From Flame and Ash

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  I just raised a brow in answer.

  “Yeah. You get it.” He looked down at his hands and played with Air between his fingers. Such a small show of power, but the precision was amazing. I was getting better, but I was nothing like him. He sighed before continuing. “But I’m just sorry that I left before. I made you do it on your own.”

  “Maybe I wasn’t completely on my own,” I whispered then shook my head. Not wanting to explain that. Not knowing if I could.

  He looked at me then, and I knew I could lose myself in those eyes forever.

  “We’re not soulmates, Rhodes.”

  It wasn’t a question, but he answered anyway. He touched my cheek, and I felt that loss, felt what we couldn’t be. “No. We aren’t. I think the connection was because of many things, and the way that I feel about you hasn’t changed. But, no, we aren’t soulmates.”

  “I don’t know what that means in the grand scheme.”

  “I don’t know either. I missed you, Lyric. And I wish there was a way to fix this. I just don’t know what that is.”

  “I need to focus on me,” I whispered. “Because life is scary, and I have so much more to deal with than who my connection could be with. I need to know who I am. I need to figure out many things. I don’t want to lose you, Rhodes. But maybe just be my friend. Someone I can rely on. Because I don’t really know what to think beyond that. And focusing on what isn’t just hurts. And I have enough hurt right now.”

  “I can do that,” he whispered. “I think…I think that would be best for everyone.”

  And then he ran his knuckle down my cheek again, the same one he had done before, the opposite side as Easton. And then he left me alone.

  I stood in a bedroom that was not mine and wondered what I was going to do next.

  It was like a chapter was closing, and yet another was just beginning.

  I had been right when I told Rhodes that there was so much more to me and my journey than who my connection could be with.

  I just needed to figure out what that was.

  Chapter Twenty

  Dinner was an interesting affair. The rest of the castle was just as ornate as my room yet on an even grander scale.

  The estate itself had water everywhere: fish tanks and waterfalls and little pools and ponds. Everything was light and airy with blues and turquoise everywhere. The walls were made of crystal and glass, but unlike in the Obscurité Kingdom, it didn’t feel like it was part of the crystal itself, rather the construction was a showcase for what Water could do, as well as the territory’s Wielders.

  It reminded me of being under the sea, even though we weren’t. Everyone seemed to be happy that I was there, but it was all a little awkward as if they weren’t quite sure what to do with me. Since I didn’t really know what to do with them either, it made sense.

  The estate looked like a large mansion. Perhaps some would even call it a castle. But there was an actual river running through it. Maybe it was actually one of the small tributaries of a main river, but it was a river with rocks and rapids nonetheless. It trickled at some parts but moved quickly and got loud at others. It traversed the building, with open air surrounding the two exits. I wondered how they kept it secure, but I figured that the Water Wielders knew what they were doing. They’d been doing this for centuries, while I had only been thinking about keeping an estate secure from other Wielders for about a year. If that.

  We were seated in the dining room, and I kept my shoulders rolled back, trying not to get too overwhelmed.

  I had brought clothes with me in my pack, but they had all been fighting leathers, so I had graciously borrowed one of Rosamond’s flowy dresses. I didn’t think it fit me well, but I didn’t really want to sit in fighting leathers at my first formal dinner at the estate.

  Rosamond wore a similar dress that cut into her waist perfectly and made her look regal and beautiful. It was a light, airy cream with folds and pockets that made it look like it flowed just like the river that ran through the building. I felt a little dumpy in comparison, but I didn’t mind. Rosamond was perhaps the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life.

  The frail Lady of Water smiled at me, her dress white with ice-blue trimmings. She was skin and bones with dark circles under her eyes, and when she smiled, the light didn’t reach them. I was afraid one touch might break her. I didn’t know what was wrong with her, but I didn’t miss the looks that both siblings gave their mother. It was as if they were afraid to hurt her. The Lord of Water didn’t seem to notice. And that right there was the reason I was inclined not to like him.

  Rhodes wore a tunic that mirrored his sister’s, and light leather breeches. They weren’t really slacks or jeans or anything I was familiar with, so I figured the old-fashioned term would work. He looked just as hot as he had when I first met him, though his eyes held a weariness that I thought might never go away. Not these days.

  The rest of my team from the Obscurité Kingdom wore their leathers, although Wyn had added a flowy tunic with hers. It made me wonder why I hadn’t thought to do that. Then again, dressing in the Maison realm was still relatively new to me.

  I had been placed on one side of the table in front of Rhodes, right next to the lord. The lady sat on the opposite end with Rosamond at her side. Wyn sat to my right, and Easton was seated at the very end of the table, next to the lady.

  Arwin and Teagan were scattered in the middle amongst the other members of the lord’s inner circle, with Teagan sitting next to the very tall and blond Luken. The two warriors were very similar in stature and attitude, so it was nice seeing them talking to each other.

  I didn’t know if they had met each other before this meeting, but they seemed to be getting along now.

  I, on the other hand, had no idea what to say, so I just sat there, eating quietly as the Lord of Water went on and on about the glory of the territory and how having me there at his side was going to be helpful.

