Possession

by Samantha Britt

  “Because he needed your capture to look believable, of course.” Lord Erwin retrieved his fork and resumed eating. Speaking in between bites, he said, “The soldiers and sailors on that ship would have found it strange if Prince Brion simply handed you over to an elven ship. Or do you forget that most draekon consider us to be their enemies?”

  “I forget nothing,” I said. “What I still don’t understand is why Brion would want to give me over in the first place?” I tried to hide the insecurity swirling inside me.

  “The prince and I had a deal. If King Roderick ever turned on King Aquin’s attempts at peace, I was to get you out of Draekon.”

  “How does your king’s negotiations affect me?”

  Erwin swallowed another bite. It amazed me he could act so calm and composed.

  “You are half-draekon,” he said casually.

  The air whooshed out of my lungs. My first instinct was to deny his claims, but judging by Lord Erwin’s knowing expression, he knew everything.

  I swallowed. “H-how do you know that?”

  “Brion told me.”

  I shook my head, trying to wake myself from the confusing dream. “Brion told you? When?”

  “Two days before you and he left the capital,” he said. “Though, I’d suspected for some time. The prince’s attachment to you is obvious, and I knew there must’ve been a bond of some sort. Brion wouldn’t risk being around you otherwise.”

  Conflict simmered within me. If Brion really did tell Erwin about our connection, that meant he trusted the elf. But how could he? They were supposed to be sworn enemies.

  Lord Erwin’s words triggered my memory. “But you claimed we had a bond,” I reminded him, looking for any inconsistency in his explanation.

  “Again,” he said patiently, “we needed to look convincing. Brion pretended to hide you so his men wouldn’t think he willingly gave you over, and I needed to give the elves a reasonable explanation as to why I wanted to retrieve you from the prince. Brion knew if his father ever abandoned our peace treaty and learned you were half-draekon in addition to being a descendant of Avelin, you would not be safe.”

  “But the pirate captain asked Brion to join the rebellion. You said your king had nothing to do with the rebellion.”

  Erwin didn’t balk. “King Aquin doesn’t have anything to do with the rebellion. The elves commanding my ships are working on their own. They are considered outlaws in Avelin.”

  “Like the elves who attacked the castle?” I could still hear the terrified screams of the innocent victims of the rebel attack. “You claimed they were exiled from Avelin, too. Yet, you allow those villains to sail on your ships.” It wasn’t difficult to imagine that meant Erwin supported the rebels’ violent crimes.

  “Yes, I permit those males to use my ships,” he said. “But they are not the same elves who worked with the rebel fighters to infiltrate the castle. Their mission keeps them on the sea. Their duties are more aligned with those of a search party.”

  I processed his explanation. Like everything else he said, it sounded reasonable. “What are they searching for?” I asked, finding it harder and harder to doubt Erwin.

  “Princess Lassandra and her children.”

  Her children? “I never heard anyone say the missing princess had children.”

  “That’s because not many people know.”

  I cocked my head. “Well, how do you know?”

  For the second time, Lord Erwin lowered his fork. He straightened his spine and stared at me. His eyes were kind, but his expression all business.

  Lord Erwin took a deep breath, then exhaled and said, “Because I am looking at Lassandra’s daughter as we speak.”

  37

  My heart couldn’t get a break that day. It pounded in my chest as I realized what, exactly, Lord Erwin had just said.

  “You’re lying,” I breathed. There was no way my mother was the missing elven princess. My father was a draekon, and he’d made the mistake of reproducing with a human from Avelin. But I wasn’t half-elf. That was impossible. I would know.

  When Lord Erwin remained silent, I shouted, “You’re lying!”

  “I assure you, Your Highness, I am not.” Lord Erwin was the picture of calm while my entire world was spinning, moments away from falling off balance and casting me into eternal oblivion.

  “Don’t call me that!” My draekon temper emerged, and I wanted to throw my plate of food at his face. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it isn’t funny.”

