Mora woke up to the pale light of dawn streaming through the open window. Her mind was a jumble of questions and emotions; all knotting together until she wasn't entirely sure whether she was awake or not. Rubbing her tired eyes, she shifted under the blankets and turned onto her side, looking at the sleeping --yet painfully beautiful-- face of Matthew. What had she gotten herself into last night? Sure, she did have growing feelings for him, but she still felt loyal to Averin, though it was painful to admit.

        Sighing sadly, she leaned forward and kissed Matthew on the forehead, then climbed out from under the blankets and hobbled toward the closet, silently closing the door behind her. Confusion racked her brain as she found herself dressing in a thin,  white nightgown-- which was a very suggestive style.

         When she left the closet, Mora peeked around the corner and saw Matthew standing at the balcony doors, stretching his arms from side to side. She gaped his muscled back, and even more so, when he turned to face her and smiled. Looking away, she pinned her eyes on the fireplace and bit her lip, imidiately feeling her skin flame.

          "Good morning, Mora," Matthew said, crossing the room and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. She found it hard not to moan as he nuzzled her head and nipped her ear.

          "Matthew," she breathed, turning in his embrace to face him.

            His smile turned to a grin, and he lifted his hands to both sides of her face. There was a hesitancy in his features before he leaned forward and kissed her softly. "Mora, there's something I want to tell you. It's important."

              "Yes?"

             "The first one is a question. What are we to each other now?"

Mora blushed furiously. "Whatever you choose." She chewed on her lower lip, watching as he mulled it over.

            "Alright. This will be a hidden courtship, then. The second is. . . well. . . " He looked away and bit his lip, hesitant. "I want you to know that if you tell anyone else --even Averin-- I will leave you and never come back."

       Mora's heart stopped its wild beating, replaced with panic that quickly filled her entire body, tears beginning to pool in her eyes. "I don't want you to leave me, ever. I want to be with you. I want to know your love." The words flew out of her mouth, but that didn't distract her from how right they sounded. "I want to fall in love with you."

           Matthew's expression softened, and his thumb gently stroked her cheek. Without saying a word, he turned around --making Mora instantly miss his warmth-- and crossed his arms, flexing his back.

         Mora found it hard to breath. She stepped back, a hand over her mouth, and shook her head. There were deep scars running through the muscle indentations-- it looked to be the work of a thick, sharp weapon. She tilted her head, realizing it was more the work of nails than a blade. A tear rolled down her cheek and dripped onto the thick carpet. She reached a tentative hand forward and slowly trailed a finger along the freshest mark. Ignoring Matthew's hiss of pain, she leaned forward and gently kissed the scar.

            "Julianne does that every time she thinks I have eyes for another woman. The one you touched was made the night she met you."

          Guilt washed over her so heavily that she had to step away. Had to squeeze her eyes shut and take deep, rasping breaths. "Why are you telling me this?"

           Matthew turned back to her and smiled sadly. "Because I trust you. Completely."

      Mora's heart stuttered. "What would happen if she found out about us now?" She tensed, bracing herself for his answer. Matthew cupped her face in his hands and forced her to look him in the eyes. His gleaming chocolate irises calmed her.

          "Well, I guess we better not get caught, then." They both smiled and leaned forward, resting their foreheads against each other. After a while Matthew said, "I have to go."

         "No," Mora whimpered, settling her head in the crook of his neck and wrapping her arms around his neck. "I don't want you to go. I want to stay like this forever."

       Matthew chuckled and pushed away, bending down until he was at eye level with her. "I'd like that too. But I have to continue the meeting with the king." Releasing her, he turned and picked up his shirt from the floor, buttoning it up and tucking it in his pants as he leaned in and kissed her once before leaving her alone in her chambers.

        Suddenly dizzy, Mora braced herself against the end of the mattress and held a hand to her forehead, instantly realizing that she was actually swooning. Averin had never made her swoon before. Sighing a love struck sigh, she threw herself onto the bed and pulled the blankets over her body, curling in a ball and falling fast asleep.

**************************

          Averin was on his way to speak with Mora. He had made his final decision, and needed to tell her. Now. Rounding the corner, he halted when someone opened her chambers door from the inside.

      Matthew slid out from the foyer, looking around as he closed the door before hurriedly walking in Averin's direction.

        Averin casually turned the corner, nearly running into Matthew. He had the presence of mind to take a step back, to further their distance.

          "Averin," the lord gasped, nearly throwing himself into a bow. "I'm sorry if I'm late for the meeting. I slept in and had to meet someone fore breakfast and-"

           "Matthew," Averin said coolly, "It's fine. I was just on my way to tell Mora something. But, seeing that we might be late, we should probably get going." He sauntered past Matthew and glanced at Mora's door when he passed it, then shook his head.

