Blooming Life (Fate's Intent Book 10) (17 page)

“Aleks will be pleased to hear. You can tell us all about it.”

“You should have been there.” I said. “It’s easy to see. Uncle, you can show them.”

“I’d be delighted to but later. Why don’t you run off to dinner with your little friend?”

“You not joining us?”

His eyes mysteriously met my father’s. “I was just on my way to do some other business. I can grab something later.”

“Okay. Bye. Shall we, Cadence?”

She smiled and took my arm as I offered it. “We shall.”

It was great to see her. I was glad it wasn’t until tomorrow but what my father said ended up being true and she had to go within an hour.

“My mother is expecting me. It’s not that far.”

“Mind if I walk you?”

“Of course I don’t mind but will someone else?”

She hinted towards my father locked in conversation with Trever and my grandfather.

“Excuse me, father?”

“Yes, Seth?”

“Do you mind if I walk Cadence home? She has to be getting back but it’s just up the street.”

He looked at those around him and everyone was smiling, only making this more embarrassing for me.

“I don’t see why not but make sure you hurry back so you don’t run into any trouble along the way.”

“Thank you, father.”

I turned with Cadence on my arm and we headed out of the palace, down the lit street.

“I’m glad you came.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it, even if it is for a day or two. I’ve been waiting to see you all year.”

“Me too but I couldn’t imagine how tall you actually got.”

“You’ve grown some yourself but I’d recognize you anywhere.”

“So! Tell me everything!” She suddenly got excited for some reason and jumped right into conversation while we walked to I-don’t-know-where. “All the details you left out in your letters.”

“Details?”

“Yeah. I know you couldn’t have written about everything. It would have been too long. Do you have a girlfriend over there?”

I laughed. “What? No. Not really. Nothing is official. We’re just friends.”

“I see.” Her mood kind of went down like it was a disappointment.

“Do you have any boyfriends?”

“That’s a definite no. The boys around here are complete jerks. That’s one of the reasons I’ve missed you so much. You’re not like other boys.”

“How do you know?” I was nervous to ask because it has been a year and I’ve grown to like girls more since I saw her. I didn’t want her to hate me if she was wrong.

“Because you haven’t tried to kiss me after exchanging more than a few words.”

I tightened. “That’s happened?” My voice didn’t let it come out just as a question but also sounded defensive.

She laughed. “See what I mean? You didn’t say that you wanted to, you sounded like you wanted to avenge my virtue.”

“Well—” I was ready to change my mood so I wouldn’t grow angry. I haven’t triggered that part of my gift my father warned me about and I didn’t want to do it here. “I do want to kiss you.”

She laughed and I was glad she was being playful about it. “You’re so cute, Seth! Keep your fingers crossed and I might let you kiss me goodbye.”

I’ve been looking forward to it longer than she could possibly realize. Getting this chance to see her again just made all those thoughts priority. I tried to fight them. I didn’t want to become like other boys she knew, whoever they were. I could guess she was referring to someone like Dirk. He has grown overly fawned of girls, spending all year practically having two girlfriends. One of them, Lynn, wasn’t allowed to date so they’re just good friends then there was Janie who of course always had a thing for him. She wanted him to be only hers but he was having too much fun with the freedom and keeps refusing.

Would I become like that? I seriously doubt it. There’s only one girl who truly held my interest and she was here, walking beside me with a spring in her step to be in my presence. I would love to call her mine but with this long distance of seeing each other only once a year and the attention I get back home, it would be difficult for us. I may be young but I’m not stupid. I know I couldn’t stay completely away from the other girls and I wouldn’t want Cadence to worry that I was being untrue. For now it was better that we were good friends like Dirk and Lynn until we could really be together in three years when she becomes an Assassin and I take up my full duties of being Crown Prince as well as the respectable position of Great Seni Fighter.

Thinking about it now made me realize how far off that really was. It would be torture to wait and tomorrow, when I get to spend the whole day with her, I’m going to prove just how much I want us to work for the future. My father introduced us for a reason and our future together was it.

“Here we are. Home sweet home.”

We stopped outside a modest little house with a nice stone wall that was waist high and had a metal gate and a path that led to the door.

We stopped on the top of the steps and the moment was awkward at first.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow and we can do some kind of an activity?”

She said it in the form of a question and I didn’t hesitate to answer it. “Yes. You want me to meet you here in the morning?”

