Page 118 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“That’s a terrible deal. My face is quite small.” My voice is muffled against my knees.

Alec laughs again, louder this time.

“Fine. We can share a piece of cake the size of my face. Would that be fair?”

I sniffle a few times and then reluctantly crawl through the dirt towards him, my palms scraping across strewn sticks. Alec takes my hand and helps me out the rest of the way. I sit down, and he plants himself next to me, nudging my knee gently with his.

“You have nothing to worry about, Ellya.” Wiping my cheeks, I dare to look at him. “Yes, I was going to marry, but not for love. I was going to marry because, as a king, duty requires it.”

I scowl at him, understanding his meaning. “This isn’t making me feel better!”

Alec laughs again. “I was so happy when you were born, relieving me from the burden of a loveless marriage in favor of something infinitely more precious and beautiful.”

I sniff one more time as another salty tear tracks down my cheek.

“Ellya, I have never been in love before.”

Cescily leaps to her feet next to me, grabbing my arm as the memory fades away. “You said no murderous rage!”

Shaking her off, I storm in the direction of the house. Red stains my vision as I crouch to my feet, place my palm on the ground, and let the unspooling threads from my belly loose.

Crackling electricity bursts from my fingertips and bleed out, reaching their target without breaking. My power explodes through the center of the house with a boom and it implodes with a rain of golden light. Roof tiles and sandstone fall into the newly formed crater with a great cloud of dust.

A shimmering smoke, smelling of cloves and jasmine, permeates the air around us.

Cescily grabs my arm just as I grasp for the tether that I’ve been desperately trying to ignore, allowing it to lead me where I want to go as I jump into the void.

Cescily and I reappear in the pool courtyard at the palace.

In the middle of the jade green pool—submerged and unaware of my destruction and lingering smoke—is Alec.

His toned body cuts through the water as he swims laps. The muscles of his shoulders ripple beautifully with facets of light from the dying sun shining down on his strong form through the disturbed water.

I break out of my momentary spell and inspect around my feet before I see a loose paving brick and pick it up. Tossing it once in my hand, I catch its heavy weight before aiming it at the back of Alec’s infuriatingly handsome head. I throw it with all my might, and it splashes loud against the surface of the pool.

“Oh, shit!” Cescily laughs.

The brick hits the back of Alec’s head with strength.

A plume of blood discolors the water as he flails awkwardly, small bubbles breaking the surface of the pool.

Alec gains his composure enough to jump above the surface, coughing and spluttering horribly. He shakes his head, sending droplets of water and blood raining around him while a crimson river drips down the side of his face and neck.

Alec rubs his eyes and searches the courtyard for the assailant. His eyes land on me with my hands on my hips, glaring at him with murder in my eyes. I’m beaded with sweat and mottled blotches cover my flaming cheeks.

Alec’s eyes widen in shock before his face shifts to pure rage.

“Ellya!” He slaps the surface of the pool with both hands, sending water flying around him. “What the fuck!”

The blood from his wound is already slowing, and I’m tempted to throw another brick at him.

“You were engaged?” I roar.

Alec pauses before his eyes slowly roam to Cescily, pinning her with the same violence that I’m currently fighting. He laughs darkly, the sound skating across my skin. “Again, Cessy?”

Cescily holds her hands out in surrender, eyes gone wide and apologetic. “I tried to tell her that she already knew! And I tried to tell her to come hear the story from you!”

“How did the subject even come up?”