CHAPTER 11
“Only the one who can scorch with their touch, is the closest Royal ever to be connected with the God of Fire on a deeper level than any other. If the one with the scorching touch arrives, you shall know war is coming and that the one who bears this mark, will be the only one who can stop the curses.” - Book of Azure
THE LUSH, GREEN ROLLING HILLS stretch out into the horizon before us.
We pause at the highest peak of one, taking in the beauty of the scenery.
Koen has stayed quiet, which is pleasantly enjoyable for me not having to listen to him talk for a moment, but as we ride through the Realm, a thought sits in the back of my mind.
There must be an easier way to get to each realm besides traveling on horse. There must be a safer way.
This is nothing like the Ice Nation, or the field of ash… most importantly, nothing like the Desert of Death. Everything feels peaceful. Almost as if my heart is finally able to rest.
But then something rushes over me, a feeling of a thousand bees stinging my body takes over. I clench my body, shutting my eyes just as fast. My lips part, and I exhale a shaking breath as unfamiliar images flash through my mind. I groan, my eyebrows narrowing in tightly to push through the pain.
“What is it?” Florian snaps me from the torture.
My eyes jolt open, catching Florian’s lingering gaze on me shift into a startling expression.
“Your eyes?” He hesitates to speak. “Is everything alright?”
I rub my eyes, feeling the heat radiate throughout my body. “What’s wrong with my eyes?” My hands fall, and Florian tugs on his reins, controlling the frantic behavior of the frozen horse beneath him.
Deep lines form between his ashy brows. “Nothing. I must have made a mistake.”
But his eyes speak a thousand words even if he isn’t. He is startled, the way his brows narrow in, deeper than I have ever seen before. They way his shoulders roll backwards as he tilts his head to the side before ripping his gaze away from me almost in a panic.
“What is wrong with her damn eyes, brother?”
Florian shakes his head. “I saw something that wasn’t there.”
Koen’s hand glides across mine with a delicate touch, glancing over his shoulder towards me. “Are you okay?”
My eyes burn from the torturing agony I just felt, but my body eases as I stare into his emerald eyes. “Yes. I’m okay now.”
Nausea creeps up my throat from remembering the pain. I felt a fire soaring through my skin. As if oxygen was replaced with a scorching fire, burning down my throat. But I will not tell them. I am unsure what happened, but I pray it never happens again.
“You need to soak in the water of Vitaei.” Koen’s body shifts with Zeei, who begins to dig at the ground with his hooves impatiently. “The traveling might have gone to your head.”
“What is a Vitaei?” I question the two of them, brushing the strands of my windblown hair behind my ears as I catch my breath.
“It's the healing water of Eekatia. Only the Royals of Azure may enter.” Koen glances back at me. “There have been tales of others who tried to set foot in the waters of Vitaei and within seconds, were burned alive by scorching fire.”
I uncomfortably shift my body backwards, glaring at the two of them. “Who would be foolish enough to attempt to go in?”
“More than you would think. So many long to even touch the water, begging for the magic to course through them like it does the Royals. But those who try, never live.” Florian shrugs. “I will never understand their stupidity.”
“Everyone wants a taste of the magic and never fears the cost that comes with it. One day they will. But we must see the Queen immediately,” Koen scuffs as he digs his heel into Zeei and I grab his broad body, once again, for dear life.
“Seems as if it's easier for you to touch me now.” Koen glances over his shoulder, his windblown hair whipping at his cheeks. “Must like what you feel under those hands of yours.”
He gives me a sly wink. His dimple perfectly creases in his cheek as his lips pull into a smirk. My teeth grind knowing I have to touch him, but I don’t want to.
“If it makes you feel better, go ahead and believe that touching you is some kind of prize for me,” I say with a sarcastic tone. “But just so you know, as soon as I get off this damn horse, you will be the last thing on my mind. And trust me, the thought of touching you again? Not gonna happen.”
Florian catches up to us, just in time to listen to my snarky response to Koen’s impulsive thoughts. As if I would ever want to touch his body, have my hands on him once more. I’d rather my heart stop beating than let this man have the pleasure of having me near him ever again.
“Did you piss her off again?” Florian hollers over the hooves beating against the mud as we ride.
