An interplay of strength and fragility supercharges the meeting #MMRomance #SciFiRomance #MFRWhooks #EnterTheEmpire

In a world where the boundaries of reality blur and the depths of emotion intertwine, Izzorah must face an unexpected fear. An aviary built for dragons surrounds him, a vast expanse that evokes both wonder and trepidation. At the side of Pietas, the familiar slips away. For Izzorah, the dizzying heights represent more than physical elevation; they reveal internal struggles. The interplay of strength and fragility blossoms within this pivotal theme.

Fading Boundaries

The idea of being so close to a drop-off inside the aviary set Izzorah's head spinning. "Um... Could we get out of here, please?"

"Good idea." Pietas touched Izzorah's arm.

The impact of suddenly being somewhere else with no transition jarred the mind.

"Did we just...portal?" The act itself had no feeling. "Where are we? Is this..." A sandy floor crunched beneath his feet. Hot sun beat down on him. "Are we outside?"

"It's the bottom of the aviary." Pietas pointed upward. "See that dark slash up there?"

Izzorah hazarded a peek. He swallowed. "Yeah."

"That's where we were."

Though the wall was black, the darker slash showed in the bright light. Izzorah went straight to the base of the wall, leaned back and slid down to the floor.

Pietas stooped before him. "What 's wrong?"

"Being up high or looking up..." He was revealing a weakness. Something Luc told him never to do around Pietas. "Made me dizzy for a minute."

"Fear of heights is one thing. You fear falling. Trust me, I understand that. I fell from up there not long ago."

"And you're not dead?"

"Actually, I was. Broke my hip. Fractured a leg and shattered an arm. I landed on my hip, but my elbow smashed into the ground first and tore my rotator cuff and labrum. I only remember my foot slipping and trying to grab for a handhold. Not something I ever want to do again." Pietas pushed himself up but seemed to lose his balance.

Izzorah leaped up and steadied him. "Sorry." He released him and stepped back. "I shouldn't have touched you."

Pietas gave him an odd look. "You don't have to apologize for helping me. I appreciate it." He flipped back his hair. "You'd think after millennia of knowing I can't stoop down like that without falling over I'd remember not to do it."

"You can't?"

"Technically, I can get down, but I can't get back up." Pietas brushed at his clothing. "You're not the only one who has a weakness. Although, truthfully, only a handful of people know about mine. Nanchonta. Cyken. Joss." He groaned. "Joss! Uurah told me she wanted to come in and I forgot." He tapped his bracelet. "Joss? Where are you?"

"Look up."

Pietas took a few steps outward, tilted his head back, and waved.

Izzorah knew better than to do the same motion. He'd like to keep his stomach in one piece, thank you.

"Back in a sec." Pietas portaled out of sight. Within seconds, he'd returned with a woman almost as tall as he was, even taller than Luc. She looked no older than twenty. Where Pietas had straight silver hair almost to his waist, she had golden waves to the shoulder. Something about this woman made you see her strength before her beauty, and recognize her power before you realized her friendliness.

The Felis word tzesar had been invented for women like her. It meant queen.

This was the woman Luc had fretted over him meeting. A telepath from whom no one could hide a single thought.