A KINGDOM OF ASH AND FLAME

gold when Prince Kael finally

ss that clung to the wild forest beyond. Kael's chest tightened with a weight heavier than the ar

when he flexed his hand, a sharp ache reminded him that with each passing day, the curse carved

as no cure-

s reach, someone who wielded magic whispered abo

He wasn't used to asking for help. Princes didn't need

hat he was runn

-

the rough wood of her do

ain-louder this time,

, scared to reveal their faces.

re: tall, worn, and unmistakably royal. His golden-brown

help me," he said, voi

gainst the frame. "Healer," she

mile. "I don't have t

ng, how his shoulders bore the weight of more than just a journey. He was a

k curses," sh

ld it back. Give me enough tim

ed to say no. To turn away and le

g in his eye

side," s

rth's low glow cast flickering shadows across the rough stone walls of Elira's cottage. Outside, the wind whispered through the skel

ted to move but refused. His golden eyes flicked to every corner of the dim room, alert despite exhaustion. His armor lay d

ected when she opened that door-desperation, maybe, or rage-but this quiet man held som

herbs on the table and d

e," she sa

translucent in the flickering light. Around his wrist, veins pulsed fain

ruel magic that twisted flesh and mind alike-but this was different. There was something ancien

ly. The coldness bit into her fingertips,

pull away. "It hurts mor

try to ease the pain, slow the spread..

ard, jaw clenc

like fragile glass. Outside, the

quiet. "How di

emy mage cursed me. The kind of magi

ense in his jaw. "You've

ght of isolation slipping through his royal armor. "I told no one. My

power was a cruel companion. "That's why you ca

. "I don't expect miracl

-

herbs, murmuring soft incantations she barely understood herself. Kael sat still,

the space between them-a quiet understandin

the others," Ka

ked up, s

it's a sentence." He glanced at his hand, wrapped now in

y. "Fear keeps people al

hesitant. "Maybe that

-

r. Kael wrapped a woolen cloak tighter around his

s, but her mind elsewhere. She kept thinking about the prince-so p

face this alone,"

ity shining in his eyes. "An

. "Then I'll earn

y shared-a fragile thread sp

-

y fought in silence, in glances, in words left unsaid. Kael's pride batt

rough the windows, Elira found Kael sta

ou thinking

ngdoms can fall... and yet some

with something she hadn't

fight,"

ht was pale, filtered through heavy clouds that hung low over the Hollow. Mist curled like ghostly fingers betw

all room bit at his skin, sharper than the nights he'd endured at the castle. His fingers felt

e hearthfire. He had never imagined his life would come to this: a prince, a warrior, reduc

Elira's cottage was still quiet; she had not yet risen. The soft, herb-sweet scent li

slowly-village rooftops blanketed with moss, a thin plume of smo

peacefu

peac

urse could be held back long enough for him to reclaim h

knew

-

r small garden. She was surprised to find herself already thinking

trust the forest, the roots beneath the earth, and the faint pulse of magic that ran through her veins

ering. It was not the pain of a common man or peasant

nder, and she inhaled its calming s

eir eyes met briefly, a flicker of

aid, voice rough but

ng her name out loud made thi

elp with the stiffness." She handed him a small vial filled

fully, weighing it in h

you," h

-

ween healer and prince began to shift, breaking

with the sharp scent of herbs, the crackle of fire, and th

ith suspicion and pride-but in those silences

inted the sky in blood-red hues, Kae

t," he confessed, his voi

lenched. "Let m

voice trembling with a mixture of fear and hope. The air thickened

d from her hands into his skin, easi

yes and met hers, gratitude shinin

u help me?

had kept buried: "Because no one else wo

ce fortified by fear and l

pte

gold when Prince Kael finally

ss that clung to the wild forest beyond. Kael's chest tightened with a weight heavier than the ar

when he flexed his hand, a sharp ache reminded him that with each passing day, the curse carved

as no cure-

s reach, someone who wielded magic whispered abo

He wasn't used to asking for help. Princes didn't need

hat he was runn

the rough wood of her do

ain-louder this time,

, scared to reveal their faces.

re: tall, worn, and unmistakably royal. His golden-brown

help me," he said, voi

gainst the frame. "Healer," she

mile. "I don't have t

ng, how his shoulders bore the weight of more than just a journey. He was a

k curses," sh

ld it back. Give me enough tim

ed to say no. To turn away and le

g in his eye

side," s

rth's low glow cast flickering shadows across the rough stone walls of Elira's cottage. Outside, the wind whispered through the skel

ted to move but refused. His golden eyes flicked to every corner of the dim room, alert despite exhaustion. His armor lay d

ected when she opened that door-desperation, maybe, or rage-but this quiet man held som

herbs on the table and d

e," she sa

translucent in the flickering light. Around his wrist, veins pulsed fain

ruel magic that twisted flesh and mind alike-but this was different. There was something ancien

ly. The coldness bit into her fingertips,

pull away. "It hurts mor

try to ease the pain, slow the spread..

ard, jaw clenc

like fragile glass. Outside, the

quiet. "How di

emy mage cursed me. The kind of magi

ense in his jaw. "You've

ght of isolation slipping through his royal armor. "I told no one. My

power was a cruel companion. "That's why you ca

. "I don't expect miracl

herbs, murmuring soft incantations she barely understood herself. Kael sat still,

the space between them-a quiet understandin

the others," Ka

ked up, s

it's a sentence." He glanced at his hand, wrapped now in

y. "Fear keeps people al

hesitant. "Maybe that

r. Kael wrapped a woolen cloak tighter around his

s, but her mind elsewhere. She kept thinking about the prince-so p

face this alone,"

ity shining in his eyes. "An

. "Then I'll earn

y shared-a fragile thread sp

y fought in silence, in glances, in words left unsaid. Kael's pride batt

rough the windows, Elira found Kael sta

ou thinking

ngdoms can fall... and yet some

with something she hadn't

fight,"

ht was pale, filtered through heavy clouds that hung low over the Hollow. Mist curled like ghostly fingers betw

all room bit at his skin, sharper than the nights he'd endured at the castle. His fingers felt

e hearthfire. He had never imagined his life would come to this: a prince, a warrior, reduc

Elira's cottage was still quiet; she had not yet risen. The soft, herb-sweet scent li

slowly-village rooftops blanketed with moss, a thin plume of smo

peacefu

peac

urse could be held back long enough for him to reclaim h

knew

r small garden. She was surprised to find herself already thinking

trust the forest, the roots beneath the earth, and the faint pulse of magic that ran through her veins

ering. It was not the pain of a common man or peasant

nder, and she inhaled its calming s

eir eyes met briefly, a flicker of

aid, voice rough but

ng her name out loud made thi

elp with the stiffness." She handed him a small vial filled

fully, weighing it in h

you," h

ween healer and prince began to shift, breaking

with the sharp scent of herbs, the crackle of fire, and th

ith suspicion and pride-but in those silences

inted the sky in blood-red hues, Kae

t," he confessed, his voi

lenched. "Let m

voice trembling with a mixture of fear and hope. The air thickened

d from her hands into his skin, easi

yes and met hers, gratitude shinin

u help me?

had kept buried: "Because no one else wo

ce fortified by fear and l