Cloaked: Easthaven Crest, Book One

by Justice, A. D.

  And you feel everything I feel? Know everything I know?

  Yes, and I can find you anywhere and at any time. Our bond can only be broken in death.

  I wonder if Nana had a familiar before she escaped Covis Realm with me. She never mentioned anything that I can remember. But then, the bedtime stories she told me about this place were so long ago, I can hardly remember them.

  Laurelai, do you talk to other familiars?

  Not so much. Cougars are solitary animals by nature. We’re extremely territorial and protective of our families. There aren’t many other animals that will cross paths with us.

  Fierce. Loyal. Protective. Solitary. You and I do belong together. I smile down at her, and she responds in kind by baring her teeth, fangs and all.

  If your grandmother did have one, I’m sorry to say it’s probably dead by now. Once we’ve bonded with a human, we need the connection to thrive. Seventeen years is a long time to be apart and survive. But I’ll keep my ears open; maybe I’ll even become a social butterfly to gain information.

  Don’t hurt yourself.

  Her laughter echoes through my mind as her chirps ricochet through the forest. She drops to the ground, rolls onto her back, and lets me rub her belly. Good one, Saraya. Your sense of humor is different—good different. You bring a new zest for life to this world.

  “Do I even want to know what this is about?” Aris asks. She’s smiling, but the sentiment doesn’t reach her eyes. There’s a deep sadness there. Without asking, without reading her mind, and without knowing…I know.

  Her familiar died.

  The pain must be unbearable at times like this, watching Laurelai and me together.

  “She likes my sarcastic sense of humor. She’s the only one in this realm who seems to understand it.” I chuckle lightly while scratching my cougar’s belly. “Now I don’t want to go back to the palace and leave her. Would they look at me funny if I strolled in with a cougar as my house cat?”

  “They would definitely look at you funny. Besides, her place is here in the forest. You know, she’s still a wild animal. But just because she’s not beside you doesn’t mean the two of you can’t talk. You can have entire conversations with her the same way you do with Addi.”

  “My brain is about to become very crowded. I’m going to start charging rent.”

  Even Aris laughs at that wisecrack.

  Chapter 14

  When I’m alone in my bedroom, my thoughts drift over the events of the past couple of days. I spent another day training with Aris, Addi, and Laurelai. Ginevra watched from the edge of the forest, chiming in with tips and tricks as the day progressed, but generally only observing the advancement of my powers.

  The new skills I’ve acquired in such a short time make the energy hum and whir inside me like a jet engine preparing for takeoff. The intensity is incredible and only makes me crave stronger powers. I want to practice every minute of the day so everything will come naturally to me when I need it most.

  You need to rest, Saraya. We’ll practice more tomorrow. Good night, my lovely human.

  Good night, my beautiful cougar. Stay safe out there. I’ll see you in the morning.

  I feel Laurelai relax before she finally succumbs to sleep, nestled in the darkness of the forest. When the day comes and we’re finally free to be ourselves, she’ll have a home with me to come and go as she pleases. For now, my sights are set on distinguishing my foes from allies. Assured I’m alone and my shields are up, I sit cross-legged on the floor and focus my thoughts on Saban. The cloudiness around his face clears, and I can see him plainly through the sharp eyes of a tawny owl perched on a windowsill behind him.

  Part of me feels this is an unforgivable invasion of privacy, but the voice in my head encourages me to continue my quest. I sense a benevolence behind the message, though I have nothing else to compare it to yet. For the sake of my sanity and peace of mind, I stick to my decision to check in on Saban and find out what’s happening wherever he is.

  His sister, Isla, and her soon-to-be husband, Gerard, are with Saban, having dinner and drinks at a table alone. Representatives from every kingdom in the realm are in the grand dining hall of an immensely elaborate castle. Through the owl’s eyes, I take in every feature of the room and realize Saban and his family are guests of the elf king—Rycan’s father, Ruvaen Zyldan.

  The tables are separated by ethnic groups, emphasizing the division among the diverse types of beings. If this world hasn’t conquered stereotypes and dislike of differences, I wonder if my world will ever achieve commonality. The table of humans keeps their voices low, their arguments no louder than a harsh whisper, but the tension in the air is thick. I can feel the stress rolling off Saban like stormy seas crashing on rocky shores.

  “Saban, you have to be very careful. The other kingdoms are starting to talk about restoring the mages’ rights. You know we can’t allow that to happen. Can you imagine the complete chaos and anarchy of allowing them to roam freely among our people?” Isla shudders at the very thought, and I feel my pulse hitch upward. I never would’ve believed she was like this when I first met her.

  “Why do you think that’s so wrong, Isla? That law was put into place during a different time, and frankly, I’m not even sure I agree with how they handled it then, much less now.” Saban lifts his wineglass to his lips, but it’s simply a diversion. He’s not even drinking it.

  “Lower your voice,” she hisses, an angry expression covering her features. “How can you say that with a straight face? You know how livid Mother would be if she heard you. We can’t trust them, Saban. They use their powers against us, to control us, to get their way above everyone else.”

  “Do you even know any mages, Isla? Can you say you’ve met one and she took advantage of you?” Saban pins her with a pointed glare, daring her to lie to his face.

