Blooming Life (Fate's Intent Book 10) (5 page)

Chapter 12

Adele

We were all happy to see them bonding like this through everything Zayden’s been going through these last couple years but no one said anything. I was most happy to see his mood change. I was getting worried for him when he was spending all of his time alone. The loss of his parents put a dark shadow over him and I didn’t know when it would be lifted. It’s been two years of it but it would seem Seth’s youth helped with his desperate desire to be connected to his father and I was glad for it.

I went up to Seth’s room after dinner and went right inside. “There you are.”

“Mother?”

“So, you have plans with your father tomorrow, huh?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear. What’s on the schedule?”

“I’m not sure. He said it would be a surprise.”

I smiled to see how excited he was. “Oh, well, better keep it that way.”

“I’m going to get to bed, mother, so tomorrow comes faster. Come on, Rift.”

I smiled when he jumped up at his request and laid by his side. “All right. See you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, mother.”

I left his room after a quick kiss on his head and walked through the halls to get to mine.

“Just see Seth?” Zayden asked.

“Yes. He’s going to bed and very much looking forward to spending time with you tomorrow.”

“So am I.”

I went over to him and stood in front of him while he sat on the bed. “I know you are. I knew it wouldn’t last forever. He never hated you. He just wanted your attention.”

“How long are you staying this time?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Summer is just coming to an end. We might go back for a couple of weeks so the boys can get focused back on their studies.”

“I actually wanted to talk to you about that, his
studies
.”

“What about them?”

“Well, he’s twelve now and I thought maybe he could stay around here with me and continue them at the Royal Academy with other kids his age.”

I heard what he said but I only thought of one thing. “And with girls?”

My look was nervous, making Zayden laugh. “Oh, come on, Love. You can’t keep him from that forever. He’s growing up. He needs to be exposed to those kinds of things. You don’t want him to turn out to be a nervous fool every time he tries to talk to a girl.”

“Yeah, and I don’t want him to be like you were either. I think I remember telling you that.”

“I know but nothing is wrong with being like me. I was a good kid. I had respect. I think it will be good for him. It’ll give him a chance to get more involved with the people and have them get to know him.”

“You know what I’m going to say.”

“He needs this, Love. You can’t keep him little forever.”

“I know.” I didn’t like it to be true but he was right. Seth was growing up. He was the perfect image of blooming life and I knew what the right thing was but I was hesitant to get out my next words. “All right. Fine. He can go but only as long as Dirk and Bryce are with him. I don’t want him pushed into a world of strangers.”

“Okay, we can probably work that out but you’ll have to be on my side when it comes time to convince Ruby and Jaylyn it’s the right thing.”

I nodded and leaned into him. “I’m on your side.”

Zayden smiled as he leaned in the rest of the way.

Chapter 13

Seth

I got right up bright and early with the sun and got myself ready for the day.

“Come on, Rift. I’ll let you out.” He got up rather slowly but followed me down to a side door. “I’ll get you in a few minutes.”

I went straight to the dining hall from there for breakfast to see father already in there with Troy and Bryce.

“And I thought I got up early.” I jested.

They laughed and I took a seat next to my father.

“Been waiting for you.” He said. “Where’s Rift?”

“I just let him out.”

“Then we’ll get someone to let him back in. He should stay here for this.”

“Okay.”

“So, where are you off to today?” Troy asked.

“Just taking a little trip into the city. You know, meeting with someone.”

Troy’s look got serious. “Zayden, you know she’s not going to like that.”

“That’s why no one’s going to tell her, right?”

“You know I won’t so don’t look at me when she finds out which you know she will.”

“I think I’ll be able to handle it. Come on, Seth. Let’s go.”

I immediately stopped eating and got up. “Ready. Bye, Bryce, Troy.”

“Later, Seth.” Bryce replied.

Troy just waved and I walked with father out of the dining hall and outside to the stables. My father started readying my horse for me and I was curious with questions.

“So who are we meeting and why won’t mother like it?”

“Just some friends of mine. Here. Get on your horse.”

He handed the reins off to me and started readying his.

Together we rode out of the stables and my father took us into the city. People bowed and greeted us with respect as we slowly walked the white streets. It was interesting. I usually don’t get out of the palace much and when I do, mother is taking me back to the mountains so usually, I’m not looking around.

“Where is this place?” I asked while we were walking in parts of the city I’ve never even seen.

