Page 30 of Prince of Blaze and Embers (Emberveil Empire #1)

T he late afternoon sun dipped below the tree line, casting a warm, golden glow over the horizon.

Bella, Rosa, and I sat on the porch, watching as the sky turned a beautiful shade of orange and pink.

The forest was alive with the sounds of birds chirping and insects buzzing, creating a serene atmosphere that seemed to wash away the stresses of the day.

My mind, however, was elsewhere. I had been wondering all day where Cade and Hunter kept disappearing to.

They would fly off on their dragons, and return at some undisclosed time day or night.

I couldn't shake the feeling that they were keeping something from me, and it gnawed at me like a persistent itch.

As if on cue, the sound of powerful wings beating the air filled my ears.

I craned my neck to see Cade and Hunter descending from the sky, their dragons' massive forms casting long shadows over the forest. Krakos and Talonor landed with a thud that shook the ground, sending vibrations through the porch.

Cade dismounted first, his body slumped with fatigue. His normally impeccable armor was smudged with soot, and his hair was disheveled. He pulled off his black wolf mask and handed it to Rosa without a word, then trudged inside, leaving a trail of muddy footprints in his wake.

Hunter followed suit, looking equally worn out. He gave us a curt nod before heading inside, his armor clinking with each step.

I couldn't take the suspense anymore. I jumped up from my seat and followed Cade inside, my heart pounding in my chest. I found him in the dining room, slumped over a plate of food, shoveling it into his mouth with a wicked hunger.

"Where were you?" I demanded, my voice trembling slightly.

Cade looked up at me, his eyes bleary with exhaustion. "We were looking for answers," he said vaguely, before turning back to his food.

My frustration bubbled over. "Looking for answers where? And what kind of answers? Why won't you tell me what's going on?"

Cade sighed heavily, pushing his plate away. "It's complicated, Ash. I can't just... explain it to you."

"But I deserve to know!" I cried, my voice cracking with emotion. "I'm not just some pawn in your game, Cade. I'm a person, with feelings and thoughts and a right to know what's going on in my own life!"

Cade's jaw tightened, and he looked away. "I can't tell you everything, Ash. Not yet. Just... trust me, okay? I'm doing this for your own good."

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Trust you? How can I trust you when you keep lying to me, keeping secrets from me?"

Cade's eyes flashed, and he stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "I'm not lying to you, Ash. I'm protecting you. There's a difference."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving me standing there in stunned silence. I felt a mix of anger, frustration, and hurt all churning inside of me. How could he expect me to trust him when he kept me in the dark about everything?

I spent the rest of the evening stewing in my thoughts, trying to make sense of the whirlwind that was my life. Bella and Rosa did their best to distract me, but my mind was consumed with thoughts of Cade and the secrets he was keeping from me.

As night fell, I retreated to my room, my body heavy with exhaustion.

I crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin as I stared up at the ceiling.

My mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts and emotions, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had been plaguing me all day.

Cornelius didn't appear that night, so I took the opportunity to rest, after using my magic the night before, and the spectacular sight of the blue dragon in the waterfall.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, the sound of the door creaking open startled me. I bolted upright, my heart pounding in my chest as I scanned the dark room.

And there he was, standing in the doorway, his silhouette outlined by the soft glow of the moonlight streaming in through the window.

Cade.

I blinked, rubbing my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things. He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

He didn't answer, just stood there, his eyes locked onto mine.

I could see the war raging inside of him, the struggle between what he wanted and what he knew was right.

The air between us was thick with tension, filled with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires.

His gaze was intense, piercing through me, as if he could see the very essence of my being.

And then, without a word, he moved toward me.

I watched, transfixed, as he crawled onto the bed, his body moving with a predatory grace that sent shivers down my spine.

He slid under the covers, his hands gripping my hips gently yet firmly, the warmth of his touch sending jolts of electricity through my body.

My breath hitched as I felt his warm breath against my thighs, his fingers hooking into the waistband of my underwear.

Slowly, almost painstakingly, he tugged them down, his eyes never leaving mine.

I lifted my hips to help him, my heart pounding wildly in my chest, a mix of anticipation and anxiety surging through me.

He pressed a soft kiss to the inside of my thigh, and I let out a soft gasp, my body tensing with anticipation.

He trailed kisses up my leg, each one more intense than the last, his hands gripping my hips tightly as he moved closer to my center.

Every touch, every caress, felt like a flame igniting my skin, burning away all doubts and fears.

And then, with a soft moan, he buried his face between my legs, his tongue sliding against me in a way that made me see stars.

He licked my clit expertly, sliding it in wet circles around it, causing my legs to quiver and me to moan his name.

I gripped the sheets tightly, my body arching off the bed as wave after wave of pleasure washed over me.

His mouth was hot and wet, his tongue moving in ways that left me breathless and gasping for more.

Each stroke of his tongue sent shivers of ecstasy coursing through my veins, building up a fire within me that threatened to consume me whole. I could feel the heat radiating from his touch, the raw power that flowed between us, connecting us in a way that transcended mere physical pleasure.

His hands explored my body, each touch deliberate and filled with desire. But the heat built inside of me, so did the pain. The same burning sensation that had consumed me before rose, threatening to overwhelm me.

I tried to ignore it, to push through it, but it was too much. The heat was unbearable, and I could feel myself losing control .

"Cade, stop," I gasped, pushing at his shoulders.

He looked up at me, his eyes clouded with desire, but also concern.

I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. "It's too much. I can't... I can't handle it."

He pulled away, sitting up on his knees.

His chest rose and fell with his ragged breaths, and I could see the struggle in his eyes.

His face was pale, with droplets of sweat streaking down his chiseled face.

"I'm sorry, Ash. I didn't mean to... I just..

. I couldn't help myself. I've been thinking about you all day, and I. .. I needed to be close to you."

I reached out, cupping his cheek in my hand as I struggled to catch my breath, feeling completely depleted. "I know. And it was... incredible. Until it wasn't."

He leaned into my touch, his eyes closing briefly. "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

I shook my head. "You didn't hurt me, Cade. Not really. It's just... we're too different. We can't..."

He nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "I know. I just... I wanted to try. I had to know if there was a way..."

I offered him a small, sad smile. "I wanted it too. More than anything. But we can't force something that's not meant to be."

He sighed, pulling away from my touch. "You're right. I'm sorry, Ash. For everything."

With that, he slid out from under the covers, standing up beside the bed. He looked down at me, his expression torn.

"Goodnight, Ash," he whispered, before turning and walking out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

I lay there, my body still tingling with the remnants of pleasure, but my heart aching with a longing and confusion. I wanted Cade, more than anything. But our elements were too different. We were too different.

And as I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I cried for the feelings that could never be, for the man who had stolen my heart, but could never truly be mine.

I cried until the tears ran dry, and exhaustion claimed me, pulling me into a fitful sleep plagued by dreams of fire and ice, of love and loss. And when I woke in the morning, it was to a bitter realization.

I loved Cade Phoenixfire. And that love was destined to break me.

I couldn't tell him though. He was too withdrawn, too distant, too resilient.

And of course, he was my new master, and I was his slave.

He couldn't defy his stepmother forever, and I knew the end of us would be devoid of all hope for me.

But I refused to let it. I refused to let the circumstances of our birth, of our elements, define us. I would find a way. Somehow, someway, I would find a way for us to be together.

And with that thought burning in my mind like a beacon, I rose from my bed, ready to face whatever the day may bring. Because I was a survivor—a survivor that would one day be free—and I would not be broken.