Chapter 3

A L I N A

I blink, forcing the power back down. The frost recedes, leaving the ground damp and slick. That wasn't supposed to happen that time. I wasn't even trying.

I hate that my abilties are tied to my emotions, and at times where they are the most intense, I find myself unable to properly control my abilities. It's something my father has been trying to teach me, control, but not I'm losing it while he's talking to me. I know he's not going to be happy about this. My heart pounds in my chest, and I find myself crossing my arms and looking away from him.

"I-I'm sorry..." I mumble, failling to look him in the eye as I keep my gaze on anything else but him. But It's already too late and I can feel the anger radiating off him in waves.

“You dare to use your powers while I speak to you?” he demands, his voice low but dangerous and at this point, I know I can't talk my way out of this. “You lack control and discipline, and failed a simple training exercise...” He snaps at me and I found myself frown deeply, finally bringing my gaze to meet his.

“I passed the excercise. I won. And I didn't hurt anyone." I say defensively, my own voice rising as I find it impossible to speak to him calmly. Despite the words that come out of my mouth, I know I'm the one in the wrong here, but if I can try to do some damage control, if I can try and get him to see the brighter side of this situation, then maybe I can keep him from completely going ballistic.

“That’s not the point!” His tone is thunderous now, his anger barely contained as a deep growl rumbles in his throat. So much for not going ballistic.

“You’re not to use your powers unless the situation is dire. How many times must I tell you that? You still can not control them.” He says sternly and at this point I'm sure the entire courtyard has their attention on us. I glance around, finding all the warriors I was sparring with staring back at me, nothing but fear written on their face. As soon as I catch them staring they quickly look away, keeping their hands at their backs. As if this couldn't get any more embarrasing...

“I can control them,” I snap, looking back at my father, the words escaping before I can stop them.

“Barely,” he retorts, his eyes narrowing. “Do you think I didn’t notice the ice creeping toward their feet? One misstep and you could have maimed them. Or worse.” he says, motioning to the melting eyes across the training grounds.

I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts me off with a sharp gesture.

“You’re not invincible, Alina,” he says, his voice quieter but no less harsh. “And these powers of yours, hey are as much a curse as they are a gift. Until you learn to control them, they are a danger to everyone around you.” He cuts me off before I can say anything more.

The words hit harder than any blade.

“I didn’t ask for these powers,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, his words cutting much deeper than I thought the would, and suddenly I begin to feel like this is much more than just using my powers... it's about the Xalveria name, and how much responsibility I have to carry with it.

“No,” he agrees, his gaze softening slightly. “But they are yours to bear. And you will bear them with responsibility. Do you understand me?” He tells me and though I don't want to hear it, there is some truth to what he's saying. And maybe, just maybe, I should stop being so stubborn, especially when I know he is just trying to help me...

I nod, the fight draining out of me. “Yes, Father.”

He studies me for a moment longer, then turns to the warriors. “Dismissed.”

"Yes my Lord..." They all say before bowing and filing out of the training grounds, their movements quick and silent. I stand there, the cold from my earlier outburst still clinging to my skin. Afterwards my father exhales deeply and eventually walks away from me, making his way to my mother where she would stop him, reaching up to him with a delicate smile, placing her hand on his cheek right before she allows him to walk away. Once she does, ,y mother approaches, her expression softer, more understanding as she reaches me.

“Your father means well,” she says gently. The Lady Kaela Xalveria, quite the opposite of my father. She is soft-spoken and quiet, with a gentle heart. Like all members of the Xalveria House, she two possesses white hair like me and my father.

I let out a bitter laugh. “Does he?”

She places a hand on my shoulder, her touch warm against the lingering chill. “He does. He just doesn’t know how to show it...”

I look at her, the tension in my chest easing slightly. “And you?”

She smiles, a hint of pride in her eyes. “You were magnificent.” She whispers, cheekily glancing the direction my father had gone in as if she doesn't want him to hear a word.

The words shouldn’t matter as much as they do, but they settle something inside me. I find myself smiling as I straighten up, trying my best not to let my father’s scolding get to me. It's still heavy but more bearable now...

“Come,” my mother says, looping her arm through mine. “Let’s get you cleaned up. You have a dinner to attend tonight, and the Vorathiels are not known for their patience...”

That's when I remember what's happening this even. We will be hosting a dinner with the Vorathiels, another noble family and allies of House Xalveria. I groan, the thought of another evening filled with politics and pleasantries almost enough to make me long for another fight. However, there is one thing I am looking forward too...

And that's seeing... him...