Burn Like a Beacon, page 16
He began by acknowledging the fear and mistrust that had been associated with Elementals in the past. He spoke of the stories and legends that had been passed down, depicting Elementals as dangerous and malevolent beings. However, Alec passionately expressed his belief that these notions were outdated and inaccurate.
He shared an account he claimed to have once heard about someone having met an Elemental, which was his personal experience of Claire coming clean with him that she was one. He spoke about how the narrative of the so-called encounter had changed his perspective and made him realize that Elementals were not inherently bad. He emphasized that they were just individuals with unique abilities, capable of good or evil, just like anyone else.
He spoke from his heart, using his natural charisma and eloquence to sway the crowd. He appealed to their sense of reason, urging them to question the old beliefs and be open to a new understanding of Elementals. He emphasized the importance of compassion, tolerance, and acceptance, and how these values could bridge the gap between Elementals and non-Elementals.
“More than ever,” he said, “we need them. Our world’s not right. It has not been for a while now. And knowing what Elementals can do, we need them on our side wouldn’t you agree?”
He received varied reactions from the audience. Some listened attentively, nodding in agreement, while others were skeptical, their expressions guarded. He knew he had a long way to go in changing their perception, but he was determined to make a difference. He continued to share stories of Elementals he had heard of about how kind they were, compassionate, and had used their abilities for the greater good. He spoke of their contributions to society, their potential for positive change, and how their abilities could be harnessed for the benefit of Havenswood.
His words resonated with some of the people, and he could sense a shift in their mindset. He could see the walls of fear and mistrust gradually crumbling, replaced by curiosity and openness. He spoke passionately about the need to embrace diversity, celebrate differences, and come together as a community that accepted Elementals as equals.
Alec acknowledged that change could be challenging, and he didn’t expect everyone to agree with him overnight. But he urged them to consider his words, to question the long-held beliefs, and to be open to a new perspective. He emphasized that it was time to move beyond fear and prejudice and strive for a more inclusive and harmonious society. As Alec tried to conclude his speech, he was met with a mix of reactions. Some were still apprehensive, while others were nodding in agreement. He knew that it would take time to fully change the mindset of the people, but he was determined to continue his efforts.
When the gathering ended, Alec felt a mix of relief and trepidation. He knew that he had taken a risk by speaking out and challenging long-held beliefs, but he believed it was the right thing to do. He hoped that his words had planted a seed of change in the hearts and minds of the people of Havenswood. As he left the mess hall, Alec couldn’t help but think about Claire. He knew that she was not present during his speech, and he wondered how she would react when she found out. He hoped that she would understand his intentions and support his efforts to change the perception of Elementals in their community.
He knew that the road ahead would not be easy, but he was willing to continue his advocacy for Elementals, including Claire, and work towards a more inclusive and accepting society in Havenswood. He was committed to standing by her side and fighting for their love and everything it entailed.
Chapter Twenty
For a time, Claire and Alec’s meetups were scarce sometime after he’d learned her secret and had even campaigned for a more inclusive society in Havenswood for Elementals like her. It wasn’t done deliberately, but his responsibilities had taken over his time plus he had to keep up appearances with Gwen till he was sure of what course of action to take. He was in one of those busy eras as he liked to call it, which as the sole heir to the Moonstone name, he couldn’t successfully evade.
However, whenever he managed to carve out some time and he and Claire were able to meet, it wasn’t for fishing trips anymore or causal outings. Their sexual life had completely taken over. Most of the time they only had a few minutes together, so only one could really climax and not the other. This made Alec feel horrible since they did not have enough time so Claire could experience pleasure like the first couple of times. He would bury his head in her chest and hug her tightly every time he had failed her.
Claire had kept reassuring him that she was happy just to be with him. Sometimes instead of sexual dues, they ate a meal together at their secret spot by the lake. Claire was learning how to make homemade bread in her spare time. Alec gladly was the food critic. He wasn’t sure how she had the time. Lemon would eat the crumbs from their sandwiches. She stayed very close to Claire’s side. Some would think that Lemon was a dog, and not a cat.
One day at the bookkeeper’s stall, Claire and Killian were searching for some new stories about the Elementals. Claire had her back turned as she was scanning the books to the left of the shelves while Killian was scanning the books to the right. She had not noticed that Gwen had crept up on her.
“You whore,” Claire heard behind her as she turned around and got slapped in the face. “No thanks to Alec, I found about his infidelity through town gossip!”
When she was able to take a brief but proper look at Gwen, she saw that her face was flushed with anger and indiscernible emotions. How had Gwen even found her, was she stalking her now? She’d have thought that a lady of her standing would not have had the time for such things. In that moment, she surmised what the matter would be. It had to really be the prospect of losing Alec; but she already knew that and that was the infidelity thing she mentioned was about, but those emotions and how charged she appeared to look now? It seemed she really had a lot at stake in that failed and forced union.