  “I play no games.” Erwin leaned forward. And I am not lying to you, Princess Amelissa.”

  Shoving my chair back, I stood and glared down at him from across the table. “You are my enemy, and I don’t believe anything you say. Brion will come back for me. And when he does, I hope he burns you to a crisp.”

  Chest heaving, I stepped away from my chair and head towards the door. I’d had enough of his instigating behavior, and I refused to subject myself to it anymore.

  “Ever wonder about that rather impressive healing ability of yours?” His question stopped me dead in my tracks. I’d opened the door and almost crossed the room’s threshold, but Erwin’s implying tone was too hard to ignore.

  “What?” I snapped toward the empty galley in front of me. I didn’t want to turn around and reveal the extent of my interest.

  “Your healing ability is an elven gift.”

  Memories of the draekon throne room played in my mind. Erwin had healed the bruises on my back and mended my cracked ribs.

  “You’re lying.” I couldn’t come up with anything else to say. I was too shocked.

  “I’m not.” I heard Erwin push his chair away from the table. “Think about Princess Cienna. You healed her after she spent centuries of her life on a sickbed. Didn’t you ever suspect your success was due to more than your simple percussion procedure?” Erwin said, his voice carefully neutral.

  I turned my back to the galley, finally facing him. He stood a body’s length away. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Regardless of what you believe, what I say is true.”

  I crossed my arms to shield myself from the brunt of his words. “You’re wrong. The only thing unique about me is I am the daughter of a draekon soldier and a human woman from Avelin. I’m not half-elf.”

  Without warning, Erwin released a bright bolt from his fingers. I gasped when the magic hit me square in the chest, but other than a slight pressure, I hardly felt a thing.

  My surprise morphed into anger. “You just shot me.”

  “Yes, I did. And with an attack spell, no less,” Erwin spoke evenly, and his passive expression infuriated me.

  “What in the gods’ names is wrong with you!” I stepped forward, placed my hands on his chest, and shoved him backwards. I was beyond caring about being cautious. If Erwin wanted to hurt me, nothing I could do would stop him. Half-draekon or no, he was definitely the more powerful between the two of us. “You could have killed me.”

  “That attack should have killed you. But it didn’t. Care to guess why?”

  I froze, stumbling back to return distance between us. “No. I’m not interested in hearing any more lies.”

  “The reason you are untouched is precisely why your rebel parents never feared for your safety when the castle was under attack,” he explained despite my claim. “As a member of the royal family, my power is strong enough to debilitate and harm any elf. Aside from descendants of the crown’s blood, that is.”

  Reason and disbelief warred within me. I’d resented the fact my parents allowed attacks when Lorie and I were in the castle. I’d deemed them selfish and heartless because of it.

  What Erwin said would exonerate them of endangering our lives, but that was only if his words were true.

  “You’re a member of the elven royal family?” I hoped to buy myself time to think through everything I’d learned.

  Lord Erwin revealed bright, white teeth. “I am. Nice to officially meet you, cousin.”

 
; “Cousin?” I piped.

  His smile widened. “Yes. Though, don’t worry. We are distant cousins. Your grandfather, King Aquin, is my great-uncle. My grandfather was his brother.”

  I linked the family tree in my mind. “So that is why we both have healing abilities?” I asked. Without realizing it, I’d accepted his explanation for my gifts.

  He nodded. “I believe so.”

  I exhaled. “This can’t be real.” Something tugged on my heart.

  The sensation prompted me to ask, “Why wouldn’t Brion tell me this?” How could he not reveal my mother’s true identity? It was huge secret to keep to himself.

  “That is because Prince Brion doesn’t know.”

  My eyebrows furrowed. “But he had no trouble figuring out who my father was.” I imagined there would be evidence, or at least rumors, of Arthur Allaway’s affair with an elven princess. Especially one who’d gone missing.

  “The prince believes your father impregnated a human servant—one of Lassandra’s maids, in fact.”

  “Why would he think that?”