  “Of course not. I’m too strong-minded for that to happen. But many people in our kingdom can’t say the same, and we have a sacred duty to protect them. Don’t you want to be king, Saban? Do you want to be known as a weak warden or a strong king?”

  Saban leans back in his chair, scrapes his hand over his face, and releases a long sigh. Reaching out to his thoughts, I probe his mind to learn his true feelings and intentions. My heart aches for him. His mind is full of memories of trying to please his family, doing what they wanted him to so he could earn their approval, and denying himself with every step of the way.

  He doesn’t want to pursue this course of action against the mages. He also knows if he’s the lone opposition to restoring their place in society, the other kings will never include him. If he doesn’t sway them to his side, his family will never accept him because they’ll see him as a failure. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and the fate of the mages in his heart.

  Do what’s right, Saban. Not what’s easy.

  If Isla knew I was pushing my thoughts to Saban, she would accuse me of using my magic to control him. Nothing could be further from the truth. I want him to make the best choice, do the right thing, and steer the kingdom on a noble path—all on his own. This decision must be his and his alone. He has to show he’s the honorable man that I believe him to be…that I hope he is.

  “Of course I want to be a strong king. But I also want to be known as a just king and rule true to my conscience. Part of that strength is knowing what’s right and wrong, and acting on it. Consequences be damned. I don’t believe genocide is the answer, Isla. It wasn’t the answer all those years ago, and it’s not the answer now. How would you feel if all these other races decided humans were no longer a valuable part of the realm? What if they passed a law that allowed them to kill us on sight? Would you change your mind then?”

  Isla glares at Saban, unwilling to respond and validate his argument. She also doesn’t trust herself not to become loud and draw unnecessary attention to their conversation. Gerard reaches over and takes her hand in his before lifting it to his lips.

  “Sweetheart, I admir
e your resolve, but I think Saban is right in this argument. We need to take the high road, welcome them back into the fold, and show we can make this a better world than our older generations did. This is the only way we can move forward from the atrocities of the past. An entire race shouldn’t be judged and punished for the cowardly, delinquent acts of a few.” Gerard speaks gently, purposely keeping his eyes soft and a small smile on his lips. He knows how to disarm her anger and hatred with a few well-spoken words and strategically placed kisses.

  “Very well. If the two of you can be the bigger person and accept that rabble, I suppose I can too. But I’m not going to be the one who breaks the news to Mother. That’s all on you, big brother.”

  “This won’t be the first time she’s been disappointed in me, and I doubt it’ll be the last. You worry about your upcoming wedding, and I’ll deal with your mother.”

  “She’s your mother too.”

  “Stop reminding me.”

  They both laugh it off, but Saban’s unease about how his decision will be received is still as strong as ever. However, I feel a swell of pride in my heart for his bravery and display of character. Next time we’re together, I’ll have to find a way to bring it up and commend him for his actions so he’ll know he has my support.

  King Ruvaen stands, and a hush falls over the room. His keen eyes move over the crowd, assessing each person as he comes to them. His gaze stops when he reaches Saban’s table, his eyes narrowing in the corners when he notices the owl through the window. The edge of his mouth twitches, his lips lifting ever so slightly before he masks the smile trying to overtake his face.

  “Before we say goodnight, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for coming. I believe we’ve had a productive few days, even if we don’t always agree on the pertinent issues. The mistakes of our past must be rectified for our realm to move forward as one cohesive world.

  “Many of you don’t remember those dark days, when every single being was suspected and accused with no just cause. As long as we permit the status quo, we will never realize our full potential. On that note, I’d like to raise a toast to everyone here. For listening to the proposal, for voicing your opinions, and for representing your kingdom in the best way possible. Here’s to a brighter future for all of us.”

  Rounds of “hear, hear” ring out through the great banquet hall. People lift their flutes of champagne in celebration and agreement. One group begins to clap, and soon the echoes of applause bounce off the walls. Smiles light up the room. My gaze stops when I see Rycan seated beside his mother. His handsome face beams with pride and happiness, a stark difference from the murderous anger I experienced from him firsthand.

  Isla moves, catching my attention, and all joy flees when I look at her. She’s utterly annoyed and fuming just below the surface. She plays nice in the face of the vast opposition in the room, but her deep animosity toward mages is there, nonetheless. I was completely wrong about her.

  Rycan stands and takes his dad’s place with a message and a toast about the collaboration and cooperation he has experienced during this emergency summit. I’m listening to him intently, trying to glean a crumb of information about what made the meeting an emergency. Is it because they know I’m here? Are they considering putting Saban on the throne? Has something else happened that hasn’t been announced to the masses yet?

  “You know, you should really be more careful about eavesdropping on a group of sovereign leaders in a closed-door meeting. Parking an owl directly outside the window to spy on us isn’t exactly clandestine behavior. You could’ve chosen a branch to hide him on at the very least.”

  Ruvaen stands tall and confident, staring down the owl I’m currently inhabiting.