“Only if you don’t eat. I know a great little place for breakfast.”

“That sounds perfect. Sleep well.”

I turned slightly like I was going to go down the stairs but she stopped me. “Seth?”

“Yeah?”

“I think you deserve that kiss now.”

I was becoming nervous and I swear my palms started to sweat. “Okay.”

I stepped towards her and she was really unsure about how this was supposed to work. I could see how nervous she was.

I brought one of my hands towards her face and with the other, I took her waist and pulled her slightly towards me. When our lips had finally met for the first time, she brought her arms around me and her tongue grazed my lips. I opened my mouth to get a taste of her and her grip on me got tighter. This had to stop before either something really embarrassing happened while she was standing so close or I neglected to leave at all. I wouldn’t have taken advantage of her, especially tonight.

I slowly moved back and she was breathing slowly with her eyes still close. “Whoa. That was so—”

“Yes.” I smiled, caressing her cheek. “It was. Goodnight, Cadence.”

Her eyes opened with her smile and she quickly kissed my lips again. “Goodnight, Seth.”

“I’ll be back first thing in the morning.”

“I’ll be counting the seconds.”

I turned from her with a smile and walked the path to get back to the street.

She was still standing at the door watching me when I looked back. I waved and so did she while going inside. I was utterly, head-over-heels in love.

It made me smile wider just from thinking it to myself and I took off running to get back to the palace.

My father was still sitting in the dining hall with grandfather and Trever even though they have finished their food and uncle had joined them.

“Look whose back!” Uncle got everyone’s attention drawn towards me when I appeared in the room. “Have a nice walk, did you?”

He looked around the table with a teasing smile and Trever chimed in. “Steal a kiss perhaps?”

They all laughed and my father calmed them. “All right. Don’t force him to boast about it if he doesn’t want to.”

“It’s okay, father. It’s only their curious nature.”

“So?” Uncle asked.

I smiled and stayed aloof. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

They laughed again.

“That just means you did.” Trever said.

“Getting cozy with your Princess. We’re happy for you.”

My uncle’s words took the smile right from my face. Did he just say what I think he just said? I looked to my father and he was trying to void my eyes with no success.

“You knew.” It wasn’t a question because I would have already knew the answer.

“I’m sorry. Of course we knew. I was just kind of hoping it would have come up in conversation tomorrow.” He shot a cold glare across the table at my uncle.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be the one to tell you either. It just kind of slipped out.”

“And her father is the Hintin King? How is she supposed to become an Assassin?”

“Because her mother is Kaluian.” Grandfather answered. “Becoming an Assassin is what entitle Cadence to her life. It was a bargain your father had a hand in securing when you were both infants.”

“And was I part of this bargain?”

“I can get you out of it if necessary.”

“No!” I may have jumped into that too quickly and corrected myself. “No. It’s not. I didn’t ask it because I was mad. I just wanted to know why you didn’t tell me.”

“I didn’t want you to think it would be forced upon you and it’s not because you’ve already proven that you want to be with her. I didn’t completely know that it would happen but it was one of the reasons I wanted you to meet this early. I didn’t want you to be strangers.”

“Does she know?”

“Will that change your opinion of her because she never told you through your letters?”

“Of course not.”

“Then yes but she’s not being forced into it either. She likes you for you and that’s what matters. Let the adults deal with the diplomatic aspects. We want you to just have fun.”

“Then I think I’m going to turn in for the night. I’m meeting Cadence in the morning so we can go somewhere for breakfast.”

“That sounds fun indeed. Go ahead. We won’t be offended.”

“Thank you, father. Goodnight, everyone.”

“Goodnight.”

I went to my room and forced myself to get some sleep but my mind was going too much. Cadence was a Princess and for some reason I couldn’t explain, it made her all the more alluring. I’ve never met a Princess before or I never thought I have.

I thought about mentioning it to her and wondered if she knew that I didn’t know or if she was really going to tell me tomorrow. Either way, I still had to wait.

I hate waiting.

Chapter 29

Seth

I got another kiss at her doorstep but I tried to be a gentleman about it with her mother overseeing our departure.

“Be safe.” Meg said. “I have a few things to do but I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, mother. I’ll be fine. I am with Seth after all.”

I smiled to the confidence she had in me but was a little pressured that I now had to live up to it.

