Embers to Flames (Fates Entwined #1)

Chapter Sixteen

As dawn’s light filters through the canopy of my bed, I awaken to a world reborn. My limbs stretch with a grace I’ve never known, and a rush of sensations flood my senses. The forest’s heartbeat thrums in my ears, a melody of life that resonates deep within my core.

I am no longer the person I once was. I am an Elf, a creature of magic. My fingers trace the new-found points of my ears, a symbol of my transformation. With each breath, I feel the pulse of the earth, the whisper of the wind, and the warmth of the sun as if they are part of my very being.

“ Rosanhi ?” Theo’s voice feels—distant—hesitant, filled with curiosity. “ Are you awake ?”

I turn to look at him—but he isn’t there.

“Theo?” I say, bewildered that I am hearing him, but not seeing him.

“ Come downstairs as soon as you are ready, my sweet. We’ll all be waiting for you.”

Wait, am I hearing him in my head?

“Yes, you are hearing me in your head. It’s called soulspeaking. Don’t try to figure it out just yet.” His reply comes through my mind like a hushed echo. Soft, but still clear enough to comprehend. “I’ve left you some new clothes in the bathroom. Your others probably won’t fit now.”

I reach up and place a palm to my forehead, my temples are starting to throb.

Won’t fit?

I throw off the silken sheets and go to stand up.

Am I—taller?

Theo chuckles softly in my mind, “Yes, you are taller. But not by much. Just enough to notice.”

With a deep breath, I walk over to the bathing room, my ears perking up at the sound of running water. I thought the sound of the waterfall was intense before. Now, it’s giving me a migraine. I step over to the mirror and rub my temples again. I can’t help but stare at my reflection in the mirror. The person looking back at me is not the same as it was yesterday. I am taller. I’m also leaner and an ethereal grace seems to radiate from my very body. My fingers trace the outline of my ears, now longer and more pointed than before. The change is astounding.

The clothing that Theo left for me is a simple, flowing dress in deep emerald-green, with an elegant yet refined design. A pair of soft, suede boots sits next to it, their insides lined with fur. I slip into the outfit, enjoying the way it feels against my skin.

Stepping out of the bathroom, the cool morning air hits my neck. The scent of breakfast wafts up the stairs, filling my nose with the aroma of freshly baked bread and rich tea.

“Are you ready, my sweet? Don’t be shy. You are magnificent.”

I feel a sort of—warm—shiver run down my spine. Almost as if Theo’s fingers are slowly traipsing from my neck to my tailbone. The sensation sends a tingle down through my loins, causing me to arch my back and let out a soft moan.

“Ohhh…w-was that you as w-well?” I stutter.

“This is going to be so much fun. Now get your ass down here!”

I didn’t have to see Theo’s face to know he was smirking. “Alright, here I come.”

The sound of my footsteps echoes softly against the cement walls as I make my way down the stairs. Each step is taken with grace and precision, my new-found agility allowing me to move with a fluidity that was once unattainable. As I enter the dining hall, Theo stands to greet me.

“Good morning, my sweet.” He takes my hand, softly kissing the back of it. The quartet of lords gaze upon me, a blend of astonishment and intrigue evident in their eyes. I feel their stares like a weight on my shoulders, but I maintain my composure.

Theo pulls out a chair for me at the head of the table, and I take my seat. With a flourish of his hand, a cup of tea and a plate brimming with pastries materialize before me.

“Cream and sugar, yes?” he confirms. I can only stare, wide-eyed with wonder and manage a slow nod.

As if by magic, my black tea lightens to a creamy hue. I take a sip, finding it perfectly sweetened.

Erhorn rises, his presence commanding silence. “We should discuss the obvious,” he begins, his tone even but firm. “The events of last night’s Fire Rites demand discussion.” I look up at him, then turn my head to survey the other lords who are all looking at me with intense curiosity.

“Did I do something… wrong?” I ask, my voice tinged with concern.

“No… not an error per se,” Lord Ailwin interjects, his voice a soothing balm. “But the ceremony’s outcome was… unexpected.”

Lord Phirel stands abruptly, his voice booming like thunder. “Unexpected, but not unwarranted, Ailwin! She was made Elf for a reason!”

Across the table, Lord Klaern mutters darkly, his words a barely audible rumble. Yet, even with my new-found senses, the only discernible word is one I’ve never heard before now, “Destinara. ”

The room falls into a charged silence after Lord Klaern’s cryptic utterance. Theo’s hand finds mine under the table, a silent reassurance amidst the brewing storm of voices.

Lord Ailwin clears his throat, drawing the room’s attention once more. “We must not forget that the Gods have chosen Rosanhi. It is not our place to question the ancient magics at work, but instead to understand and support the path she’s been set upon.”