        What was Matthew doing there? Had she been the one he was meeting for breakfast. If so, it was fine by him. Mora did need friends in high places other than him; it would be good for her once she returned to Elder.

         His mind halted. It never occurred to him that she would go back to Elder. He had always imagined that he would make her his wife, then the queen of Terrin, along with taking back Elder. But, he had begun to think that she would rule from Terrin, but still take frequent trips to her country.

      The pain in his chest wouldn't leave. Not as he entered meeting. Not as he signed documents and oaths. And not even when he found himself at Mora's door afterward.

         Mustering the courage, Averin lifted his fist and knocked.

          No one answered.

          He sighed and tried opening the door. It worked, so he entered the foyer and walked into her bedroom. She was sleeping peacefully, one hand over her heart. His eyes instantly went to the monstrosity that was considered a nightgown.

        The thing was a sheer white silk with an extreme, plunging neckline. The garment only reached her mid-thigh, and slid higher as she shifted onto her side, her arms flaying out on each side until they were draped across the mattress.

       He smirked and prowled toward the mattress, sinking beside her sleeping form. His hand reached for hers, but stalled as someone opened the bedroom door.

       "Averin." He turned to see a startled Matthew who had thrown himself against the wall upon seeing the king. "What are you doing here?"

        Averin stood up, wincing as Mora made a strangled noise, and stalked toward Matthew. "I could ask you the same thing. I mean, it doesn't seem very decent that a married man is visiting a young woman in highly suggestive clothing."

      Matthew stepped forward until he was right in front of Averin. "And it's even more indecent for a king to do so. I thought she was still awake. I had no idea she would be wearing that."

         Averin --hating that he had to tilt his head back to look Matthew in the eye-- took one step closer, practically pressed against him. "Maybe she knew you were coming back and dressed like that for you!" He spat the last word with as much venom as possible, and relished in it as Matthew flinched, mixed emotions blazing in his brown eyes.

          "Maybe, if you weren't such a child and opened your eyes, you would see that she loves you and not me!"

           Averin gawked at his adviser. He must have struck a cord for the rage in those last six words.

           But the words appeared to hurt Matthew more than anything. The lord just turned on his heel, knowing he had won, and stalked out of the room, slamming her chambers door as he left.

             Averin's mind was instantly raging with questions that he could never answer. Why did Matthew snap like that? What was he doing there in the first place? Was he really just "visiting" her? Why did his own words pain him so much?

        He shook his head, suddenly dizzy, and left Mora's chambers.

**********************************

            Merriam had been going on and on about her new dress ever since they met in the city for lunch. She had told him everything there was to know about women, as well. Which made him embarrassed to admit that he knew practically nothing. He was twenty three years old!

           "Merriam," he hissed, holding his hands up in surrender.

              "What," she asked, her chocolate brown hair swishing as she turned her attention from a particularly handsome man to him.

           "Please, enough about the dress. Just, tell me more about how I can win Mora back."

           Merriam tapped the table a few times before calling a waiter and taking a cordial glass full of turquoise, syrupy thick liquid dusted with shimmering powder from his tray. Before he left, she snatched up another glass --this one a daffodil-yellow liqueur-- and handed it to Averin.

           "Who, exactly, are you winning her from?" She dipped her tongue into the liquid, coating it in the shimmering silver powder. A please expression crossed her face was she set the glass down on the table and stared at him, expectant.

          "I have reason to believe that she and Lord Matthew Crawts are lovers."

           Merriam's eyes went wide and she nearly tipped backward, but held herself steady by bracing her hands on the table. "What makes you think that?"

            "Well," Averin started, sipping at his liqueur, "he visited her for breakfast this morning. After the meeting, I went to speak with her, but found her sleeping in a very skimpy nightgown. Then Matthew walked in and nearly snapped my neck." He took another sip and sniffed sharply. "They've been spending lots of time together. And, even though Matthew is my age, and my closest friend, his attention always used to wander before he married that frigid bitch, Julianne."

          Merriam choked on her drink and covered her mouth. "Julianne is not a frigid bitch. She's really nice, once you really get to know her."

            "And how do you know this?"

            "She's my cousin." Merriam crossed her arms and squinted at Averin. "But, she can be pretty moody."

            Averin sighed and rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger. What was he going to do? If Matthew had a hold on her, even his charming wouldn't get her back. He would have to do something more intimate. Remind her how much he loved her.

            "I think you should just marry her and be done with it."

          Snapping out of his thoughts, Averin stared at Merriam and laughed humorlessly,  shaking his head. "I want her to be mine before I marry her."

             "Then bed her."

              "No."

              "I know it'll work."

               Averin puffed his cheeks in a long sigh. "Merriam, you don't get it. If Matthew already took her to his bed, she'll never come to mine. We grew up together. I know how fruitful his bed conquests have been." He closed his eyes, trying his best not to picture Mora in the arms of Matthew, the way they were the morning after his coronation.