Claire ducked as Gwen went in for another slap. Gwen missed and hit the pole of the stall instead of Claire’s face. “Woah,” Claire said and shifted tentatively into a defensive stance. “Hey, why are you trying to slap me?” She kept a good distance between them as she continued to assess the emotions on display on Gwen’s face. She saw the fixated furrowed brows and folds that endured as she maintained her frowning, and she fully recognized what this was. Gwen was in a fit of jealousy. At last, she was open about it. If Claire could, she would do her very best to scorn her right now. She had long hated Gwen’s guts since Alec mentioned her at the shop and it had only worsened when she saw her with him at the flower dance. She was disgusted that she already had everything in the world that her privilege could afford, and yet she wanted Alec for herself. The greed.
It had been a good many weeks since Claire and Alec’s romance escalated, and Brenna had already spilled the beans. Claire had secretly wondered why it took so long for Gwen to learn about the whole thing. Claire was shocked that Gwen made this move now and not before. She shrugged it off as some form of cultural acceptance. Although deep down, she had long anticipated a confrontation from her though. Since the men in mythic officially subscribed to being monogamous as their society recognized but one wife, but it was also known that they had many affairs on the sidelines from far and near, and she believed Gwen had long accepted this reality. Why couldn’t she see things clearly? Why did she have to remain in denial?
It had equally crossed Claire’s mind that if Alec could easily cheat on Gwen, it could happen to her as well. Geoffrey was known to have mistresses because as chief he could ask for anything and it would appear. It was rumored that Geoffrey had children across Moonstone territory, but nothing was ever proven, nor could the children take the claim that Alec had to the council. Nosy eyes were on the drama that was bound to unfold, which Claire had sighed off. Killian had come over to Claire and placed his hand on one of her shoulders as a sign to assert his protectiveness of her.
“Fucking the chief’s son isn’t enough, I see,” Gwen growled at Claire. Her eyes widened. “Getting a taste of both worlds?!”
The audacity, Claire thought. To think she could come here, bark words at her and throw slaps around, because her family was wealthy? Even Claire’s father would have known well enough to advise anyone against daring her this badly. Who did Gwen really think she was? What infidelity claims was she yapping about, her and Alec were not even married and most likely would never be. Perhaps it was the fear that she was the ever-present factor that would make it possible that she never got him that triggered her so much today. Claire was momentarily curious about what kind of details exactly Gwen had heard to be triggered this badly, but before then, she had a message to send.
To Gwen’s surprise, Claire returned the slap in her face and followed it with a kick that swept her off the ground. Claire bent down and hissed at her, “Do not dare assume such a thing!” Clare looked up at Killian replying, “No offense.”
“None taken,” Killian said and shrugged his shoulders with a smile. “I mean, if he swung that way, I would fuck him too.” Claire giggled.
Claire glanced back at Gwen, smiling. “Besides you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.” She grabbed her stuff. She apologized to the bookkeeper and left Gwen to pick up what pieces of her pride were left. Claire thought she’d have quite a hard time gathering the shards of shame from her fragmented pride. With the amount of vanity in her puffed-up personality, perhaps it shouldn’t have taken a lot to refill whatever she thought she was made up of, which Claire didn’t think was much anyway.
Gwen turned and watched as Killian and Claire sauntered away from her, leaving her to lie down in her shame. She looked to her sides and her gown was soiled. She still had quite a lot of rage inside of her and tried to will herself to her feet but she had taken a really hard fall and her body ached here and there so that she rubbed at the back of her head, waist and legs rather than go after the gutsy Claire. Besides, the agile looking man with her seemed ready to do more than just put her on the floor, so she had more reason to stay put.
They had made a scene anyway, and now Gwen, for her part, had created an even bigger rumor that would run its due course making its round all over Havenswood. It would be a scandal she would not be able to control no matter how hard she tried. Merchants and shoppers stood about and watched as the once prestigious Gwen lay defeated on the floor by a simple blacksmith already rumored to have a thing for the chief’s son. “Maybe that was what this was about,” one man by the butcher’s murmured to a friend by his side.
The friend nodded in agreement. “I wouldn’t count it out.”
At another stall a group of girls giggled at the sight of Gwen on the floor. “Poor rich girl,” they scorned, “did no one tell her there are better ways to get a man than this?”
“These spoiled lot don’t know jack,” said the chubby one in the middle.
The taller one angled her head around where Gwen sat. “Wait, she’s sitting in a puddle? A freaking puddle!” They broke into laughter and walked away, baskets in hand.
* * *
Alec rushed to the blacksmith’s shop after hearing what had happened in the market. He was furious at Gwen for touching Claire. Alec knew that Claire always worked the afternoons whenever she was scheduled, though she could have the morning shift if she wanted. Now knowing that she was an Elemental made more sense regarding why she wanted to be awake when the moon was up and the evening was cool, making her preferred element at ease to manipulate. Right now, he only wanted to make sure she was okay. She was behind the counter this time when he opened the door; as she grew up in the ranks, she didn’t always have to get her hands dirty each time she came into the shop. He found her reading and she looked up from the book she was reading and gave him a smile.
