Page 50 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
"We can’t let the past define us, Bella," I said, my voice filled with resolve. "We have to fight for our future, for our freedom. I won’t let anyone take that away from us."
Bella nodded, her eyes filled with admiration. "You’re right, Ash. We’ll find a way to overcome these challenges together. Wealways have." She left the room after giving me a soft kiss on the cheek and a squeeze of my shoulders. The soothing light of her arms calmed me before she left. The warmth of the wine also had the calming effect that helped me drift off into a deep, needed sleep.
I woke to the sound of rustling in my room. Startled, I sat up, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was dark, save for the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I saw the silhouette of the huge shell between the window and me.
"Easy, child," came the familiar, wise voice of Cornelius. "It's just me. I came to talk to you, Ash," he said, his voice tinged with urgency. "There are things you need to know, and we don't have much time."
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, trying to focus. "What things? What's going on?"
Cornelius paced slowly back and forth, his shell reflecting the moonlight. "The Blaze Queen is growing stronger. She has sent more hunters after you. They are not far behind. You and Cade must work together to defeat her, despite your differences."
I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Defeat her? Work together? After everything that's happened? Cade can barely look at me, let alone work with me."
Cornelius stopped pacing and turned to face me, his eyes glowing in the dark. "You must try, Ash. The fate of Allovan depends on it. The queen seeks the power that lies within you. If she gains control of it, all will be lost."
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over me like a heavy blanket. "But how? How can we work together when we can't even be in the same room without arguing?"
Cornelius sighed, a sound like distant thunder. "You must find common ground. You both share a desire to protect those you care about. Use that as a starting point. Together, you are stronger than the queen. Apart, you will both fall."
I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "What do I need to do?"
"You need to increase your abilities, and the potency of your Gilded Radiance. That is the key. You have to become stronger in every way, and the prince can help with that."
"If he can even look at me." My stomach seemed to sink into the floorboards beneath the bed.
"Yes, we will need to figure out a way past your current... situation with the Blaze Prince." Cornelius cleared his long throat. "But regardless, we need to get you training more. You've made progress, but Queen Mortriana Vissex is the most powerful being in all of Allovan, you're nowhere near ready to defend yourself against her yet."
"You're right." I swung my feet to the side of the bed, standing quickly. "And if Cade doesn't want to help me, then fuck it, I'm not just going to lay around here moping. You don't want to talk to me? But you want to tell me to stay put and not work on protecting myself and Bella? Well, Cade, then you can suck a rock. Get me out of here, Cornelius. I've got magic to use!"
CHAPTER 22
There were multiple reasons for me to disobey Cade’s orders to stay in my room. I needed to learn to use my magic, and I had to be out in the forest, near the water, to do that. But there was something deeper at play too—something about Cade's recent behavior nagged at me. He had been such an asshole, treating me like I was nothing more than his property instead of the person I was becoming. I didn’t mind defying him; not this time. I was tired of waiting for someone to rescue me. If there was a chance to gain power, to harness this magic within me, I had to take it.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Bella’s voice broke through the dense air, yanking my arm, as she'd surely been waiting outside my room under the night sky.
“I need to practice,” I replied, my voice steady, though my insides twisted with uncertainty. “I can’t just wait here and hope for things to get better. I need to learn to use my magic.”
Bella interrupted, shaking her head vehemently. “Cade didn't leave you here to go off by yourself, and he forbade you from doing this again.”
I turned to her, frustration bubbling to the surface. “I’ve got todo this, Bella. I can’t rely on someone else to protect me all the time. I've got to learn to fight. I've got to be ready when the time comes!”
“You’re right,” she admitted, stepping closer. “But that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. I want to come with you. I want to see your magic!”
“Bella, listen!” I stepped back from her, feeling my nerves surge. “I don’t want to get you hurt. I don’t want to put you in danger again. You have no idea what I’m up against...”
“It’s not just you anymore!” she argued back, her voice firm as she crossed her arms. “We’re in this together. I can’t sit back and let you face whatever is out there alone. You’ve already saved me once, and I’ll be damned if I’m not strong enough to help you fight back.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but stopped. The fierceness in her glacier-blue eyes reminded me of the bond we shared through our tumultuous past. If she wanted to be by my side in this and was willing to fight, who was I to deny her that?
With a reluctant sigh, I relented. “All right… But you need to promise me that if things get too dangerous, you’ll run."
“Deal.” A smile slipped onto her face, and I felt a spark of hope rekindle.
I stepped back, turning toward where the ancient tortoise had been in the moonlight, as he'd disappeared again at the sight of Bella.
“Cornelius, she’s with me. Please, can you show yourself to her, to help me?”
He sighed, the sound rippling through the air.
