The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Chapter 796 796: Can't Fight These Feelings Anymore

"I wish you had told me sooner." Fort's brow furrowed as they sat on the edge of their bed,

"I didn't want to worry you…" Noble felt like a broken communicator.

Emotions were such a huge part of her that she almost instinctively tried to shield others from their negative effects. That was not to say that she manipulated the feelings of those around her. Noble simply didn't like to cause negative emotions when she didn't think they were necessary. Secondhand trauma was an issue not only for the other person but for Noble, who could feel their sadness or anger as well.

Fortunately, both Rain and Fort knew the brunette woman, sometimes better than she knew herself. They realized she would rather sacrifice herself than cause them harm, and her prudence often spared them pain.

So Fort was not angry. If anything, he was glad she came forward before her eyes betrayed that something was wrong.

"I know it's due to my recent adventure," Noble spoke carefully, even in her own home these days. "But I thought it would pass."

"And it's not?" Fort studied his wife's face.

Her Transcendence had made her more beautiful, certainly, but he could see deep lines of worry that this issue had caused.

"If anything, it's getting worse. Rain's emotions forcibly pulled me into the wilderness when she was on a hunt this morning—don't worry, she was fine!" Noble added quickly. "But her intensity of emotion was something my motherly instincts could not help but answer. And then there was this afternoon…"

Fort pressed his lips together. He was afraid to ask, but he didn't want to be left in the dark. "What happened this afternoon?"

"Blaze mentioned he saw me today at Abyssal Fire, but he didn't talk about the little incident I had there."

Noble went on to describe the blown-out candles and the door whose hinges she would have to replace.

"I know that if I had had any more essence left when things went sideways, I could have seriously hurt our kids. I have to find a way to get a handle on this and fast."

Fort tapped his finger on his knee before responding calmly. "That is problematic."

"You can drop the act, I can feel how worried you are. Your emotions affect me even more than Rain or the boys." Noble smiled faintly.

While his feelings were almost as strong as hers in her consciousness, she felt less pressure from them, probably because they mirrored her own concern.

"I am sorry. What can I do?" Fort did not like feeling helpless. His wife was hurting, and he would do anything to make her better.

"I have tried ignoring and resisting the pressure. That didn't work…" Noble rubbed her head. "Even now, I have wrapped the Soul Bloom around my core to dull the pain, but it's only a bandage on a gaping wound. The wrong pressure will strip me of that, and you know where I have to go tomorrow."

Fort nodded.

"The Awakened Academy."

"And this close to the Solstice, there are extra emotions in addition to all the normal teen angst. I'm not sure I'll be able to take it." Noble had been able to keep it together yesterday, but after today, she was less confident going forward.

"You can take the day off. I can too. We can go out in the wilderness away from everyone and give your mind a chance to recuperate. We could go now. Rain is here for the night, and she and the boys can take care of themselves."

Noble thought about the proposition for a moment. It had some merit. A vacation for her mind would be nice.

However, Noble shook her head.

"Is it because I influence you too much? If you need to go on your own, I understand." Fort quieted as the woman laid her hand on his arm.

"Spending time with you and only you sounds amazing, actually. I have always wanted a second honeymoon." Noble sighed, "but not like this. I want to be whole and wholly yours. I am pretty sure that going out there now would only delay my problem, not solve it. Who knows? I might like it too much and make those Hermit rumors become a reality."

"Let's not go overboard," Fort managed a smile. "If the white knuckling and struggling isn't working, and you don't want to get away, please tell me you have some other plan."

Noble hummed softly. "I want to try something Rain suggested."

"Oh?" Fort tilted his head, some of his worry exchanged for curiosity.

"I would like to try letting in the emotions." Noble felt Fort's feelings spike.

"All of them?!" Fort's words and sudden reaction made Noble shut her eyes.

"As far as my Ability will naturally reach, yes. So, all of Ravenheart." Noble winced.

Her husband took her hand.

"That's millions of people!"

"Trust me, my dear. I know. I have been fighting their influence all day." Noble gave him a weary grin.

"Oh, Bee!" Fort wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her close. "That is terrible."

The ambassador was a wonderful complement to his wife. Unless it involved his family, he seldom let his emotions carry him away. Fort preferred to rely on logic and reason. The thought of that many feelings weighing Noble down sounded like the worst kind of torture.

And she wanted to let them influence her more? Was she crazy?

No, Noble might have a lot of feelings, but her decisions were usually made after careful contemplation.

"This idea sounds dangerous. Are you sure?" Fort's forehead creased.

Noble thought for a moment. Was she certain? Not really.

But the alternative was worse.

"Yes. I want to try it. If I feel myself losing control, I will go to the waking world before anything happens. My dormitory can handle any damage better than our home, and the medical staff there should be able to help with any fallout." Noble had already thought this part through.

The Awakened Academy was the best choice if she was going to have a meltdown, but she hoped to avoid that awkward conversation if she could.

There was a decent possibility that she would be able to hide her Transendence from the battery of tests that would stem from her detonating an emotional bomb in her small living quarters on campus. But then the people there might worry that some new Awakened disease had come, or worse, that she was the source of some new Nightmare Creature parasite. No, that wouldn't be good. It would take some time to undo all the rumors.

Avoiding it altogether would be ideal.

"I'm with you. Whatever you need." Fort stood. "What do you need?"

"Just hold me close, at least at the beginning. I don't want to worry about floating away."

Noble pulled her husband beside her and felt his embrace tighten around her. She lay her head on his shoulder.

"I've got you." Fort breathed deeply.

Sitting beside him, Noble shut her eyes.

Then, in the quiet of their bedroom, Noble stopped fighting the millions of emotions pressing against her.

She lowered her defenses. She released the soul bloom.

She let the feelings in.