We walked one street over where there was a little more traffic because all the little shops in the area and she led me towards an eatery called Carmen’s. I had heard about this place through talk between the grownups and it seemed to be a place everyone liked to go.

It was busy inside but we were lucky enough to find a little table for two in the corner right by the front window and ordered some breakfast. I managed to hackle some coin off grandfather before I left this morning so I would pay for everything today that needed paying. Of course he encouraged it but I let the embarrassment pass when I knew who I would be spending the day with. It was all worth it.

I waited to see how long Cadence would take if she was really planning to tell me who she really was today but nothing was ever mentioned and I’m the one that broke.

We were strolling on top of the east wall that would soon run behind the palace when I chipped at the ice so to speak on the royalty subject.

“Is your father looking forward to having you this summer?”

She shrugged. “I suppose but I’m sure it won’t be much fun. The summers in Hintus don’t get very hot. Only maybe spring weather compared to here.”

“But I’m sure you could find plenty of things to do in the palace. You don’t visit often so it would be like a new adventure each time.”

“The palace?” She looked over, her eyebrows slightly asking if I really knew or not.

“Isn’t that where your father will be, being King and all? Or does he have a summer palace like we do?”

She shook her head, careful that she didn’t express her shocked reaction to my knowledge but I could feel it. “No. It would be the city palace. I just—I’m sorry. I thought you didn’t know where I came from. I know we’ve never discussed it before since you knew my mother was from here.”

“I was informed but it’s not what makes me stay. You are. I like being around you. I feel like it’s easier to be myself.”

“Are you not yourself around other girls?”

“I hide parts of me. I don’t want to come off as too attached. I know why girls like me and a lot of the times I don’t feel like it’s because of me.”

“I understand. Maybe that’s why boys around here like me.”

“They know about you here?”

“Yeah but that would be silly to get all of the attention like you. My chance for the throne isn’t definite like yours. You’re next in line. I’m a ways away. My brothers and all three girls from my oldest would have to die and I would never ask for that. I actually never want to rule that country. I know it’s a part of me but I feel like my home is here and being an Assassin is where I belong, you know?”

“Yes and I agree. Your home is here.” I put my arm around her and she smiled like I had embarrassed her.

“Seth, you’re so sweet. I never want to leave.”

“I know and I don’t want you to either but according to parental views, we’re too young to make those decisions.”

“It stinks.”

“Well, when we’re old enough, we’ll get to decide and they won’t be able to stop us.”

“That seems so far away though. Three years?”

“We’ve gotten through one and I’ll always be waiting when another ends.”

“What’s going to happen tomorrow when I have to leave? Are you going to go back to Randal and spend your summer with someone else?”

I knew this conversation would come eventually and led into it slowly.

“I won’t be in Randal but my summer palace and I won’t be spending it with someone else unless you count Bryce, Dirk, their mothers or mine.”

She laughed slightly. “No. I guess they wouldn’t count.”

“Don’t worry. My summer is going to be just as boring as yours.”

“I wish mine could be with you.”

“Me too.”

“So, I guess in the morning we’ll be parting ways for another year.”

She said it for me and on some level, I was glad.

“Yes but next year we’ll get the whole summer together.”

“I’d like that.”

The sky cracked loud around us, jumping us both.

“But I don’t like that.” She said, ducking her head. “I didn’t even notice it was going to rain.”

I honestly didn’t notice the sky turn gray either. Being with her was enough to distract me.

“The palace is right there. If we run for it, we might escape the rain.”

She nodded and took my arm tightly.

I could feel the moisture in the air and we ran straight ahead on the wall but we weren’t going to make it.

“Close your eyes. I’ll get us there.”

Either she didn’t think or she didn’t care because she immediately did it and I used my speed to get there. Then my eyes turned black and I leaped from the wall to a second floor balcony, rushing to get inside the doors.

“Whoo!” Water just flowed off her when she shook out her hair. “That was weird.”

“Sorry.” I said, helping get her dry. Moving fast through the rain just seemed to cause more of it to hit us and we were both soaked.

“It’s okay but I don’t know about going home yet.”

“You can stay here for a bit. At least until the rain dies down. I’m sure we can find something to do.”

I didn’t want to say goodbye and was glad when she agreed. Tomorrow was going to be rough. Another goodbye and more waiting. I didn’t even want to think of it.

