Page 31 of A Touch of Gold and Madness (Celestials of Arcadia #1)

Chapter 30

Gray

T he dining hall led outside to a glittering swimming pool, reminding me of liquified black crystal and tempting me with the call of comfort and relaxation. The surrounding landscape was a combination of greenery and autumn shades. Climbing vines created a stunning oasis with sprawling hills and forestry in the background.

I’d grown used to the silence that accompanied me on my journey from the King’s Palace, so the loud chatter and abundance of people overwhelmed me. Despite the noise, a waterfall cascading against boulders into a pool of water acted as a balm to ease my nerves.

“Come,” Chrome said without room for argument.

I planted my feet in place, and my eyebrows rose to my hairline at his clipped and demanding tone. “Excuse me, but I’m not a dog you can bark orders at.”

Chrome looked over his shoulder, meeting my eyes. His lip angled upward in amusement. “Good.” He walked away toward an expansive table lining the wall to my right.

I scoffed, shaking my head. At the sight of so many people, my chest constricted, my palms becoming sweaty. So many unfamiliar faces who probably hated my existence more than the Kinetics did looked back at me. I slipped on my mask of indifference—my armor—feeling the stares and sensing the whispers as I weaved through tables to join Chrome.

Gazes burned into my back as my eyes widened at the amount of food displayed on the table. Savory, seasoned dishes of all types triggered an angry growl from my stomach, reminding me how hungry I was despite the turkey we’d cooked the night before.

“Do I need to be concerned the food is laced with redfern?” I asked.

Chrome stood to my left, hunched over the table as he piled his plate.

My eyes and nose were bigger than my stomach. I scooped a massive heap of buttery mashed potatoes, carrots, corn, roast beef, and any other colorful veggie that was within my arm’s reach.

A dimple I hadn’t noticed before outlined the smirk that crept up his face. A shadow coated his jaw from the lack of shaving while on our journey. But it was a good look on him. He kept his eyes on the food as he said, “Come now, little savage. I’m insulted you think I’d resort to trickery to kill you. If I wanted you dead, I’d have a blade in your chest while staring into those fake blue eyes of yours.”

I angled my head at Chrome, my heart racing at the sight of his dimpled, crooked smile. I definitely hated myself for that. My only response was a mumbled, “I don't have fake eyes.” I mindlessly plopped more food onto my plate, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. Why in the actual fuck was I blushing? Since when did I blush? “Asshole.”

“Oh, but you do,” Chrome said, that face growing ever cockier—like he knew . “The necklace?”

The Elemental glamour. I paused mid-scoop. “Right.” There was way too much food on my plate. I felt guilty knowing I would waste a portion when most people outside the Hollow killed each other for a small fraction of what I would leave behind.

Finally, Chrome straightened, holding his packed dish in front of him, and angled his head toward me. “Sit anywhere you like. We don’t bite. Unless…” He slanted his brow in a suggestion of how he was going to finish that sentence .

“I swear on everything alive on this godsforsaken planet, Chrome. If you finish by saying, ‘unless you want me to…’ I will change my mind and gut you where you stand.”

He barked a laugh, “You can try… again .” And then he disappeared into the midst of the tables.

Fuck him.

I took a deep breath and scanned the dining area for an available spot to sit, preferably alone.

The uneasiness coiled a path from my heart to my stomach, cinching tight at the curious stares that averted once I met them. Since Chrome was the only person I knew, I searched the sea of people for his chromatic hair. It didn’t take long to spot him at a table in front of the glass door overlooking the pool.

He wasn’t sitting alone. I ignored the familiar hands of anxiety threatening to trip me in front of the foreign crowd. If they didn’t already, they no doubt searched for a reason to hate me.

I stayed alert and held my posture straight, ignoring the desperate need to look at the floor. I weaved through the tables as if it were an obstacle course, careful to avoid corners and chair legs that poked out.

Finding an empty spot on the end I set my plate down and quietly took my seat. The chatter ceased, but I pretended to ignore it as I dug into the food that called to my soul.

Someone cleared their throat. I peered up from my plate, scanning the golden faces and extraordinary eyes. Chrome was smug, enjoying the sight of me flailing outside of my comfort zone. Asshole.

With my mouth full of buttery potatoes, I looked around, seeking the throat-clearer. I recognized the petite beauty from earlier—Aella. My faux confidence snuffed out like a dying flame. I’d always found other women to be judgmental, scrutinizing even. At least toward me. And I’d felt her discernment—distrust—from the moment she’d laid eyes on me.

