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M y heart fluttered as I considered his words. How had we gotten there?

From him scolding me about running away from my life to him taking my hand and leading the way. And every fiber of me wanted to do it with him by my side.

“We are?” I smiled, then said in a teasing voice. “Our future?”

“Yes, now,” Asante stepped back from me and looked me over. “It’s time for you to fly with me, Kiala. Let me see your dragon.”

I shifted to my dragon with Asante watching me. When I was done, in full dragon form, he smiled at me.

“Beautiful,” he said before shifting into his own dragon once again. And then, together, we took flight.

I followed Asante’s lead as he took me to the edge of their territory. I had expected to fly right into their home, but he had other plans in mind. Where we landed, a small convoy waited. Uradis stood at the head of a team of women.

“Princess Kiala. You’ve returned.” She greeted me. “I’m so glad to see you again.”

“What is this?”

“I figured you might want to clean up before seeing our parents,” Asante answered.

“Smart.”

Uradis and her team ushered me into a small tent, its canvas smelling faintly of wood smoke and damp earth, where everything we needed to transform me was laid out. They quickly cleaned me up, styling my hair in an elegant updo and dressing me in a fresh, clean dress.

When we exited the tent, Asante stood with Synth and Kune.

“You look beautiful.” He smiled at me.

“Thank you.”

“Are you ready?”

“To tell our parents we’re committing the ultimate sin? Absolutely.”

Synth and Kune carried us right to the field where our parents were. We were just in time to see my parents preparing to leave, but everything came to a halt when Asante helped me down from Synth’s back. It was the kiss he placed on my cheek and the image of our hands connected as we approached that caused the first wave of chaos. It was the moment Asante parted his lips that caused the next.

“I am here, prince of Starfell, to let you know, my parents and the council, that I intend to spend my life with Kiala, princess of Frostspire.”

The moment he was done speaking, I searched to find my parent's faces. I expected them to be angry, ready to flip out because I had ruined another attempt at creating peace between our people. Instead, they sat there smiling. My mother looked at Asante with a proud look and I stopped to wonder if she wasn’t behind it.

Asante tightened his hold on my hand as the gasps and whispers sounded off, followed by the piercing scream from his mother.

“You can’t do this!” She stood from her seat. “Are you out of your mind? This is improper.”

“This is what I want, mother. I have let you change every part of my life in the chase of filling my brother’s shoes.” He lifted our joined hands. “This, my relationship with Kiala, is one thing I will not give up for you.”

My heart felt like it would burst through my chest as he made the declaration in front of what felt like the entire world.

“What will people think? You are the next king! This isn’t right.”

“Why are you so concerned with doing what is right when what has been right has left us divided and weak? Trolls are on our shores, emboldened by the fact that we have separated ourselves. So much so that they attacked me. If not for Kiala, I might not be here!”

While Asante argued his point, I looked at my parents. My father looked furious, but my mother had this strange look of acceptance. She said she would support me leaving home, did that support also extend to my relationship with Asante? It didn’t matter, because while she may have been leaning toward giving us her blessing, there were three other parents who still looked upset.

“Oh, how wonderful, you’re all here.” A familiarly annoying voice called out from the trees’ edge. We turned to see Domin standing there, partially cloaked in shadows. “This will make things so much easier.”

“What is this?” the fire king stepped forward. “Guards!”

“This is me running out of time.” Domin lifted his hand and suddenly, trolls materialized from the trees behind him. Their rough, hairy forms loomed around us. “You couldn’t die quickly like your brother!”

“My brother?” Asante pushed me behind him as he addressed his former right hand.

“It wasn’t easy, coordinating that death and then dealing with anyone who saw what really happened, but I did it. And you were supposed to be just as simple.” He clapped his hands. “How perfect was it that you fell for the ice princess? It took so long to find her, and right away, you loved her. All my plans came together so seamlessly. But you didn’t die.”

“You knew about me?” My chest tightened. “How? I was so careful. No one knew.”

“I have eyes everywhere. And when little old ladies owe massive debts, they will do anything to get it wiped clean.”

I thought about Mesi, and her knowing looks. All that time?

“We won’t waste time now. I am here because it’s my time to rule. Your families have destroyed what was once a great civilization. Now we hide from the world, cower away. And how were we to return? A competition? We should be ruling this world, not merely participating in meaningless contests! With all of you here now, that makes my job so much easier. Wipe out the royals and start anew!”

With a defiant yell, he raised his hands, and the trolls, a horrifying mass of claws and teeth, attacked!

Time seemed to warp, accelerating and decelerating simultaneously, a strange and disorienting sensation. The first thing that registered to me was Domin’s path for Queen Toci. Instinct kicked in and I ran to cut him off, putting myself in between him and Asante’s mother. An action that ended with Domin’s fist in my face. It hurt like hell, but the action gave the queen enough time to retreat.

“Kiala!” Asante called out my name. Before I knew it, he was behind Domin. He whipped Domin around by the shoulder and punched him square in the jaw. “Don’t you ever touch her again!” Asante continued to pummel Domin. When the man fell slump at his feet, he came to me.

“Are you okay?” He lifted me to my feet.

“I think so. Just a bump, really.” I assured him.

“Get out of here, go with the others.” He insisted. “I won’t allow you to be hurt again.”

“No. I’m not leaving you alone.” I pointed at the trolls who were still moving it. There had to be at least fifteen of them.

“He won’t be alone.” Uradis appeared flanked by a mix of ice and fire dragons. The woman was dressed for war.

“How?” I looked around at the collection of warriors by her side.

“I told you I didn’t trust that man. He isn’t the only one with eyes and ears around here.” She winked. “Get to safety, princess.”