“Just up here. There’s a little park. Oh, and I did get the chance to speak to your mother about you attending the Royal Academy.”

“Good. I’ve been prepared for the rejection.”

“Well, that’s too bad because she’s going to let you go.”

“Really!” I was both surprised and excited.

“Yes. I promised, didn’t I?”

I smiled. He was starting to live up to his promises now and I was enjoying it. “Thank you, father!”

“No need. You need this.”

It was true and I was glad for it.

We came into view of a little patch of green amongst all the white with a couple of trees and a little pond off to one side. That’s when I spotted a young girl with golden brown hair shining in the sun. She was sitting up on one of the rocks overlooking the pond with her knees up into her chest just soaking in the rays of the sun on her face.

“Wh—who is that?” My voice stuttered nervously.

“Her name is Cadence, daughter of a dear friend of mine. She’s on the list to becoming your mother’s successor someday.”

“Really?”

“Would you like to meet her?”

“Yes.” I answered without hesitation.

We reached the park at a slow walking pace and got off the horses.

“Well, hello there.”

The girl looked up and smiled as she jumped down off the rock. “Good morning, your majesties.”

“I’d like you to meet my son, Seth.”

“Yes, hi.” She held out her hand to shake mine. “I’m—”

“Cadence.” I said, taking her hand.

She smiled. “That’s right. This is such an honor.”

“No, I believe the honor is all mine.”

Cadence smiled again and bit her bottom lip. “Wow. You’re sweet.”

“Where’s Meg?” My father asked, interrupting the moment.

“Oh, she’s in the suite packing our things. We’re going back home tomorrow.”

“Then I better go see her and say my good-bye. Will you be all right out here for a moment, Seth?”

“Yes, father.”

“Then I’ll be right back.”

He got back on his horse and started riding down the street while I got the chance to stay behind with Cadence.

“Well.” Cadence said, breaking the awkward silence and climbing back on the rock. “I haven’t seen you out here before. They must like keeping you locked up tight in the palace, huh?”

“Oh, ah—do you mind?”

I stepped closer to the rock and Cadence made room for me on it. “Of course not.”

I climbed up next to her and continued the conversation. “Well, sometimes but I don’t actually live here in the city.”

“You don’t? I wouldn’t have guessed that.”

“Not many would. I was born here but raised in our other palace within the mountains.”

“Oh, yes. I’ve heard about that place. I hear it’s nice.”

“It is but I think that’s all about to change, well, for me anyway. I’m going to start going to the Royal Academy so I’d have to stay here.”

“That’d be nice. We come here every year, well, try to in the summertime. I live in Kalu with my mother.”

“I think I knew that. My father said you were going to be my mother’s successor in the Kalu Assassin thing.”

“I hope to be. No one will ever be as good as Adele but I’m sure I can come close.”

I laughed. “If she’s teaching you than you will.”

“That won’t be for a few more years. She can’t start training us until we’re fifteen so that gives us three years to find another member. We’ve picked one already.”

“That doesn’t sound too hard. Three years is a long time to find one more.”

“I know.” Cadence groaned and laid back on the rock. “I hate it. It doesn’t even feel like we’ve been here for two weeks but we have.”

“Yeah, it’s too bad that you’re going back. I would have liked to see more of you.”

Cadence smiled and sat back up, looking into my eyes. Hers were beautiful like a lavender flower. “Me too but I’ll be here next summer. I’ll try and let you know when I arrive and we can get together.”

“I’d like that.”

I could have sat here forever with her. She was very easy to talk to but of course something was going to end our time here.

“Cadence, your mother wants you.” My father approached and stopped his horse.

Cadence sighed and hopped down off the rock. “All right. I better go.”

“Yeah, me too.” I got down off the rock as well.

“Nice seeing you, your majesty.”

“And you, Cadence.” Father smiled. “Have a safe trip home.”

“Thank you, I will. And Seth, I won’t forget.” She kissed me quickly on the cheek and ran off.

I was completely speechless as I watched her run out of sight.

“Well. Looks like you’ve gotten along.”

“Yeah. She’s—great.”

“I think she likes you.”

I smiled and pulled myself to look away from her direction. “What makes you think that?”

“Don’t worry. You’ll see her again.”

My mood changed, thinking of when that would actually be. “Yeah,
next summer
.”

“I didn’t know they were leaving or I would have waited for this meeting. I tried to convince Meg to stay longer but they can’t. They have to get back. Cadence has school too.”

