Page 56 of Immortal Origins (Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1)

He claimed to hate using his magick—and she believed him—but the last night of the festival she’d seen him use his powers with pride when he created something beautiful from them.

She knew there was something deeper and more beautiful in the prince than even he realized.

A piece of him that wanted to be free just as much as the piece in her.

“What about when you killed the deacon? No one ordered you to. Casimir even ordered you not to intervene.” She stared at their intertwined fingers.

Hate flashed across his face and his eyes darkened. “Their existence was unacceptable.”

“So that’s why you wouldn’t use Magick, I thought it was only because of Casimir’s orders.”

“While I do admit, his orders made it easier not to use them, it’s my own choice.”

“Why?” For someone as powerful as Akadian to never use his powers was unheard of. The royals loved boasting and showing off their capabilities whenever given the chance. Casimir left the palace in a perpetual state of cold just because he could.

“I told you, my powers are death and destruction. They just bring pain whenever I use them. The first time I was ordered to use them, I was forced to kill an entire village. I have no idea what they did, but they couldn’t have deserved what they forced me to do,” he choked on his words as they came out, his chest rising and falling more rapidly.

“I swore that day I would never use Magick of my own volition. That I would stop the destruction with me. The gods may have created me to be a weapon and I can’t defy them, but I can make sure to never willingly point my power at someone who doesn’t deserve it. There’s enough death in this world.”

“That’s why you looked like you were in pain when Casimir boasted about what you did to Thornehart,” she stated the now-obvious fact. How harshly she’d judged him.

“Yes. The empire covets me as their first line of defense in the kingdoms and I don’t entirely enjoy being made into a trophy. Just because they put their fear and hate inside of me doesn’t mean I have to use it.”

“If it means anything,” she said softly and squeezed his hand, “I think your flames are beautiful. And I don’t think you’re just fire and death. You’re so much more than that. ”

He placed a hand on her cheek as a muscle in his jaw flexed. “Thank you… Now, may I ask you something?”

She met his gaze and let the look in his eyes fuel the fire inside of her. “Sure.”

“What did you steal from the gods? Casimir mentioned it at your trial and no one has spoken of it since, but I’m almost positive that’s what he’s so interested in.

It makes no sense to me why a First King would come all the way from Naenaros to judge the trial of a guard killer?

Why wouldn’t my brother oversee something so trivial?

It should’ve been a simple execution. So, why is he here?

” He shook his head. “The best I can come up with is whatever you stole.”

Ambrose considered how much to tell him. He’d told her so much. So many secrets she was sure no other citizen knew. It seemed only right she gave him the same respect.

“A peach.”

“A peach?” he said as though he didn’t believe her.

“Yep. When I ran from the guard I killed, I knew they’d have the whole palace out looking for me. So I ran. I’ve gotten to explore the palace over the years pretty well and found the tunnels the servants used to use back in the old days during the second era.”

“You actually found the tunnels?” Akadian asked wide-eyed.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Smart girl, Little Rose.” Something stirred inside her chest and her cheeks flushed.

“Unfortunately, that night I had to use an area of the palace I’ve never been in.

It led me to an unfinished part, to a door that opened up to the most beautiful garden I’ve ever seen.

” Her eyes flicked to the door and she smiled.

“Your garden is a close second,” she teased.

“In the center, was a peach tree. But it wasn’t like a regular peach tree…

It was different. It had its own magick and spoke to me.

Told me to eat one of its fruit. So I did. ”

“It had Magick?” Akadian asked, brows furrowed. “That’s not possible.”

“I know.” She nodded, smiling fondly at the memory. “But it did. Does. I don’t know. I’m not really sure what it is. I was actually hoping you might. ”

“I’ve always wondered what my brother was keeping in that corner of the palace.

It’s forbidden for anyone to enter it, let alone go inside the door.

He keeps it enchanted so none of the servants accidentally find it, and the nobles know better than to defy his orders.

A peach tree…” He tilted his chin up as though lost in his own thoughts. “I don’t know, but I wish I did.”

Ambrose huffed. “Worth a shot.”

She wanted answers so badly and thought Akadian might have them.

“I am curious how you were able to find it.” He turned his head and looked at her with a curious expression.

“I think it called me,” she told him, remembering what Magnus had said to her.

“Interesting… But that doesn’t fully explain why a First King would take interest. If it’s just a peach tree—what happened when you ate the fruit?”

“I died.”

His eyebrows raised.

“Or, at least I thought I did. I had the strangest dream and woke up in a cell. Next thing I knew I was being brought to trial.” She stifled a yawn as it crept up her throat.

Akadian stayed quiet, lost in a sea of his own thoughts. He truly didn’t know. But she could see the wheels turning inside his head working the pieces out like a puzzle he still didn’t have all the pieces to.

Akadian may not know, but Casimir had to, and he had his sights locked in on her whether she liked it—or understood it. She’d just have to find her answers elsewhere.

“Thank you, for trusting me with your secret.” Akadian smiled at her. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

Ambrose couldn’t say why, but she believed him. Something told her he hated the gods just as much as she did. He’d shared his secrets with her, protected her, fought for her. It’s more than anyone had done her entire life. Even Adym had never stood up for her the way Akadian had.

“Thank you for trusting me with yours. And for saving my life,” she told him genuinely. She’d be dead without him.

“I’d save you in a thousand lifetimes, or until my last day. Whichever came first, I would always find my way to you,” he said, blue eyes shining in the early morning sun as he stared at her.

Her face flushed. She must have heard him wrong. No way the prince just said that to her.

Embarrassed, Ambrose sat up and refilled their wine goblets.

She was not drunk enough for this. When both of them were filled, she placed one in Akadian’s hand and sat next to him once more, her senses tingling with his admission.

He wasn’t anything like she thought he was.

Months ago she hated the sight of him, hated his very existence—even resented Casimir for assigning him to her side, giving her no room for escape.

But now…? Now she wasn’t so sure. What she did know was that the being before her was nothing like the rest of the royals. Who knew the prince was… kind?

Ambrose ran her hands over the arachne silk sheets that were leagues softer than the bed she’d spent her life sleeping on. Suddenly the stitching became much more interesting than she’d previously noticed as she kept her eyes trained down.

He gently grabbed her hand and held it firmly in his, his thumb tracing little circles on the back of hers. The scent of campfire and roses wafted up to her. For as long as she lived, she’d never get tired of that scent. She didn’t think she would ever get tired of being this close to him.

“Tell me something nice.” She finally broke the silence.

“I planted a rose bush for you in the garden.”

“What, really?” Her eyes widened as she nervously gulped down the wine in her goblet.

“I noticed how much you like sitting in the garden, so I thought you might like to have your own bush in it,” he replied nervously. The prince of Eltoria was embarrassed ?

“What kind?”

“White miniature roses.”

Little Rose, she realized.

Akadian finished his goblet and then placed both of theirs onto the floor, pulling her down with him as he laid back on the bed.

She landed right beside him as exhaustion finally seemed to be winning over the prince.

His eyes drooped down, fluttering as he tried to keep them open.

Her eyes followed the contours of his face and body.

His chest rose and fell in an easy pattern that called him to sleep.

One of the most powerful beings in the empire was lying next to her, holding her hand delicately and he actually looked peaceful .

She’d never seen him train and yet his muscles defined him well beneath his dragon leathers.

She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face as she closed her eyes and let sleep come for her as well—never taking her hand out of his as they both drifted off to sleep.