Beauty from Embers

Excerpt

 

Gravel crunched under Kaya’s feet as she approached the series of domed structures that made up Dragul’s home. The bright orange walls—caused by the heavy concentration of shells in the local limestone—normally amused her, but not today. Kaya skirted the house and headed around back where Ellio liked to tinker with his jetbike. That machine was his pride and joy. Whenever he had a spare moment, he was out in the yard modding parts or polishing its electric-green aero panels.

Ellio must have heard her coming, because as she rounded the corner, he peeked out from behind the three-wheeled vehicle. He had swapped out the sleek street tires of Beulah for chunky all-terrain mods. Sometimes they blasted over the dunes together or raced along the shoreline, and Kaya would cinch her arms around his waist—more tightly than she truly needed to—and breathe in his scent. Bergamot and sandalwood with just a hint of engine grease.

Her mechanic pushed his goggles into his dark-blue hair and grinned. “How’s the training going?”

Kaya glared at him. How could he be so cheerful this early in the morning?

Ellio scratched his nose, smudging it with grease. “That good, huh?”

She crossed her arms and leaned against the orange stucco wall. “It’s that stinking old man.” She lowered her voice in a mocking impression of her grandfather. “‘Don’t get angry, Kaya. Don’t lose your temper, Kaya.’”

A weak smile flickered across Ellio’s face before he turned away to pick up his torque wrench. Kaya watched his hands as he carefully fitted a bolt and began tightening it. Click. Click. Click.

“You know,” Ellio said, still looking down, “I wouldn’t totally disregard his advice.” He glanced up, caught sight of the annoyance building on her face, and ducked back down. “Age has its wisdom,” he said with a shrug.

Kaya groaned. “Not you too. Don’t tell me you’re on his side.”

Ellio must have finished what he was working on, because he stood up, dusted off his coveralls, and stepped around the bike toward her. He was at least two heads taller than her, but he slouched against the wall so that they were shoulder to shoulder. “Do you regret coming?” he asked seriously. “If you’re really unhappy, we could leave.”

Kaya combed the sand out of her hair. She probed her sore lip with the tip of her tongue. “No,” she said slowly. “I don’t want to leave. Not yet.”

Tension visibly left Ellio, and guilt twinged Kaya’s conscience. Ellio had no family left in the world; of course he’d want her to reconcile with her grandfather. She ground her teeth and huffed. “If anything, I’m not going to leave until I figure out how he’s so dratted quick.”

Ellio’s brows quirked in confusion.

Kaya rolled her eyes. “That geezer is one slippery old fox. I couldn’t even lay a finger on him today.”

“Or any day,” Ellio teased. At her frown, he relented, bumping her with his shoulder. “I think there’s a lot you can learn from him. Try to think of things from his perspective.” She opened her mouth to argue, but he spoke louder, effectively smothering her protest. “I know it’s not your style, but think of it like . . . like adapting to a new enemy.” His speech quickened as he warmed to the idea. He slapped his fist in his palm. “Like he’s a villain you have to defeat. But to defeat him, you need to think like him.”

Amusement bubbled up inside Kaya at his enthusiasm. She raised an eyebrow. “So, Dragul’s a villain now?”

Ellio gave her an exasperated look. “You know what I mean,” he grumbled, toying with the end of his torque wrench. “I don’t mean Dragul’s an actual villain, but to defeat him you have to know where he’s coming from. Anticipate his attacks and defenses.”

Kaya nudged the toe of her boot in the gravel. The old geezer was always telling her to let go of her anger and be self-controlled. If she could anticipate his defenses, maybe she’d find a weak spot. And if she could finally land a blow, maybe he’d give up correcting her and let her train the way she wanted.

Kaya let out a snicker. Beat the old man at his own game. That would be fun. She knocked Ellio on the arm. “Maybe you’re onto something.”

He laughed, eyes sparkling. All at once, they both seemed to realize how close their faces were. Ellio choked on his laugh, eyes tracking to her lips.

Kaya could feel her face warming.

For Dral’s sake!

She stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to Ellio’s. His mouth was warm, lips a little dry from always working outdoors. His arms wrapped around her waist, drawing her closer.

A loud cough sounded behind her.

Ellio sprang back as if he’d been hit with a buzz baton.

His face was burning red.

“I’ll thank you to keep your hands off my granddaughter,” Dragul said with a scowl.

“Dragul!” Kaya whirled around to face him. Heat warmed her face, and white-hot fury churned her stomach. “H-how dare you!” The fact that she stuttered made her even more incensed.

“I laid down the rules when you arrived. Ellio gave me his word. Or does that mean nothing to you, young man?”

“Of course it does, sir.” Ellio fumbled with his jumpsuit, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry.”

Kaya read his distress in the slump of his shoulders. Rage blistered her nerves raw. “It was just a kiss!” she shouted. “What’s wrong with you? Why did you make Ellio say that stupid vow in the first place?”

“In Eiren, relationships mean something. You don’t just throw yourself away on the first person you meet.”

“Newsflash! I’m not Eirenian. I’m some kind of mongrel half-breed left for dead by my mother and her oh-so-great nation.”

“Kaya!” Ellio took her hand and squeezed it. “That’s enough. No one forced me into anything. I want to respect your grandfather’s rules. That’s all.”

She jerked her hand away. “Of course you’re on his side. Like always.” She turned on her heel and stormed away.

