Hiraeth

Chapter Twenty

The fire in the east wing had been contained, but the aftermath lingered. Sage watched from the castle courtyard as guards and servants hustled about, their faces drawn and tense.

Her thoughts drifted back to Beckett, how he had rushed into action without a second thought. That fierce determination ignited something within her. She admired his courage, but it also unnerved her. What if this tournament brought more than just competition? What if it unleashed something far more perilous?

With a sigh, Sage fell onto her bed, her body sinking into the soft fabric as she stared at the ceiling. She needed a distraction, something to take her mind off the lingering tension. That's when a soft knock echoed through the room.

"Lady Sage?" A familiar voice broke through her thoughts.

"Kade?" she called, sitting up abruptly. "Come in."

The door creaked open, revealing Kade with his long black hair tousled and a concerned look in his bright green eyes. "I heard about the fire. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she replied, offering him a reassuring smile, though her heart raced at the sight of him. "Just... processing everything."

Kade stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, exuding his usual confidence, but the tension in his posture suggested he wasn't entirely at ease. "You don't look fine. You look like you've just been caught in a storm."

Sage rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a smirk. "What's wrong? Did you expect me to be twirling around the room, singing happy songs?"

He chuckled, the sound warm and familiar, cutting through the heaviness in the air. "Well, maybe not that extreme. But I thought you'd be at least a little more chipper after your moonlit rendezvous with Prince Beckett."

"Is that what you're calling it now?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow, trying to play it cool. "A rendezvous?"

Kade stepped closer, the playful glint in his eyes replaced by a more serious tone. "You know it's more than that, Sage. You two have a connection, even if you're both too stubborn to admit it."

"Connection?" she repeated, her heart fluttering at the thought. "We're just... competitive."

"Competitive," Kade echoed, smirking. "Right. Just like how a spark is 'just a little fire.'"

Sage bit her lip, her defenses slipping under Kade's teasing. "Okay, maybe there's something there, but it's complicated."

"Complicated is an understatement." Kade leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Are you really prepared to fight for his attention against all the other suitors? Because I see the way he looks at you. It's not just competitive; it's hungry."

The heat in Sage's cheeks intensified, and she pulled her knees up to her chest, trying to hide her flustered state. "You make it sound like a battle, and maybe it is. But with the tournament approaching, I can't afford to get distracted."

"Distraction can be a good thing." Kade sat down at the edge of her bed, a mischievous grin on his face. "It might keep you sane while you navigate this mess."

Sage studied him, the warmth of his presence soothing yet stirring a different kind of tension. "You really think so?"

"I know so. Besides, it's not just Beckett you have to worry about," Kade said, the teasing lilt returning to his voice. "Fleck and I are both in the running too, remember?"

Sage laughed softly, the sound reverberating in the stillness of her room. "You're joking, right? Do you really think you stand a chance?"

"Against the likes of Beckett and Fleck?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself. "No, not really. But it doesn't hurt to try, does it?"