Page 20 of A Storm of Fire and Ash

I could feel the bones in my hand already repairing.

“Please, Eryndor, I don’t need to glamour anyone to enjoy myself.

” His violet eyes roamed over me with a teasing intensity.

“Plus, you like them extra big and bad. I could never compete with Gavrin,” he looked back at me, “he may be good in the sheets, but my cock is much bigger,” he winked at me.

I felt Eryn’s embarrassment, and her cheeks flushed.

Or perhaps, I was just flustered by Makar’s presence.

“Ha!” I exclaimed, my finger pointing between Eryn and Makar in triumphant glee. “I knew it! You did have some fun last night!”

Eryn shot me a glare, her eyes narrowed, and I smiled in response.

Makar then turned his attention towards me as he had pulled back his auburn locks into a bun.

A small scar swept from his eyebrow down just beneath his eye, giving him an imposing presence that was hard to ignore.

Coupled with his well-defined muscles and his attractive face, he had a powerful aura.

“So you are the Elara that Zayn can’t shut up about,” Makar remarked, his deep voice carrying a faint accent that hinted at a distant homeland.

The realization that Zayn had been talking about me caught me off guard and made my heart do weird things.

With a booming laugh, Makar’s voice resonated through the trees, sending a faint rustle through the leaves. “Don’t get too excited. He hasn’t said anything nice. Calls you more of a burden.”

His words landed like a heavy stone in my chest, and I couldn’t mask the disappointment that crept across my face. Why did his opinion matter so much? Zayn was an asshole, anyway.

“Makar, enough. Help her or go fuck off,” Eryn exclaimed, her voice sharp as she jabbed her finger into his shoulder, fiercely defending me.

I felt a swell of gratitude for her loyalty; I’d never experienced anyone standing up for me before.

Now, Makar and Eryn stood chest to chest, their heights nearly equal, and the air between them crackled with tension; waiting to see who broke first.

I cleared my throat.

Makar turned towards me, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly in a challenging smirk.

“Alright, let’s see what you can do. I hear you’re great with fire…

a little reckless, but—” My vision began to blur as a crimson haze enveloped my thoughts.

This insufferable asshole was tugging at my last nerve, and I could feel the fire within me burning hotter, desperate to be unleashed.

“There it is. Keep fueling your hurt… your anger,” he goaded.

But nothing happened.

“Perhaps, this will help.” Makar’s hands pressed gently against my temples, and in an instant, I was thrown back into the devastating inferno of my memories.

I stood frozen in my house, flames licking at the walls, watching it burn all over again.

I held my mother’s lifeless body, the acrid smoke searing my lungs as I screamed in despair.

It felt as if I were merely a spectator, helplessly watching the tragedy unfold.

What is this Hel? I need to escape!

With my eyes shut tightly, I refused to witness another second of my nightmare.

Sadness crashed over me like an unwanted guest, suffocating my resolve, and I felt an overwhelming urge to scream.

“Get me out of here! I can’t! I can’t be here!

” I dropped to the ground, hot tears streaming down my face.

“GET ME OUT! I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE!” My voice echoed, raw and piercing.

Just as my scream erupted into the void, I was yanked away from that tormenting memory and found myself back at the cliffside, with Eryn and Makar staring at me. Fury coursed through my veins, mingling with the hurt that still lingered.

In my rage, I could feel my fire swirling to life once more.

Instinctively, I knew what I had to do. I concentrated on the essence of my dragon flames and shot my arms out toward Makar.

In an instant, my fiery dragon manifested before me, a swirling torrent of fire and spirit.

I nodded toward Makar, and his eyes went wide with shock.

He barely had time to react as he waved his hand in front of himself, encasing his body in a translucent shield of water.

The shield fizzled as my fire dragon collided against it, igniting in a brilliant display.

But in addition to the flames, something else simmered deep within me.

I reached out, calling to the vines that twisted around the moss-covered trees.

They obeyed my command, slithering across the ground like snakes, winding up behind Makar.

In an instant, they wrapped themselves tightly around his ankles, dragging him down to the ground with a loud thud.

