30

A guard bursts through the library doors. 

“Captain.” The guard pants, clearly out of breath. “You are needed immediately. News from the East.” My eyes snap open as Jace straightens up, dropping his hand. He clears his throat and takes a step back. We stare at each other and Jace swallows hard, nods, turns and leaves. 

I slump against the glass, all the tension leaving my body. I feel hot all over and lightheaded. *What just happened?* A moment longer and we would have kissed, I am sure of it. *But the real question is, who said kiss? Was that me or Jace? Or were we both sharing the same thought?* 

Deckette rushes over to me. 

“Remi, are you alright? You look like you took an ember bath. Here, take a seat.” Deckette leads me to a chair and I sit. “Did something happen?”

“You tell me.” I mumble and rub my face. “I think I am ready to retire for the night, Deckette. It’s been a long day.” Deckette eyes me with concern but thankfully doesn’t say a word. He helps me up and we walk back to my room. 

I am consumed in my thoughts the whole way back, unaware of the chaos around me. I didn’t realize that Lux’s are so rare. They are a well hidden secret within the fire element. How do Lux’s come about? Are they like Pearls for the water element? Do they have a special position within their element? 

I am unsure, but I have not seen Jace since that night. We are well into the sixth night. I keep going to the library every evening, just in case he shows up, and every evening I leave disappointed but slightly relieved. I am unsure of how I am to conduct myself after we almost kissed. I still blush every time I think about it. 

Deckette keeps pressing for information on what happened, but I keep putting him off. I know he will make a big deal about it if I tell him, and I am not ready for that. Thankfully, I have had something to distract me. A new group of girls have been brought to the palace. While there’s only a handful of my group left, the new group consists of some thirty girls who arrived two nights ago. They came from a town somewhere up north called Feerrah. I feel bad for them. They all look rough and worn out. I wonder if the king is becoming desperate. They have been kept mostly separate from us, only allowing us to mingle during dinner. 

“Ladies.” D’ka claps his hands together, effectively silencing the dinner hall. “This week the palace will be hosting a concert in honor of our late queen’s birthday. We will have many musicians and poets coming to perform at this concert, for the late queen was an avid poetry lover. This concert is open to the general public as well, so expect many people.”

The week leading up to the concert has been complete chaos. The palace staff run around all day and night preparing the concert hall, the food, the courtyard, and several other places that will be open to the kingdom. 

Our lessons have been put on a brief hold, so most of the days are filled with lounging about. Since I haven’t seen Jace, I find entertainment in watching the palace staff busy themselves with the preparation for the big event. I also work on my reading, even though I hardly get through a page in a day. 

I have gone out with Oliver to the city a few times, but he’s so high strung that we don’t make it very far before we turn around. Deckette is a much easier companion when we go out and he and I have taken to visiting my horse in the palace stables. I have become acquainted with the stable boys, but even they keep a respectable distance from me, since I am a Lux. It’s quite a shame that I am not allowed to ride Kelp. He and I are becoming restless being cooped up all day. 

“Will my lady ever share with me her burdens?” Deckette whines, leaning against the palm tree that I’m lying under in one of the many courtyards. The breeze makes the palms sway, making the shadows dance across my face.

“I thought you had finally let it go, Deckette.” I reply, keeping my eyes closed. 

“How could I, Deckette Ro, let something so significant go? That is like asking the sun not to shine!” He plops down beside me. “Do you feel no pity for your dear friend that you would deny him even a morsel of the story?” I roll my eyes and look over at him. His red hair wild as the day I met him and his amber eyes teasing and begging me. I blow out a breath of air.

“By the great depths, have you no shame? If it’s a story you want, it’s a story you’ll get.” I grunt and sit up, playfully glaring at him. “But be warned it is not much of a story.” His eyes light up as a big grin appears on his boyish face. I look away and murmur. “We almost kissed.” When I don’t hear a reaction, I look back at Deckette only to see the reaction on his face. His mouth open in a gaping fashion, complete shock on his face.

“Tell me it isn’t true.” His eyes are wide. “He kissed you!!!?” He shouts. He is about to jump up when I grab his arm and keep him in place. 

“Have you no shame?!” I exclaim, whipping my head about. “I said almost kissed! By the sands, you need to get your hearing fixed.” Deckette turns on me and grabs my shoulders and squeezes. 

“Tell. Me. Everything.” 

“There is nothing else to tell!” I shove him off of me. “We were interpreted by that guard and I haven’t seen Jace since.” I unconsciously pout. Deckette rubs his chin thoughtfully. 

“No, no, that’s not right.” He mutters. “That’s not right! I have to get you two back together.”

“Deckette, do not dare to intervene.” I warn sternly. 

“Come now, Remi. With you out of the selection, it is only natural and right that you and my good ol’ captain come together as one. Cinders and ashes, it should have already happened by now!” He exclaims.

“What are you going on about?”

“Oh, don’t tell me no one told you.” He raises his eyebrows at me. “No one?” He sighs. “You’re a Lux, captain is a Lux…”

“And?” I ask impatiently. 

“And Lux doesn't mix with sub-heat. Come, Remi, how much more do I need to spell it out for you? You and the captain should have been married by now. The king is probably involved in this somehow. That sick bastard.” My eyes go wide. 

“Deckette!” I shush. “It is treason to speak that way about the king!” Deckette looks around and waves his arms.

“There is no one here but us, Remi. Relax.”

“No. I think we are done for today.” I stand up and Deckette follows. I start walking back to the palace briskly.

“Remi-”

“I need to get ready for this evening. I hear many poets are coming to this occasion.” Deckette huffs but remains silent the whole way back. It is better this way. It would be a real shame if something were to happen to him because he got caught up in his emotions. He is one of the only friends I have here.