Page 47 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
Panic surged through me as I looked around, but the serene sound of the stream calmed me slightly. I glanced down to see my legs, glowing pale in the moonlight, caked with mud, but alive. Beneath the surface of the water, I felt an unusual warmth emanating from my skin, and slowly, I turned my gaze to see Cornelius standing at my side, his shell reflecting the shimmering water.
“What happened?” I managed to croak, my throat dry as parchment.
“Stay calm, Ash,” he said, his voice steady and soothing as always. “You were in shock and nearly burned up. I pulled you into the creek to save you from the heat.”
The memories flooded back—the intensity of our kiss, the feeling of him inside of me, on top of me… and then the consuming heat. I bolted upright, splashing water, and scanned the area for Cade. “Is he all right? Where is he?”
Cornelius gestured toward the fallen tree where we had been moments before. My heart raced at the thought of him, confused by what had transpired. I glanced over, and there he was, laying on the bank, white as a ghost, a look of shock plastered across his face.
“Ash…” His voice was strained, barely above a whisper. The sight of him like that sent a wave of relief washing over me.
“What’s wrong?” I called out, still unsure of the severity of what had happened. I labored up from the water, and stumbled toward him. But I could see it etched on his face: something had changed.
“You…” he began, looking up at me with bewildered blue eyes. “You’re an Aquafae?”
I nodded slowly. “I just learned of it. My father was an Aquafae, a sea lord.” The truth hung heavy in the air, thick with consequence.
The look on Cade’s face transformed from shock to something deeper, more troubling. “You’re one of the Aqualorians…” His voice trailed off, as if he were speaking to himself then.
"And you're a Cinderyn..." As I said the word it hit me like a brick in the mouth.
He nodded, still trying to shake away the cobwebs. "Yes I am..."
“Our species cannot mate,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, heavy and oppressive.
I felt a pang of sadness in my chest, a deep ache that seemed to radiate through my entire body. “What does that mean?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
Cade looked away, his jaw clenched tightly. “It means we can’t be together, Ash. Not like that. Our bodies are too different, too… incompatible.”
I felt a lump form in my throat, and I swallowed hard to keepthe tears at bay. “But we were just…” I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Cade nodded, his expression grim. “I know. But it can’t happen again. It’s too dangerous.”
I wanted to argue, to fight for what we had just shared, but I could see the resolve in his eyes. He had made up his mind, and there was no changing it. I felt a deep sense of loss, like a piece of me had been ripped away.
Just then, the unmistakable sound of mighty wings filled the air. The trees shook, and leaves scattered as Hunter and his dragon, Talonor, descended nearby. Talonor's stone-gray scales shimmered in the moonlight, and his wings created a powerful gust that whipped my hair around my face. I squinted against the wind as Talonor touched down with a thud that sent vibrations through the ground. Hunter dismounted quickly, his armor clanking with each movement. His expression was etched with concern as he took in the scene before him.
“What happened here?” he asked, his gaze flicking between Cade and me.
Cade stood up, his expression hardening. “Nothing. We were just… training.”
Hunter raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the explanation. “Training? Half-naked in the forest?”
Cade’s jaw tightened, and I could see the muscles in his neck tense. "Oh, fuck this. Let's burn the bodies and be over with this night."
I watched as Cade and Hunter mounted their dragons, the powerful beasts taking to the sky with a thunderous roar. I felt a profound sense of loss as I watched them disappear into the night, the silence of the forest closing in around me. Bella rushed to my side seemingly from out of nowhere, her eyes wide with concern.
"Ash, what happened? Are you all right?" Bella asked, her voice laced with worry.
I nodded, but the tears that welled up in my eyes betrayed my true feelings. "I'm fine, Bella. Just... just give me a moment."
Bella wrapped her arms around me, providing the comfort I desperately needed. I leaned into her embrace, letting the tears flow freely. The weight of what had just happened pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.
"What happened, Ash?" Bella asked , her voice filled with concern.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Cade and I... we were together. But then something happened. I burned up, and Cornelius had to pull me into the creek to help me after."
Bella's eyes widened in shock. "You were burning up? Why? And who's Cornelius?"