  “Now you see, Priestess, with your help, we’ll make sure that the Water territory is ready for whatever comes. We will prevail.”

  “Father,” Rhodes said, clearing his throat. “Maybe we should discuss this later. And not at the dinner table?”

  I gave Rhodes a thankful smile, and of course, that was when Easton looked over at us. Because why wouldn’t he want to make this dinner even more awkward?

  “Nonsense, boy. The Priestess needs to know what we can do for her.” The unsaid what I could do for him was heard loud and clear, even if there were no words.

  “So, Priestess, do you know what your next plans are? I know the prophecy has long been ignored, but you’re here now. What are your plans?”

  For some reason, I didn’t trust this man. It didn’t matter that he was the father of two of my friends. I didn’t want to tell him anything. And I knew I might be making a mistake, considering that I was here to try and unite everyone. Or at least, I thought. For all I knew, the prophecy meant having to destroy everything. And at that weird thought, I held back an involuntary shiver.

  “You can call me Lyric,” I said quickly. “I prefer to go by that.”

  “Nonsense,” Durin said, waving his hand at me. I really didn’t like that word. Nonsense.

  “You are the Spirit Priestess. You deserve the title. No one should call you just Lyric. Who would just call someone by their name? I am the lord, after all.”

  “Father,” Rhodes began, but the lord cut him off. The fact that I was calling him the lord in my head worried me. I didn’t understand this man, and I didn’t think I ever would.

  “Shush, boy. I know what I speak of.”

  “Father, have you spoken to your brother recently? The king?” Rosamond asked, taking the conversation in a new direction. The Lord of Water grumbled under his breath and then smiled widely. “Of course, dear daughter. Have you Seen something?”

  “Oh, one’s never sure when it comes to visions. Now, what kind of fish is this? I don’t believe I’ve had this before.”

  The co
nversation turned to food, and I met gazes with Rhodes, who just shook his head ever so slightly. Something was going on here that I didn’t really understand. Then again, everything seemed fake when it came to the Lord of Water. He kept saying things that didn’t really have any substance to them. And while I had been uncomfortable in both the Fire and the Earth Estates, I hadn’t felt like everything was just a complete façade. I only had to guess what I would feel when I hit the Air territory. For all I knew, it would be even weirder.

  We finished our meals and then talked about nothing important. Rosamond was very good at keeping the conversation that way.

  I was too far away from Easton to figure out what he was thinking, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that something was pulling me towards him. That had always been the case, even when I first met him and used my Air Wielding with his Fire. There was just something about him. I looked over at Rhodes as I had that thought and swallowed hard, afraid I was making another mistake. Because I felt as if he knew. He knew what I was thinking. And yet it shouldn’t matter. I wasn’t Rhodes’ soulmate, I was the Spirit Priestess. And I had to unravel the prophecy. I had to.

  The Lord of Water left the dinner table before we did. Clearly, he had important business to attend to. He took some of his guards with him. They murmured under their breath with each other as they left, and Rhodes gave me a look before going to follow them.

  Something was happening, and I didn’t know what. But I was going to find out. Not because I felt that it was my business, but because I knew it was.

  If something was wrong in this territory, I needed to try and fix it.

  It hadn’t been lost on me that they hadn’t let me see the light crystal yet.

  Even though it was in the Lumière Court, they hadn’t even talked about it. They had been very careful not to mention it.

  I knew if I asked Rhodes and Rosamond about it, they would tell me, but the Lord and Lady of Water had been very careful. Something was going on here. And we needed to figure it out.

  “Are you ready to go back to our rooms?” Wyn asked. “Maybe fight something. Something feels weird here. I don’t like it.”

  I looked over at her. “I don’t like it either.”

  “It’s like something’s bubbling just under the surface, and they don’t want us to know about it,” Arwin put in.

  “Yeah, I feel like my skin’s just itchy. Like I’m constantly being watched.” I looked around, rubbing my arms.

  “We probably are,” Teagan whispered. “We’re the enemies, after all.”

  “Lyric isn’t,” Easton said softly. “At least, she’s not supposed to be. But you remember what Rhodes said.” Easton put his hand on the small of my back, leading me towards the hallway. I let him. Mostly because if I pulled away, it would make a scene. And everyone was already watching us. I didn’t want to make it worse.

  But I was exhausted. I just wanted to go to bed and then wake up to try and figure out exactly why I was here and what I needed to do next. Why had Rosamond Seen me coming here? Why had the Seer magic pulled me here?

  It felt like a game of cat and mouse right now, and I didn’t know whether I was the cat or the mouse.

  Somehow, I had let Easton lead me to my bedroom, and he closed the door behind me.

  “I thought you said we were going to our own rooms,” I said, rubbing my arms. I felt a sudden chill, and I didn’t know where it’d come from.

  “I don’t understand you, Lyric,” Easton said, shaking his head. “I mean, really?”

  I froze and shook my head in return. “What on earth are you talking about? Why would you say something like that?”

  “You just threw yourself at him. I saw the way he kissed you. I left you two alone because you couldn’t stand to be away from each other. Why didn’t you just follow your little dream boy earlier? Why are you even staying with us? You apparently picked your side.”

