Page 64 of Elemental Becoming

Thane watches him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. His fingers twitch once, then curl in on themselves.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Father,” he says softly, but his father’s eyes are already closed.

Thane exhales, then turns to me. “Shall we go speak with Valen?”

I nod, rising to follow him out.

Elira stands near the doors. As we approach, she straightens, ready to follow. But I know we need privacy when we speak to Valen.

I turn to her, offering a small, appreciative smile.

“Thank you for your help with my hair this morning. There’s no way I could make it look this civilized without your help,” I pause, gods, I realize how grateful I am for everything she’s helped me navigate in such a short time. “ . . . with all of it, my hair, that wardrobe!”

Elira dips her head, but I catch the faintest trace of satisfaction in her expression.

“Please,” I continue, keeping my tone warm but firm, “feel free to take the rest of the day for yourself. I’ll call for you when I need your help again. Tomorrow I’m really going to need you—unless you can go to the ball for me?”

I half tease, secretly hoping she could go for me.

Elira lifts a single brow, clearly amused. “Don’t worry, my lady. I’ll make sure you look the part.”

Her confidence does nothing to ease my uncertainty, but I nod anyway. “I’ll hold you to that. And thank you.”

She hesitates, just for a moment, before nodding. “Of course, my lady.”

The words still feel strange, as does the entire concept of having someone care for me, assist me in ways I never needed before. My whole life, I took care of myself. My parentsencouraged it. Farm life is like that. And now, I am meant to allow others to do it for me.

Even as she steps back, I feel the weight of what this life is becoming. A life where I no longer walk alone and there are always many pairs of eyes on me.

I inhale, steadying myself, and turn back to Thane. “Let’s go.”

A FIFTH WILL RISE

NINE

The Prophecy goes much, much deeper than I imagined. What I thought was a single mystery now feels like the surface of something vast and deliberate. The signs were always there. I just failed to see them. Now there is no ignoring it.

—VALEN’S JOURNAL

AMARA

We step into the hall, leaving Lord Eryndor’s quarters behind, and begin walking through the vast corridors of the stronghold. Thane’s arms swing loosely at his sides, his pace unhurried. Mine stay clasped in front of me, fingers curled lightly into the soft fabric of my dress, the materialbrushing against my legs as we move.

From the corner of my eye, I watch him. Not for words. Thane has never been a man who speaks simply to fill the air. Every sentence carries intention, which is precisely why people listen when he does.

I’m watching for something else.

And there it is.

A slight tension around his eyes. A faint pull between his brows. A look I’ve come to recognize.

He’s thinking.

I feel it through the bond. A quiet press of mixed emotions, not loud, but constant, brushing against my own.

I exhale softly, loosening my grip on the fabric.

“You have that look again.” I tilt my head, studying him. “The one that says you’re thinking too much and feeling even more.”