  “Because that is the rumor your mother started.”

  I blinked. “My mother? Why would she want others to believe my father was with someone else?” Were my parents not in love when my mother had become pregnant with Arlin?

  “So no one would realize she was pregnant with Arthur’s child. Anyone who knows Arthur believes he abandoned the king’s army and ran off with his lover. Princess Lassandra didn’t escape Avelin to meet him until a week later. They didn’t want their departures to be linked.”

  “Escape? Was my mother a prisoner?”

  Erwin’s expression shifted. He almost looked sad. “King Aquin is a good male. He is a righteous and just ruler.”

  There was something he wasn’t saying. “But?”

  Erwin sighed. “But he was too controlling of Lassandra. She is his only child, and he feared losing her. Aquin dictated nearly every aspect of the princess’s life. He chose her maids, governesses, tutors, and even her friends. My cousin didn’t have a life of her own for decades. Until she met your father.”

  My heart pounded against my ribs. The conversation was surreal. I’d never expected to learn the truth of my parents’ story.

  “My father was in Avelin for a peace treaty?” I remembered the document Brion had showed me with my father’s name on it. “That’s how he met my mother.”

  Erwin nodded. “It was the first time King Aquin allowed Lassandra to see the visiting draekon. King Roderick had been sending messengers for years, but our king always feared the peace negotiations were only a distraction, so Roderick could land a sizeable force on Avelin shores.”

  “What was different that time?”

  Erwin smirked. “Nothing, except your mother’s stubbornness. She insisted King Aquin let her sit in the meetings. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  I envisioned the mother I remembered. She’d been beautiful, and her hair glowed bright in the sun. I don’t know why, but I had the distinct belief she was strong-minded… a little like Lorie.

  “And then she met my father?”

  “Yes. And her life was never the same.”

  My fingers started to tremble. I tucked them into my shirt as I clenched the fabric. “So, you sent search parties to find my mother after all these years. Why?”

  “Not just your mother,” Erwin corrected me. “But her children.”

  Again, I asked, “Why? What do we have to do with anything?”

  Erwin stepped closer. “Have you ever heard of the cursed lovers prophecy?”

  My eyes widened. “Yes. Brion showed it to me.” Not completely true, but Erwin didn’t need to know about my snooping.

  “Indeed?” Erwin cocked his head to the side. “And did Brion ever explain why he was interested in the prophecy?”

  I swallowed. “I-I thought it was because he wanted to negate his own birth prophecy.” Now that I said it aloud, the idea sounded foolish.

  Erwin’s eyes flashed and his smirk returned. “True. Brion believes you and he are the subjects of the prophecy.”

  I hadn’t considered the prince thought I was a part of the prophecy, but he’d known about our connection longer. No doubt, he’d had years to come up with the theory.

  I understood what Erwin wasn’t saying. “But you don’t think we are the subjects of the prophecy?”

  “No, doll. That honor, I believe, lies among your parents’ relationship.”

  I recalled the lines of the prophecy.

  “Hear this great prophecy,

  Evil comes to an end at the hands of the cursed lovers.

  One brings darkness, the other brings light.

  Fated souls create those with ancient gifts,

  The perfect balance to restore the days of old.”

  “So, my mother and father are destined to end all evil? Is that why they started the rebellion? They believe they can end King Roderick’s reign?”

  “Yes,” Erwin confirmed. “Though, I think they are wrong about their method.”

  “What do you mean?” I couldn’t see the prophecy another way. If fate, the gods, the Mother, whoever, deemed Lassandra and Arthur were destined to end evil, it would make sense they’d start a rebellion, hoping for its success.

  The knowledge certainly reduced the resentment I felt for them leaving my siblings and I.

  Reduced, but not removed.

  Erwin took another step forward, less than three feet separated us. “I mean, Princess Amelissa Allaway from Caldiri,” his said, his eyes glittering as he uttered the title, “is that you, Arlin, and Alorie are the subjects of the cursed lovers prophecy.”