  Anger bubbled up in me, and I pushed him. Hitting him hard on the chest. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing,” Easton grumbled.

  “Rhodes is my friend.”

  “Some friend.”

  “Easton.”

  “He’s not the one for you,” he bit out. “He can’t be the one for you.”

  I swallowed hard, looking at him. “And you are?”

  I hadn’t meant to say that. Hadn’t intended to even broach the subject. But he’d started it, and now I would finish it. At least, I hoped.

  Easton froze, his jaw going tight as he looked at me with those dark eyes of his. I wanted to reach out and touch him. Wanted to find out what was wrong. Because I could feel that pull between us, and I knew.

  But something was wrong.

  “No, Lyric. I’m not the one for you.”

  A sharp pain radiated out from my chest, moving all the way down my arms and sending electric shocks to my fingertips. My Air Wielding slid around the room, blowing my hair just slightly, and Easton’s as well, so that same lock fell across his forehead.

  I wanted to brush it away from his skin, but I didn’t.

  The Earth Wielding shuddered within my body, but I held it in, thankful that I didn’t rattle the whole castle.

  My Water Wielding was the one I had trouble with, though, and it slid from my body, swirling the water in my water pitcher to the right ever so slightly. I knew Easton had seen it, but he didn’t say anything.

  What he’d said had hurt.

  He’d said I wasn’t for him.

  Maybe he just didn’t feel it yet. Yes, that had to be it. Because this couldn’t be one-sided. It couldn’t be like before. I couldn’t take that.

  So, I ignored all of it because I had to remember that there were other things to deal with here. I had been pulled into this realm and to the Lumière Kingdom for a reason. I had to stop worrying about my feelings. I had to think about the others.

  They were more important. So, I rolled my shoulders back and pulled in my Wielding.

  “Then stop pushing at me. Just be my friend.” I paused. “I need friends.”

  Before Easton could say anything in response, there was a sharp rap at the door, and then Wyn poked her head in. “Ah, I thought I felt Wielding. Come on now, Easton, I need some girl-time. Go hang out with the guys. I think Arwin and Teagan are going to train a bit out in the field that Rhodes set aside for us.”

  Easton gave me a hard look but didn’t say anything.

  Instead, he turned on his heel and walked out, not saying a word to me. Not telling me why he wasn’t mine. Not relaying how he felt about this conversation. He didn’t tell me anything.

  Like usual.

  Wyn took a few steps into my room, closing the door behind her after Easton had left.

  “There are things you don’t know, Lyric. Things that make Easton the way he is.”

  She reached out to me and pushed my hair back from my shoulders, just looking at me.

  I was done. So done. “I know. That’s what everyone says. I just don’t understand why people keep talking around me. Is it because I’m human?”

  “You’re not human, Lyric.”

  I swallowed hard, trying to come to terms with that fact. “Fine. I might not be hundreds of years old like all of you, but I deserve answers.”

  “You might. You might deserve answers. But I can’t give you them. And one day, Lyric, you might just reach five hundred years old on your own. If we ever get out of this war, that is.”

  I blinked, my mind whirling. I’d never really thought about immortality. Other than how I knew it existed within this realm. If I weren’t still human, then what did that make me?

  My hands shook, and I looked down at my fingers, trying to calm my breathing. This was all too much, and I didn’t want to think about any of it.

  What was I going to do with so many years ahead of me? And even then, did I really have that?

  Because, deep down, I had a feeling that the Spirit Priestess wasn’t supposed to rule, wasn’t supposed to save everyon
e by finding a way to come to peace.

  I had a feeling that no matter what I did, I wasn’t going to be able to control my Wielding, and that meant I wasn’t going to reach even a hundred years old, let alone five hundred.

  But I wasn’t going to think about that.

  Instead, I would try to get some answers.

  “Why don’t you tell me something then?” I said, coming back to our original conversation.

  “I can’t, Lyric.”

  “Why? Just tell me one thing. Tell me why it hurts so much. Tell me what you know.”

  Wyn looked at me, tears filling her eyes. She shook her head before letting out a breath.

  “Easton lost his soulmate, Lyric. He’s not getting another one.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  There was an odd ringing in my ears. Why couldn’t I focus? What was that taste in my mouth?

  Bile? Was that what it was? Why did I feel so sick?

  Soft hands slid down my shoulders and arms and gave my hands a squeeze. I looked up into Wyn’s eyes and tried not to see the pity there. Because there was pity. So much of it.

  “I don’t know if it was my place to tell you, but I needed to. I know I should have waited for him to say something. But I didn’t know if he would.”

  I blinked up at her, trying to clear my thoughts. Because this couldn’t be the only important thing. This couldn’t be the only thing on my mind.

  “He already had his soulmate?” I asked, my voice shaky. I hadn’t meant to ask that. I shouldn’t need to ask that. I shouldn’t be thinking about this at all.

  My focus should be on figuring out what the prophecy said and meant. It should be on figuring out exactly what the Lord of Water was up to with his odd speeches and proclamations.

  My thoughts should be on how to work on my three elements.

  I shouldn’t be focused on what Wyn was saying.