Erhorn nods, his gaze softening as he looks at me. “Ailwin speaks wisely. The Fire Rites have always been a beacon of our kind’s future, and Rosanhi’s transformation is no exception. We should be celebrating, not casting doubt.”

Theo tightens his grip on my hand, and his voice echoes in my mind once more.

“They are right, you know. You’ve been given a gift, a chance to bring change. And I will stand by you through it all.”

Just then, I hear the front door of the temple open slightly and a servant’s hesitant footsteps follow. I spring to my feet.

“Someone is here.”

Erhorn looks at me, a smile forming at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, dear girl, we know.” He turns to shout towards our new guest, still standing in the other room. “Come inside boy! What news do you bring us?”

A small Human boy slowly creeps into the dining hall, a scroll in his hand. “A message from the King.” He announces, bowing deeply as he presents the scroll to Erhorn. The room tenses as the boy’s words hang in the air .

“Thank you, son. You may go now.” Erhorn takes the scroll, unraveling it carefully and scanning the contents. His eyebrows furrow as he reads, then he looks up, his gaze sweeping over each of the lords before settling on me and Theo. “It seems the King is planning to join us here at the temple,” Erhorn says, his voice grave but not unkind. A murmur of surprise ripples through the lords. “We shall welcome His Majesty graciously.”

Theo takes me by the hand again, “Let’s take a stroll, my sweet. The waterfall is particularly stunning at this hour of the day.” He locks eyes with me, a suggestive grin forming on his face.

“If we sit here any longer, I might just throw you on this table and fuck you while they watch.” A warm sensation flows from behind my ear and down towards my chest, tingling my nipples, causing them to harden beneath my dress. I look towards Theo, and he gazes at me with a sultry grin. The tingle moves down my belly and straight into the sensitive part of my core, causing my thighs to tighten involuntarily. I can feel a fierce heat growing within me, a wild longing that I can’t control.

“Let’s go,” I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest. I cannot resist Theo’s seduction any longer.

Erhorn places a comforting but firm hand on my arm, “Rest assured, my dear. We’ll unravel this mystery.” He offers a nod of promise. “Savor the day. You are an Elf now; and you’ve got a wealth of abilities to discover, but remember, you’re not on this journey alone. Ever. Understood? ”

“Yes sir.” I respond, respectfully.

Theo leads me out of the temple doors and towards the cacophony of a tumbling cascade. Nestled within the rugged arms of a vast mountain range is a majestic display of mist and raw power. The water plummets with a thunderous roar. The view is just as Theo had described—magnificent. The overwhelming noise however… “Will I always hear sounds like this? Isn’t there a way to… turn it off?” I shout, hands over my ears.

Theo steps before me, placing his hands over mine. His lips are moving but no sound is heard. I realize he is demonstrating deep breathing. Inhaling through his nose, then exhaling sharply through pursed lips, eyes fixed on mine. I follow his lead, matching his actions. As we breathe in unison, the roar of the waterfall begins to diminish.

“Better?” Theo looks at me with a dimply smile.

“Much.” I reply.

“Indeed,” Theo nods, his smile broadening. “The waterfall’s roar can be overwhelming, but with focus, you can find peace even in the chaos.”

We stand there for a moment longer, the mist from the waterfall surrounding us in a cool embrace. I feel a sense of calm I hadn’t noticed before, the rhythmic sound of the water now a soothing backdrop to Theo’s serene presence. The weight of my new life begins to bear down on me, and I struggle to keep my emotions in check.

“Come,” he says, gesturing towards a narrow path that snakes along the mountain’s edge. “There is much to see, and each sight has its own lesson to teach.”

Approaching the waterfall, Theo gently guides me back and behind the cascade of cool liquid. A secluded cavern, carved out by the relentless force of water over a millennium, is a sanctuary of tranquility beneath the tumultuous veil. The cave’s mouth, though obscured by the waterfall’s curtain, is an archway to another world.

Inside, the air is damp and fresh, filled with the scent of moss and earth. The light from outside filters through the waterfall, casting a moving mosaic of light that dances across the cave walls. Venturing deeper, the cave reveals its secrets—a world untouched by time, where the only sounds are the distant waterfall’s echo and the soft drip of water from stalactites. The cave’s interior is a gallery of natural art, with rock formations sculpted into fantastical shapes that tell stories of their ancient past.

In this serene underworld, I can’t help but feel a profound connection to the earth and the elemental forces that shape it. It’s a place of wonder and introspection, where the hustle of the world above seems like a distant memory. Theo has yet to let go of my hand. His grip is tight but comforting. Protective. Suddenly my eyes catch the faintest glimmer on the wall. Drawing closer, the dim light from the entrance illuminates ancient markings, etched into stone with purpose and precision.

The carvings tell a tale of a prophesied child, born of a union between realms, destined to bridge worlds and wield great power. The story unfolds through a series of intricate symbols and figures.