I spent the rest of the afternoon with her and walked her back to her house after dinner with the family. That goodbye wasn’t pleasant but she requested another kiss and it was the only thing that kept me from breaking down. I would see her in the morning one last time before the real goodbye and another year of separation.

I hated myself for thinking of it on my way back because that was my emotion when I saw my father again; I was mixed up and frustrated.

“What’s the matter?”

“I just—I can’t—I can’t do it again, father. Another year? How can I possibly wait that long? I don’t want to feel like this the whole time.”

“And how do you feel?”

“I don’t know. It hurts. Is that how you feel when you know you’re going to be separated from mother for a while?”

“Are you that far in your relationship that you’re comparing it to mine?”

“Should I not? I love her, father.”

His face was still for a moment but his eyes traced mine for some kind of answer.

“You’re young, Seth.”

“Don’t tell me that! You can’t tell me how I feel. Only I know how I feel and I know I love her.”

“Have you told her?”

“Of course not.”

“What are you waiting for?”

“I’m not sure. When we can actually be together. We haven’t made anything official because the distance would make it too hard.”

“And the other attention.”

“That too.”

“Well, a strong couple like your mother and I would make it through something like that.”

I groaned and for some reason I actually thought he would understand. “Father. I’m young. I have needs that I can’t just ignore and Dirk says it’s necessary to gain experience before being with someone that’s destined for you so they don’t think you’re a hopeless fool in the love department and I don’t want Cadence to think that of me.”

“Dirk said that?”

“Yeah.”

“How would he—” My father trailed off and the look on his face was both in disbelief and a little intrigued.

I was intrigued myself. “What?”

“Nothing. It was just weird to hear those words came from Dirk. I would have guessed it to be more Darius’s philosophy.”

“He probably got it from him.”

“You’re absolutely right and you wish to pursue it as well?”

“It sounds logical. I’m not with her yet and until I can be, I need to get experience. I don’t need a detailed answer but mother can’t be with you just for your looks, right?”

He laughed. “She’s most certainly not with me just because I’m good at other things. She fell for me before experiencing it.”

“But I’m sure it helped.”

“All right. Go get some sleep. I understand completely why you think you shouldn’t be together right now. You can say goodbye to her in the morning then we go back to Randal so you can get on that experience.”

“You mean bring me to the mountain palace. You told mother you’d drop me off before going back.”

“Oh, I did say that, you’re right. Thank you for reminding me. I would have forgotten about it completely. I’ve gotten rather fawned of you being there all the time.”

“It’s just for the summer, father. We’ll all be back.”

“I know. All right. Off to sleep. You don’t want to oversleep and miss her.”

I most certainly didn’t and went right to my room.

I almost dreaded for tomorrow to come. I didn’t want to say goodbye but I had to listen to myself sometimes and use the advice I told my father. Cadence was worth it. She’s what everything would finally lead to and I would get to have her forever thereafter.

I knew she tried not to cry when I saw her that next morning. My father was with me and we had to get back too before mother got worried or worse, suspicious. I just hoped she didn’t have Bryce looking for us and was seeing exactly what we were up to.

“I’ll see you next summer, Seth.”

I hugged her and spoke in her ear. “It won’t seem that long, don’t worry.”

I was sorry for lying already. I knew it would feel like forever, especially for me but I just didn’t want her to cry. I didn’t want to remember her face being sad when we had to part.

I hugged her for a long time, hoping she would calm and I could see that smile. She showed it to me but her lavender eyes were still too moistened to be considered normal when she climbed into the carriage.

“Don’t forget to write.” I had my hand up as a wave and she stuck her head out the side window to reply.

“Don’t be silly! You know I won’t.”

“I love you.” My voice was low and the carriage was too far down the street to hear me.

Just like that, she was gone and I waited next to my father until the carriage turned the corner.

A gentle hand was placed on my shoulder and I turned my somber eyes to him.

“Don’t worry. Trust in your own words.”

I nodded steadily and collected myself so I did not appear sad. “I’m ready to go home now.”

“That’s my boy. Let’s get out of the city first then we run for the mountain palace.”

I nodded and we began to walk in the opposite direction of Cadence’s carriage. We were to leave out the east gate but she was heading to the west gate to take a ship from the western docks. Our distance was growing and it would be like this for another year.