The deep male voice from earlier broke through my scattered thoughts. “I’m so fucking happy you’re finally here, Princess.”

I spotted Onyx sitting across from Chrome, a few chairs down from me. His orange currents raced up his arms as he propped his chin on his fists. The excited smile he beamed at me was genuine. I didn’t know how to respond.

“Seriously,” Onyx said, glancing at Chrome, “we’ve been waiting years to get you both here. Can’t wait for training tomorrow. Which reminds me,” he paused, lowering his forearms to bear on the table, leaning forward. “Did you ever surpass Golden? Please tell me you kicked his ass.” His amber gaze pleaded with me to confirm.

The smallest of smiles betrayed me. “Yes.” The memory of plunging my dagger hilt-deep into his gut flitted through my mind. “I should’ve killed him, but…” Smokey, Onyx’s father, had stopped me.

“At least you knocked down his bloated ego a bit,” he responded with a quick nod.

I returned to spearing the juicy, tender asparagus. It melted in my mouth. I’d never known it could be so savory. The food at the palace was good, but there was no extra effort put into it. At least, not mine. There’d never been any… heart in it.

“Gray,” Chrome said, gentle authority lacing his voice. I pulled my enamored gaze from my plate to peer at him. “I want you to meet everyone here. You’ve already met Onyx.”

Onyx waggled his fingers in a wave as he grinned.

I scanned the table and recognized many of the same faces from the meeting upon my arrival. Setting my fork down, I sat up straight in my chair and met their gazes.

“I am Kodiak Vines. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess.” The bronzed, beefy man from the meeting greeted. Appearing no younger than his mid-twenties, he offered a gentle smile. “I am the Hollow’s Warrior General and cartographer. So, I’ll be a part of your combat training. I’m at your service, just as I am for Chrome.” He dipped his head in a solemn bow.

The man sitting next to him spoke next. Underneath that golden sheen, his skin was the deepest of umber. His irises were solid black, void of any light or color, rimmed with twin silver rings. “I’m Void Halcyon, Top Advisor and Elemental warrior. I’ll be leading your training. Welcome.” Void’s baritone voice was clipped as he spoke. A thick loc fell over his muscular shoulder as he squinted at me for a beat—as if he saw me but didn’t at the same time—before silently returning to his food.

“I’m River. Emissary.” My eyes met the bright violet, assessing stare piercing me from across the table. “Welcome, Princess. I think we’ll get along just fine.” She wore her black hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail at the nape. Her prominent jawline highlighted the severe expression on her Native features.

I recognized her from the meeting, but there, she’d remained silent and observant. She shared physical traits with the mischievous, fire-eyed boy with the wicked grin but lacked any of his playfulness. Siblings, perhaps?

I gave her a tight smile and a nod. She swallowed and returned to her plate, picking at her vegetables with a fork.

“I’m Aella Wisp, the Hollow’s Warrior Captain,” Aella guided a springy curl behind her ear. I wondered if it was out of habit. “Welcome,” she said in a stiff tone, offering a tight smile.

Silence reigned over the table while they waited for me to say something. The soothing sound of the water crashing to the boulders put me in a temporary trance. I wasn’t great at public speaking, so I said, “Thanks for having me in your home. Your secrets are safe with me.” And I meant it.

Chrome’s quicksilver eyes appraised me. The barest hint of a smile ghosted his sharp features. He dipped his head the slightest fraction. No one else noticed his silent exchange that read, “Well done. Welcome home.”

My chest ached with homesickness. Homesick only for the bright spots of my former life. Would I ever find a place to truly call my home? Where I could be accepted and not ostracized? The few friends I held dear were most likely dead or imprisoned. Labeling Cotton as a friend was a stretch, at least prior to my revel . The way he came through for me in my escape not only surprised me, but warmed me toward him, regardless of his motivations .

Conversation resumed at the table, so I focused on the food a divine being must’ve created, getting sucked into the memories of my past.

I hated the unknown. The past might’ve been painful, but at least it was constant. I knew what to expect. My longing for Slate grew stifling as I tried to bury it with mouthfuls of buttery bread and potatoes. Since I was fourteen, he’d been my safe space, my comfort. I needed him more than ever as I sat and dined in what I’d once considered enemy territory.

