(JAXON SPEAKING)

"Hey, you're back early," I said looking up at Robin as he came down the stairs.

"Well, I'm pretty sure you can thank Kellan for that one," he grumbled.

"Why? What did he do now?" I inquired slightly intrigued.

"The pipes for the sprinkler system in the English class burst open raining water all over the place. So my afternoon class was canceled, which I'm not all that disappointed about. But the water fountain somehow magically busted a pipe and spewed water down the hall as well. When I peeked in on the basketball court before I left, the gym was covered with a layer of water. The janitor was on a tear to try and mop it all up before it 'wrecked the wood floors' as he put it. Coach was there helping too. He told me to let you know our game is canceled tonight."

"You know Kellan has a way of annoying me, and getting under my skin without even trying. I was looking forward to blowing some steam off on the court today too. Maybe we can render a little payback on him with some of the free time he's given us," I couldn't help smiling at that thought.

"Speaking of Mr. Annoying," he commented.

"You're kidding me there's more?"

"Yeah, well, you know I ran into Sage and Wren."

I nodded.

"Kellan was already there with the two of them. Now, don't get me wrong, Wren was sick, but there was something off about their whole story. I don't know what it was, though. Maybe I'm just paranoid. I see Kellan, and I can't get past wanting to punch him in the head."

I laughed, "Yeah, funny how that's my reaction to him too. But he's given me lots of reason to feel that way with him running interference between Wren and I. Speaking of which, I haven't heard back from her yet. I was thinking of stopping by her place with a gift for her and Sage. Then maybe swing by Kellan's on the way back. Want to join?"

He stretched, then cracked his fingers. "Yeah, I'm definitely in for some fun."

(WREN SPEAKING)

"Okay, that was vague and cryptic. 'The stones are everything,'" I mocked.

"Hey, I didn't say it like that. As for my comment on the stones, they are everything when it comes using our abilities. The stones we all are wearing are Acklemar stones. Firstly, they are a currency of sorts, but they are much more than that. We need them to help us draw power from the Circle so we can focus our abilities."

"I swear you're making this up. 'Draw power from the Circle,'" I mumbled. Then I turned to see Sage was staring at me, with a severe he is so-not-kidding look. "You mean it," I said turning back to Kellan, "Really?"

"Yeah, I'm serious," he replied. "Each type of stone has different properties and works in its own distinctive way. There are some rock charms that only certain Circles can use, like the Water and Fire realms. Then there are others that work for a variety of talents and guilds. That white, clear looking stone you're wearing is a certainty charm. It can help you evaluate the truth, and will work with most talents. That is if someone could get their hands on one. It's somewhat rare to find one."

"Oh," Sage interjected, "just because you have a stone doesn't mean you're able to use its full potential either. There are some stones so powerful that only a few people even have the ability to use them."

"I think what Sage is trying to say, is that all of us have different aptitudes to exercise the power of a stone. It takes practice to use them and figure out how they work in conjunction with each other. Not to mention, that most wearers can wield a maximum stone number. That's where you come in. You somehow accessed not only the stones you were wearing but ours as well."

"Yeah, all of them at the same time!" she said excitedly. "See? You really are a rock star." She laughed holding up one of her stone charms in her hand.

Okay, I had to admit, her rock-star-glowing-stone connection was pretty original, but I still wasn't signing her shirt, especially while she was still wearing it.

Then she continued, "By the way, that little Houdini trick you pulled earlier when you disappeared with Kellan," she said pausing to look at him, "that was very impressive to see. Scared the crap out me too. One second, there was no one in the hallway, and then the next, I was practically tripping over the both of you."

"Calm down and stop acting like some star crazed fan, you're beginning to freak even me out," Kellan said like he knew that my gut reaction to having the spotlight shone in my direction made me want to look for the nearest exit.

I hadn't survived this long by standing around yelling pick me, pick me. Nope, my tactic for new situations had always been to blend in and try not be seen. A strategy that apparently hadn't been working for the past two days.

"Anyway, going back to what Sage was saying," he continued, "a user's aptitude level is determined by the highest power of stone they can guide and how many stones they can wield at the same time."

"Come again? What exactly is that supposed to mean?" I said feeling a little overwhelmed with everything they were telling me.

"All Acklemarians have a rank in their Circle. Their rank basically states their position order for the throne. But more importantly, our people also scored on aptitude level when they come of age. Everyone is tested for the ability to wield the stones when they turn fifteen and given a scored based on a ten-point scale. Ten being the highest with almost no one ever scoring one. I think most people score in the range of four or five," he explained. "In fact, I only know of two people ever scoring a ten."

"So, from what I've witnessed from Wren today and last night, my rating?" Sage held up her both of her hands with her fingers spread wide. "Ten. That's if I had a vote."

"You don't get a vote, so stop confusing her. That's not how it works," Kellan said looking somewhat frustrated with her. "Is she always this impossible?" he asked.

