Chapter Sixteen

"SORRY FOR THE DELAY," I said, walking back into the ballroom with my head held high and hand still firmly in Rune's. "We had some things to talk about."

Jesiah, Angus, Dallas, and Rance were still gathered around the ballroom like I'd never left. Dallas's green eyes immediately zeroed in on mine and Rune's joined hands, and I saw a thousand excited questions dance in her gaze. I knew she'd corner me later for every detail of what happened, and to be honest, I couldn't wait to giggle and gush over it with her, just like old times.

"Did you manage to get things sorted out?" Jesiah asked.

"We did," I answered. "We'll do the Joining Ceremony."

Jesiah smiled at the news, and Dallas practically shook while trying to contain her very obvious enthusiasm. Rance gave Rune a slight nod and communicated some silent message in the way men do.

Angus was the only one I couldn't read. His face was as stoic as always, even as he said, "Glad to hear it. That will make things far simpler."

"So then do you plan on officially introducing him as your betrothed at next week's Water Fae gathering?" Jesiah asked.

I looked at Rune, and there was no stopping the smile that spread across my lips. "I do, yes."

The news apparently broke the barricade keeping Dallas reserved. She immediately squealed, flung her arms into the air, and barreled over to practically strangle me in a hug. "This is amazing! I'm so excited for you! This will be the best Joining Ceremony ever!"

Laughing, I hugged Dallas back. "Thanks. So, what exactly does the Joining Ceremony entail?"

"The Joining Ceremony," Angus started, giving Dallas a reprimanding look as she moved back to her place with Rance, "will occur at the start of the evening. The two of you will be prepped in different rooms and meet at the ball for all to witness. You'll immediately perform the Two Hearts Dance, and at the end of said dance, you'll each be crowned Queen and King."

"And what is the Two Hearts Dance?" Rune asked, his fox ears pinned back in worry.

"It's a dance that will showcase to everyone not only your promise and commitment to the other, but it also displays your combined power for all to see," Jesiah explained.

"It's a very complicated and sacred dance, so I'd suggest getting to work on it immediately," Angus said. "Not only will this dance wed the two of you and lead to your crowning, but it will also be a testament for everyone witnessing it if Water and Land Fae can truly work together. If the dance is a miserable catastrophe, that will send out a certain message that perhaps Water and Land Fae aren't meant to be together. As lovers or allies."

"It won't be a catastrophe," Jesiah protested, and there was no missing the edge to his voice as he did.

I knew immediately that I wasn't the only one who took issue with Angus's words, because I wasn't the only Water Fae in this room that was in love with a Land Fae. His words were like a slap to the face for Jesiah, who'd just been reunited with Akira.

"Let's hope not," Angus said.

As depressing and pessimistic as Angus's words were, I also knew he was right. Convincing Water Fae to believe in and support a mission of rebuilding and aligning our two kinds would be nearly impossible if I wasn't even capable of doing a measly dance with one.

If Rune and I did manage to do it successfully though, people would see that our kinds could work together and thrive . It would plant a seed in their minds for possibilities between us and Land Fae. A seed was all I needed, because a seed, I could cultivate and grow into something larger and wonderful. But without a seed, all I'd have is an empty hole, unable to sprout into anything.

I had to plant that seed.

"We'll do the dance well," I declared firmly. "We have to."

I didn't know what was involved in the dance or the finer details of this whole thing, but I refused to fail at this. I refused to let my inability to do something keep Water and Land Fae from finally finding peace.

Angus studied me for a moment, most likely judging my resolve. I kept my head held high and squashed any hint of fear or insecurity that tried to surface.

Finally, Angus nodded. "Then I guess you two better start practicing."

A DEAFENING BOOM FOLLOWED BY a blast of steam and smoke filled the air between Rune and me, sending both of us hurtling backward. I landed hard on my back for the fourth time now, and this time, I stayed there, breathing heavily and wiping sweat and soot from my forehead.