“It’s fine.” I said, getting back to my horse. “I’ll wait.”

“Ready to go back?”

“Yeah.”

We turned from the small park and walked slowly back towards the palace.

“Meg’s not your woman on the side, is she?”

My father looked shocked from my sudden question. “My what? No. Of course not. Why would you ask that?”

“Well, you’re away from mother a lot and—”

“I would never
ever
do that to your mother, Seth. I love her. Us being apart like we have just makes it all the more grand when we reunite.”

“That’s gross. I didn’t need to hear about that but then how do you know her? Meg, I mean.”

“I know her family. Highly respectable. You’ll find out someday.”

“Oh, well, sorry that I—”

“It’s all right. I knew something like that would have come up and it’s understandable to think that but I could never want to be with anyone else but your mother. She knows that.”

“Well, why haven’t you ever introduced me to Cadence before? She’s been coming here every summer for a long time.”

“It’s your mother, actually. That’s why she can’t know about this.”

“Why wouldn’t she want us to meet?”

“Because she didn’t want it to interfere with Cadence’s future as an Assassin. She says boys cause the wrong kinds of thoughts but I say it’d only want her to be better so she has someone to impress. Your mother overruled me there of course but I didn’t want you to have to suffer from it.”

“Wow, at least one of you is on my side.”

“I’ll always be when it comes to the girls. You only deserve the best.”

I smiled and we rode back through the palace gates and into the stables. “What do you have to do today, father? Anything I can help with?”

“Not today but it looks like your grandfather got here while we were out.”

I saw a Kaluian horse resting in a stall.

“Can I go see him?”

“Of course you can. I knew he’d be here at some point before summer’s end. I’ll take care of the horses.”

“Thank you, father. Oh, and I had fun. I won’t tell anyone.”

“That’s my boy. Go on.”

I ran out of the stables to see grandfather in the main hall with what seemed like everyone else.

It wasn’t until my father came in that he parted from everyone to greet him. “Zayden, how are you?”

My father smiled lightly and they embraced for a moment. “I’m good. Getting through—still but getting passed it is what’s best.”

“Spoken like a true King. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you. We’re humbled by your visit. You are always welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”

“Just a couple days this time, I’m afraid.”

“Better than not at all. Please excuse me. I’ve got to check on one more thing and we can gather for lunch.”

“Of course. Do what you have to.”

He nodded to him and walked off with Darius and Troy following.

I spent the rest of my day in the company of Dirk and Bryce as we listened to past stories from grandfather. I wanted badly to mention my meeting with Cadence but kept my word to my father that I wouldn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even say anything to Dirk or Bryce who I usually share everything with. It was hard not to but I managed to make it through one day even with the thoughts of her always on my mind.

I laid in my bed that night while Rift was sleeping next to me and I just kept thinking about Cadence’s lavender eyes, smile and especially the kiss she planted on my cheek. I could never forget and to me, waiting a year would be worth it.

I was knocked out of my train of thought when I heard an unusual noise outside my balcony. Rift even raised his head a little and growled.

“Settle.” I whispered. I took my covers off and slowly got out of bed. “Hello?”

The glass doors were cracked open but I didn’t hear a reply. I opened it up all the way and stepped out, looking around. I didn’t see anyone but was suddenly grabbed and pulled back inside the room as the doors closed.

“What the—”

“Shh!” A voice whispered. “It’s me.”

“Cadence?” She stepped into the light with a smile and I smiled back when I realized it really was her but Rift was right there like he was ready to protect me. “Rift, no. Back to bed. It’s okay.” He ducked his head but did what I asked and I turned back, still shocked to see her. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry. I had to see you. We’re leaving in the morning, remember?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“So, this is your room, huh?” She looked around quite enthusiastically.

“How did you get in here?”

She kept the smile on her face and looked back. “I’m not going to be an Assassin for nothing.”

I had to smile to her confidence. “Your skills are good then.”

“I guess so. They’ll get better. So? How have you been?”

“I managed to get through the day.”

“Yeah, me too. My mother wanted me to pack my own things. It wasn’t that much. It got pretty boring after that.”

“My grandfather is here from Kalu for a few days so my time was well spent.”

“Right, King Aleksander. How is he?”

“He’s good.” I paused as we stood in the almost completely dark room and I tried desperately to think of something else to say. “Can I get you anything?” Being polite, it was the only thing I thought of.