Eryn burst out laughing, her voice bright and infectious. “My gods! Nicely done!” She patted me on the back, her approval igniting a flicker of pride within me.

“Alright! Point made!” Makar exclaimed, flustered as he cut the vines from his ankles and stood back up, brushing the dirt from his clothes. “Not bad… for your first time. Have you ever controlled nature before?” he asked.

I shook my head, still catching my breath from the adrenaline. “Well, you’ve got fire magic and earth magic, so that’s pretty impressive for a Royal Fae,” he remarked, a hint of respect evident in his tone.

“Do Royal Fae usually only have one elemental power?” I questioned, curiosity piqued.

“That’s correct. Only Warlocks possess all four elements, but even we are limited to their strengths,” Makar retorted with a hint of irritation in his voice.

“Warlocks can also invade your mind, I take it?” I snapped, my anger flaring anew. “Don’t you dare ever do that to me again.”

He took a step closer, “But you enjoyed the way I made you feel so much… perhaps I can show you how good I can actually make you feel?”

I bit the corner of my lower lip and shut my eyes, squeezing my legs together. I don’t think the prince would like him flirting with me this much…

Makar continued, “Yes, Warlocks can dip into the minds of any living thing, ensnaring them with glamour, but only within a limited range. Yours had been particularly easy to infiltrate. Ya gotta learn to fortify your mind with a shield and maintain it constantly,” he remarked, crossing his muscular arms over his broad chest. His black shirt hugged his body.

“How do I put up a shield?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“It’s quite simple,” Eryn advised, her voice calm and reassuring. “Visualize a protective barrier encompassing your mind. This could take any form you desire—a bubble, a wall of light, or a thick, impenetrable shield. Picture it in vivid detail, considering its color, texture, and strength.”

Makar chimed in, his enthusiasm palpable. “For me, I prefer a water shield, as that is my strongest element. Perhaps yours should embody a fiery dragon…” His brows shot up, revealing a hint of admiration.

Eryn urged me gently, “Give it a try. Close your eyes and tap into your intuition. Yours is particularly potent.” I obeyed and closed my eyes, focusing inward.

Makar’s voice echoed in my ears. “Once you sense that your shield is robust enough, visualize the act of sealing it. You might imagine it hardening or glowing, creating an even deeper sense of protection.”

But the thought of fire filled me with dread; fire was what destroyed everything I had ever held dear.

“I’m going to attempt to get into your head now. Don’t allow me in,” Makar warned, and I felt his magic probing at the edges of my thoughts, slipping into my memories. I recoiled at his intrusion; I did not want him in my head. I didn’t want anyone in my head.

Desperately, I began to envision a door.

A massive door constructed from glistening white dragon scales encased the sanctuary of my mind.

I visualized it vividly, focusing on every intricate detail.

“That’s it, push me out,” Makar encouraged.

“Think of more details. Imagine something powerful, something invincible.”

With determination, I imagined closing the door.

As I did, the white-scaled door radiated with a soft glow, as if magical energy enveloped it.

I envisioned vines wrapping around it, further shielding those precious scales and safeguarding my thoughts.

Suddenly, the sensation of Makar’s presence receded, and I no longer felt him encroaching on my mind.

I opened my eyes, a rush of exhilaration coursing through me.

Makar’s jaw hung open in surprise.

“Did I do it?!” I asked, my excitement bubbling over.

“Um, yeah. You did. I’ve never worked with a Fae who managed that on their first try.

Now, remember always to keep it up. No matter what.

It would be easy for a Warlock to get into your mind and glamour what you are seeing.

They could easily kill you. The same goes for Vampyrs.

It will become second nature to you once you grow accustomed to it,” he replied with a slight hint of respect in his tone.

Vampyr. I got the chills just thinking about them. I didn’t know much, but I knew they were creepy and bald and had milky white eyes. They only come out at night.

Eryn nudged me gently, “And whenever you want to drop it, just simply open that door.”

“Can you get into my mind, too?” I asked her, curious about her abilities.

She chuckled before answering. “You have a lot to learn about the Fae. I’ll give you some books.