"Damn it!" Rune growled. He waved the fading plume of black smoke away. "Why the fuck isn't it working?"

"Fire and water don't work well together," Angus shot from the side of the room.

Rune's fuming gaze snapped in Angus's direction as he gave me his clawed hands to help me to my feet. Much to my dismay, because that meant we had to try again.

We'd been working relentlessly the past three days on everything—our studies, greeting as many arriving Water Fae as we could, preparing for the nearing gathering, and most of all, the Two Hearts Dance, with which we were currently struggling.

The spacious underground unit that Water Fae used for training military personnel and guards had become our primary hang out spot for the past few days. Rune, Jesiah, Angus, and I spent most of our time here with a few others popping in every so often to see how we'd progressed. The answer to which was always the same.

We hadn't.

The first day, Jesiah and Angus focused on teaching us the steps and movements of the seven-minute dance. It reminded me of the type of dances they did in Jane Austen movies, only it was just Rune and me doing it instead of a large party. It involved slow, measured moments around your partner, almost constant eye contact, and precise mirroring of each other.

Our timing still wasn't the best. One of us kept moving just a hair faster than the other, and there were times when we didn't line up properly. Our eye contact also needed more work since we kept looking elsewhere to avoid stumbling over each other's feet—or we'd forget to maintain eye contact all together.

That wasn't even the worst of the chaos that ensued. The last minute and a half was supposed to be a big finale. It was meant to show our elements, our powers, being pushed together and spiraling around one another in their own dance. Obviously, this had always been performed by two Water Fae, so that had never been an issue. But because Rune's power was fire, not water, every time we tried to have the two meet, they exploded in our faces as a smoky, steamy mess.

"You have to control your powers better," Jesiah reprimanded from where he'd been watching next to Angus. "Both of you are letting your element get too out of control, which is letting them collide. You aren't actually supposed to let the two touch. They are meant to twirl around each other, just like you do in the dance. Two separate yet equally powerful elements, working together."

"We're trying," I said breathlessly.

"Try harder," Angus snapped and ran a hand through his dark hair. " You are in control, not the element. Rune, you're letting your fire waver and flicker. Bria, you're not guiding the water against its natural push and pull. Both of you need to focus and control your power better if you want this dance to be a success."

"Of course we want it to be a success," I argued. "But we've been practicing this section for hours now, and I think the endless practice is making it worse ."

"Perhaps it's proof that your union is simply doomed."

Rune's lips curled in a snarl, and his balled fists erupted in flames. With Rune already irritated at the shit show happening in practice, I didn't need Angus adding fuel to the fire with his negativity. I grabbed Rune's arm to keep him from launching himself at the General.

"I think Bria is right," Jesiah conceded as he ran a hand over the side of his face. He looked just about at his wits' end, too, though I wasn't sure if it stemmed from being tired of seeing Rune and me fail or from having to listen to Angus's constant nitpicking. "I think we should take a break. Constant practice is just going to burn you two out. You've been studying and training hard the past few days. Take the rest of the day to relax and do something fun. We'll start again in the morning."

I nearly fell flat on my back again. Jesiah was actually giving us a day off? Maybe I'd inhaled too much smoke from all the explosions, because I was not expecting that. Jesiah's favorite word was "study." I was surprised he knew the word "break." I wasn't going to stick around to argue and have him change his mind. This was my chance to finally have a day that felt normal .

"You don't have to tell me twice," I said excitedly, pulling Rune to the door. I waved over my shoulder and called, "Thanks, Jesiah!"

"I can't stand that prick," Rune grumbled from behind me as we headed up the staircase to the main palace floor. "Fire isn't something you can just control like that. A single gust of air can make it move. It's a flame . It's a—"

"Hey. Fox Boy," I said loudly.

Rune's annoyed eyes found mine.

I curled my hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "We have the rest of the day off, remember? No more talk about the dance or training or any of that. Let's do something fun!"

