Chapter 13

His arm was draped over me possessively, and I could feel his steady heartbeat beneath my cheek. For a moment, I considered slipping out of his grasp and retrieving the pillows, but something held me back. There was a strange comfort in his embrace, a warmth that I had missed for so long. I stayed still, unsure of what to do, my mind racing with questions.

As I lay there, the quiet sounds of the night filled the room—the crackle of the fireplace, the faint rustle of the wind outside. Kaden’s breathing was deep and even, and despite everything, it lulled me back toward sleep. I told myself I would deal with this in the morning, that I would confront him about the pillows and demand my space. But as I closed my eyes, I couldn’t help but feel the safety that his presence brought, a feeling that both unsettled and soothed me.

Before I knew it, sleep claimed me once more, the pillows forgotten on the floor as I drifted back into a dreamless slumber.


*****

The first light of dawn slipped through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I blinked awake, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. As my eyes adjusted, I noticed Kaden was still asleep beside me, his breathing steady and deep. The sight of him so peaceful, almost vulnerable, made my heart twinge, but I quickly shook off the feeling. I had things to do.

Slowly, carefully, I slipped out of bed, making sure not to disturb him. The memory of the night before, when he had removed the pillow wall I’d built, sent a shiver down my spine. The pillows now lay discarded on the floor by his side of the bed. It was as if he couldn’t bear the distance between us, even in sleep.

I quietly dressed, pulling on a simple gown and running my fingers through my hair in an attempt to tame it. Once I was sure I was ready, I slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind me.

The halls were still quiet, the castle not yet fully awake. I made my way down to the dining hall, where the smell of fresh pastries and brewed tea greeted me warmly. As I entered, I was surprised to see Deon, Zaden, and Mike already seated at the long table, each of them looking up as I approached.

“ Meara,” Deon greeted me with a smile. “ We didn’t expect you to be up so early.”

“ I wanted to get an early start,” I replied, taking a seat beside them. “ There’s still so much to search through in the library.”

Deon nodded in agreement. “ The sooner we start, the better. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

We shared a simple breakfast together, the conversation light and easy. Despite everything, I found comfort in their company. They made me feel less alone in this strange, magical world.
After breakfast, we headed to the library, Merilla padding along beside me. The day ahead promised to be long and arduous, but with my friends by my side, I felt a renewed sense of determination. Today, perhaps, we’d finally uncover the secrets of my past.

By noon, we still hadn’t found any information about my real parents. I was tired of sifting through the old records and decided to try something different. I thought maybe the Elemental books could help me figure out how to unlock or control my powers.

I glanced over at the shelves filled with books about Elemental magic and felt a small spark of hope. I walked over to them, picked out a few that looked interesting, and spread them out on a nearby table.

As I flipped through the pages, I saw illustrations and notes about different elemental powers—earth, fire, water, air, and their combinations. None of it seemed immediately useful, but I hoped there might be something that could give me a clue about how to tap into my own abilities.

I skimmed through descriptions of rituals, spells, and special techniques needed to channel these energies. Some of it involved meditation, specific hand movements, and even particular emotions.

“ Find anything useful?” Deon asked, coming up behind me.

“ I’m not sure yet,” I said, turning a page. “I’m looking for anything that might help me figure out how to summon my powers.”

Deon nodded. “ That sounds like a good plan. Sometimes, the answers we’re looking for are hidden in unexpected places. If you need help with anything, just ask.”
I nodded back and kept reading. Hours passed, and the library’s light changed as the sun moved across the sky. I was determined to keep going, knowing that even though finding my parents was hard, learning about my powers could be just as important.

By the time I put down one of the books and rubbed my tired eyes, I had gathered a few leads. I was ready to keep going, knowing that with persistence, I might unlock not just the secrets of my past, but also my own hidden potential.


*****


This morning, we all gathered for breakfast in the garden, where the scent of blooming flowers mingled with the fresh morning air. It was a peaceful setting, a contrast to the tension that lingered between us. Deon, Zaden, Mike, Seth, Kaden and I sat around a large wooden table under a canopy of vines, the sun filtering through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the plates. It had become a comforting routine, this daily gathering, almost like we were a real family. Deon, Zaden, Mike, and Seth felt like brothers to me. But Kaden—he was different.

There was something about him that stirred a confusing mix of emotions. One moment, I felt drawn to him, and the next, I wanted to slap him for his arrogance.

As breakfast ended, I excused myself, ready to retreat back to the library. But just as I stood up, Kaden suddenly rose from his seat and crossed the garden to my side. His hand wrapped around my wrist, his grip firm and cold.

“ Where are you off to, little one?” Kaden’s voice was low, and something in his expression made my heart skip a beat.

“ I’m going back to the library,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“ Without a kiss goodbye?” His grip tightened, and I winced as pain shot through my wrist. His eyes darkened, turning that eerie red, just like the other night.

“ Kaden, you’re hurting me,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He smiled, but it wasn’t his smile. “ Kaden can’t hear you,” a voice that wasn’t his growled, sending a chill down my spine. The darkness had taken over.

Deon, Zaden, Mike, and Seth jumped up from the table, alarmed by the sudden change in Kaden’s demeanor.

“ Kaden, let her go. You’re going to hurt her,” Zaden pleaded, stepping closer.

But Kaden just laughed, a cold, menacing sound that echoed through the garden. Suddenly, his grip on my wrist loosened, only for his hand to clamp around my throat. He lifted me off the ground as if I weighed nothing. I struggled to breathe, my hands clawing at his, but it was useless. The others rushed toward us, trying to pry Kaden’s hand from my throat, but they couldn’t budge him.

As panic surged through me, I felt a coldness spreading through my veins, numbing me from the inside out. My vision blurred, and black spots danced in front of my eyes as I teetered on the edge of consciousness. Then, something unexpected happened. Deep within me, I felt a flicker of warmth—a small, burning ember that grew stronger with every passing second. The coldness within me seemed to recognize this warmth, and instead of resisting it, the two forces began to merge, intertwining like strands of a rope.

The warmth intensified, rapidly expanding until it felt like a roaring fire within me, igniting every cell in my body. It was a wild, untamed energy, and it was growing out of control. I realized with a sudden clarity that this was my power—this was the Elemental force I had been searching for. But it was far stronger than I had ever imagined, and I didn’t know how to contain it.

The fire within me built to an unbearable intensity, and I knew I couldn’t hold it back any longer. The pressure was too much. With a desperate scream, I released the energy.
A bright blue flame erupted from me, engulfing my entire body and exploding outward in a massive shockwave. The force of the explosion sent Kaden flying across the garden, his grip on my throat broken as he was hurled through the air. The ground beneath me cracked and splintered, blue flames licking at the edges of the cracks.

But the flame wasn’t just heat—it was a searing cold, a contradiction of elements that made no sense, yet somehow, they coexisted within me. As the flame spread, it left behind a trail of ice, freezing the very air it touched. Shards of ice formed in the wake of the explosion, sharp and deadly, shooting out in all directions like spears. The others scrambled to build shields, trying to protect themselves from the onslaught, but the ice pierced through the barriers, leaving deep gashes in the ground and splintering the trees nearby.