  My mouth fell open. I stared at him in disbelief. Erwin met my eyes with unwavering confidence.

  I choked back the knot in my throat and murmured, “You’re serious.”

  “Serious as a deadly curse.”

  I shook my head. Denial rose in my chest. “But that doesn’t make sense. My siblings and I might be half-draekon and half-elven, but we’ve lived an ordinary life. We aren’t real royals, no matter what you say. We cannot be responsible for ending King Roderick’s rule.” The mere thought was daunting and terrifying. I didn’t want that responsibility, and I definitely didn’t want Lorie anywhere near such actions. It would be too dangerous.

  “But it appears that is exactly what you are,” a new voice entered the discussion, and my heart gave a happy thump. I’d been so distracted by the conversation with Erwin, I hadn’t realized the prince was near.

  I whirled around and gaped as I watched Brion step out from the shadows near a dressing screen. He wore familiar dark pants and knee-high boots. His green tunic was clean but a little rumpled. I rubbed my eyes, not trusting what I saw was real. I’d seen him fly away. He couldn’t be standing in front of me.

  “About time you revealed yourself,” Erwin said behind me. I looked back and noted the elf seemed perfectly at ease. He wasn’t surprised to see the draekon prince.

  “Apologies,” Brion said. “I was a little caught off guard by all the information you decided to keep to yourself until now.”

  Oh, gods.

  Brion heard Erwin reveal my mother’s identity. He knew I was half-elven. My stomach clenched. I was the granddaughter of Brion’s family’s greatest enemy. I closed my eyes, wishing I were anywhere else.

  Brion moved closer. I didn’t hear it, more like my body could feel vibrations in the air. My skin tingled. I was attuned to his every move and breath. Sadness pierced my heart, fearing things would not be the same between us.

  “Lissa?”

  I didn’t open my eyes. I couldn’t look at Brion.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head, saying nothing. I could feel his dark eyes on me. They traveled over my entire body, producing a rush of heat followed by a wave of frigid coldness. I waited for him to read my mind. I braced myself for the confirmation that things between us had changed.

  “For Mother’s sake,” I heard
Lord Erwin sigh with exasperation. “Am I about to witness a lover’s quarrel? Please spare me from that torture.”

  Brion ignored him. My eyes flew open when I felt him take my hand. My gaze was drawn to his. Concern swirled in his eyes, but so did affection. I blinked, but the emotion remained.

  Without thinking, I whispered, “Does this change things between us?”

  “What?” Brion’s grip on my fingers tightened. “Of course not. Why would you even think such a thing?”

  I licked my lips, planning to answer, but Erwin beat me to it. “She’s worried you won’t like her now that you know she is a filthy half-elf.”

  I couldn’t help but cringe away from Erwin’s words. They were true, but that made them even more unbearable.

  In front of me, Brion’s face fell. “Lissa?”

  I swallowed, my throat thick. Calling on what was left of my confidence, I nodded.

  Before I knew it, Brion had me wrapped in his strong arms. My nose pressed against his shoulder, and I inhaled the scent of sweat and sea.

  “Your heritage changes nothing, Lissa. You should know that.”

  His words soothed the coil of insecurities in my chest, but they didn’t alleviate all of them. “My mother is the missing princess. She left willingly with my father and caused your people to suffer a second curse.”

  Brion’s hand traveled up and down my back, like he was trying to brush away all of my doubts. “You are not responsible for your parents’ actions. This changes nothing for me, Lissa. Nothing could ever change our bond. It is for life.” Brion leaned back to force me to look at him.

  He waited until I met his eye before continuing, “I’ve cared about you for years, Lissa, but I’ve fallen in love with you these past months. I’ve seen your strength, kindness, and intelligence. No matter what, that will never change.”

  My heart soared while my stomach performed somersaults.

  I didn’t know what to say. I knew I cared deeply for Brion. I might love him. But I didn’t want to say it until I was completely sure.