Chapter 59

Kaden, my mate.

The realization hit me like a storm, a force so powerful it nearly knocked the wind out of me. He was mine as much as I was his. And seeing him, the fierce, strong man who had protected me time and time again, now writhing in agony, broke something inside me. I had never seen him like this, so consumed by pain, and the thought that I couldn’t save him, that I might lose him, made something snap.

The cold rose inside me, a deep, familiar chill that always seemed to come when I was at my most desperate. But this time, it wasn’t just cold. It was fire too, burning from within me, building with an intensity I had never felt before. The heat and cold swirled together, merging and consuming me, until it felt like I was about to explode from the sheer power coursing through me.

I jumped off Merilla, my body reacting before my mind had a chance to catch up. The cold and heat were overwhelming, searing through every part of me. The sensation was both painful and exhilarating, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was Kaden, lying there, and the primal need to protect him surged through me with a fierceness that took over every rational thought.

Blue flames ignited across my entire body, the frostfire roaring to life. My hair whipped wildly around me, engulfed in the icy fire as it crackled in the air. I could feel the stares—Seth, Mike, Zaden, the guards, even the cursed ones. They all stood frozen, wide-eyed, as if they couldn’t comprehend what was happening. But I didn’t care. My eyes were locked on the leader of the cursed ones, the man responsible for Kaden’s pain.
I was beyond fear. The terror that had gripped me moments ago was gone, replaced by something fierce, something territorial. Seeing Kaden like this had awakened something deep within me, something I hadn’t even realized was there. It wasn’t just my power—it was something more primal, more connected to Kaden. To us.

" Get down!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the stillness. There was no hesitation. Zaden, Mike, Seth, and even the guards dropped to the ground without question. The cursed ones stood frozen, unsure of what to do, as they watched me with wide eyes. But I didn’t care about them.

All I cared about was protecting Kaden.

The magic within me surged, and I could feel the power building in my core, growing stronger with each breath. I had felt this before, the day I had first summoned my powers. It had nearly drained me completely, left me barely alive. But this time, I didn’t care if it cost me my life. I would do whatever it took to protect my mate.

The fire and ice burst from me in a wave, a blinding light spreading out in every direction. The force of it was so strong that it shook the ground beneath me, and I heard the screams of the cursed ones as the magic hit them. They didn’t stand a chance. The icy flames engulfed them, freezing and burning at the same time, and within moments, their screams faded into silence.

The light spread for miles, a beacon of power that illuminated the darkened forest. But within the chaos, there was order. I had created a barrier, a protective shield that surrounded Kaden, Zaden, Seth, Mike, and the guards, keeping them safe from the deadly magic. The Dravonians, however, were left outside the barrier, their bodies consumed by the burning ice as it destroyed them.

I could feel the magic pulsing through me, stronger than it had ever been before. It was like I had tapped into something deeper, something I hadn’t known existed. The frostfire raged around me, its icy tendrils licking at the air as the last of the cursed ones fell. But even as the threat disappeared, I didn’t stop. The power kept flowing, an unrelenting torrent that I couldn’t control.

I stumbled, my vision blurring as the magic drained me. My legs felt weak, and I struggled to stay on my feet, but the power wouldn’t stop. It kept pushing, pulling, consuming me. I could feel myself slipping, losing control.

And then, through the haze of power, I heard a voice.

" Meara!"

It was Kaden. His voice cut through the fog of magic, anchoring me, pulling me back from the edge. I blinked, trying to focus, and saw him. He was on his feet, his eyes locked on mine, filled with a mixture of awe and fear.

" Meara, stop!" he shouted, his voice firm but desperate. " You’re going to hurt yourself!"

I tried to speak, to tell him I couldn’t stop, but the words wouldn’t come. The power was too strong, too overwhelming. I could feel it tearing at me, burning through every part of me. My body felt like it was on fire, the heat and cold warring inside me.

Kaden moved toward me, his hands still crackling with the remnants of his lightning, but he didn’t hesitate. He stepped through the flames, through the icy fire, and reached for me. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, and the moment he touched me, something changed.

The power, the uncontrollable magic that had been raging inside me, began to calm. It was like Kaden was the key, the only thing that could bring me back. His presence soothed the storm inside me, and the flames slowly began to fade.

I collapsed against him, my legs giving out as the last of the magic drained away. Kaden held me, his arms strong and steady, and I buried my face against his chest, gasping for air. My whole body ached, every muscle trembling from the effort of holding so much power.

" It’s okay," Kaden whispered, his voice gentle now.

" I’ve got you."

I clung to him, my body weak and exhausted, but the relief of having him there, of knowing he was safe, was overwhelming. Tears pricked at my eyes, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep them at bay.

" I’m sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. " I didn’t mean to—"

" You saved us," Kaden interrupted, his hand stroking my hair. " You saved everyone."

I pulled back slightly, looking up at him. His face was pale, but there was a soft smile on his lips, and the pain that had gripped him earlier was gone. His eyes, those deep, intense eyes, were filled with something I hadn’t seen before.

Gratitude. And something deeper.

" I couldn’t lose you," I whispered, my voice trembling.

" I couldn’t—"

Kaden pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me. " You won’t lose me," he said, his voice firm. " Not now. Not ever."

I nodded, too exhausted to say anything else. My body felt like it had been through a war, and in many ways, it had. The frostfire had drained me almost completely, and I could feel the aftershocks of the magic still pulsing through me, but for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of it.

I had control. And Kaden was by my side.

As I leaned against him, his arms still wrapped around me, I glanced around at the others. Zaden, Mike, Seth, and the guards were all on their feet now, watching us with a mixture of awe and respect. The cursed ones were gone, their bodies reduced to ash and ice, and the forest was eerily silent in the aftermath of the battle.


*****


By the time we reached Kaden’s castle in the Water Kingdom, the sun was already beginning to rise, casting a soft, golden glow across the horizon. My eyes felt heavy from the long journey, my muscles still sore from training and the battle with the cursed ones. But the moment I caught sight of the palace, all the exhaustion fell away.

I was awestruck.

The palace stood perched on the peak of a mountain, surrounded by mist and cascading waterfalls. Water poured down from the palace like a living, flowing part of it, turning the entire mountain into a mesmerizing, natural waterfall. The sound of the rushing water filled the air, blending with the gentle breeze that carried the scent of the sea.

Small islands dotted the water below, each one connected by delicate, arched bridges that seemed to float just above the surface. The islands were lush with greenery, their edges lined with colorful flowers that contrasted beautifully with the deep blue of the water. And beneath the surface, in the crystal-clear water, I could see something that made me stop in my tracks.

Homes.

There were entire homes beneath the water, shimmering like something out of a dream. They were encased in what looked like air bubbles, giving them an almost magical appearance. The structures were elegant, almost like they had grown naturally from the seabed, their walls made of a translucent material that sparkled under the sunlight. Inside, I could see movement—people living, walking, and working as though they were above ground. It was as if an entire city thrived beneath the surface, hidden from the world above.