Double update! Because I didn't update last week and also I got 100 followers that one time. And also because I need to update so that it matches up with my writing plan.

1705 words

~~~~~

Crim was absolutely right about one thing: Ember was just subjecting himself to emotional torture when he signed up to be one of Ruby's guards.

He assumed that he was over her when he signed up, but he felt the force of their separation even deeper when he saw her again.

And now, nine months later, he was literally dying. He needed Ruby. He needed Cliff. They were his family, and he needed to be with them.

As a guard, that was not only possible, but he also spent a lot of time with both of them. He suspected that Hawk had something to do with it. Ember didn't know how much Hawk knew about their affair all those years ago, but he could see the look on his face when he assigned Ember to Ruby's personal detail.

Honestly, his job was pretty boring most of the time. After all, he only had to stand there unless something or someone was threatening them, which didn't happen often, since everyone loved Ruby.

That night, he was standing guard as Ruby put Cliff to sleep, as usual. It had been six months since the last time he had hinted at his feelings for her, on a night just like this.

One of the moons were full, and two of them were perfect crescents. Clouds concealed the twinkling stars beyond them.

When Ruby came out, she looked troubled.

"Anything wrong?" he inquired.

"It's-" She hesitated. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. You look worried."

"No, I'm fine," she insisted.

"I dated you for months. I think I can tell when you're feeling concerned about something."

"Can you stop bringing that up?" she asked, agitated.

"Why? It's not like it's embarrassing."

"If Cliff found out-"

"He's going to find out some day. You can't hide it from him forever."

"This is why I'm worried. Cliff has been asking about his origins more and more, and I don't know what to say to him!"

"The truth?" Ember suggested.

"And if he asks why we broke up?"

"The truth," he repeated.

"And if he asks why we never got back together?"

"Ruby, listen," he said, turning her towards him. "Cliff doesn't need to know everything. We broke up because of your mother. We stayed apart because of each other. That's all."

"How is he supposed to know that you didn't just leave because of him?"

"Why would I do that?"

"You and I know that you wouldn't do that, but he doesn't. He might think that it's his fault."

"It's not his fault. Just tell him. Or tell me to tell him."

"Then what would you do? Would you leave the palace again?"

"For the love of the moons, Ruby!" he exclaimed. "I only left because you and I were both in danger! That's all! I would do whatever you told me to do, whether it was leaving or staying. I'm your solider."

An uncomfortable silence passed as they both recalled that night years ago, when Ember claimed that he was hers. The humidity of the night air surrounded them, thickening the tension.

"Are you happy here?" Ruby finally asked.

"I'm happy wherever you are," he confessed.

"Why?" she whispered.

"Because you're mine," he said, reaching her. "Whether you know it or not."

Ember kissed her forehead and went to leave. He paused.

"The truth will come out at some point," he said.

~~~~~

"Mother, are you okay?" Cliff inquired, concerned.

"What?" Ruby asked, snapping out of her daze. She knew that she had been out of it for a few days now, but she couldn't help it. She was shocked at what happened that night.

"What's wrong?" Cliff repeated.

"Nothing," she said after a brief hesitation.

"But you're-"

"Nothing's wrong," she confirmed.

"Sure," he said doubtfully.

Ruby let her gaze wander around the room. It was clearly a mistake, since they immediately met Ember's eyes. She caught her breath at the smoldering glance.

"L-let's go, Cliff," she stammered.

"Go where?"

"Somewhere that's not here. It's suffocating in here, don't you think?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"How about the stream in the valley?" she suggested.

"Okay. Froggy," Cliff said, using his nickname for Ember. "Do you want to come?"

Ruby's heart stopped for a moment.

"If it's okay with Her Majesty," he replied.

"No!" she blurted hastily.

"Why not?" Cliff asked.

"I-" she paused. She couldn't tell Cliff that the entire reason she wanted to leave was to clear her brain from thoughts of Ember. "Just the two of us. Like old times," she begged.

"But it'll be fun with him there too! He says that he has a lot of stories to tell me."

"Cliff, if your mother doesn't want me to be there, I'll just stay back."

Both of them looked expectantly at her. Now, she was stuck. She would be distracted if she said yes, but she would look like the bad guy if she said no.

