Page 28 of Prince of Blaze and Embers (Emberveil Empire #1)

A s the first rays of sunlight crept through the window, casting a soft glow over the room, I stirred from my fitful sleep.

My head felt heavy, and my limbs ached—physical remnants of the emotional turmoil that had consumed me the night before.

The sound of mighty dragons roaring in the distance pulled me from my reverie, and I pushed myself to get out of bed, even though a deep sadness weighed down on me.

Cade had flown off so abruptly after our failed attempt at intimacy, leaving me with a profound sense of loss and confusion.

I dressed quickly, pulling on my pants and a loose shirt, tucking my unruly hair behind my ears.

The thought of facing Cade after what had happened made a knot form in my stomach.

But I knew I couldn’t hide away forever.

With a deep breath, I stepped out of my room and into the main hall, where the scent of fresh bread and brewing tea filled the air.

Rosa was already bustling about the kitchen, her eyes flicking briefly to me before turning back to her work. Bella sat at the table, her hands wrapped around a mug of steaming tea. She looked up as I entered, her eyes filled with concern .

“Good morning, Ash,” she said , a small smile playing on her lips.

“Morning,” I replied, forcing a smile in return. I took a seat next to her, accepting the cup of tea Rosa offered me with a nod of thanks.

The sound of heavy footsteps outside drew our attention, and a moment later, Cade stepped into the house.

He looked tired, his hair slightly disheveled, and his usual confident stride replaced with a weary slump.

His eyes met mine briefly before he looked away, his jaw clenched tightly.

Hunter followed, also looking as though no sleep had found him that night.

“Morning,” he said curtly, his voice distant.

“Morning,” I replied, feeling the tension between us like a physical force.

Rosa set a plate of food in front of Cade, and he ate in silence, his gaze fixed on his plate. I tried to focus on my own breakfast, but the knot in my stomach made it difficult to swallow.

“Where were you last night?” Bella asked, directly at Cade. Her tone was innocent enough, but I could see the underlying concern in her eyes.

Cade looked up briefly, his expression guarded. “Out. Taking care of things that needed handling.”

“Like what?” Bella pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Cade let out a sigh, setting down his fork with a clatter. “Things, Bella. Just things. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Bella opened her mouth to respond, but I cut in, wanting to defuse the tension. “ Leave it, Bella. It’s fine.”

Bella shot me a look, but I gave her a small nod, signaling to drop the subject. She sighed but complied, turning back to her own breakfast.

As we ate in awkward silence, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Cade.

His brooding presence filled the room, making it hard to breathe.

I could see the turmoil in his eyes, the internal struggle playing out behind his stoic facade.

Despite everything, my heart ached for him, yearning for the connection we had shared so briefly.

After a while, Cade stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back with a scrape. “I’m going out again,” he declared, his voice tinged with frustration.

“Where are you going?” I asked, unable to keep the concern out of my voice.

Cade paused, his gaze flicking to me before he looked away. “There are questions that need answering. I can’t find them here in the forest.”

A flare of anger sparked within me, fueled by the pain of his rejection. “So you’re just going to leave again? Without any explanation?”

Cade’s jaw tightened, and he turned to face me, his eyes flashing. “I don’t owe you an explanation, Ash. You're my slave, nothing more. I should've never thought anything otherwise.”

His words stung like a physical blow, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. “Fine. Go. I don’t care anymore.”

With that, Cade turned on his heel and strode out of the house, leaving a heavy silence in his wake. Bella looked at me with sympathy, reaching out to take my hand.

“I’m sorry Ash.”

I shook my head, blinking back the tears. “It’s fine. I knew I couldn’t expect anything more from him.”

Rosa cleared the table quietly, her eyes flicking between Bella and me. She offered no words of comfort, but her silent presence was soothing nonetheless.

Bella squeezed my hand, her voice soft. “Let’s go back to your room. We can talk more there.”

I nodded, grateful for her support, and followed her back into my room, but not before Bella grabbed a bottle of red wine from a cabinet.

“You always know how to make things better,” I said with a small smile, taking the bottle from her, popping the open cork and drinking from the bottle with a thick gulp.

She gave me a playful nudge. “That’s what best friends are for. Now, tell me everything.”

We settled onto the bed, each taking a long sip from the bottle. The wine was sweet and rich, a welcome distraction from the turmoil of my thoughts.

“So, tell me. What exactly happened between you and Cade last night?” Bella asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

I sighed, letting the memories wash over me. “We were together, Bella. In every way. It was… incredible. But then something happened. I burned up, like my body was on fire. Cornelius saved me, pulling me into the creek just in time.”

