It was getting late, and Zoran still hadn’t returned. I had been wandering through the halls for nearly an hour, occasionally going back to the room, but I still hadn’t found him. After checking all the places I knew, I tried a different route.
I found some stairs that took me to the lower levels of the palace. A female voice sounded up ahead. Creeping closer, I saw pools of water with steam rising from the surface. Ashleen was straddling Aedus off by the far wall. I felt my cheeks heat up and quickly hurried past. With my head bowed, I rounded a corner and ran into Amber. “Sorry,” I muttered as she adjusted her towel. “What are you doing here, Fin?” she snapped. “You shouldn’t be wandering around the palace. Aedus will be furious if he
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“I’ll learn.”
She laughed to herself. “Blue.” Her head fell to the side and she gave me a pathetic expression. “Aedus told me about your aura. It’s from the human world. Everyone else is from the cosmo or hell.” She chuckled, covering her mouth. “It’s so sad that you think you’ll ever become a proper firebird. You’ll never have the same amount power as me. You’re no better than a dragon.”
“Zoran’s has a blue aura,” I replied, shifting my weight.
She gave me an amused look. “Don’t compare yourself to a god. I wouldn’t even do such a thing, and I’m in a much higher position than you.”
I felt a rush of heat against my back. I lurched forward as Zoran placed his hand on my shoulder.
He nodded to Amber. “Go to your master.”
She glanced between the two of us. “As you wish.” She marched off to where Ashleen and Aedus were bathing.
I didn’t turn to face him as he squeezed my shoulder.
“Don’t take it to heart, Fin. All fire has the same purpose, it create and destroy. Ours just doesn’t it
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“If Aedus or Masou showed their true color, they would have burned down the city. Same for Amber and Ashleen, it’s too dangerous. Iri, though,” He pulled me to his chest. “Her aura is actually weaker, red, but she likes the feeling of yellow.” He pressed his lips to my ear. “They all have their preference, with time you’ll find what feels best for yourself.”
I nodded. “Is that why Aedus hurts?” I hugged my arms around me. “I hate it when his fire touches me.”
“As does Amber,” he whispered in my ear.
“Yours is blue, though. How am I any different than you?”
He tucked my hair behind my ear. “I can create all kinds of fire, of any power or hue I wish. Blue is my natural tendency. I don’t have to try, it just happens. Like I said, my brothers have to hold back when in the presence of mortal, or risk incinerating them.” He grabbed my hand. “Come with me.”
Zoran led me into one of the rooms. The water was boiling. It felt nice and made the cold of a raining day go away. Zoran dropped his towel and stepped into the pool. I quickly took my clothes off and piled them in the corner. I stepped in the water and sat down on the submerged ledge a few feet from him.
“Fin.” He held out his arm. “Come closer.”
I moved over and sat at his side. His arm fell over my