Chapter 2

I stared blankly into Ido's eyes. I had known his feelings all along and I had been preparing for these words from him but now that he said them and everything was made real I was feeling a little overwhelmed. With what I assume was a great force of will he forced his body to raise, away from me and away from the temptation of the all consuming passion of the moment. He did not wait for any response from me, not that I was sure how to fully respond. I knew that I was feeling a mix of emotions inside, one of which was burning at me, but I did not know how to show it or even how I felt about it. Ido was a murderer, a traitor, and a liar. He manipulated whenever he could and he only sought power for himself. Yet, the man that stood before me now, muscles shaking in small tremors from the lasting effects of love, seemed completely different. He had changed, a true change. I could feel it in his loving touch, see it in his eyes, and...a strange sensation hit me. I could feel it in his Hua as well, but how? At the moment we were not bound in power, the energy world, or even in physical sensation. So how was I sensing the flow of his Hua course through me, steady and strong? This was not the residue effect I typically felt after such a personal connection, this felt like a lasting connection, as if a part of his Hua was forever bound inside of me. Ido was staring at me as I pondered and i realized he was preparing to leave, for both our sakes.

"Ido wait." I said softly.

"Eona what is it?" he said just as softly. "I really must leave now or I will not be able to hold back."

"I need to see something first."

With a return to his normal devilishly quick humor Ido extended his arms outward in a showing manner. "You are free to look at anything you have not already seen but I can assure you that there should be no disappointment. But I must also warn that I cannot take much more and if you try to expose me I won't hold back." At that he flashed a radiant smile and a look of impish satisfaction.

Containing a rush of laughter I looked him squarely in the eyes. "Please, what I am referring to is of a more serious matter. I am not concerned with that."

"You are good not to be concerned." he winked. Then let the humor slide into a more serious tone. "Ok my dear, what is troubling you?"

"Do you feel anything...different?" I asked him.

Ido gave me a questioning look then closed his eyes. He was still for a moment, and with an effort he returned his breathing to a normal flow. Then his body gained a slight edge of rigidness. With a snap his eyes flung open and he looked at me with an expression of awe. He had felt what I was sensing now.

Bracing myself I nodded at him then closed my eyes. I relaxed my body and cleared my thinking. Within too steady breathes I was out of my earthly body and into the energy world. It was a risk I was taking; the ten bereft dragons could spring at any moment. Tears welled to my eyes as I felt joy leap through me when I saw the majestic Mirror dragon crouched high above. Her infinite eyes met mine and I heard her call, the sweet cinnamon bond luring me to her power. She needed me. Only I could save her and the others from their slow deterioration. A wave of selfishness washed over me because I did not want to lose her. But I did not have time to ponder that. With a cry I tore my gaze away from her beauty to look across at the glowing energy body of Ido. I could see his Hua spinning at all seven points. I focused my attention on his green heart point which for so long had been small and lacking. To my astonishment however, the green swirling mass had not only doubled in size but had also become so bright that it now dulled the brilliance of his other Hua points. This was the change I had felt in Ido. And only one explanation made sense for the miraculous healing...his love for me had healed his broken heart point and changed the man completely. Ido was no longer the same man he was. The change was true and pure and the old ways of who he was had been washed clean. The truth stirred within me and caused another rush of emotions to build. But I had to focus. There was something else that I had to see and with sudden clarity it came into sight. A tiny, gold thread of Hua was now bound to Ido's heart point. I followed it from Ido's green Hua across the distance between us and realized that it then ended at my very own heart point. We were bound to each other, a thin trace of our Hua locked at each other's heart points. This however was not the temporary link that formed when I compelled Ido or Rikko or even when I communed with my dragon. No, this was a permanent, swelling connection that linked us together now and forever in love. I saw Ido raise his earthly hand to rest it upon the heart point in his chest. He sensed the link as well and knew its meaning. Suddenly I felt the heavy pressure of the ten begin to build on me. Becoming fearful I gave one last look at the wondrous Mirror dragon. Our eyes met for a moment and then I retched myself back into my earthly body.

Ido looked at me astonished. "Did you...see it?"

Knowing that if I confirmed I was admitting to much more I looked him deep in the eyes and replied, "Yes, I saw our link."

"And does it mean what I think it means?" He asked, taking a step closer to me.

I was still unready to confess it aloud. I looked at him, tears threatening to break forth and then I shook all over and looked away. The action and my silence had hurt him, I could tell.

"Alright Eona, I understand. I had better go now. If your Kygo finds me here we are both dead. I have over stayed and we both need to think" A sudden sadness and hardness appeared in Ido's eyes and his statement felt cold and pointed.

I had hurt him. But I could not help it, I just wasn't ready. He walked to the door but stopped his hand just above the knob. Without turning back to me he whispered, "Goodnight, Eona. May your dreams be pleasant and your rest fulfilling."

Before I could return the goodbye Ido opened the door and stepped through it. I was suddenly left alone feeling sad and empty. An ache grew in my heart, and the tears I had been holding back spilled forth. I pulled my legs close to my body and wrapped my arms around them. Rocking slightly, I cried until it was early morning. So much had changed and my emotions no longer felt my own. I thought of Ido, and Kygo and my confusion only intensified. Kinra help me! I thought. For the time being I had no clear answer and I resigned myself to let go of all that was troubling me. I meditated for a while, rejoicing in the simplicity of my inner being. I focused on the flow of my Hua and steadied my breathing till I relaxed. Finally exhausted, I laid down and fell asleep. The shallow rest I got was troubled and unfulfilling unlike Ido's wish. Before I knew it, the warm glow of pre-dawn washed over my face and I was awake again.

A/N: That is what I have so far. I really hope you liked it! If you do like it please review for encouragement. I am already working on a chapter 3 but I am struggling with how I want it to go. Thank you so much!