"He-" she swallowed. "He can come."

"Yes!" Cliff exclaimed.

~~~~~

Ruby perched herself on top of a boulder when they arrived. She dipped her tail in the cool water.

Cliff, on the other hand, jumped straight into the stream. He splashed around for a few minutes before inevitably getting bored and climbing out. Cliff walked up to Ember.

"Aren't you going to come?"

"Maybe later," he said. "Don't you want to go back?"

"It's no fun without someone to play with, and my mom doesn't want to join me."

"Don't you have any friends?"

"Yeah, but their parents never let them play with me."

"Too bad you don't have siblings. My sister was my best friend growing up."

"You have a sister?"

"Three, actually. Rose, Crimson, and Sunset. Rose is the oldest one. I think she's twenty right now. Sunset is the youngest. She would be six or seven. Crim is my twin. We're both seventeen. I actually live with her, her husband, and her son."

"Aren't you married?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

Ember was quiet for a moment before. "Can I tell you a story?" he asked.

"You too? I thought my mother was the only one who told stories instead of answering my questions."

"I was once in love with the greatest dragon ever. A few years ago, I was in the army during the war. That's where I first talked with her. She didn't really notice me much until I got hurt. I fell in love with her the moment she entered my tent to check up on how I was doing. And soon, she fell for me too. We had a great three or four months together until her family threatened my family and me. They didn't approve of me. I stayed with a friend in Possibility for a few years and finally came back when I couldn't stay away anymore. To my surprise, she had a dragonet. She said that she was over me and that her life didn't have any room for me anymore. We broke up once and for all."

"Who was she?" Cliff asked, wide-eyed.

"It's not important."

"Would I know her dragonet?"

"Probably a lot better than you think," Ember muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing," he covered up hastily.

"What does this have to do with you not being married?"

"It's only been nine months since I came back and broke up with her."

"So?"

"So she might be over me, but I'm not over her yet."

"Are you sure she's over you?"

"I think so," he said.

"We can ask my mom to talk to her," Cliff decided.

"No," Ruby said firmly.

"Why not? You don't even know who she is?"

"I do know her. I covered for them often when they sneaked out together. But I'm not asking her anything about this."

"Why?" Cliff asked plaintively.

"Maybe your mom doesn't know whether my ex is completely over me either," Ember said, staring at her intently.

"No," she said hastily. "I mean yes. I mean, I haven't thought about her in years?"

"Nice try," Ember said. "I really want to know. Can't you ask her?"

"Yeah, Froggy deserves a nice dragon to be with. Just like you, Mother."

Not someone like her, Ember thought. I want her.

"No. He can ask her himself if he's so curious."

"That would only work if she's willing to answer."

"You know what? I don't really care anymore." Cliff walked away, rolling his eyes.

"Cliff, why isn't your mother married?"

"A story a lot like yours. In army, in love, mad family, my father ran away, I hatched, yada yada yada..."

"Did he ever come back?"

"I don't know. Mother, did he?"

"He- he didn't come back," she lied.

"So why don't you marry someone new?"

"I don't need another dragon in my life. I have Cliff and-" she paused. "I have Cliff," she finished awkwardly.

"A secret boyfriend?"

"It was an accident. Don't read into it too much."

"You can't have a secret boyfriend!" Cliff exclaimed. "You can only be with someone who is good enough for you. And how am I supposed to tell if I don't even know him?"

"I don't have a secret anything."

"You have a secret identity."

"Tourmaline is not a secret anymore."

"Who's Tourmaline?" Cliff demanded.

"It's a long story," Ruby and Ember replied in unison.

"She was one of my best friend when we were growing up."

"My sister... kind of. I'll explain it to you later. The point is, she's not a secret."

"You have a secret. You know who-"

"Stop," she demanded. "Everything has a time."

"There is no such thing as infinite time."

"There is when you both are arguing," Cliff said, exasperated. He left them there in an intense staring contest.

"I'll tell him. Stop trying to make it happen!"

"You don't have a plan for that at all!" he accused.

"Leave me alone."

"Tell him the truth."

"I will."

"Tell me the truth."

"I- I have," she said, not sounding completely sure.

"Then maybe you should tell yourself the truth."