” I felt a rush of embarrassment at my question, my gaze dropping to the ground.

Eryn sighed softly, as if sensing my discomfort.

“No, I can’t get into your mind. No Fae can mind-read unless you are a Royal Fae and have found your fated mate…

Other than that, that’s just a Warlock and Vampyr thing. ”

Just a fated mate thing… My curiosity deepened as I thought about the words from the goddess herself, and I asked hesitantly, “Can Royal Fae be mated to a human?”

Makar’s laugh echoed off the cliffside, deep and mocking. “Oh, yer cute. You think the prince is your mate?”

“Get out of my head, Makar!” I snapped, my irritation rising like a tide.

“Keep your shield up!” he barked back, his voice edged with tension.

Frustrated, I turned on my heel, needing to be alone. All I wanted was a hot bath to wash away the day’s burdens.

“Aw, come on, I’m only teasing!” he shouted after me, but I chose to ignore him, my mind swirling with thoughts.

Eryn caught up with me, her expression softening. “He means well, Elara,” she offered, her voice soothing.

I wiped a stray tear from my cheek, feeling foolish for letting his words affect me. “Yeah, well, he’s a prick! I’m surprised you didn’t knock him out when he brought up Gavrin. I didn’t realize you liked him so much,” I muttered.

Eryn’s demeanor shifted, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. “I don’t like him!”

“Oh, please,” I replied, smirking just a little. “I felt it when Makar brought his name up. You got butterflies in your stomach, and hearts shot out from your eyes.”

“I did NOT get heart eyes! Gavrin is just a friend,” she protested, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“Mhmm. Whatever helps you sleep at night…” I continued walking, half-joking.

“Which appears to be Gavrin’s dick.” A chuckle escaped my lips, and Eryn retaliated by punching my arm playfully but with surprising strength, causing me to whimper slightly.

“Hey! That fucking hurt!” I exclaimed, rubbing my arm where she had struck.

“He does have a pretty cock,” she replied, a mischievous smile lighting up her face. We both burst into laughter, our banter lifting the weight from our shoulders as we made our way back to the palace.

Once we reached our quarters, I turned to Eryn and thanked her. I probably should have thanked Makar, too, but he had pissed me off too much for that.

As I went to step into my room, Eryn halted me with a hand on my arm.

“Hold on a sec,” she said, her voice suddenly serious.

She dashed into her room and returned a moment later, cradling four books in her arms. “Here. Read these. You’ll learn all the history you need to know about Royal Fae, Non-Royals, Mer, Vampyrs, Warlocks, Dragons, and Mages.

You can keep them when you’re done, if you’d like. I have no use for them anymore.”

I accepted the stack of books and looked down at them, feeling the weight of their knowledge. I quickly scanned the titles: ‘A Court Divided: Tales of the Fae’, ‘Legends of the Flame’, ‘Tides of Blood: The Mer and Vampyrs’, and ‘The Trials of the Sorcerers’.

“Legends of the Flame?” I asked, running my fingers along the finely tooled leather cover of the book, feeling the ridges and textures beneath my fingertips.

Eryn tapped the cover lightly with a grin. “That book is my favorite. It talks about dragons and their history—quite fascinating, really,” she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

“Thanks,” I replied, allowing a smile to stretch across my face.

I really appreciated her for this.

“It’s my pleasure. Now, go and take a bath. You smell like shit,” she teased. Her lavender hair swayed gracefully in her ponytail as she turned back towards her room.

“Piss off,” I shot back with a laugh. She responded by holding up her middle finger before she closed her door with a soft click.

The excitement bubbled within me, and learning about what I truly am made me feel giddy.

I ran a warm bath, letting the steam rise, while I applied some crushed Calendula and Comfrey that I mixed in a beeswax salve on my palms and then wrapped my hands in bandages. My heart hurt as I remembered Mother making this many times.

I grabbed ‘A Court Divided: Tales of the Fae’ first. As I settled into the hot, bubbly water, I began reading about my kind, losing myself in the pages, and felt relief as I educated myself on the very thing I had grown up wary of—the Fae.