29

“I don’t, actually.” I mumble. 

“I believe that you and the captain snuck out through the back alleys of the palace, made your way to a bar, drank until you were sloshed, then he took you up to a nice, secluded spot and the two of you-”

“Hush, hush, hush, silence your face.” I cover his mouth and quickly look around. My face is burning red. “I really could not tell you what we did. Honest, Deckette. My memories are scattered.” Deckette hums, sounding unconvinced.

“I suppose I’ll have to take your word for it, and I will have to believe in the captain's *stellar* reputation.” He chuckles to himself. “Perhaps I will ask him tonight.” He murmurs not so quietly, eyeing me to see my reaction. I roll my eyes and nudge him playfully.

“Perhaps, but I doubt you’ll get an answer.” At least, I certainly hope he doesn’t. I wobble a bit and place my hand against the wall to steady myself. 

“Here.” Deckette holds out his arm. “Being the gentleman you claim that I am, it is only right for me to escort you to the dining hall.” 

“If you insist.” I slide my arm around his and he gently guides me down the hall. 

The rest of the day passes in a blur and before I know it, Deckette is opening the doors to the library. Jace is standing in front of one of the floor length windows overlooking the flow of lava. The reflection of the lava makes his lightning hair look orange. If I didn’t know any better, I would think he was just a regular fire folk.

I slowly make my way over to our regular table and take a seat, sighing in relief. I hold my head in my hands for a moment, trying to ease my headache. I focus on my breathing, the deep breaths that fill my lungs and wrap around to my back. 

“You asked me what a Lux was.” Jace randomly states. 

“What?” I mumble. *Where did that even come from?*

“You asked me.” Jace whispers. I can’t place his tone. A quiet moment passes and then Jace speaks up. “If you’ve been paying attention to your lessons with Vo you would know that there are two sub-elements within the fire element. The most obvious is heat.” He pauses. “The less obvious is light.” *Light?* “The king and nearly all fire folk are heat based. They can control all levels of heat: fire, the volcano, and if you’re really talented, one can even bend the heatwaves in the air to one's will.” Why is he telling me all this? I know what a sub-heat can do. “A sub-light, also known as a Lux, is something else entirely. *We*\-” I notice the volume of his voice drop, forcing me to strain my ears to hear him. “-can control light itself.” He holds up his hand and flicks his wrist ever so slightly. I see a few little sparks ignite in the air and hear it crackling. I’m in awe. I have never seen anything like it. 

Jace flings his hand forward like he was trying to get something off his hand and behind the tall volcano a large flash of lightning strikes in the distance. A clap of thunder follows soon after. It’s beyond impressive and I realize my breath has caught in my throat. Jace crosses his arms, his back still to me, still tense. 

“Have you nothing to say?” He turns his head slightly but not enough for him to actually look at me. What can I say? That I am not a Lux? What would he do then? 

“Thank you.” I whisper. Jace scoffs in disbelief. 

“Thank you?” He turns around to face me, a frown tugging his lips down. “Remi, did you truly not know what you are?” He starts walking over to me when I suddenly stand up, my flight or fight instinct suddenly taking over. I’m nervous. 

“It’s true.” I shift my weight trying to release some tension in my body. “And I can understand now why you, and everyone else, took me for a Lux.”

“Took you for a Lux?” Jace’s eyes narrow. I move quickly around the table so that it is between us.

“Jace-”

“Remi, you don’t even know what you’re *capable* of, the *power* you hold. You don’t even realize how valuable and precious you are to this kingdom, to our people, to *me*.” Jace is quick to move and suddenly we are an arms length apart. 

I try sidestepping him, but he catches my arm and suddenly my back is against one of the windows. My breathing quickens as my heart starts racing. He is very close to me, and I am again reminded that he is only a few inches taller than me. Our eyes are nearly level with each other. He leans into me, our bodies pressed together, and the glow from the lava behind me casts him in a very alluring way. He’s never looked more handsome. He lowers his voice and my breathing stops. 

“I have waited almost a *millennia* to find another Lux, to find *you*.”

My eyes flicker to his lips then back to his eyes. I watch as he drops his eyes to my lips then slowly brings them back up to meet my eyes. A whisper somewhere in the back of my mind says, *kiss*. My eyes flutter closed as I feel Jace’s hand on my cheek.