“I always piss her off.” Koen yanks the reins, and my body jolts backwards by the force. “But it sure as hell is fun to do so.”
Get me off this damn horse.
I roll my eyes, shifting my gaze to the beauty of this Realm, Eekatia. I remember on the ride once we first entered through the Realm wall, Florian explained that this Realm is the Kingdom of all the Realms in Azure and the Queen is the ruler that has reigned since the fallen Deskyiara bloodline.
I would think if this is the Kingdom that rules the realms, where are the guards that protect it?
We continue to ride, the warm breeze whipping at our faces.
A tapestry of small flowers sways in the wind as we ride through them, thousands of vibrant colors, scattered in the grass like a painting.
As we soar through the lands, the ice reflects off of the horse’s coat and onto the flowers beneath us, casting a shade of indigo blue against their petals.
We ride over the hills and a waterfall in the near distance cascades down with wings stretching outwards on each side that catches my eye, its waters a striking shade of teal, possibly the brightest I have ever seen.
The wings aren’t of dragon, but almost of a soft feather.
On top of the edge of the cliff, trees are hidden by the clouds of the sky and a massive boulder with ruby-red lines scattered across it perfectly sits at the edge of the cliffside. As if it watches over the lands.
After what seems like an endless ride under the setting sun, we finally arrive at the final hill.
The scenery opens up to display a stunning white castle in the center of mountains that protect it, the towering spires reaching into the sky.
It sits below us, its walls embellished with detailed golden markings that shimmer in the light of the setting sun.
A glittering stream snakes around the castle, its waters glistening like a ribbon of indigo, yet no bridge connects from where we are, to the castle walls.
As we reach the edge of the land where the castle is just out of reach, rocks and dirt fall against the cliff.
The clear water flows over rocks down beneath us, small fish swim gracefully around the stones.
Florian grunts as his boots slam into the ground, his hands wrapping the reins around his palm before he walks up to the ledge.
“Remember, Koen, make sure she stays far away.” Florian’s jaw clenches as his worried eyes meet mine for a split moment.
I go to remove myself, counting down the seconds until I can remove my hands around Koen’s body, but he yanks me back with one tug.
“Where do you think you are going?” His voice drops to a low whisper. “Any sudden movement and the archers above will have your throat.”
I begin to hesitantly move my body behind Koen’s large frame, blocking my head and neck from the castle view.
“I am with you two… why would they release the arrows?” I mutter.
“They don’t know you.” His jaw ticks as he stays tense. “Even though you are with us, most of the guards of Eekatia don’t trust me.”
I close my eyes for a moment, exhaling calmly before I speak.
“Why don’t they trust you?” My lips tug between my teeth as I contemplate what he will say.
I’ve always suspected him to be dangerous, more of a rebel than his brother, but for the guards not to trust him, I feel my gut instincts have been right about him this whole time.
“I’m a bastard.” He clears his throat, voice dropping to a deeper tone. “Bastards normally aren’t allowed in the castle walls. But they fear Florian.”
My head shifts to the side, resting my head into his back for protection. “And why would they fear Florian?” My voice shakes, staring at Florian who begins to bend down towards the land.
“His curse.”
I hit Koen’s stomach, knowing it’ll radiate pain, but I do it anyway. “What is his damn curse?”
“He will have my tongue if I speak of it.” He takes a deliberate pause, his eyes meeting mine with such intensity it takes my breath away. “And I would have his, if he spoke of the truth of my mother. We have made a pact to never speak of these things. To the grave.”
My heart plummets to the pit of my stomach as he glares into my soul.
My heart flickers wildly as my insides tighten, rolling around like snakes.
His eyes linger on mine for more than what I am comfortable with.
As if he is looking into the depths of who I am, what I will become, and is holding my life in his eyes, dictating every feeling inside of me.
“I told you to quit staring at me like that,” I hiss.
“You might want to look away if you are squeamish with bones breaking.” His lips form a tight line before turning around.
“Bones breaking?” My eyes widen in a panic.
What the hell does he mean, bones breaking? Whose bones will break?
I hear a guttering wail that pierces my eardrums. I hesitantly reach up to my ears, making sure no blood trickles down my skin. My eyes clench as tightly as they can. “What the hell is that!”