Page 89 of Fated

Ash gave her a playful nod, chuckling. “She is pretty, isn’t she?”

There was nothing I could do to hide the blush spreading across my face.

“Did you save her from a fire-breathing dragon?” the girl asked, completely serious.

Ash burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but join in.

“Actually, Amelia,” Ash said, “Areya is the one who savedme.”

The children around us gasped in awe.

Amelia’s expression turned thoughtful, as if she were piecing something together. Then, in a loud whisper, she asked, “Are you going to marry her?”

Giggles erupted from the other children.

Ash smiled and whispered back,” You’ll have to askherthat.”

He looked at me with a playful gleam in his eyes.

Now, I was blushing harder than ever, my cheeks as red as ripe tomatoes. The heat flooding my face was almost unbearable and I contemplated crawling under the tiny table to hide. The girl, however, was waiting for me, her face serious, expecting an answer.

The intensity of her seriousness made me press my hand over my mouth, trying to stifle a giggle. Amelia leaned in toward Ash, loudly whispering, “She didn’t say no.”

Just then, thank God, the door opened, and Madam Pearl entered, wearing a knowing smile. “All right, children let’s give poor Areya a break and line up for recess. It’s beautiful outside.”

The kids scrambled toward the front of the classroom, forming a line behind Madam Pearl. Ash set the small boy down from his lap, and as Amelia turned to leave, she called out, “Bye, Princess Areya! Bye, Prince Sebastian,” before running off with the others.

Within moments, the room emptied, leaving only Ash and me. He stood up and offered his hand to me with a smile. “Accompany me to breakfast, Princess Areya?”

I did my best to hide my grin as I took his hand and stood. “I’m not a princess,” I insisted as we walked to the cafeteria. Even so, with his hand clasping mine, I felt like one.

“We’ll see about that,” he teased playfully.

When we arrived, I was surprised to see Ash grab not one but two trays.

“You’re eating!” I exclaimed.

“This is the second time today,” he replied with a grin of his own. “Ever since I woke up, I’ve been starving.”

“So, you are truly healed then?” I asked, my eyes searching his face.

For a moment, something flickered in his expression. Hesitation, maybe, but it quickly vanished, replaced by a wide smile. “I am.”

I grabbed some fruit and coffee, while Ash piled a little of everything onto his tray. We found a quiet table at the end of the room and sat down.

“The children adore you,” I said to Ash.

He seemed to be about to say something but stopped.

“Tell me, Ash,” I urged. “Please, I want to know everything about you.”

He looked at me for a long moment, something heavy in his eyes. “When I was eight, my mother sent me down here to hide me from my father. My mother and Madam Pearl were close friends, so Pearl took me in, almost like a second mother.”

“Why did she need to hide you from your father?” I reluctantly asked.

His face tightened and he struggled for words. “He was … it’s … complicated.”

Then he paused, clearly at a loss. “I don’t want to burden you with sad stories of my past, Areya,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

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