Chapter One

Elyria’s POV

From my balcony, I watched as the city’s flag waved proudly in the cold morning breeze. The fiery flame emblazoned against black silk had represented Aetherion for centuries. Those were our colours. Our legacy.

Below, the streets were alive with celebration. Happy faces filled the crowd as preparations for the coronation continued. Music echoed through the city while voices blended together into a beautiful chaos. With the way everything seemed, one would think the event was today and not tomorrow.

“Princess Elyria?”

Dania, my maid, called and I didn’t need to turn to know it was her.

“It’s time for you to start getting ready for your day.”

“Already? I was hoping to have at least one more hour to myself.”

“No, your highness. If you wait one more hour, you’re going to be late for your training.”

I sighed softly. I knew she was right, but she could never possibly understand the weight sitting on my shoulders right now. In less than twenty-four hours, I would inherit the Aetherion throne and my life would change forever.

“Has anyone heard from Cassian?”

I felt like I hadn’t seen him this entire week. I understood that everyone was busy, but this was completely unlike him. He had always been my rock and I needed him more than ever now.

On a normal day, he would have come knocking by now. If he wasn’t leaving a trail of flowers for me to follow and find him, he was setting up a romantic breakfast in the garden. His absence was loud, and I was already missing him.

“Not at all,” she replied.

I nodded slowly.

“I hope you remembered not to cool my bath? You know I like it warm.”

“Of course, my lady.”

She led me over to the bath and I smiled in satisfaction as steam curled from the surface of the water. I stripped and stepped in carefully while Dania watched with concern.

The water was scorching hot, yet the heat felt comfortable against my skin.

As I sank deeper into the bath, my thoughts drifted back to the night of my birthday. The night everything changed.

“Be careful, it’s hot!” Dania had yelled when I drank the tea she poured for me that morning.

“What do you mean?” I laughed. “The temperature is perfect.”

“I don’t understand. I just brought it straight from the kitchen. The water was boiling when I poured it.”

“Well, it must have cooled on your way upstairs.”

I dismissed the matter and went about my day. Everything else carried on as usual. My parents presented me with twenty-five gifts, one for each year of my life, before the grand feast began. It was tradition.

Later that night, Cassian had taken me out to a bonfire deep within the palace grounds. We sat side by side beneath the moonlight, roasting mushrooms over the fire.

“You must be overwhelmed right now,” Cassian said softly as he brushed my hair away from my face. Even after all these years, he was still obsessed with the silvery strands.

“A little,” I admitted. “But I know I have you by my side at all times.”

“Yeah,” he said with a small smile. “You can always count on that.”

He pressed a kiss against my forehead.

“It must be a lot for you too,” I continued. “Marrying into the royal family and ruling Aetherion is no small feat. It takes bravery to face the Valenor clan and willingly become one of them.”

“If I’m being honest, I am anxious. It’s a lot of responsibility…”

“Well, that’s why we have each other. Nothing bad is going to happen. At least not on our watch.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Cassian’s expression changed.

“Your dress is on fire!”

My heart dropped.

I looked down in horror to see flames climbing the hem of my dress. They spread quickly, devouring the fabric faster than I could slap them away.

Cassian rushed toward me, trying to put it out, but the fire only grew higher.

Heat wrapped around my body.

I was burning.

“Hold still,” he shouted frantically. “I’m going to get water!”

I wanted to scream at him not to leave me, but he was already gone.

Panic consumed me instantly. I waved my arms wildly, desperately trying to stop the flames from spreading further. The smell of smoke filled the air as the fire crawled up my body hungrily.

I didn’t want to die.

Not like this.

Not when my life was only beginning.

Then I remembered the stream we had crossed on our way to the bonfire. It wasn’t far away.

Without thinking twice, I ran.

Branches scratched against my skin as I stumbled through the darkness, flames crackling around me. The stream came into view and I threw myself into the freezing water.

Instantly, the fire disappeared.

I gasped heavily as water soaked through my clothes. What remained of my dress clung to my skin in burned pieces, but somehow… I was fine.

“Elyria!”

I looked up to see Cassian running toward me. His face had gone pale and his breathing was uneven.

The moment he saw me alive, relief washed over him.

“Cassian,” I breathed.

“Oh my love, you’re alright.”

“Yes,” I said shakily. “I had to jump into the water. I couldn’t find you and I was so scared…”

I was rambling now.

“Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s get you dried off, then we’ll have the royal physician look at those burns.”

That was when I froze.

Burns.

The fire had spread across my body.

My clothes had been destroyed.

But I felt no pain.

Slowly, I looked down at my skin beneath the torn fabric.

There was nothing.

Not a single burn mark.

I looked back at Cassian and almost told him the truth, but something inside me stopped me. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was instinct.

So instead, I stayed quiet.

And deep down, I knew with terrifying certainty that the fire had recognized me.