Page 43 of Immortal Origins
“They’ll really put a lieutenant on trial?” She jerked her head up to look at him.
“Oh, yes. Anyone who breaks the law is subject to the consequences. No one is outside of it,” Akadian assured her.
It probably should’ve been obvious, but no one of a rank that high had been put on trial in her lifetime. Thornehart didn’t seem the type to choose execution and the idea of him in the palace as a servant gave her only a small amount of enjoyment before she realized that would only give him even more opportunities and reason to kill her.
Her legs swayed and Akadian pulled her close so she wouldn’t crumble. The arm on the small of her back gently wrapped around her waist and pulled her close against his chest. He tensed beneath her touch and she wondered if he hated it.
She tried to ignore the way her heart leapt in her chest as she wasn’t sure if it was her nerves—or the prince—who made it happen and she scanned his face. “What about you? Will you tell Casimir what happened?
He looked down at her, their faces so close they were only inches apart. Something flashed across his face—worry?—but she couldn’t quite place it. Usually, she did her best to keep as much distance between her and Akadian as she could, and he didn’t push it on his end either. But being this close, looking up into his eyes that weren’t the light blue she thought they were, but a blend of silver, ocean blue, and the color of the sky all in one, something inside her felt…right. The moonlight spilled across his face, highlighting the best parts. A sharp jawline with the cheekbones to match, he was more than gorgeous. His full lips parted slightly as he looked at her with a gentle expression, the waves of his dark hair hanging down like a curtain.
“Ididtell you not to leave my sight again didn’t I, Little Rose?” he said quietly as his forehead dipped and almost touched hers. He closed his eyes and a painful expression crossed his face. Only for a moment. So fast it was gone as soon as it appeared.
“Again, your fault,” she whispered. “You should’ve been paying better attention.”
She said those words with much less venom than she did the last time she spoke them to him. This time, she realized she meant them.
His arm tightened around her. “I won’t make that mistake again. I’m sure I’ll be answering to Casimir for it as well and I’ll rightly deserve it.”
Her legs finally decided to stop working and as they buckled, he reached an arm under them and lifted her to his chest, cradling her before she could fall.
Ambrose was embarrassed by the flush in her cheeks but she let him lift her off her feet. She’d never admit to him how grateful she was that he was there. Tomorrow she could deal with Akadian and the emotions that he caused in her, but tonight, she was too tired to fight it.
She leaned against his chest and let her muscles relax.
Gods,he smelled good.
Like the smoke from a warm fire and a hint of roses.
The roses from his garden,she realized.
“At least you made it in time. For a second there, I really thought that might be the end.” Her fists clenched as she fought back the terror.
“I don’t know about that,” he said with that curious look he seemed to give her more and more.
“What do you mean?” She leaned her head on his chest, too tired to fight against the exhaustion in her body.
“I heard him say you stopped his Wind Magick with your own.”
Her chest tightened. “That’s not possible and we both know it.”
She wasn’t sure which one of them she was trying to convince more.
“Yes, it is impossible. And yet, here you are,” he said as though consumed by his own thoughts.
“It’s impossible.”
“Yet it would appear you’ve been called by more than Fire.” He wasn’t backing down.
“But, I can’t be…” She trailed off, her own thoughts racing.
Not once in history had a mage ever been called by more than one Element. Any Common Elemental could use the smallest attributes of the Elements, but to be able to fully harness the power of more than one was impossible. It would kill any mage to have that much Mana inside of them. Not even the gods could wield more than one Element. She had no idea what the empire would do to her if word got out.
Maybe, it could buy her freedom.
Or her death.
It was unprecedented and if a mage who could wield one Element was vital, then one who could use more had to be irreplaceable. Maybe this was how she could finally be free.
