doorway, out of breath and her hair disheveled.

  “Anna!” she cried out as she flung herself at me, nearly knocking Dadan out of the way.

  Only his quick reflexes saved him from being shoved to the ground by her overexuberant arm before she wrapped me in a tight hug. I also noticed he hid the chocolate behind his back.

  I was glad I was already leaning back against the wall otherwise the impact would have been back-breaking.

  “You are finally awake!” she shouted as she snuggled me.

  I let out a huffing wheeze. “Y-yeah.”

  A pair of shadows blocked the doorway and I saw Yushir and Puren standing there. The prince smiled and inclined his head to me. I managed a tiny wave of my hand.

  “I believe Lady Roberts needs air, Lady Arian,” Yushir scolded her.

  Arian drew back and I drew in some air. She grasped my arms and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I am so glad you are finally awake! I worried you would not awaken at all!”

  I managed a small smile. “I’m fine. Just tired and hungry.”

  Yushir strolled up to the bedside and examined me. “You do appear slightly less pale than when I last saw you a few minutes ago.” I shrank beneath his attentions and the motion didn’t go unnoticed. “Is something the matter, Lady Roberts?”

  Arian’s eyes widened and she looked me over. “Are you feeling worse?”

  I cast a furtive glance up at my princely friend. “Your uncle. . .will he throw me in prison? I left without his permission. . .”

  Yushir smiled and shook his head. “No. I have spoken with my uncle about the good deed you performed on his behalf during the duel and he has decided to forgive your leaving without permission. You may now leave the heaven realm any time without asking his leave.”

  I blinked at him. “Good deed? On his behalf?”

  “You stopped King Wearg and my father from killing one another and healed their wounds,” Arain told me.

  My mouth dropped open. “I did what?” My heart skipped a beat when I recalled that harrowing time and I grasped Arian’s arms. “Then that means your dad and the wolf are alright?”

  Yushir chuckled as he toyed with his ring. “It appears you do not know your own strength, Lady Roberts, but your effort bore wondrous fruit that healed the two combatants. Your skills at healing are quite remarkable and would be a valuable asset to you and your friends.”

  “That is why I will train her to use her magic.”

  The room fell silent as everyone gaped at Dadan. Yushir was the first to shake off his shock. “You will train her, Dadan? But why?”

  “She has a great power. It should not be wasted on a less skilled teacher,” he insisted.

  Arian’s face fell. “But she will not start that immediately, will she?”

  “Only after she has improved,” Dadan promised.

  I grasped her arms and smiled at my friend. “So that’s plenty of time for you guys to tell me what’s been going on.”

  However, I couldn’t help but let my eyes flicker to Dadan. He stood impassively to the side but I detected an eager fire in his eyes. The mischievous god was planning something, and that something involved me.

  Little did we both know that someone else was planning something, and that would involve both of us and some life-threatening danger.