  “Though I don’t know who you are yet, I know what you are. I haven’t raised the alarms on your subterfuge…because our world needs you. Be careful and trust no one. Your life is in grave danger. Perhaps more than you realize at this point. When you find yourself in dire need of help, come here to Elen Sevin. Remember these words ‘Dryadalis qui sanctuarii.’ I will give you sanctuary within my borders. The elvish army will defend you with their lives.”

  He turns and walks back inside the palace as if nothing happened…and I’m left with cold chills running up my spine.

  I look back at Rycan and find him staring in my direction. The only problem is I can’t tell if he’s looking at Saban or the owl. With the long-standing feud between the two men, Rycan’s icy glare could very well be a direct challenge for Saban. But after the way he chased me down with his army of elves for no reason other than stepping foot on his land, his scowl could be aimed at me instead—or, more accurately, my owl. If his father recognized I’m using an owl to spy, maybe Rycan can sense it as well.

  When the owl moves to the other side of the window ledge on my prompt, Rycan’s eyes follow.

  Well, shit. I’m totally busted. Or my owl is. Whatever. Same difference. They know I’m here. They know I’m listening. What else do they know?

  Before I can stop myself, I probe Rycan’s mind. I have so many questions that can’t be asked aloud but need immediate answers. Once inside, I open my mind and let the thoughts flow, running backward until I latch on to a memory regarding the emergency meeting.

  Whatever could you be looking for inside here? Whoever you are, you’re young, inexperienced, and clumsy. Like a baby. Run along now, baby girl, before you hurt yourself.

  His shields around his thoughts clamp shut as fast and abruptly as a door slamming in my face. Seeing his cocky smirk from across the room only adds insult to injury. But that single memory I found in his mind is firmly implanted in my own now.

  One of the elves is secretly a wizard with ties to the Veil. He told Ruvaen the heir to the Easthaven Crest throne has returned to Covis Realm…and she’s a mage.

  Known or not, I’m walking around with a huge target painted on my back now.

  Chapter 15

  After taking advantage of the time for extra training and practice on my last day without Saban in the palace, I’m surprised how much I’m looking forward to seeing him again. Just as his car drives up the long driveway, I walk outside to enjoy the sunset after finishing work for the day. He jumps out of the slick, futuristic vehicle and rushes toward me. Inside my chest, the deep-seated urge to be close to him explodes, making my feet break out in a jog to meet him halfway. I leap into his waiting arms, and our lips lock in a heated kiss in front of everyone.

  “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I should’ve smuggled you into the meetings with me despite their strict rules.” He kisses me again before finally putting my feet back on the ground. “Let me change clothes, and I’ll join you on your walk. I could use some fresh air.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll wait right here.”

  I watch him walk away, ignoring the twinge in my chest that’s at odds with the warning in my head. I’m not part of his family, and it’s only been a few weeks since he reconciled with his mother. When he’s forced to choose sides and face the consequences, I’m well aware I can’t compete with that bond. Potential soul mate status won’t earn me any extra points when that time comes.

  That time being the day I announce my intentions of taking over the throne.

  This is not something I’ve agreed to lightly. In fact, I only made the final decision today, after an intense conversation with Ginevra. She made me understand how imperative it is to the entire kingdom to have the best ruling family in place to take care of the people. She also stressed how seriously my parents took their roles in the community. I feel a deep sense of obligation to follow in their footsteps, but I also see a profound need to change the current mindset in Easthaven Crest.

  What I don’t feel is a sense of entitlement. The thought of being responsible for an entire kingdom scares the shit out of me. But announcing that I’m a mage, in this political climate, downright terrifies me.

  “You know he’s crazy about you, right?”

>   My head jerks in the direction of the deep male voice beside me, and I find Gerard with one side of his mouth lifted, watching me as Saban rushes into the palace.

  “This all feels surreal, to be honest.” I’m not sure how else to respond, but my answer is still the truth.

  “What feels surreal?” He tilts his head to the side and draws his brows down. He studies me too intensely in our brief encounters. Reading his thoughts doesn’t reveal anything incriminating, but the strange feeling vibrating from his spiritual energy won’t stop.

  “The whole finding my soul mate thing. Even though I’ve heard of it happening to others my entire life, I never really believed it would happen to me. And I never dreamed it would be with someone like Saban. It’s just still all so new.” I shrug and smile, lowering my eyes to the ground.

  “I know what you mean. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky to have found Isla. She is the love of my life.”

  Yes, she is quite the treat, isn’t she? My shields are up, just in case, but my sarcasm would be lost on Gerard anyway.

  “You two seem very happy together. She couldn’t take her eyes off you at the engagement party. The big day is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

  “Two weeks from tomorrow—but that’s two weeks too long for me. I’m ready to exchange vows right now and make it official. Isla won’t hear of it, though. She’s put a lot of time and thought into our wedding, so I’ll wait, however impatiently. When she’s finally mine forever, the wait will be worth it.” Gerard’s left eyebrow disappears under the hair swept across his forehead, and a smile brightens his face. But the way he leers at me makes me uncomfortable, and I want to get away from him as quickly as possible. “It’s hard to believe you’ve been here with us for two months already. Isla and I haven’t had a chance to get to know you well enough. The four of us should plan a double date soon.”