            "Then just . . . let her come back on her own. You're probably the first person she ever loved. She'll probably revert back to you."

       Averin's heart plummeted as that dreaded picture filled his mind. He scrunched his eyes as tight as they could. "Fine."

***************************

              His arms slowly encircled her waist as they stood together on the stone portico of the abandoned temple in the forest. Mora breathed in Matthew's fresh scent, burying her face in his chest. It had all happened so fast, and in such little time. One moment she was off loving Averin, then she was sleeping beside Matthew. But she liked the change.

         Bending down, she picked up a small, smooth stone and turned it over in her hand. Runes were chiseled into the surface.  She dropped it and moved from Matthew's embrace, sitting on the stone floor and crossing her legs. She closed her eyes and breathed in deep.

           "What are you doing," Matthew asked, stepping around her and sitting before her. His took her hand in his and looked down expectantly at her.

          "I'm meditating," she said, opening one eye to look at him. He had closed his eyes and was now imitating her.

              "Why?"

               "I haven't done it in a long time." She inhaled deep and exhaled, smiling as she became completely calm. Her senses were alert, stronger now that she was drawing energy from a magic well beneath her.

              "They called this the Temple of Magic," Matthew said, breaking the silence. He seemed to be enjoying himself, at least.

              "I've heard of it before. My family took magic in high regard. The temples in Elder were made of gold and bronze and all types if precious metals and jewels."

             "And why was magic so important to you?"

             Mora's head snapped up to see Matthew staring at her expectantly. He was trying to probe for things about her, she could sense it. She opened her mouth, hesitated, closed it. Her eyes took in Matthew's, nothing but calm and happiness as he looked at her.

            "You can trust me, Mora."

            Sighing loudly, Mora closed her eyes and began explaining. "Magic runs deep in my family. My parents and sibling had it.." She paused, a stray tear rolling down her cheek from the memory of her family. "I have it." She glanced up at Matthew, reaching her magic out to him. "You have that power, too."

           Matthew's beautiful brown eyes sparked in fear, then understanding as he sent his own magic toward her, wrapping around her mind. In that moment, he showed her his memories.

        Memories of when he first discovered he had magic; of when he kept his mother from dying by using his new-found power to heal her. Of how when he first saw Julianne, he vowed to never use his magic around her.

     Another memory surfaced in her mind. Of their first kiss. How it felt like magic when, really, he was pouring magic into every kiss, filling her senses. And her, unknowingly, doing the same to him.

          Them how the soft kiss to his freshest wound made it turn to a scar, dissolving the scab that had formed over the cut.

         Mora flushed, her cheeks burning a dark crimson.

              "We are carranam," Matthew whispered into her ear.

               A shiver ran down her spine. Not from his breath fanning against her ear --which made her skin flame even more-- but at the ancient word he used.

         Carranam were two beings whose magic bonded them together in a deep way, often resulting in a soulful bond. She had never thought it would happen to her; that she would find her carranam. The thought made her want to explode with raw magic in pure joy.

              Realizing that she was grinning so widely, Mora pressed her lips together, but couldn't quite suppress the small smile that tilted the corners of her lips upward. Closing her eyes, she sent Matthew her thoughts, one in particular was about him. About how drawn to him she was. How much she wished he was drawn to her like that, too.

          Matthew instantly leaned forward and kissed her, fiercely. It was all she could do not to send her magic raging through the forest, burning up everything so it was just them. Her magic had a mind of its own, but she controlled it, filling each kiss to the brim with pure, magical passion.

          They both pulled away, nearly breathless.

           "That explains why I can't bear to be apart from you, ever since we first kissed," she said, panting. She reached a hand up and ran her fingers through his wavy hair. How is that possible? His hair is softer than his lips, she thought. Tilting his head down, she pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "We should probably get back."

****************************

             Averin looked out into the gardens, glaring daggers at nothing in particular. How could her heart just up and fall for another? Crossing his arms, he stared out toward the city. Though he couldn't hear it, he knew the streets would be busy; packed with people out for the day.

         Sighing loudly, he ran a hand through his hair and looked back down in the garden. Froze.

          Mora was practically running around the grounds.

          With him.

          Seething with anger, he imidiately turned from the sight and ran out of his room, exiting the castle and reaching the gardens in immortal speed. His feet stalled when Matthew ran up behind Mora and wrapped his arms around her, making her giggle and squeal as he spun in circles.

        Rage filling in the pit of his stomach, Averin hid behind a stone pillar and watched them.

           Once they stopped spinning, Mora threw herself from his hold and flew down the gravel path, Matthew following, his brown eyes bright with an emotion that Averin didn't recognize. The lord reached her quickly and grabbed her hand, holding it above her head and spinning her. They slowly eased into a silent waltz, one flawless step at a time.