Rune took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The muscles in his shoulders flexed, and his jaw worked as he fought to rein in his anger. Finally, when he reopened his eyes, the tension lining them was mostly gone. "You're right. What would you like to do?"

There were so many possibilities with the freedom of the day given to us. Still, one thing that I'd been dying to do since arriving in Ambrolia immediately called my name.

"I want to go swimming. You know, in the ocean. I really want to explore what's out there."

"Did someone say, ‘swimming?'"

I turned at the sudden sound of Dallas's voice to find her and Rance heading in our direction from down the hall.

Rance smirked and asked, "Is Jesiah making you practice how to swim now?"

"He gave us the day off!" I cheered. "Rune and I were just talking about what we should do. I think it would be fun to go swim and explore the sea."

Dallas's eyes brightened. "That sounds like a great idea. A beach day."

"Do you guys want to join us?"

"Hell yeah!" Dallas threw her arms into the air. "I'd love a nice dip in the Morardian Sea."

"Is the move-in crew back?" Rune asked. "If so, we can gather everyone and go together."

"Yeah, I think they just got back," Rance answered, hitching a thumb over his shoulder.

"Sweet," I said. "If you see them, spread the word. Beach party commencing immediately. Let's meet at the front shores in fifteen."

"The front shores?" Dallas asked with a skeptical raised brow. "You do realize the back shore behind the palace is private, right? All the new arrivals will see you at the front."

I shrugged. "If they see me, they see me. I may be their Princess, but I'm still a person who can have fun. Maybe they'll join us, and that will give them a chance to see me and Land Fae for who we are as people."

Dallas nibbled her lip nervously. "But—"

Shaking my head at her, I brushed off her worry and pulled Rune along after me as I continued down the hall. I called over my shoulder, "Front shore. Fifteen. Be there."

Rune and I made it up to our room in record time, stopping only to tell Marlow, the twins, and Alvaro, who we passed on the way up. Once in our room, I practically skipped to my closet to look for something to wear. I didn't have any bathing suits with me, but just knowing I was about to do something fun with my friends made me not care.

My leggings and t-shirt hugged my curves, and I wasn't sure if that was the best thing to wear when out in public for my people to see. Grabbing a white sundress, I held it up for Rune to see and gestured between it and my current attire. "Which one says, ‘I'm just here to relax with everyone, but I'm still your Princess and have decorum?'"

Chuckling, Rune pointed at the dress. "That one."

I shimmied out of my clothes and slipped on the dress, all while Rune watched from by the bed. Glancing over at him, I noticed him studying me. The humor had left his features, replaced with a worried crease to his brow.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Are you sure going out front where anyone can approach you is a good idea? What if someone who's pissed at you for having Land Fae here tries to attack or—"

"Rune …" I finished pulling my hair out from the neck of the material of the dress and walked over to him. Placing my hands on his chest, I asked, "Weren't you the one who said that just being myself will make the people like me?"

"Yes."

"How are they supposed to see me and get to know me if they aren't ever given chances to be around me? I want them to see me, to see us , so that they can see my heart with their own eyes. To see your heart, too."

My hand traced his chest where his heart beat steadily. He covered my hand with his own and shook his head. "My heart is a tainted one. Probably don't want people seeing inside me too deeply."

Frowning, I argued, "You aren't tainted. Darkness doesn't paint your heart. Scars do, and we all have those. Everyone will love you if you let them get to know you."

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, and his hand lingered to stroke softly along my jaw. "I don't need them all to love me. So long as I have your love, my scarred heart doesn't ache like it used to."

Smiling softly, I leaned forward to press a kiss to his chest where my hand had previously been. "I love you, scars and all."

Rune took a deep breath. "If you think being out where the people can approach you is a good idea, I'll go along with it. But if someone threatens you in any way—"

"You'll let me and my guards handle it," I said, pointing a finger at him. "No attacking Water Fae."

He gritted his teeth but reluctantly agreed. "Fine. Let's get out there."