Broken Flames (The Elemental Arrangement #1)

by M.K. Ahearn

“I don’t think we quite finished our discussion the other night,” he said. “And now you’re hurrying off. What’s the rush? He’d run off like a coward before, but now in front of his guards he was trying to act tough. “You know what you’re right. Let’s settle this,” I said a slow grin now curling my lips. Any fear I had of what my father would do to me for harming Cyrus left my mind.

“Training courtyard,” I stated. “We settle this properly.” Shoving past him, I headed in the direction of the training yard. I didn’t care if he followed or not. If he didn’t, word would spread from just those three guards, and no one would respect him anymore, and if he did follow I’d beat him in a challenge and take care of this issue once and for all.

“First to yield loses,” I shouted across the space. “And if I refuse to yield?” he asked. “Then you die,” I said under my breath before making the first move.

“Yield!” I demanded, every gaze in the courtyard fell on us. No one dared to make a sound. “Never,” he spat in my face. “Don’t make me do this. Yield!” “You wouldn’t, you’re too much of a coward,” he taunted with a laugh.

I would kill him for what he did to Koraine. He was a thorn in my side, and I wanted him gone. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear the crowd’s gasp when my father entered the courtyard. “Enough,” the king’s voice bellowed through the space. I looked up, finding my father standing above me. His glare was enough to tell me he wasn’t pleased. I stood up, releasing Cyrus from my grip. He had red welts already forming on his neck. The burns would leave a nasty mark. Cyrus hurried off before the king could change his mind. My father turned his back on me, striding off.

As I watched him leave, another familiar face caught my eye. Koraine was standing with Nyla, watching. My gaze settled on Koraine’s, and a pit formed in my stomach as I saw the look of horror on her face. She slipped back in to the crowd, disappearing into the palace. I thought she would’ve been glad. Cyrus finally got what he deserved. Instead, she looked just as disappointed in me as she had him.

My eyes remained glued to the prince. Slowly, he met my stare as his father disappeared from sight. The way his eyes bore into me, like he was trying to tell me something pulled at my heart. I didn’t want to believe he’d done this for me. I never asked for this, but the moment our eyes locked I knew. Bellamy would’ve killed Cyrus for laying a hand on me had no one stopped him.

I had told Koraine I couldn’t give myself to her the way she pleaded with me to. I still stood by that decision, but it pained me more than she’d ever know. My heart mourned for everything I could’ve had with Koraine. A genuine and true marriage, but my father made that impossible.

I knew, although I couldn’t give her my heart, I would burn the world for her.

“Is it what you imagined?” Bellamy asked. “Huh?” “The ball, is this what you expected it to be like?” As the words left his mouth, I found his gaze raking over my appearance. He took in every last detail of my dress. “Honestly, I didn’t expect it to be this…” I trailed off, trying to find the right word. “Big.” The prince gave a warm chuckle. “This is supposed to be the most extravagant event of the year. A chance for us to show off our passion and love for each other before getting married,” he said, like he was reciting a rehearsed explanation.

“What’s so funny?” the prince asked. “I won’t pretend that we have some great passion and love between us when you keep pulling me in and pushing me away again. I heard you loud and clear this time, Bellamy. If you want to pretend there is nothing between us, then that’s what I’ll do,” I snapped, letting my emotions get the better of me and hating every spiteful word as I said them.

“Do not think for one moment that this isn’t killing me inside,” Bellamy whispered, in that low tone that warmed my core. Letting go, he turned, stalking off into the crowd.

“Why am I here Cyrus? You know what happens to me if anyone spots me here,” the man demanded. “This is the final payment,” Cyrus said in a hushed tone. I didn’t recognize the other man. He was no guard or noble that spent time at the palace. His pale skin tone was odd for an Abelonian. “There is a boat waiting by the docks for you. The captain will take you to Zetron and you can find passage back to Luheo from there,” Cyrus explained. I slapped a hand over my mouth before my gasp could escape. This man wasn’t Abelonian, he was from Luheo. The kingdom that was about to go to war with us. Cyrus was paying someone from Luheo while the palace was looking for a traitor. As much as I didn’t want to believe it, the pit in my stomach told me I knew exactly what was happening. Cyrus had betrayed Abelon. Bellamy had never trusted Cyrus, and now I knew I shouldn’t have either.

