Chapter 16

Merilla’s soft fur brushed against my hand. I reached out weakly, stroking her fur, finding a small measure of comfort in her presence. She curled up beside me, her warmth seeping into my exhausted body.
As I lay there, the weight of the day pressing down on me, I knew this was only a temporary victory. The battle with the darkness was far from over, and the path ahead was fraught with danger. But for now, in the quiet of the night, I allowed myself to rest, my fingers still tangled in Merilla’s fur as sleep finally claimed me.


*****


A week had passed since that morning in the garden. The memory of Kaden’s darkness consuming him—and nearly taking me with it—still lingered, haunting my thoughts. My body felt weak, still recovering from the strain of releasing so much power. But one thing was clear: my powers had awakened, and they were unlike anything anyone had ever seen before.

Each day, I buried myself in the royal library, searching for any clues about my parents. The library was massive, with towering shelves filled with ancient texts and scrolls that told the history of Valtor and its people. Despite my efforts, the answers I looked for remained hidden.

In the afternoons, I met Zaden at the training grounds behind the castle. It was a secluded area, surrounded by high stone walls that provided privacy and security. The ground was covered in soft dirt, perfect for practicing and sparring. Various training equipment was scattered around, but none of it mattered today. Today was all about my hands—my power.

Zaden stood in the center of the grounds, waiting for me as usual. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were focused, assessing me as I approached. He was patient, a trait I had come to appreciate during our training sessions. Despite his serious demeanor, there was a warmth to him that made me feel safe, even when we were pushing the limits of my abilities.

“ Are you ready?” Zaden asked, his voice steady.

I nodded, flexing my fingers nervously. My heart pounded with anticipation. The training had been intense, each session pushing me further than I thought possible. But Zaden was always there, guiding me, teaching me how to control the Frostfire that now surged within me.

“ Remember,” he began, “ the key to mastering frostfire is balance. You must learn to harness both the cold and the heat, to blend them together without losing control.”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, focusing on the energy within me. The FrostFire was a strange, wild force—both freezing and burning at the same time. It was unlike anything I had ever felt, a duality that was both thrilling and terrifying. I centered myself, trying to summon it to my hands.

At first, nothing happened. I could feel the power simmering just below the surface, but it remained out of reach. Frustration overwhelmed me, but I pushed it aside, remembering Zaden’s words. Balance. I needed to find the balance between the two elements.

Slowly, I felt a shift. The air around me grew colder, and a faint blue glow began to emanate from my palms. At the same time, a warmth spread through my chest, a gentle heat that contrasted with the cold. I opened my eyes to see a small flicker of blue flame dancing in the palm of my hand, surrounded by a halo of frost.

“ That’s it,” Zaden encouraged, stepping back to give me space. “ Now, try to maintain that balance while you move.”

I nodded again, taking a deep breath as I began to move through the training exercises Zaden had taught me. I raised my hands, the blue flame flowing through them like an extension of myself. With a flick of my wrist, the blue flame shot forward, leaving a trail of ice and frost in its wake. The flames were both hot and cold, a unique and powerful combination that left a path of destruction in its way.

Zaden watched carefully, his eyes never leaving me as I moved. His presence was reassuring, a steady anchor that kept me grounded. But even with his guidance, maintaining control was difficult. The Frostfire was powerful, unpredictable, and it took everything I had to keep it from spiraling out of control.

“ Good,” Zaden called out as I completed the last exercise, the dummies now scorched and frozen in equal measure. “ You’re getting better at controlling it.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, the blue flame fading from my hands as I lowered them to my sides. My body was trembling from the effort, but there was a sense of satisfaction that came with knowing I was improving.

“ Thank you,” I said, wiping the sweat from my forehead. “I couldn’t do this without you.”

Zaden smiled, a rare expression that softened his features. “ You’re the one doing the hard work, Meara. I’m just here to guide you.”

We continued training for the rest of the afternoon, each session pushing me a little further, teaching me more about the unique power I possessed. By the time we were done, I was exhausted, my body aching from the effort.

But it was worth it. Every day, I felt stronger, more in control of the blue flame. It was still a wild force, but with Zaden’s help, I was beginning to understand it, to harness it in a way that made me feel powerful instead of afraid.

As the sun began to set, , Zaden called for a halt. “ That’s enough for today,” he said, his tone firm but kind.
“ You’ve done well.”

I nodded, too tired to speak as I let my flame die out completely. My arms felt like lead, my legs unsteady as I walked back toward the castle. Zaden fell into step beside me, his presence comforting in the quiet evening.

“ I know this isn’t easy,” he said after a while, his voice thoughtful. “ But you’re doing great, Meara. You’re stronger than you realize.”

I glanced at him, surprised by the compliment. Zaden wasn’t one to give praise lightly, and his words meant more to me than I could express. “ Thank you,” I replied softly, a small smile tugging at my lips.

As we entered the castle, the warmth of the interior a stark contrast to the cool evening air, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I was still far from mastering the Frostfire, but I was getting there, one step at a time. And with Zaden’s help, I knew I could do it.


*****


The days went on, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of Kaden’s absence. I hadn’t seen him since that night when he told me I needed to leave Valtor for my own safety. He wanted to force me to stay, and now that I chose to stay, he wanted me to leave. I knew he was trying to protect me from the darkness that consumed him, but it didn’t make his coldness any easier to bear.

Kaden had gone on and on about the mate bond and how he couldn’t stand to be away from me, yet now, it was like he couldn’t wait to get away from me. Every time we crossed paths, it was just a brief hello, and then he was gone. It was as if he was avoiding me, keeping his distance as much as possible. It made me question everything he’d said about the bond, about us.

Did he even care, or was this just another way to push me away? The thought of it made me sad, but it also infuriated me. Was I just another person he would abandon, like my parents had? The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Without realizing it, the blue flame began to envelope my entire body, making my hair rise up as the cold and heat intertwined.

“ How are you doing that?” Zaden’s voice broke through my thoughts, startled.

I looked at him, the blue flames flickering around me, their warmth and coldness clashing in a delicate balance. The power was there, right beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed. But instead of fear, all I felt was a burning determination.

“ I’m not sure,” I whispered, the flames still dancing around me. “ But it feels like… it’s connected to my emotions.”

Zaden nodded slowly; his expression serious. “ Then you need to learn to control it, Meara. Your powers are linked to your feelings, and if you don’t manage them, they’ll control you instead.”

I took a deep breath, focusing on calming the storm inside me. The flames gradually dimmed out, the frost that had formed around my feet melting away. But the frustration and anger remained, simmering just beneath the surface.

Kaden might want to push me away, but I wasn’t going to let him. Not until I found out who I was, and why I had these powers.