Spearing a forkful of green beans, I allowed myself to be swept away in the memory of Slate’s comfort, imagining he was beside me now.

Tears slid down my cheeks in the shadows of the school gymnasium, wondering what was wrong with me. I hugged my knees to my chest. Why did my father hate me? Why did I struggle so hard to make friends? I glamoured my currents and hair color from the human kids, so what was it that had always made me a target? Weren’t princesses supposed to be loved and considered popular? At least, that’s what the fairytales made you believe.

“Princesses aren’t supposed to cry.”

I popped my head up, adrenaline surging through my veins at the unexpected visitor. I jumped to my feet and turned to see the handsome, boyish face of Slate Helair, a well-known and well-liked Kinetic—even among the human students. I swiped my cheeks with my palms in haste to hide the evidence of my weakness. “I wasn’t crying.” My stuffed-up nose betrayed my lie.

A soft expression crossed his features. “You were. And it’s okay that you were. You’re entitled to that—everyone is. It’s just that…” Slate’s shoulders relaxed as he reached out a hand to me. “You deserve to have a shoulder to lean on when you do.” His natural hair was the hue of a wet stone, but it was now glamoured a dark brown, and his sun-kissed skin bore no gold currents on his arms.

“Why would I do that? Like you said, princesses aren’t supposed to cry. It’s weak.”

Slate moved to take the seat beside the one I’d abandoned, patting the spot with his hand. “I never said it was weak.”

I lowered into the seat beside him, adjusting the navy, pleated uniform skirt. I looked down at my feet and fought the urge to hide the bruises on my legs from my father’s frustration that morning that were slow to heal due to the bracelet . My face heated as I glanced up and caught Slate pulling his attention to my eyes, away from my legs. He didn’t mention them.

“I hear how the commoners treat you. And the human kids here,” he said, shaking his head, “they’re fucking ignorant. The girls are jealous of you, and the guys are afraid to show interest because of it. But no one deserves to be treated the way you are. Please know that not everyone dislikes you. We’re just…hesitant to show it. Your dad wouldn’t approve because it would be considered to be undermining his authority in his eyes.”

I shrugged, sniffling. “It doesn’t matter.”

Slate cupped my cheeks, making me face his genuine determination. “It does matter, Princess Gray. Your light is too bright to be dimmed.”

My heart fractured. For once, I felt seen. My jaw trembled as I fought the onslaught of ugly tears that threatened to fall.

Slate’s hazel stare held mine, seeing all my broken shards laid bare. “Let me lend you some of my strength.”

The dam burst in my chest, unleashing my pent-up pain at the first sign of empathy from someone. I didn’t fight him as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and tucked me into his side while I sobbed.

“After you get this out, let’s go set everyone straight, shall we? Nobody will fuck with you after today,” Slate said in a firm, yet gentle tone. “If you ever feel alone, know that I’ll always be there as your friend, my princess.”

I kept my head down as Onyx burst into loud laughter at some quip from River.

My chest constricted at the first memory of Slate, and how much I missed his warm magic powered by light energy. I missed his beaming smile whenever I walked into a room, his grounding hugs, undying support, and love. No matter how skilled a fighter I became, he’d always remained protective.

After that day, Slate worked to build me up—giving me the confidence that had always been absent. He taught me even though my father worked to turn our people against me, I could still make them respect me. And most importantly, he taught me what unconditional love was.

The day my father coldly broke the news of Slate’s death to me, I went into denial. Once the reality set in that he wasn’t coming home, I crumbled, becoming lost and directionless. Broken. Alone. I hardened my heart and constructed walls of steel to keep everyone out. And I vowed to kill the man who took him from me.

When he died, the wolves in the King’s Palace tried to circle again, but I wasn’t the weak girl I’d once been. They quickly learned I didn’t need Slate as a guardian.

And with Slate came his younger sister, Hazel. Not long after we got together, I met her, and she became like a sister of my own. Her meek nature complemented Slate’s outgoing one. She helped ground me when facing my father, Amethyst, and those who didn’t want me as their future queen.

I missed the constant bickering between those two. Hazel always had a remark that had me clutching my stomach with laughter.

I glanced up, noting Chrome leaning back in his seat. He sat detached from the conversations as he observed the waterfall with scrunched brows, lost in the trance of his own thoughts.

As if he felt my stare, he swiveled his head to look at me. The smallest of somber smiles inched up the corners before he turned his attention back to his plate.