Page 45 of The Marked Princess

“You're a Shendri warrior by birth, my dear. All you lack is confidence.”

“But I can't even get Kella to come out on my own. I'm not sure she can even hear me. She's spoken to me a few times, once back home in the garden and again the night she first appeared in the forest... but now, there's nothing. You were the one who called her out back there, not me.”

“I can help you find your voice, if you wish.”

“You can?” Josselyn looked at Luxeos hopefully, leaning so far forward onto the table that it threatened to tip over.

“Indeed I can. And I shall.” Luxeos patted her hand. “But first, you need to rest. I can see your exhaustion in your eyes, my dear. Sleep now, and later we'll begin your training.”

Josselyn nodded, stifling a yawn. “I suppose I am a bit tired.”

“You can take my bed for now, until I've had a chance to prepare a pallet for you.”

“How long do you think I'll need to stay here?”

Luxeos shrugged. “As long as it takes for you and Kella to reestablish a connection.”

Josselyn bit her lip, looking out the window. “There were people I was staying with when I was taken, friends who'll be worried about me. Is there any way I can let them know I'm all right?”

“I'm afraid we're rather cut off from the rest of the kingdom here. There's a magical border keeping us hidden. The best thing you can do for your friends is to get some rest, so you can focus on your training. If you can find your voice and call out your beast at will, it will go a long way toward restoring your throne.”

“I guess I'll just have to train hard, then.” Josselyn wrapped the other woman in a tight hug. “Thank you, Luxeos, for everything. You saved my life back there.”

Luxeos gave her a comforting squeeze in return. “You would have figured something out eventually. You're a warrior, same as the celestial beast within you. You mustn't doubt yourself.”

Josselyn smiled crookedly.

“I'll do my best.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kella...

Can you hear me?

Sweat trickled down Josselyn's forehead, catching in the corner of her eye with a salty sting. She attempted to ignore it as she focused on her breathing and listened for a response. Nothing.

Kellaaaaaaa, where are youuuuuuu?

“This isn't working.”

Luxeos' voice spoke the words that had been whispering at the back of Josselyn's mind for the last four hours as she sat cross-legged on a boulder outside the cottage, meditating in an effort to hear her celestial beast's voice. This was the third day in a row she'd spent trying to communicate with her beast, to no avail.

“I'm sorry, Luxeos. Every time I try to clear my mind, something else pops in to it.” She growled with frustration.

Luxeos hummed, drumming her fingers on the stone's surface. “Perhaps there's another way.” She reached a hand up to pull Josselyn back down to the ground, before cupping Josselyn's face with her hands.

“It's been a long time since I last did this, so bear with me.”

She closed her eyes, applying gentle pressure to Josselyn's temples with her fingertips. Josselyn swayed, suddenly lightheaded, but managed to remain standing as Luxeos began crooning something in a foreign tongue. The pressure on her temples increased, and Luxeos' face became distorted with concentration. Moments later, she pulled her hands away as if burned, shaking them out before wiping her palms against her sides.

“Oh, honey.”

She gave Josselyn a concerned look. “It's hardly surprising that Kella can't hear you, what with that cacophony of emotions trying to break free inside there.” She patted Josselyn's cheek. “You've been through so much in such a short time, and yet you keep pressing on, focused on the goals you've set for yourself. It's admirable, dear, but, unfortunately, all of that repressed emotion is creating a wall between the two of you. Your voice will never reach Kella, nor hers you, if you don't sort yourself out, first.”

Josselyn gave her a hopeful look. “I don't suppose you have any special 'sorting out' magic, by any chance?”

“Well, I don't know about magic, but I do have a few ideas on how to get started...”