        Averin's heart lurched as she spun away from Matthew, then snapped back into his arms. They stopped dancing, looking into each other's eyes. He watched as they both began laughing. Mora stepped away from him and smoothed her skirts, looking more like a queen than ever as she walked toward the castle entrance, Matthew looking more like a king than Averin ever could as he smoothed his clothes and followed, quite some paces behind her. 

          Averin stepped out from the pillar and pretended that he just walked out into the gardens. Turning the corner, he nearly slammed into Mora. She gasped and fell backward. Averin reached out and hooked an arm behind her, bringing her face close to his. Her eyes were glittering from the smile that just wouldn't leave her face.

         "Averin," she drawled, her voice making him grit his teeth. "What a pleasant surprise."

            Averin leaned forward and whispered in her ear, saying , "Come to me tonight. I must speak with you." When he pulled away, an expression resembling panic contorted her face. She looked back at Matthew, then turned back to Averin and nodded her head.

        "I had originally planned to have dinner with Lord Matthew tonight. In a friendly manner, in case you thought otherwise." She leaned further into him, her face a mere two inches from his. "But, I can't refuse the king." Patting his shoulder spitefully, she walked around him and into the castle, Matthew following closely behind.

*******************************

        Averin waited for what felt like forever before he Mora stepped into his bedroom, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Please, come sit," he said, waving for her to join him.

          She just stood there, slight panic shining in her turquoise eyes. "Alright." She slowly walked forward and lowered herself on the bed. Her gaze was pinned to the floor.

          "I'm sorry that I haven't been available to you for these past few weeks." He watched as she tensed.

        
"It doesn't matter."

         He stood and kneeled in front of her, placing his hands on either side of her. "No, it does. I love you, Mora, and always will." Her eyes were lined with silver as she finally looked at her.

         "You're going to marry Merriam," she shouted, covering her face with her hands as she began sobbing. "You're going to leave me because you'll marry her instead."

           "No," he whispered, starting to become panicked. He gripped her chin and made her look up at him. "I love you, and only you." Leaning forward, Averin brushed away a tear with his thumb and kissed her softly.

*********************************

          Mora's heart raced with both panic and happiness. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer and slowly kissed him back until they were both kissing the other fiercely.

           The magic in her blood died down, forcing her to imagine it was Matthew that she was kissing. That,  in her mind, they were now tugging at each other's clothing, kissing with all the wildness in the world. She snapped out of it when Averin pulled away, nearly gasping for air.

        She hid her frown at the fact it was Averin, and folded her hands in her lap. This night would be long if she talked to Averin the whole time. Despite the fact that she still cared about him, she didn't want him anymore. And that could endanger her country's chances of being freed.

             "Averin, I should really be getting back. It's late, and I was going to go into the city early tomorrow so. . ." She stood from his bed and made to leave the room.

           "Wait."

             She turned, her eyes burning. She had to get back to Matthew.

            "Wait," Averin said again. He reached for her, his hand landing on the bare skin of her waist as her shirt shifted when she turned back to him again. His cheeks instantly reddened.

          Mora found herself closing the distance between them, just as Averin leaned down and captured her lips with his. She kissed him with a much fervor as ever, her skin flaming at his possessive touch. When he finally pulled away, panic washed over her, and she fled the room.

         Her feet pounded against the marble floor as she ran. She could hear Averin thundering behind her, constantly calling her name. Out of desperation, she ran through the garden doors and into the woods. Turning back, just once, she saw Averin standing in the doorway, his shadow growing across the gravel path.

        Gritting her teeth, Mora pushed on, running until she couldn't see the castle. Running until she could no longer hear Averin calling to her. Running until she came upon the ancient temple. Her knees hit the ground and she released her magic, sending her remorse out into the world in waves of gold.

           Holding her head in her hands, Mora wept. Wept for her growing love of Matthew. Wept for her own desperation to leave. For the fact that Matthew could never truly be hers; not while he was married, anyway.

              A presence shadowed her and she scrunched her eyes shut, the carranam bond telling her that Matthew was near.

             "You sent a distress call," he said, sitting beside her and pulling her into his lap.

           She sobbed, burying her face in his chest. When the tears began to dry, she pulled back and looked up at Matthew. "Tell me your true name," she whispered. His true name, the one his magic was called by, was one she found absolutely beautiful.

           "Brangwen Shibaan. And yours?"

           "Mora Obea." She sighed and pressed her nose into his chest. "Brangwen. I like it."

           Matthew pressed his lips against her forehead. "Obea. Like the ancient, magic goddess. I like it."

         Calmed from hearing her carranam's true name, Mora laid on her side and rested her head on Matthew's crossed legs. "I think I'll call you Brangwen. At least, when it's just us."