Page 49 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
“Where are you going?” I asked, unable to keep the concern out of my voice.
Cade paused, his gaze flicking to me before he looked away. “There are questions that need answering. I can’t find them here in the forest.”
A flare of anger sparked within me, fueled by the pain of his rejection. “So you’re just going to leave again? Without any explanation?”
Cade’s jaw tightened, and he turned to face me, his eyes flashing. “I don’t owe you an explanation, Ash. You're my slave, nothing more. I should've never thought anything otherwise.”
His words stung like a physical blow, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. “Fine. Go. I don’t care anymore.”
With that, Cade turned on his heel and strode out of the house, leaving a heavy silence in his wake. Bella looked at me with sympathy, reaching out to take my hand.
“I’m sorry Ash.”
I shook my head, blinking back the tears. “It’s fine. I knew I couldn’t expect anything more from him.”
Rosa cleared the table quietly, her eyes flicking between Bella and me. She offered no words of comfort, but her silent presence was soothing nonetheless.
Bella squeezed my hand, her voice soft. “Let’s go back to your room. We can talk more there.”
I nodded, grateful for her support, and followed her back into my room, but not before Bella grabbed a bottle of red wine from a cabinet.
“You always know how to make things better,” I said with asmall smile, taking the bottle from her, popping the open cork and drinking from the bottle with a thick gulp.
She gave me a playful nudge. “That’s what best friends are for. Now, tell me everything.”
We settled onto the bed, each taking a long sip from the bottle. The wine was sweet and rich, a welcome distraction from the turmoil of my thoughts.
“So, tell me. What exactly happened between you and Cade last night?” Bella asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
I sighed, letting the memories wash over me. “We were together, Bella. In every way. It was… incredible. But then something happened. I burned up, like my body was on fire. Cornelius saved me, pulling me into the creek just in time.”
As Bella and I sat huddled together in my room, sharing a bottle of wine, I took a deep breath and recounted the events of the previous night. Bella’s eyes widened with curiosity and concern as she listened intently, taking occasional sips from her glass.
"It started in the forest," I began, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. "Cade found me there, and we… we kissed. It was like nothing I've ever felt before, Bella. His lips were soft, yet firm, and when he touched me, it was like an electric current running through my body."
Bella’s eyebrows rose as she took another sip of wine, hanging onto every word. "Go on," she urged.
"He undressed me, and then himself," I continued, feeling my cheeks flushing at the memory. "We were standing there, skin to skin, as the rain poured down on us. He kissed every part of me, Bella. It was like he was exploring my body, and I felt so alive, so desired."
Bella’s gaze never left my face, her eyes filled with intrigue and a hint of envy. "And then?" she prompted.
"He lifted me up and set me on a fallen tree," I said, my voice growing softer as she relived the moment. "He kissed me deeply,and then… he was inside me. It was intense, Bella. I’ve never felt anything like it. But as we continued, something happened. I could feel the heat building inside me, consuming me."
Bella leaned in closer, her grip tightening on the bottle. The sound of her sweat hand on the bottle caused a subtle squeal. "What do you mean, heat?"
"It was like my skin was on fire," I explained, her voice laced with fear. "I could see steam rising from my body, and the pain was unbearable. I tried to ignore it, to push through it, but it was too much."
Bella’s eyes widened in shock. "That’s terrible, Ash. What happened next?"
"Cade noticed something was wrong, and he started to pull away," I said, my voice trembling. "But it was too late. The heat intensified, and I passed out. The next thing I remember is waking up in the creek, with Cornelius standing next to me."
Bella shook her head in disbelief. "This is all so… overwhelming. I can't believe you went through all of that alone."
I offered a small smile. "I wasn’t alone, Bella. I had Cornelius, and I have you. You’re here for me now, and that means everything."
Bella wrapped her arms around me, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I’ll always be here for you, Ash. No matter what happens, we’ll face it together."
As Bella and I continued to share the bottle of wine, we delved deeper into our fears and hopes for the future. Bella expressed her worries about what would happen if the queen found them, and I shared her determination to learn to control my magic and protect those I loved.
