Page 48 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
I sighed, knowing I had to tell her the truth. "Because I'm an Aquafae, Bella. My father was a sea god, and that makes me one of the Aqualorians. And Cade... he's a Cinderyn. Our elements are too different. We can't be together like that I guess. I didn't know..." And the realization of me saying Cornelius' name meant I knew I had to spill the beans. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain. "Cornelius is an enchanted, old, wise, kinda quirky, magical tortoise. He's been helping me learn about my magic and my true heritage. He's been seeing me at night, and he's the reason I keep coming out into the Faewood."
Bella's eyes widened in disbelief. "A magical tortoise? That sounds... incredible."
I nodded. "It is. But it's also complicated. I just learned I'm one of them, and Cade and I... we... it was the most amazing thing in my life... ever... before it all came crumbling down. Now I feel like I'm all alone in a dark abyss."
Bella's expression turned to one of sympathy. "I'm so sorry, Ash. This is all so much to take in."
I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "I know. But I have to figure out a way to deal with it. I can't just give up."
Bella squeezed my hand reassuringly. "You're right. We'll figure this out together. But first, let's get you back to the house. You need to rest and recover."
I nodded, grateful for her support. As we made our way back to the house, I couldn't shake the feeling of loss and confusion that hung over me. The thought of not being able to be with Cade was painful, but I knew I had to focus on the bigger picture. I had to learn to control my magic and figure out a way to protect myself and those I cared about.
As we approached the house, I could see the smoke rising from the pile of bodies being incinerated by the dragons. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, a reminder of the danger that still lurked around us. The rancid smell of burning flesh drove us running to the house, slamming the door behind ourselves.
I felt I needed to talk with Bella, while Rosa watched with wicked curiosity. But it would have to wait, my lips quivered so hard I knew I wouldn't be able to speak through my gasping breaths.
I made my way to my room, feeling the exhaustion of the day catching up with me. As I lay down on the bed, I couldn't help but think about Cade, about the connection we shared and the pain of knowing we couldn't be together. But I also thought about Cornelius, about the magic within me and the potential it held. I knew I had to embrace it, to learn to control it and use it to protect those I cared about. I couldn't let the pain of my past or the challenges of my present define me. I had to be strong, to fight for what I believed in and for those I loved.
I thought about the thrill of his lips kissing my neck, the feeling of him inside of me, and agony of us being torn apart.
With that resolve, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me, but not before the gushing tears soaked my pillow.
CHAPTER 21
As the first rays of sunlight crept through the window, casting a soft glow over the room, I stirred from my fitful sleep. My head felt heavy, and my limbs ached—physical remnants of the emotional turmoil that had consumed me the night before. The sound of mighty dragons roaring in the distance pulled me from my reverie, and I pushed myself to get out of bed, even though a deep sadness weighed down on me. Cade had flown off so abruptly after our failed attempt at intimacy, leaving me with a profound sense of loss and confusion.
I dressed quickly, pulling on my pants and a loose shirt, tucking my unruly hair behind my ears. The thought of facing Cade after what had happened made a knot form in my stomach. But I knew I couldn’t hide away forever. With a deep breath, I stepped out of my room and into the main hall, where the scent of fresh bread and brewing tea filled the air.
Rosa was already bustling about the kitchen, her eyes flicking briefly to me before turning back to her work. Bella sat at the table, her hands wrapped around a mug of steaming tea. She looked up as I entered, her eyes filled with concern.
“Good morning, Ash,” she said , a small smile playing on her lips.
“Morning,” I replied, forcing a smile in return. I took a seat next to her, accepting the cup of tea Rosa offered me with a nod of thanks.
The sound of heavy footsteps outside drew our attention, and a moment later, Cade stepped into the house. He looked tired, his hair slightly disheveled, and his usual confident stride replaced with a weary slump. His eyes met mine briefly before he looked away, his jaw clenched tightly. Hunter followed, also looking as though no sleep had found him that night.
“Morning,” he said curtly, his voice distant.
“Morning,” I replied, feeling the tension between us like a physical force.
Rosa set a plate of food in front of Cade, and he ate in silence, his gaze fixed on his plate. I tried to focus on my own breakfast, but the knot in my stomach made it difficult to swallow.
“Where were you last night?” Bella asked, directly at Cade. Her tone was innocent enough, but I could see the underlying concern in her eyes.
Cade looked up briefly, his expression guarded. “Out. Taking care of things that needed handling.”
“Like what?” Bella pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Cade let out a sigh, setting down his fork with a clatter. “Things, Bella. Just things. You don’t need to worry about it.”
Bella opened her mouth to respond, but I cut in, wanting to defuse the tension. “ Leave it, Bella. It’s fine.”
Bella shot me a look, but I gave her a small nod, signaling to drop the subject. She sighed but complied, turning back to her own breakfast.
As we ate in awkward silence, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Cade. His brooding presence filled the room, making it hard to breathe. I could see the turmoil in his eyes, the internal struggle playing out behind his stoic façade. Despite everything, my heartached for him, yearning for the connection we had shared so briefly.
After a while, Cade stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back with a scrape. “I’m going out again,” he declared, his voice tinged with frustration.
