Chapter 54

He pulled back slightly, his gaze still holding mine, but this time, there was a softness in it—a patience that made me feel safe. “ Whenever you’re ready,” he repeated, his voice a gentle promise.

I nodded, my heart still racing, but now there was a new feeling—something that felt almost like hope. “ Okay,” I whispered.

He smiled, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like we were on the same page. The tension between us hadn’t disappeared, but it had shifted. It was no longer something I feared. Instead, it felt like something to be explored. To be understood.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.



*****


The clang of metal rang through the training grounds as I faced Zaden, sweat dripping down my forehead. My muscles burned, but I didn’t stop. Zaden pushed me harder every day, and I welcomed the challenge. I needed to master my abilities, and he wasn’t the type to let me slack off, even if I wanted to.

" Come on, Meara," Zaden taunted, smirking as he twirled his sword effortlessly in his hand. " You can do better than that."

I narrowed my eyes, feeling the pulse of frostfire in my veins. It surged through me, ready to be unleashed. I swung my sword, aiming for his side, but he easily parried the blow. With a quick twist, he knocked me off balance, sending me stumbling back.

" You’re distracted," Zaden said, raising an eyebrow.

" Focus."

I was about to retort when a burst of laughter caught my attention. Mike and Seth were talking a few feet away, their voices carrying over the training field. I couldn’t make out all their words, but their excitement was obvious. I blinked, momentarily losing track of what I was supposed to be doing.

" What’s going on?" I asked, curious despite myself.

Zaden sighed, stepping back to give me a break. " Go ahead, I know you’re not paying attention anymore."

I flashed him a quick smile before walking over to Mike and Seth. They hadn’t noticed me yet, too caught up in their conversation.
"...can’t wait to see what it will look like this year," Seth was saying, grinning from ear to ear.

Mike nodded in agreement. " Yeah, I heard the Crystal-Light Ball is going to be incredible. Last year’s was great, but I think this one will be even better."
" The Crystal-Light Ball?" I interrupted, tilting my head in curiosity.

Both of them turned to look at me, surprised that I’d been listening in. Seth scratched the back of his head sheepishly, while Mike crossed his arms with a grin.
" You don’t know about it?" Mike asked, a teasing tone in his voice.

I shook my head. " No, I’ve never heard of it. What is it?"

Seth jumped in before Mike could answer. " Every year, one of the Elemental Kingdoms hosts a grand ball. It’s a huge event, Meara, like nothing you’ve ever seen. Nobles from all over attend, and there’s dancing, feasting, the works."

" And this year it’s in the Water Kingdom," Mike added. " They call it the Crystal-Light Ball. It’s supposed to be the most extravagant one yet."

My heart raced a little. A ball held in one of the Elemental Kingdoms? The thought of seeing another kingdom intrigued me. I had spent most of my time in the Elemental Kingdom of Earth and hadn’t seen much of the others. The idea of exploring a place as mystical as the Water Kingdom was exciting.

" When is it?" I asked, trying to hide my growing interest.

" In two days," Seth said, his grin widening. " You should come. It’ll be a good break from all this training."

I bit my lip, considering it. I had been working so hard, training almost every day with Zaden, trying to get a handle on my powers. But the thought of a ball, of seeing another kingdom and experiencing something new, was tempting.

" I’ll think about it," I said, giving them a small smile before turning back toward Zaden. He was still watching me, his arms crossed over his chest.

" Don’t even think about slacking off just because you want to go to a ball," Zaden called out, his tone half-serious, half-teasing.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the excitement that bubbled up inside me. After training, I mind-linked Merilla, eager to learn more about the Crystal-Light Ball.

“Merilla, can we meet up? I want to talk about something.”

There was a brief pause before I felt her presence in my mind. “ Of course, I’ll be in the garden.”

I quickly made my way to the garden, my thoughts racing. Merilla would know more about the ball and whether I could go. The bond between us had grown stronger since she revealed herself as my spirit animal, and I trusted her advice more than anyone else’s.

When I reached the garden, I found her waiting for me, perched gracefully on a stone bench. Her white fur glistened in the sunlight, and her eyes gleamed with curiosity as I approached.

" I overheard Mike and Seth talking about the Crystal-Light Ball," I said, sitting beside her. " It’s in two days, and it sounds incredible. Do you know anything about it?"

Merilla’s eyes sparkled with amusement. " The Crystal-Light Ball is a grand event, Meara. Each kingdom takes turns hosting it, and this year, it’s the Water Kingdom’s turn. It’s a time for celebration, diplomacy, and... other matters."

Her cryptic tone didn’t escape me, but I didn’t press her on it just yet.

" I want to go," I admitted. " I’ve been training so hard, and I think it would be a good opportunity to see another Elemental Kingdom. Plus... it sounds like fun."

Merilla nodded, her expression thoughtful. " It could be a good experience for you. The Water Kingdom is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Its beauty is... unique."

Her words stirred something inside me. The idea of seeing the Water Kingdom, of attending such a prestigious event, was enticing. But there was also a nagging thought in the back of my mind.

" Kaden will be there, won’t he?" I asked quietly.

Merilla gave me a knowing look. " Yes, he will. As the king of the Elemental Kingdom, his presence is required at events like this. And I heard that he has a special announcement."

I chewed on my lower lip, conflicted. After everything that had happened between Kaden and me, part of me wanted to avoid him, to figure things out on my own. But another part of me, a stronger part, wanted to see him again. I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward him, the way my heart raced whenever he was near.

" I don’t know how to feel about that," I admitted. " There’s so much between us, and I’m not sure I’m ready to face it."

Merilla tilted her head, her eyes soft with understanding. “ You don’t have to decide everything at once, Meara. Going to the ball doesn’t mean you have to confront your feelings right away. Take it one step at a time."

Her words brought me some comfort, but the uncertainty still lingered. I knew that seeing Kaden again would stir up emotions I wasn’t ready to deal with. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but be drawn to him, to the bond that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.

After a moment of silence, I made my decision.

" I’ll go to the ball," I said, standing up. " I need to see more of the world beyond the palace, and maybe... maybe I’ll figure things out along the way."

Merilla smiled, her tail flicking lightly. " Good. It will be a memorable night, I’m sure."

As I left the garden, my mind was already racing with thoughts of the Crystal-Light Ball. But then it dawned on me—I didn’t have a gown for the ball. Just as I was walking through the palace doors, my thoughts racing about what to wear and how I could possibly pull it off in time, I bumped into something firm. The scent hit me instantly, a mix of pine and something darker, more intoxicating, which had my heart racing. I didn’t need to lift my head to know who it was because there was only one person who could make me feel this incredibly overwhelmed, this consumed by emotions.

" You’re in a hurry," Kaden’s deep voice rumbled, amusement lacing his words. " What could possibly distract you like that?"

" I… I was thinking about the Crystal-Light Ball," I stammered, still feeling the heat from where I’d collided with his chest. My pulse quickened as I met his gaze, those caramel eyes of his softening just a bit at the mention of the ball.