Page 295 of Elemental Becoming

Thane nods.

“For the powerful, excess is a weapon. It sends a message.” His gaze drifts over the gardens. “‘We don’t need to scrape by like the rest of you.’”

His expression darkens slightly.

“It reminds everyone who controls the land, the resources, and the realm itself.”

I swallow hard, my thoughts drifting back to my village. To bad harvests. To long winters. To families who never knew whether what they had would be enough.

And here, in the heart of power, there are fields of flowers.

I look back at Thane.

“And you hate it.”

His jaw flexes.

“I grew up in this keep. I’ve walked these paths more times than I can count, but the only place that’s ever felt real to me is the outposts.”

His thumb brushes across the back of my hand.

“Because there, every piece of land has a purpose.”

I understand even though I don’t like it. This isn’t just a garden. It’s a reminder of who has everything and who has nothing.

Thane suddenly chuckles under his breath, the sound catching me off guard. He stops walking and turns toward me, an almost sheepish look settling across his features.

“Well, shit.”

I blink.

He drags a hand through his hair. “I brought you here because I thought, being from the Earth Clan, you’d enjoy all of this.”

His mouth twitches.

“I had this whole grand gesture planned.”

A laugh escapes me.

Thane shakes his head. “And I think I may have completely mucked it up.”

He looks so genuinely exasperated with himself, as though he had every intention of impressing me only to realize halfway through that his plan had completely backfired.

I bite my lip, trying to suppress a smile. “You thought I’d be in awe of the plants?”

He lifts a brow. “That was the general idea.”

My heart squeezes. Because of course he thought that. Of course he brought me here believing it would make me happy. Even if he doesn’t care for the excess, he thought I might. And damn him for that—for always thinking of me, always trying.

I scrunch my face at him, guilt tugging at me. “I’m sorry for ruining it.”

Thane drags a hand through his hair again before letting out a soft, resigned laugh.

“Don’t be,” he replies, shaking his head. “I should’ve knownbetter. You’re not impressed by pointless grandeur.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “Nope.”

His lips quirk. “Leave it to me to plan a grand romantic gesture that somehow turns into a philosophical debate on wealth and power.”