Page 31 of Immortal Origins (Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1)

“ W e need to get you healed.” Akadian still watched the spot where Thornehart disappeared in the distance.

“How did you find me?” Ambrose cradled her broken finger as she tore a piece from the hem of her dress and wrapped it for support. Every moment she stood, her body protested, muscles shaking from her legs to her finger-tips.

“It didn’t take much.” He turned towards her when he was certain Thornehart was gone. “I simply followed the source of the lightning. It was a little hard to miss.”

Fuck .

“Do you think anyone else noticed?” She looked around nervously, half expecting someone else to come running, ready to punish her for being so far away from the festival.

She might be a Trial Champion but being this far away, all on her own, wouldn’t look good if someone decided to report it to Casimir.

She could lose any opportunity for escape.

Akadian shook his head. “I think everyone is a little too drunk on the festivities tonight to notice, and anyone that did most likely assumed it was the king letting off steam.” His eyes widened and ran over her like he was trying to solve a puzzle he couldn’t quite finish.

“Doubtful anyone noticed it was the wrong color.”

She forced a few deep breaths, grateful for that at least.

It was time to get out of Eltoria.

The city was getting less safe with each passing day and she couldn’t wait any longer.

She’d been putting her all into her training, becoming as strong as she could, and it would just have to be enough for whatever was out there.

She saw the hatred in Thornehart’s eyes.

That kind of hate wasn’t something someone could easily let go of.

He wouldn’t rest until he found a way to kill her and would have more than enough opportunities in the palace.

Her gut told her he was the type to want to do it himself and she wasn’t going to give him the chance to corner her again.

“Are you alright?” Akadian asked, concern growing on his face as he watched her sway back and forth.

“You mean besides almost being murdered?” she tried to joke, but it fell flat as her knees begged to buckle.

Akadian stepped forward and offered a hand to steady her. “He’s a rat and a coward for cornering you the way he did.”

“Yeah, well, it almost didn’t matter. You showed up just in time. I don’t know how much longer I could’ve fought him off.” She ignored his extended hand, determined to stand on her own. She wouldn’t let herself look weaker than she already did.

“I am rather impressed,” Akadian praised as he placed a hand on her elbow anyway.

She pulled back from his touch and the world tilted. He caught her in time to stop her from falling to the ground, a hand placed gently on the small of her back and one on her elbow to keep her upright.

“I’m sure my performance was splendid,” she retorted as she breathed through the pain in her body and allowed him to hold her. Too tired to fight it.

“I’m serious,” he said softly. “No one has ever been able to injure Thornehart in battle before. He’s famously known for his magickal ability and has never left a fight with so much as a scratch, let alone a charred shoulder.

That strike would’ve killed most beings, I’m genuinely surprised you were able to make contact. He was even up for promotion soon.”

Ambrose was silently grateful for his support as the adrenaline left her body and she knew she wouldn’t be standing without his help. His thumb traced circles on the small of her back as she swallowed her pride and waves of nausea .

“Was?” she breathed.

“Now, he’ll be lucky to clean my chamber pot.

” Akadian glared at the spot where Thornehart walked off.

“Most likely, Casimir will make an example of him. No one is allowed to harm a Trial Champion, no matter the rank. Not even a lieutenant is outside our laws, especially Divine Law. He’ll be punished accordingly. ”

“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 cu rtain.

“I did tell 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.

“Maybe it’s a good thing,” Ambrose said slowly, still deep in thought. “Maybe this makes me too important to kill now? Wouldn’t this make me invaluable to the empire?”

“I…” Their eyes met. “Don’t know.”

She looked into his eyes, searching for what he was thinking and though she couldn’t read his mind, she didn’t see anything there that comforted her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

He seemed to battle with something inside him. “No one has ever been able to wield multiple Elements. No mage. No royal. No god. I honestly don’t know how the gods will react to this.” His eyes darkened. “I wish I did.”

Ambrose forced a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves before they rained down a storm of lightning down on them. “Akadian, have you ever been outside the Capital?”

“Yes.” His grip tightened again. “Why do you ask?”

“I think it’s time to advance my training.” And escape. But she didn’t say that.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “In what way? ”

“It would seem I need more practice and exposure so we can really see what my magick is capable of, don’t you think so?

” The words came out faster than she meant them to, and she tried to recover.

“For the empire, of course. If I can control multiple Elements, wouldn’t it be important for us to figure out the extent of it?

I’m sure Casimir would be thrilled to get that report. ”

A look fell over Akadian’s face and she wished she could know what he was thinking.