As Bella and I sat huddled together in my room, sharing a bottle of wine, I took a deep breath and recounted the events of the previous night. Bella’s eyes widened with curiosity and concern as she listened intently, taking occasional sips from her glass.

"It started in the forest," I began, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. "Cade found me there, and we… we kissed. It was like nothing I've ever felt before, Bella. His lips were soft, yet firm, and when he touched me, it was like an electric current running through my body."

Bella’s eyebrows rose as she took another sip of wine, hanging onto every word. "Go on," she urged.

"He undressed me, and then himself," I continued, feeling my cheeks flushing at the memory. "We were standing there, skin to skin, as the rain poured down on us. He kissed every part of me, Bella. It was like he was exploring my body, and I felt so alive, so desired."

Bella’s gaze never left my face, her eyes filled with intrigue and a hint of envy. "And then?" she prompted.

"He lifted me up and set me on a fallen tree," I said, my voice growing softer as she relived the moment.

"He kissed me deeply, and then… he was inside me. It was intense, Bella. I’ve never felt anything like it.

But as we continued, something happened.

I could feel the heat building inside me, consuming me. "

Bella leaned in closer, her grip tightening on the bottle. The sound of her sweat hand on the bottle caused a subtle squeal. "What do you mean, heat?"

"It was like my skin was on fire," I explained, her voice laced with fear. "I could see steam rising from my body, and the pain was unbearable. I tried to ignore it, to push through it, but it was too much."

Bella’s eyes widened in shock. "That’s terrible, Ash. What happened next?"

"Cade noticed something was wrong, and he started to pull away," I said, my voice trembling. "But it was too late. The heat intensified, and I passed out. The next thing I remember is waking up in the creek, with Cornelius standing next to me."

Bella shook her head in disbelief. "This is all so… overwhelming. I can't believe you went through all of that alone."

I offered a small smile. "I wasn’t alone, Bella. I had Cornelius, and I have you. You’re here for me now, and that means everything."

Bella wrapped her arms around me, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I’ll always be here for you, Ash. No matter what happens, we’ll face it together."

As Bella and I continued to share the bottle of wine, we delved deeper into our fears and hopes for the future. Bella expressed her worries about what would happen if the queen found them, and I shared her determination to learn to control my magic and protect those I loved.

"We can’t let the past define us, Bella," I said, my voice filled with resolve. "We have to fight for our future, for our freedom. I won’t let anyone take that away from us."

Bella nodded, her eyes filled with admiration.

"You’re right, Ash. We’ll find a way to overcome these challenges together.

We always have." She left the room after giving me a soft kiss on the cheek and a squeeze of my shoulders.

The soothing light of her arms calmed me before she left.

The warmth of the wine also had the calming effect that helped me drift off into a deep, needed sleep.

I woke to the sound of rustling in my room. Startled, I sat up, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was dark, save for the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I saw the silhouette of the huge shell between the window and me.

"Easy, child," came the familiar, wise voice of Cornelius. "It's just me. I came to talk to you, Ash," he said, his voice tinged with urgency. "There are things you need to know, and we don't have much time."

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, trying to focus. "What things? What's going on?"

Cornelius paced slowly back and forth, his shell reflecting the moonlight. "The Blaze Queen is growing stronger. She has sent more hunters after you. They are not far behind. You and Cade must work together to defeat her, despite your differences."

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Defeat her? Work together? After everything that's happened? Cade can barely look at me, let alone work with me."

Cornelius stopped pacing and turned to face me, his eyes glowing in the dark. "You must try, Ash. The fate of Allovan depends on it. The queen seeks the power that lies within you. If she gains control of it, all will be lost."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over me like a heavy blanket. "But how? How can we work together when we can't even be in the same room without arguing?"

Cornelius sighed, a sound like distant thunder. "You must find common ground. You both share a desire to protect those you care about. Use that as a starting point. Together, you are stronger than the queen. Apart, you will both fall. "

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "What do I need to do?"

"You need to increase your abilities, and the potency of your Gilded Radiance. That is the key. You have to become stronger in every way, and the prince can help with that."

"If he can even look at me." My stomach seemed to sink into the floorboards beneath the bed.

"Yes, we will need to figure out a way past your current.

.. situation with the Blaze Prince." Cornelius cleared his long throat.

"But regardless, we need to get you training more.

You've made progress, but Queen Mortriana Vissex is the most powerful being in all of Allovan, you're nowhere near ready to defend yourself against her yet. "

"You're right." I swung my feet to the side of the bed, standing quickly.

"And if Cade doesn't want to help me, then fuck it, I'm not just going to lay around here moping.

You don't want to talk to me? But you want to tell me to stay put and not work on protecting myself and Bella?

Well, Cade, then you can suck a rock. Get me out of here, Cornelius. I've got magic to use!"