"Why yes, she is. As least it has been since I've known her." I chuckled. "But I think it's one of her most redeeming qualities. If I were you, I'd just go with it."

"Hey, you two, I am right here you know," Sage said staring at us both.

"So, what rank and level are you two then?" I asked, leaning on the table, trying to wrap my head around everything they just explained. Sage started coughing on the Coke she was drinking, and Kellan just sat there looking completely amused. "What? I don't understand, did I say something funny?"

"Yeah, you did. It's a huge Acklemarian faux pas to ask ranks and levels," he said with a bit of a smirk still on his face. "It's kind of like asking for someone's IQ, bra size, or size of their—"

"Underwear," Sage interrupted before he had a chance to finish his sentence.

"Uh, that was not what I was going say."

"Yeah, well, you can chastise me later when we aren't in the company of Wren's Grandmother, all right?" Gran just sat there completely amused while she quietly sipped her tea, and watched the two of them banter back and forth.

"Fine. As I was trying to say, ranks of individuals and how close they are to the throne of a circle is of course known to those people belonging to the court. You might be able to guess at person's ability score, but their actual ability level is kept private and is known only to that person, the First in their Circle and the Hall of Records."

"And their ring partner of course," she said jumping in.

"Would you knock it off and let me finish? I'm beginning to see how the title impossible really does suit you," he said sounding aggravated with her constant interruptions. "Yeah, a potential ring partner would know. So that would mean Jaxon definitely knows, there's no way he'd enter into a contract without insisting on being told."

"Ack-hem," Gran interrupted. "Kellan, I know a thing or two about Aklemarian unions. My son, of course, married an Aklemarian. Now, I'm assuming that fire ring around Wren's ankle is Jaxon's, and not yours then?" she asked getting to the point as usual.

"Yeah, that's right," he said with an angry tone in his voice.

"Then how about getting to the point and let us know why Jaxon would want to know her ability level," she said with a serious tone as she put her teacup back down on the saucer.

"You tell them," he said looking at Sage. He was shaking out his hands as the stones around his neck started to glow faintly.

"Well," she said slowly looking at his necklace, "Once a union is complete, your ability level increases if your partner has a higher level than you. To some extent you are also able to use their talent too."

"I have to admit it would be pretty cool to have the ability to run fire over my fingertips," I said rotating my hand in the air pretending that flames were dancing over them. When I looked up, Kellan sat there with an angry look on his face and his arms across his chest. Two of the beads on his necklace were lit up and glowing. "Relax, I didn't say I was going through with the union, just that it would be kind of cool to have a talent."

"Can you knock it off, and give him a break. You know, before he explodes the pipes in here or something," Sage said as she gave him a wary look.

"I was just playing. I wasn't serious or anything. But I was when I asked about your rank and levels. You both already know more about me than I've ever told anyone else in the past three years. In fact, Kellan knows more about me that I do. I think it's only fair that I know little more about you both," I said, not really understanding how asking could be a social blunder.

"You heard her," Gran chimed in prodding them on.

Sage just laughed. "Rosemary, you're great. Personally, I don't care if Wren knows." Then she turned to face me and smiled, "I kind of like seeing you demand some answers. To me, the Acklemar social graces aren't that much of a biggie. Not to mention, I'm so far down the line from sitting on any throne, it doesn't really matter. In fact, most guild members don't hold any rank of significance to even bothering mentioning. As for ability level?" she raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Nine."

"Nine?" he repeated raising his voice as asking a question, "Okay, that is impressive."

"A nine, I have a feeling that had something to do with you recognizing Gran's talent then."

She shrugged, "Maybe. But, that nine is nothing compared to buddy boy's talent. Not to mention his rank," she said egging Kellan on. "It's legendary. Come on Kellan, spill it already or I can tell them."

"One and Ten," he stated without explanation.

"One? Like one, as your throne?"

"Yeah, that's kind of how it works. The Second in the Circle, my brother, is leading at the moment, but just until I'm of official age to claim it. I had to let Sage in on who I was earlier, so I could get her to help me find a way let you know about the Fire Circle," he said as he reached to take my hand from across the table.

"Wren!" Gran shouted, then her voice faded off like a sound trailing far off in the distance. I could feel the warmth of his hand wrap around mine, soothing, strong and comforting. When I looked up, to search for his incredible blue eyes. The room had shifted like magic, and we were sitting alone on my bed in my room.

He sighed. When I looked into his eyes, they were lit up a breathtaking pale crystal blue. "So, if you wanted me alone, I'm pretty sure all you needed to do was ask." He smiled looking around my room.

How do I always end up in the most awkward sensitive situations with him? At least, this time, I am wearing all of my clothes, I thought. "I-I didn't plan on taking you to my room, it just happened," I said in a flustered tone, trying to get up off the bed to come standing. He held onto my hand firmly and pulled me back down, so I landed squarely in his lap. He lifted his free hand gently ran his fingers along my arm. Then I could feel myself quiver as he dragged his fingertips up my back and back down my arm again. Then he softly picked up a strand of hair that wasn't tucked into my braid.