“Theo, come, take a look at this!” I say excitedly, rubbing my fingers along the etchings.

“I’ve seen it.” He countered. Letting go of my hand and taking a seat on a nearby boulder while I continue studying the markings.

First there is a Dragon, wings outstretched, its body entwined with that of an Elf, representing the father—a being of magic and might. Next stands a Human, gentle and poised, but with the pointed ears of an Elf, symbolizing the mother—a fusion of Human resilience and elven grace. Lastly, the moment of birth is marked by a celestial event. A night within a day, where the sun is obscured, yet darkness is pierced by light.

“What do they mean, Theo?” I ask, turning to him. He doesn’t move, doesn’t speak. He just stares at me. “Theo… do you know what these signify?” The tale is timeless, and the sense of destiny is palpable. I stand in the quiet, staring at Theo, surrounded by history and myth, feeling a connection to this story that transcends the ages.

“It seems that these markings speak of a child as the chosen one, whose coming was foretold by seers and awaited by all. The child is depicted as a figure standing at the confluence of two worlds, one foot in the realm of Dragons and Elves, the other in the land of the Humans.” He pauses before standing up to be next to me. He takes my shoulders in his strong hands, squeezing me tightly, pressing a long soft passionate kiss to my lips. “I believe that we are the prophecy.”

The cave, once just a silent witness to the force of nature, now resonates with the echoes of a legacy waiting to be fulfilled. “What does that mean?” I question.

Theo’s gaze is intense, filled with a depth of emotion that nearly takes my breath away. “It means, my sweet, that we are Destinara . We are connected. We are bound by destiny. You are my mated heart.”

“Did you know this? Before I mean” My thoughts reel and I push him away, detecting remorse in his eyes.

“Rose, please. Listen to reason.” His words were a plea of mercy, echoing into my thoughts.

“No! Get out of my head! You can’t be serious right now! You knew! You knew we were destined to conceive this… this child… and you left me no choice in the matter!” I could barely look at him.

“Rose, I didn’t…I wasn’t sure. But then you turned last night. It all fits!”

Theo’s face contorted into a mixture of guilt and concern. “Rose, I swear I never intended to deceive you. I knew I was a part of this prophecy, but I had no way of knowing you would be involved. I was just as shocked as you are now. ”

“But you knew I was Destinara with you?”

“I knew it was a possibility. I had never felt this way towards anyone before. And then when you turned, I had the confirmation I needed. I had to be certain before I told you anything.” I couldn’t help but be touched by his words, but I was still angry. I vigorously shake my head, hands planted firmly on my hips in frustration. The sound of my steps echoes as I pace back and forth in front of him, my feet stomping against the ground with each turn. My heartbeat quickens and my breath comes out in sharp bursts as I try to control my emotions.

“I still don’t understand. You are not a Dragon. The markings say the father has to be a Dragon. There are no more Dragons.”

“I am a Dragon shifter. I have always been one, but I have never been able to shift into my true form. Why else do you think I’m the only Elf with wings?”

“You are joking right?” I snort a laugh and take a step over to the boulder and sit down. “How can you be a Dragon shifter if you have never shifted? ”

He walks over and sits down next to me. We both stare at the markings as he continues, “My family is one of the last remaining bloodlines. My mother was a shifter… and my father a rider.” Theo’s gaze turns distant, as if he’s lost in a memory. I take his hand in mine, scooting my body closer to him. With that, a flash of images enter my foremind along with Theo’s voice narrating what my thoughts show to me .

“I was still just a child. Couldn’t even fly yet, but how I loved to watch my mother and father soar through the clouds together. My mother was majestic. Her scales would turn a soft color of gray—almost silver— and her eyes were golden, like mine.”

I look up at Theo’s face and watch a tear slowly release from his eye and fall down his cheek. I could smell the saltiness of it. He continues to soulspeak, images of his mother and Lord Ailwin play in my mind.

“My parents left Zorrina to attend the Fire Rites here at Dragon’s Edge. A few days later, my father returned… my mother never did.” Theo grips my hand harder, finally looking up at me, his eyes wet and dripping. His voice is full of sorrow.

I choke back a sob as I look into Theo’s pained eyes, knowing the weight of his loss. “I’m so sorry,” I murmur, my own tears beginning to fall.

“She was a force of nature, unstoppable and terrifyingly beautiful,” He recounts, the image of his mother rippling in my thoughts like a reflection on the water’s surface—a silver-scaled Dragon against the cerulean sky, her wings unfolding against the wind, all strength and grace. “But she had a soft heart.”

“Like you.” I say with a soft smile as I brush the back of my hand against his cheek. “What happened to her?” I ask.

“I don’t know. I’ve tried asking my father,” Theo says softly, pulling himself out of his reverie. “But every time I bring her up, he shuts down or changes the subject. I think… I think whatever happened that night broke him.”