I allowed the guard to usher me away from the field.

Asante was right.

He needed to focus, and I wasn’t a warrior. I complied until I turned back. Asante fought off a troll valiantly but didn’t see the one approaching from behind. I tried to break free of the guard who ushered me away, but I was too late. The troll slammed his club right into the back of Asante’s head.

“No!” I ran back to the field, fighting off the guard who tried to hold me back.

I tapped into the connection with my inner dragon and pulled the ice power from within. Focused on the back of the troll that threatened Asante, I opened my mouth and allowed that ice to shoot into its back. It pierced the thick flesh. Though it felt powerful, the ice hadn’t done much outside of irritating the troll, who turned its attention to me.

The ugly thing took three lumbering steps toward me before Uradis was there. Bold and fierce, she lifted a sword with calculated focus and the troll’s head fell from its shoulder. When Uradis nodded at me, I ran to Asante’s side. I helped him to his feet.

“We’re doing this together.” I told him before he could insist I run away again. Fighter or not, this battle was mine as well.

Uradis and her team had already taken out most of the trolls. They weren’t our concern. Domin was, and he was back on his feet.

“False Prince!” he cursed at Asante and charged him.

This time I stepped in the path, letting out another blast of ice that Asante followed up with his fist. He fought Domin, exchanging blows as I worked to weaken him with my ice. I wondered why he hadn’t used his fire to fight, Domin attempted twice but failed, Asante never did. Then I saw the blood at the back of his head. We had to end this quickly.

I focused my ice on Domin’s feet, freezing him from the ankles up, and it worked. The traitor moved slower with each passing moment. I aimed for the final blow of ice that would kill him, but Uradis was there once more. She jumped in between us.

“No, he must pay for his sins! He won’t take the easy way out!”

I nodded and stepped back. As Uradis secured Domin, I felt a sense of pride. I hadn’t run away. I made a stance. Something I had a feeling I’d be forced to do time and time again if I wanted to truly live the life I wanted. Confident in what we’d accomplished and with the trolls subdued, I turned to Asante. Just in time to see the prince pass out.

While Asante was being cared for, I went to the kitchen. There was nothing I could do, and watching him in his unconscious state only made my stomach hurt. Our parents took off together, suddenly united again on the fight against the trolls. Maybe that would take their minds off Asante and I. Uradis and the other dragons secured the captured trolls who fought by Domin’s side, at least those who were still alive.

I returned to Asante. This time, it wasn’t long before he woke to find me sitting beside him.

“You’re here.” He smiled.

“Of course, I am.” I placed my hand on his cheek.

“You weren’t before.” He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed my palm. “I hated myself for telling you to leave.”

“I couldn’t leave this time.”

“The trolls, Domin.” Asante struggled to get up, but I placed my hand on his chest to stop him.

“It’s taken care of, for now.” I told him. “Domin has been captured.”

“Good.” He sighed.

“I need to ask you something.” My heart raced in my chest.

“Anything.” He cleared his throat. “What is it?”

“My mother, she sent you back to me, didn’t she?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “When she got here, she told me about how you talked before she came. She said she only wants you to be happy and though she doesn’t completely agree with our love, she gave me her approval to come to you.”

“Asante, you’re awake.” Queen Toci spoke before I could respond to his confession. “Thank you for saving my son’s life again, but this doesn’t mean-,”

“What my wife meant to say is that we will give you two some privacy.” King Sazi spoke. “Budding loves deserve that.”

“Buddin loves? I-,” Queen Toci ramped up to protest, but again her husband interjected.

“Let’s go, my beautiful wife.” The king grabbed her hand and headed for the door. “We have far more pressing concerns than this.”

“What does this mean?” I looked shocked at the door when it closed behind them.

“It will still be a battle. She won’t give up easily and will make your life harder.” He raised a brow. “But I think my father is on our side.”

“So, she’ll be a typical mother-in-law.” I laughed. “Can’t be any worse than my father. He isn’t exactly on board with this either.”

“In-law?”

All humor left the room when I realized my slip. “I-,”

“No backing down now!” He grinned. “I want-,”

Just then, I shoved the jelly filled pastry into his mouth.

It was his favorite.

“No talking. It's bad for your injuries.” I shook my head. “Just chew and enjoy.”

“Shutting me up with food?” he said around the mouthful.

Holding back my laughter, I nodded. “Yes.”

“I’m okay with that.” He licked his lips and swallowed the food. “There is another way you can shut me up.”

“How’s that?”

Asante slowly slipped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me closer to him. “Like this.”

Asante’s kiss was sweet, like the sugary jelly, lingering on his lips. The familiar flavors of my food were suddenly new and exciting, a symphony in my mouth. A tantalizing mix of savory and sweet moved across my tongue. His lips were burning hot against mine, and his touch sent electric sparks across my skin. I felt like I had finally experienced the reaction I’d seen my customers have so many times before. And I understood.

Our kiss lingered, stretching longer until Asante tried to pull me into the bed with him. But I froze when I felt it again. Just like I had in the cave. Asante’s lips shivered against mine.

“Okay,” I pulled away from him. “Maybe that’s a problem. I don’t want you to freeze every time we’re together.”

“Kiala, you’re on fire. Just as you were then, sweating even.” He brushed his hand against my forehead and I realized then how my body responded to him. “I should have known something was different about you then, but I was just happy to be with you.”

“Is this safe?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” He pulled me back to him, kissing me again for a moment. “Right now, this is bliss. And that’s good enough for me.”

“Me too,” I kissed him back. We could figure out the complexities later.

As I wrapped my arms around him, I knew that was all I wanted.

I would never let it go.

The end.