Men.

They’re either spineless, ridiculous, old-fashioned, or some combination of the three.

Kaya kicked at a clump of sea grass. She stormed down the path to the little pond that bordered their property and stomped around to the far side. She picked up a rock and flung it into the water. This made her feel mildly better, so she picked up a larger rock and hurled it in. The splash sent frogs and skaklops scrambling for cover. There was a boulder she and Ellio had sat on before. Kaya focused her spirit through her arms, blue flames forming along her skin and rushing from her shoulders to her fingertips. She gripped the boulder and tugged. It was stuck fast. She breathed in through her nose and tugged harder. It gave a little.

Harder.

Her spirit rushed out of her like a living flame as, muscles bulging, she heaved the rock out of the ground and hurled it into the pond. Water exploded upwards, waves careening across the pond and splattering her with salt weed and pond scum.

Yuck.

Kaya plucked at a weed that had lodged in her hair. A chuckle sounded behind her.

Ellio had followed her. His eyes crinkled, as if he was suppressing a grin. “Better?” he asked.

She nudged a stone with her foot. “A little,” she admitted.

“You look like a drowned rat.”

She harumphed her displeasure, and he held up a small paper bag and waved it in front of her. “I brought you something. A peace offering.”

Kaya sniffed. A heavenly sweet scent emanated from the bag. “Is that . . . melon pan?” A weaker woman would have squealed with excitement. Not Kaya.

“I made it earlier today while you were training.”

She beamed. “I didn’t know you could make melon pan.”

Ellio turned red and scratched his nose. “Well, I know it’s your favorite, so . . .” He trailed off with a sheepish grin.

Kaya’s pulse fluttered. “Ellio . . .” She couldn’t get the words out, couldn’t get her tongue to shape the feelings in her heart into words. That he made her feel safe, made her feel loved, even when she was behaving like a spoiled rotten brat.

How did he always manage to see the bright side of things?

Rather than figuring out what to say, she took a bite of the melon bread, and a smile stretched from ear to ear. “Hey,” she mumbled with her mouth full, “this is pretty good.” She managed to fit in another bite and chewed. The melon pan was crunchy on the outside but soft inside, and in the middle was a delicious sugar-melon jam. “It’s really good.”

As she watched Ellio’s face light up, a tingle ran through the tips of her toes to the top of her head. He was so good. She’d do anything to protect him. No one was ever going to steal anything precious from her ever again. Kaya wouldn’t let that happen. She was stronger now, and she’d fight tooth and nail to protect what she loved. Not Lucien, not Eiren, not even Dragul would stand in her way.

Kaya polished off the roll and licked her fingertips. “How’d you learn to make those?”

“I bribed the baker in town to share her recipe.”

Jealousy rose like a lump in her throat. Kaya put a hand on her hip. “Bribed how, exactly?”

Ellio rubbed his chin. “I guess traded would be a better word. One of the ovens in her kitchen was acting up, so I fixed it in exchange for the melon pan recipe. But she swore me to secrecy.” His eyes were sparkling now, devious. “So, I can’t ever reveal the details. Not even to you.” He bopped her on the nose.

Kaya waggled her fingers at him. “Not even if I tickle you within an inch of your life?”

Ellio shuddered and crossed his arms over his chest. “Not even then.” He pouted. “Plus, I’ll be less likely to make it again if you do that.”

Kaya snorted. “It was a joke. I’d never force you to go back on your word.”

He turned to her, his expression serious. “I know you wouldn’t.”

She found herself leaning toward him, drawn by a magnetic pull that buzzed like electricity in her chest and sizzled along her veins.

Ellio leaned back and cupped his neck with his hand. “Let’s not.” He looked around. “Dragul’s been clear about his expectations, and he’s letting me stay here even though I’m not family and not even a part of his mission. I want to try and respect that. Besides, I think he wanted to talk once you’d calmed down.”

Kaya eyed him coolly. “He’s what got me upset in the first place.”

Ellio took her hands in his and squeezed. “You should try to reconcile, Kaya. He seems to know what he’s doing and training with him is helping you get stronger.”

Kaya looked away. “It doesn’t feel like it.”

“Are you kidding?” Ellio’s tone was incredulous. “I just watched you hurl an enormous boulder into the pond. You never could have done that before.”

Maybe Ellio was right. She was able to draw upon her spirit a lot more since training with Dragul. Before that, she’d only been able to use it once, when she and Ellio were in a life-or-death situation in Beulah. But accessing her spirit was becoming more normal. It was now a common presence in the back of her mind, like an extension of herself.

“All right, all right.” Kaya slipped her hand in his. “I’ll go and make nice with the old man. Will that make you happy?”

He smiled at her, and Kaya’s insides turned to jelly. It should be a crime to look that cute. She could melt into a puddle whenever Ellio smiled at her like that.

How ridiculous.

She wasn’t the type to swoon over a handsome guy. But Ellio was different. He saw something in her that she could barely believe herself. A good Kaya. Someone who was strong but kind; smart but compassionate. Ellio never pushed her. He just seemed to draw the best parts out of her, like a magnet pulling gold coins from the ocean floor. Like he saw her potential and helped her start making it a reality. As crazy as it sounded, she wanted to be that better version of herself that he believed in. For him.

But no swooning. No matter how darn cute he was.