Luna's POV
Fire was drowning me. The flames encircled me like water, but they felt safe and warm rather than burning. The fire tasted like cinnamon and sunshine, and I could breathe it like air.
A voice called through the flames, "Luna." "Can you hear me, Luna?"
Prince Kai was standing with me in the fire when I turned to face the voice. However, he appeared younger, more dejected, and as though he was bearing a heavy burden.
I was glad to see him, but I told him, "You're not supposed to be here."
"Neither are you," he said, extending his hand. "But here we are."
The fire surrounding us turned to water when I took his hand. Golden light glistened on cool, blue water. I felt more at ease than I had ever felt in my real life as we drifted together through a sea of magic.
Prince Kai whispered, "This is where we belong." "Water and fire, cooperating."
"But fire and water don't mix," I responded. "Everyone is aware of that."
He grinned and said, "Everyone's wrong." I had never seen a genuine smile on his face before. "Observe."
Orange flames danced on his palm as he raised his free hand. Blue water swirled around my fingers as I held mine up. Then, in a stunning spiral of light and steam, the fire and water began to move toward one another.
"See?" Prince Kai uttered those words. "We should be together."
The dream abruptly changed, though. The calm water grew cold and dark. I heard Prince Kai yelling my name as something pulled him into the shadows and tore his hand from mine.
"Kai!" I yelled as I swam in his direction, but the water was too thick—like swimming through mud.
Through the water came a horrible laugh. The voice of Princess Stella, but evil and warped. She declared, "The Phoenix Heart is mine now." "And the Fire Prince will be too soon."
I screamed when I woke up. In contrast to the cozy fire in my dream, the dungeon cell was chilly and dark. I was trying to locate myself by touching the stone walls with trembling hands.
"Just a dream," I muttered to myself. "It was only a dream."
It hadn't felt like a dream, though. It had seemed genuine. More authentic than waiting for Princess Stella to return and harm Master Orion while confined in this awful cell.
I tried to fall back asleep by curling up on the hard floor, but each time I closed my eyes, Prince Kai's face appeared as he was dragged away from me. His eyes had been so real with fear.
A voice murmured, "Luna?" from the shadows.
My heart thumping, I sat up fast. "Who's there?"
"It's me." With her invisibility magic fading, Zara emerged from the shadows. "I've been searching everywhere for you!"
"Zara!" I leaped to my feet and gave her a firm embrace. "How did you find me?"
She said, "Shadow magic has its advantages," but her voice was tremulous. "What's going on, Luna? While everyone is discussing the events of the party, no one is willing to let me know where you are."
I blurted out, "Princess Stella threatened to harm Master Orion if I don't assist her in stealing my magic." "She wants my power for herself because she knows I'm the Phoenix Heart."
"Phoenix Heart?" Zara's eyes widened. "Like the myth? That's not possible, Luna. You're simply..."
"What exactly? Only a servant?" Even though I knew Zara didn't mean to hurt me, I still felt hurt.
"Just normal," Zara uttered quietly. "My best friend is you. You're not some fabled super-mage."
"I don't want to be," I said, my eyes stinging from the tears. "All I want to do is return to keeping out of trouble and cleaning floors. However, I have no control over my circumstances."
Zara sat down beside me on the chilly floor and said, "Tell me everything."
I informed her about Princess Stella's evil magic, the shadow creatures, and Master Orion's teachings. Zara appeared perplexed when I reached the section about my dream.
"You had a dream about Prince Kai?"
"It felt so real," I remarked. "As if we were genuinely conversing. As if he were trying to convey a significant message to me."
"Luna," Zara uttered slowly, "magic users can occasionally share dreams when their powers are linked." "If your touch with Prince Kai truly did forge a magical connection of some sort..."
"You believe he had a similar dream?"
"Perhaps. Or perhaps he dreamed about you in a different dream."
I couldn't explain why the thought made my stomach turn. Why would I be in Prince Kai's dreams? Princess Stella was his fiancée. One day he would be king. I had no one.
Zara said, "There's something else," with a worried expression. "I overheard the guards conversing. Prince Kai is not permitted to leave his room, which is locked. According to Queen Ember, he has been enchanted."
"Bewitched?" I was ill. "She truly believes that I cast a spell on him?"
Zara stated, "I don't think that's the only reason." "I believe she's afraid of what transpired between you two. That kind of magic has never been witnessed before."
"What should I do? I have no control over it. I don't even comprehend it."
Zara remarked, "Perhaps that's the point." "Perhaps the Phoenix Heart isn't initially meant to comprehend their power. Perhaps it should grow on its own."
I said pathetically, "Or maybe I'm just a freak who's going to get everyone in trouble."
Zara firmly said, "Don't say that." "You're not strange. You are unique. And Princess Stella must understand how important you are if she desires your power so much."
Outside my cell, footsteps reverberated in the hallway. Zara soon disappeared once more, reducing to a mere glimmer in the atmosphere.
She whispered, "I'll find a way to help you." "Remain persistent."
In front of my cell, the footsteps ceased. The door opened after I heard the jingle of keys. However, it wasn't Queen Ember or Princess Stella. Prince Kai was the one.
His clothes were wrinkled, his hair was disheveled, and he had dark circles under his eyes that gave the impression that he hadn't slept for days. He looked awful.
"Luna," he said in a gruff voice. "We must have a conversation."
"How did you leave your room?" I got up and asked.
"I climbed out the window," he declared. "which, given the length of the drop, was foolish. However, I had to see you."
"Why?"
My heart stopped when he said, "Because of the dreams." "Have you not been experiencing them as well?"
"The water and fire-related dreams?" Unconfident in my voice, I nodded.
"I believe something is going on with us, Luna. Something Princess Stella and my mother don't comprehend." He took a step toward me. "We are not adversaries in my dreams. We are."
"Together," I concluded.
"Yes. It feels natural, too. superior to everything in my actual life."
I could see tiny flames dancing on his fingertips as he extended his hand. Water swirled around my hand as I reached out without thinking.
I said, "Don't," but I didn't back down. "What if it occurs once more? What happens if we lose command?"
Prince Kai remarked, "Perhaps losing control is just what we need to do."
Now, our hands were just inches apart. His magic was calling to me, and I could feel it.
"Prince Kai," I muttered. "Your mom is going to be upset. Princess Stella is going to—"
"I don't care," he declared. "I think I'm falling in love with you, Luna."
Our hands touched before I could reply. Light burst from the cell. We were surrounded by swirling water and fire magic, but this time it felt different. more powerful. more restrained. As if we were learning to cooperate rather than clash.
As he watched the magic dance all around us, Prince Kai exclaimed, "This is incredible."
Then my blood froze when I heard something. The hallway clapped slowly.
Princess Stella's voice reverberated throughout the dungeon, "How touching." "The Fire Prince and the Phoenix Heart: uncovering their connection."
Her eyes glowed with dreadful hunger as she came into view. She smiled cruelly and said, "Thank you for making this so easy." "I can now simultaneously take both of your powers."