Oh shit!

“My son’s bride will help lead us to victory over Luheo. She has agreed to convince her people to submit to our requests and help us in defeating the air kingdom once and for all,” the king bellowed to the room with his gaze still on me. He was waiting for my reaction. His words elicited cheers from the crowd. I was forced to listen in complete disgust and horror. Trying to hide my emotions, I could feel myself tensing. I couldn’t show him that his words affected me. It was exactly what he wanted.

Spotting Nyla in the crowd, one glance told me she was just as clueless as I’d been. Spotting me, she mouthed I’m sorry with a sympathetic look.

I wasn’t sure exactly where to take her. Every inch of the palace had ears and whispers carried. I needed to explain to her that I’d never intended for this to happen. That I would never use her like this. All night I’d been trying to think of every possible way I could avoid this come tomorrow. I never expected my father to announce this to all the attendees tonight. She needed to know I would never use her emotions or trick her into falling for me to force her into this. I had only been trying to protect her from my father by distancing myself and I’d still failed. Heading straight out of the palace entry, I kept walking until we reached the flames of the gates. Parting them, I allowed Koraine to step through. Her face was pale, and her eyebrows were pulled together in thought. I tried to reach out to take her hand, but she pulled away. A lump formed in my throat, realizing that I’d done everything wrong. My father had manipulated me, and played me for a fool.

“Did you know?” she whispered the same question she’d asked at the palace. The defeat in her voice pained me. “I knew he wanted to use you to win over Morwen,” I admitted, watching my words hit her like physical blows. “But I had no idea he would make that speech tonight. You have to believe, I’ve been trying to think of any way to get you out of this.” “Why wouldn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped. Instead, you pushed me away,” Koraine argued. “I know,” I admitted, realizing I had done everything wrong. Our hands brushed against each other, and Koraine didn’t pull hers away. The touch of her skin on mine had my heart racing. With all the uncertainty, I knew one thing. What I felt for Koraine was real. She lit a flame deep within me that I never knew had been extinguished.

Slipping behind the waterfall, I created a large fire in my hands. There was a pile of logs already in the cavern, and I sent the fire straight toward it, lighting it. I’d collected the logs days before, planning to someday bring Koraine here after the wedding. The fire illuminated the space, revealing the cavern the size of bedroom chambers. The wonder on Koraine’s face was enough to tell me I’d made the right choice. She needed a safe space in this kingdom. One where she could feel herself, without being under the watchful eyes of the palace. “What is this place?” she asked. “Probably the only place you’ll find water in this kingdom of flames. It’s a natural hot spring so the water here is always warm,” I chuckled. “And now it’s yours.”

“Why?” she asked. “You deserve it,” I admitted. “Ervin mentioned you told him about your home and how you missed it. I wanted to give you a small piece of Morwen here.” My father’s speech had made me realize one thing. Koraine was no safer in Abelon if I distanced myself than she was if I just admitted my desires. We were both caught under his controlling rule and there was nothing we could do to change that. At least together we stood a better chance of surviving, especially with war on the horizon. Koraine looked surprised by what I’d admitted. “I thought if I kept you at arm’s length I could protect you from my father. Now I see that isn’t true. No matter what he will find a way to manipulate us both. I just wanted to give you a place where you felt safe. Where you felt more at home.”

“When did things change?” she asked, her voice a whisper and something vulnerable shining in her gaze. “From the moment you stepped off that damned ship I knew you were going to be my weakness. When I saw Cyrus’s hands on you, I just about lost my mind. I wanted to incinerate him where he stood. And again, when I saw those smugglers trying to harm you, I couldn’t bear it. You have a hold on my heart, that no matter how hard I try I can’t shake.” “But we are born enemies. Fire and water aren’t meant to work. Our kingdoms will always be rivals even with this peace negotiation,” she barely got the words out. “If you want to vilify me, that’s fine, but I won’t keep denying how I feel.”

“Falling for you is wrong,” she paused, pressing a hand against my chest. “But no more than being given to another kingdom as a negotiation.” “You belong to no one,” I assured her in a low growl. “What if right now, I just want to belong to you?” She glanced up from under her thick eyelashes.

“Say it again,” I whispered, needing to hear the words once more. “I belong to you. Every last part of me is yours, Bellamy,” she said, catching her breath.

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