“Coming to check on a damsel in distress?” she giggled and closed the book.
“By the sound of things, you managed to take care of it,” he explained and walked up to the counter. “Are you okay?”
“Never better, just tired of being the center of gossip,” she moaned. Alec leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek when Lemon hopped up asking attention for herself. His two girls, Alec thought. If only his father would formally knowledge his relationship with Claire, then his dreams could be a reality.
“The right thing to do is go make sure that she is okay,” Claire mentioned with an unmistakable emphasis that meant that she referred to the floored Gwen, bringing him out of his daydream.
“Meh,” Alec shrugged.
“Otherwise, it is just confirming the gossip.” Claire grabbed Lemon from the counter and laid her on the cat bed Louis thoughtfully had out. “The whole point of affairs is that they are secret.”
“You’re not an affair,” Alec growled and lightly slammed his hands on the counter.
“Technically, right now, I am,” Claire said, tilting her head.
Claire adjusted the pendant around her neck. The way the words had rolled out of her mouth had surprised even her. It was the reality they were living anyway, and better to say it aloud than not.
“I do not want to have this conversation here,” he hissed.
“I can make it simple then. Until the contract with Gwen is voided, I am finally giving you an answer. We cannot be engaged.,” Claire said. “Still keeping Lemon though.”
Alec was stunned by the words he just heard. His heart was literally breaking as Claire pushed open the office door. He was left in the blacksmith shop alone because Lemon had followed Claire like always. The two girls in his life had walked out on him. He knew what this was: she was giving him an ultimatum. She needed him to act, and fast.
Claire couldn’t believe what she had just told Alec either. The amount of courage it took. She fell to her knees scooping up Lemon to cry into. She wondered what would happen to their relationship now. Too many emotions were involved to go back to the ways things were before the engagement and flower dance. She heard the chime go off, so she assumed Alec had left.
“Hey Claire,” she heard Killian call from inside the shop where he was working away at metal. “Where are you?”
“Office,” she replied. Killian came in as she was rubbing her eyes dry. He tilted his head to the right.
“Are you okay?” he asked, helping her up. Lemon had jumped out of Claire’s arms and started rubbing Killian’s leg. She just hugged him as a reply.
Claire had gotten to their favorite spot to see Alec was there, sobbing. She wasn’t sure if she should approach him or walk away. When she turned to leave his familiar voice stopped her. “Don’t.”
She looked back at Alec, and he was already wrapping her in a hug. She stroked his hair as she buried her face in him. The two of them found comfort in each other. She wasn’t expecting him to be here when she came to clear her head.
“I cannot lose you,” he murmured.
“You will not,” she said firmly. “We have been the subject of a lot of gossip already and I don’t want to be a second option here. Which is silly because I was the one who waited as long as I did.” Alec held onto every word Claire said.
“You’re not a second option. I just need to figure out a way to get my dad’s approval.” He said, kicking a stone into the distance. Alec looked down at his feet with his hands in his pockets. Claire lifted his chin with a finger and kissed him. Alec returned the kiss, but also pushed Claire’s body up against the nearest tree.
“Alec,” Claire moaned, wrapped her arms around his neck. “Before we continue, I want you to acknowledge what I said earlier.” Alec rolled his eyes and sighed.
“As long as you don’t leave me, we can postpone the engagement,” he whined. Claire kissed him on the cheek.
“How long do you have?” Claire asked. Last, they really discussed it, he had said he was going to iron things out with his father and hopefully move to call the marriage off once and for all. She also knew that he was a calculative man and didn’t always like to do things on a whim. One thing she knew though, whenever his mind was set in a particular course, he didn’t change it no matter how long it took or how much he appeared to waver this way and that.
“As long as you need,” he murmured into her neck.
“Then can we go to a bed instead of fucking on the grass?” He laughed at her request. They have been meeting by their regular spot by the lake, mostly when the moon was out. Though it’s only been a week since the Flower Dance, they switch from fucking against a tree to laying on the ground. They normally didn’t get home until after midnight after enjoying a couple of rounds.
“We could fuck in a bush you know,” he joked. She playfully slapped his chest, but he followed through with her request. Alec would do anything to make his woman happy. On the bright side, his parents were away so they needn’t worry about getting reprimanded by his mother.
Chapter Twenty-One
As the portal’s power waned, the consequences for Havenswood became increasingly dire. The once-thriving village found itself isolated, cut off from the rest of the Mythic world in multiple ways, and the effects were felt across all aspects of daily life.
One of the most significant impacts was on trade. The stabilizing power of the portal had long been the lifeline for Havenswood’s economy, enabling the village to engage in lucrative trade with other regions and acquire rare and valuable resources. But with the portal’s power diminishing, trade routes became unstable, unreliable, and were close to ceasing altogether.
