Fidelis mulled over the disastrous dinner with Sera and her father. He still couldn't fathom why the man was so cruel to Sera yet worshipped the ground Amy walked on. After being around the sisters, he preferred Sera's affable and sincere personality. Amy was self-absorbed, conceited, and malicious. He couldn't stand people like that. They didn't care about others; only about themselves. As a future king, his Queen couldn't be that way. That's what made Sera perfect for the role. She had a giving spirit and was nurturing, but firm in her treatment of others. He wished that firmness would extend toward her abusive parent.
He sighed. He knew he wasn't being fair. He knew how hard it was for victims to overcome their abusers. He sensed a hidden core of strength in Sera. She just needed a push to help her draw it out. He glanced around his room, smiling at the pictures he had of him and Sera. He loved the photo technology of this world. It was cheaper and faster than having to sit for a painting.
He walked over to his dresser and picked up the first frame. He traced the outline of Sera's face. She had that shy smile that tugged at his heart when he saw it. This picture was taken next to their favorite tree. Whenever they sat underneath it, Sera seemed to glow. It was her favorite spot and he took her to it often. He put the picture down and sat on his bed. He contemplated calling her to check on her. He hadn't liked the way her father had left the restaurant. He'd felt the other man's anger and worried Mr. Holland would take it out on Sera.
Feeling restless, he left his room and headed for his father's study. He knocked and entered. His father was hard at work on case files. Fidelis plopped down on the couch.
"Did you need something, Son?"
"Not really. I just…I'm worried about Sera."
His father put down the paper in his hand and gave Fidelis his full attention. "This is more than the usual worry, right?"
Fidelis grimaced. He hadn't told his father about Mr. Holland's hurting Sera during the dinner. He ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated by the whole situation.
"He hurt her at the table."
His father's eyes widened and then narrowed. "When? You didn't say anything to me about it."
"He did it after I explained class rankings and how a GPA is calculated. He was the reason Sera fled to the bathroom."
"What did he do to her? I didn't see it while we were sitting down."
Fidelis clenched his fists as anger rose in him at his helplessness and failure to protect Sera at that moment. He growled, "He pinched her so hard that it left a large bruise on her right side. She also had bruises on her upper arms and left wrist when she entered the restaurant."
His father frowned. "I thought they were bruises on her arms but I wasn't sure. I didn't know about her wrist. And I definitely didn't know about him hurting her side. Her father doesn't seem to fear much. Maybe he thinks he's untouchable," his father mused. "That will be his downfall. Arrogant people are the easiest to topple because they have more they try to hide. Not to mention the enemies they make waiting to take them down."
Fidelis opened his mouth to agree but hissed in pain when his mark burned so deeply that it stole his breath and doubled him over. He crashed to the floor. This pain…Sera!
"Fidelis!"
Dimly he could hear his father's shout. His father rushed toward him but he couldn't understand his words over the roaring noise in his head. His body was on fire and his stomach throbbed with pain from a blow that had touched Sera. Suddenly, he felt his ribs crack and he cursed. The pain was rapidly followed by another blow to his stomach. He had to get to Sera!
A wave of dizziness hit and then he was vomiting. He couldn't control his body. Through it all, the mark radiated Sera's torment through his nerves, overloading his senses. Never had he experienced anything like this. He wanted it to stop. He wanted Sera to be alright.
Gradually the noise in his head receded and he glanced up at his father's worried face. Next to him was High Priest Michaelus. Fidelis could feel the flow of healing energy entering his body, easing the pain, and repairing the injuries.
"Your Highness! Can you hear me?"
"Yes," he managed to croak the one word before trying to sit up.
His father gently pushed him down. "Don't move, Son. Let Michaelus finish."
Obediently, Fidelis stayed still until all the pain was gone. He sat up and winced. His mark was still hot but it wasn't causing him pain. Did that mean Sera was okay now?
"Your Highness, does your mark hurt?"
He whipped his head to the side to look at Michaelus. "Not as much now. Thank you."
Michaelus and his father exchanged glances and he frowned. "What? Just tell me."
"Your Highness, I do believe your fated partner has magical abilities."
"What are you saying? Sera is human."
Michaelus held up his hand. "We know very little about this dimension. We know there is magic. Perhaps not as much as our old world. We know, too, that humans have psychics, fortune tellers, witches, and others. It isn't outside the realm of possibility that your mate might fall into one of those categories. It explains why you are experiencing reciprocal empathy with her."
Fidelis frowned. "I don't understand."
"In other words, you are taking on the injuries she's receiving. More like a mirror image of them. You'll get the pain along with the injuries. Has this happened to you before tonight?"
Fidelis shook his head. "No, this is a first. I have since the beginning felt Sera's emotions but never her injuries."
Michaelus nodded. "It's because your bond is growing stronger and the fact that both of you have magic is causing this drastic shift."
"So you mean, if she keeps getting hurt, her wounds will be mirrored on my body?"
"Yes. There is precedent in our history of fated mates that had this ability. It is rare but when it happens the pair tends to be highly compatible and have outstanding magical abilities."
Fidelis's mind swam with many thoughts at Michaelus's revelations. If he could take on Sera's wounds, he'd do it in a heartbeat. He wanted her to be happy, not in agony.
"I understand. I'm going to go call her. I have to find out what happened." Fidelis got to his feet. "Thank you for healing me."
Michaelus bowed. His father's piercing gaze assessed him before he nodded. Fidelis bowed to his father and hurried from the room. He needed to talk to Sera.