Page 117 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“You would love the library, Elly,” Cescily tells me. “It’s a massive cavern filled floor to ceiling with everything you’d ever dream of.”

“It sounds lovely, Cessy. Maybe you can show me the next time I come to The Capital?” I ask her hopefully.

Cescily stops to think, and then snorts a laugh. “On second thought, you might not love it.” She’s grinning at me mischievously.

“Why not?”

“I forgot, it’s being renamed after Rahleigh’s father after he gave a donation of rare books from the Territories.”

I stop plucking at flowers and sit up, anxiousness gripping my belly. “Who?”

“Rahleigh,” Cescily repeats, confused, searching me for recognition. “Alec’s ex-fiance.”

Sweat breaks out across my lip, nauseating acid churning in my gut. My breathing is rough as her words sink in.

Cescily’s face morphs to realization and she curses. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”

My breaths become panicked gasps when I turn to Alec, him and Kraeston now watching us with concern.

“Elly,” Alec says and begins walking towards me.

A strange ache in my stomach develops, a heaviness that begs to be relieved. As I look at Alec with betrayal in my eyes, I instinctively put my hand on the ground and pull on that powerful pang. Veins of white-gold lights run across the ground before coming up in a beam of light just beyond the door of the cottage, collapsing the roof in a plume of smoke.

Alec stops and stares at me in shock.

“Elly!” Cescily yells,but she sounds far away.

Nana appears outside of the cottage, panicked. “What happened?” she asks, turning on the spot, searching for the threat.

A tight sob escapes my throat before I stand and run.

“Ellya! Wait!” Alec yells, but I don’t stop.

Hot daggers scrape at my insides as I run, crying hysterically.

Alec was going to marry someone else.

The thought makes me sob harder, and I increase my speed. I hear Alec racing behind me, yelling my name. Scampering into my favorite magnolia, I hide in the small space beneath the branches, knowing Alec won’t fit. I pull my knees to my chest and bury my face, letting my feelings bleed from my eyes.

“Ellya,” Alec says softly, crouched low and peering at me between the branches. “Please, come out and speak to me.”

My response is to place my hand on the ground, directing my new power towards him, but it’s weaker now. Alec curses and jumps out of the way before it can hit him.

“I am sorry. That is not how you should have learned about my previous engagement.” Hearing it from his mouth, confirming it wasn’t some joke or lie, makes me sob harder.

“You are the only one I will ever love!” I yell pitifully. Alec sighs audibly and asks me to come out again. I shake my head and bury my face further, leaves rustling beneath me.

“Ellya, I will not stop you from having the same experiences as others—if that is what you want,” Alec says with a tight voice.

I pull my head up furiously at his insinuation.

“No! I don’t want to love anyone else. I want to be the only one you will ever love!”

Alec looks pleasantly surprised before his face breaks out into my favorite, wide smile, and he laughs.

“Go away!” I yell, embarrassed, and bury my face in my knees again.

“Come out so I can tell you why I am laughing. Please? I will take you into the city and we can share a piece of strawberry cake the size of your face after.”