"Do I make you nervous?" he said tilting his head slightly, showing off his long dark eyelashes that framed his eyes so perfectly. Oh my God. He is so sexy.

"You do when we keep appearing in places like my bedroom together."

"I kind of like your unexpected scenery changes." He twisted a lock of my hair around his finger. He let out a long sigh, "How about telling me what happened at Jaxon's?" What? Nooo! Ask me anything but that, I thought.

"You don't look like you want to know," I said, hoping he wouldn't push any further.

"I'm very sure I don't, especially if it has anything to do with Jaxon. But something tells me I should know."

Now, I was shaking and had no idea how I would even get the words out to explain to him that I'd kissed Jaxon. It's not like Kellan was my boyfriend or my promised, but I couldn't help but have a guilty feeling deep in the pit of my stomach, especially as I sat in lap.

"All right, I've decided, I'm making it my official question," he said with a look that he knew that this wasn't going to be good.

Of course, he was going to push wanting to know, ugh. I exhaled and looked down trying not to make eye contact. I knew that if I did, I would probably lose my nerve to finish. I reached down and pulled my pant leg up, showing off the brilliant reds, oranges, yellows and golds that marked my compatibility with Jaxon.

"Ugh," he groaned and stared at the ring. "I'm going to kill Jaxon when I get my hands on him. I really am. I get that you're promised to him, and it's partly my fault, but this..." he said pointing down to my ankle, "is far from over."

"Your fault? I don't think you understand. I kissed him." I confessed, still looking at my feet. "I couldn't help but think, that I had never kissed him, and I couldn't possibly consider marrying someone without..." When I looked back up at him, he was barely holding together. He's eyes had turned stormy gray, and all the stones on his necklace were flickering on and off. He was taking deep breaths like he was trying to calm down. "Kellan, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to hurt you."

His necklace slowly started to fade as he continued to slow his breathing. "I'm sorry," he murmured staring off into space saying nothing. He just stared.

"What are you sorry for?" Nothing. He just stared at the wall. "Kellan?" I squeezed his hand, but he just sat there. A full minute ticked by and still nothing. "Kellan? That's it. You're making me do this," I said cupping his face, so we were both looking at each other, "I'm making this my official questions then. Explain, what are you sorry for?"

He sighed and picked the bridge of his nose. "That," he said pointing to my ankle, "I'm sorry for not being there when I should have." He paused a moment. "You and I have always been close. Your family would visit the Water Circle a few times a year. Being third in my Circle, I was always given leeway to goof off and have some fun hanging out with you whenever you were visiting. Then, when I came of age and completed the ability testing, everything changed when I scored that ten. While scores all are kept private, the First in the Circle is always notified before they are sealed in the Hall of Records. That's when my father learned of my score, he then immediately announced me as his successor and my rank moved to Second in the Circle."

I couldn't help but fidget and play with the hem of my shirt. "You said you only knew of two people with scores of ten. Then who is the other?"

"That's easy, Jaxon's father. He endlessly brags that he is stronger than everyone. He even pulled his record and had it framed and mounted on the wall of Fire Circle throne room so that everyone would know of his power. That's why my father chose me. He said our circle needed someone to rival the Fire Circle's strength and keep the balance between the realms. Which also meant, everyone in our Circle demanding a union between the Fire and Water spheres. That's when my father threw a banquet and invited the courts of all the realms to attend. He decided he would announce my union..."

"Oh. My. God. You're promised." My heart sank with the thought of it.

He shook his head, "Just before the announcement that Jessica and I were to be paired, you walked in with your mother. I'll never forget the way you looked and how you took my breath away. You were wearing a blue strapless dress that looked like water falling over you. I couldn't take my eyes off of you. You were stunning. Then my father stood up and announced the news. That's when I saw the look on your face as you took off out the nearest door, it was enough to destroy me. It took everything in me not to chase after you. I knew right then and there, there was no way I could go through with the ring commitment, no matter how good of an alliance it was for the Circles. Two days later and with lots of arguing with my father, the ring promise had been canceled. But it was too late, the Fire Circle throne had already demanded your presence in court," he said looking up at me.

Then the room dissolved and I could hear my Gran calling my name, "Wren!" When I looked around the room, we were back in the kitchen like we had never left. "Wren, are you done playing space cadet? What I've been trying to tell you is we have visitors."

Sage looked around the room. "What do you mean visitors? There isn't anyone here."

"That is we're about to have visitors. They just parked the car, and one of them feels like he's flaming angry about something." Then she continued and answered if she could read our thoughts, "I'm an Empath, and a witch with a talent for potion making, if you must know. Now stop staring and start moving. I'd like a house to live in when this confrontation is through."    

Please show some love with your votes and comments if you appreciated this chapter. Thanks for reading. Next chapter update on Sunday.

Question: Who is your favorite character in the book and why?