by Meg Anne
Micha noticed her and winked, his lips twisting up wryly as if to ask what can you do? His pale skin was flushed from the attention of the crowd, but he too stood still, awaiting the beginning of this final test.
“If that’s what this is all supposed to demonstrate, then why are they the only ones who are naked? Shouldn’t I be as well?”
Gillian’s horrified reaction was almost comical. “Helena, you are Kiri. The first Kiri in centuries, of course, you aren’t going to parade around in the nude.” Gillian made a face and seemed to struggle with her words before continuing, “You are the most powerful woman in the world, there is no reason for you to ever debase yourself. These men are seeking to be worthy of you, not the other way around.”
Helena frowned at that, Gillian’s words sitting uncomfortably. It just didn’t make sense, this double standard, if mates were supposed to be two parts of a whole, how could one ever be seen as more than the other? Helena shook her head, causing her chestnut curls to dance, no – she refused to accept that. So long as she was the one being mated, she would never treat these men as less than equals.
Knowing that she still had some time before the sun made its final descent in the sky, Helena looked around for Alina.
The girl was standing off to the side chatting with the healer Tanya. Helena excused herself and started towards the girl.
Seeing her coming, Alina met her halfway.
“Is something amiss, Kiri?” Alina asked.
Helena quickly shook her head and then paused, trying to choose her words with care. “I need you to help me with something, but we don’t have much time,” she added as she looked back up towards the sky.
Alina was nodding, “Of course, whatever you need, Kiri.”
Alina’s eyes grew round as Helena explained what she wanted to do.
Standing off to the side of the dais, Helena was wrapped in a cloak the color of the night’s sky. It had a deep hood that was currently pulled low over her face, hiding her from the crowd.
Timmins had stepped to the center of the stage and held up his hands to get the crowd’s attention. There were a few last hoots and cheers until finally, as one, the crowd fell silent.
“One of the Chosen’s most beloved traditions is the choosing of the Mate. Tonight, our Kiri will make her choice, completing her Circle and formally beginning her reign as our ruler.”
Timmins stepped back and swept his arm to the side, revealing Helena to the crowd.
There were low murmurings starting in the crowd as she stepped forward, the cloak parting to reveal the luminous glow of her skin as she moved.
Standing just to the left of the first candidate, Helena’s hands trembled only slightly as she lifted the hood and then dropped the cloak.
The crowd was silent before letting out a giant roar of approval. Helena did not stand there naked, as it had first appeared, rather she was wearing a short flesh-colored shift. It hung loosely on her, but due to the un-dampened state of her magic, the glow of her skin emphasized the way the thin material caressed her curves. It emphasized the gentle swell of her hips and the more generous slope of her breasts.
This was the first time the Chosen had seen their Kiri’s power unleashed. Her eyes swirled with iridescent fire, and she stood silently before them.
A small rustle of wind brushed her hair up until it seemed to float behind her; she was mesmerizing. The Chosen were entranced.
When she spoke, it was with the melodious voice of many, “The Mother guides and her Chosen bend to her will. It is with her blessing that we are gathered here tonight to celebrate her ultimate gift: the mating bond. Once I join myself to the Mate, the Circle will be complete.”
The crowd roared again, chanting for the name of their selected.
Helena turned her back towards the crowd and faced Amos. He could not contain his gasp as he stared at her. His heart was racing when she lightly rested her hand against his chest.
“Be at peace, Amos,” she said softly, speaking only so that he could hear her.
Instantly the tempo of his heart steadied enough for him to take a shuddering breath. He blinked and brought dazed eyes back to hers.
“I release you of your promise to me. Your heart and your soul are your own, go forth with the Mother’s blessing.” Helena spoke more loudly, her voice still enhanced.
Amos nodded and stepped off the stage and back into the crowd.
One by one she continued down the line, each time quietly repeating the same words to the men as they stood before her.
Finally, it was down to Von and Micha. The Chosen were restless, and they shifted and watched to see which of the men would be selected.
Helena stood before Von, her hand steady as she lifted it to rest above his heart, covering the dark whorls of a tattoo that began there before flowing up and over his shoulder.
His skin was on fire under her hand, but his heart continued to beat in time with her own.
His lips were lifted in a small smile.
“Hello, Mate,” he said in her mind.
Her answering smile was pure feminine joy, “Mine.”
She could feel the way his body responded to her claiming. His eyes gazed at hers with a fierce hunger, the gray turning molten with desire.
“Shall we put on a little bit of a show for them?” Helena asked, tilting her head to the side.
Von lifted an eyebrow. “What kind of show do you have in mind?” he asked, the voice a seductive purr.
“Not that kind, Mate.”
She felt the flickers of his disappointment through their bond.
“Von Holbrooke, do you accept the mating bond?” she asked aloud, her voice magnifying and rippling so that it could be heard across the entire crowd.
“I do,” he answered, his deep voice warm and proud.
Closing her eyes, Helena called to the swirling pool within her. Letting her instincts guide her, Helena called forth a small ball of starlight and willed it to grow.
Starting from the place where her hand rested over his chest, the light began to swell and grow. There were delighted gasps from the crowd as they noticed the ball of light that was quickly expanding from where they were connected until there were wrapped in a cocoon of light.
Standing on her tiptoes, Helena pressed a sweet kiss to Von’s lips, before falling back on her heels.
She felt an answering growl and pressed her lips together to contain the giggle that threatened to spill forth.
She stepped away from him and looked towards Micha.
He was smiling, but she could see the disappointment in his green eyes.
“Friends?” she asked him softly.
He nodded, “Of course, Kiri.”
Smiling, she repeated the words that formally released him and gave him a quick hug.
Turning back towards Von, he swept her into his arms and spun her around until she was breathless with laughter.
“I have something for you,” he declared suddenly, there was a playfulness in his gray eyes she hadn't seen before.
Fascinated, Helena watched while Von produced a crown of magnolia blossoms from behind his back, before unceremoniously placing it on her head.
“What is this for?” she asked, lifting a hand to set it in place.
“You told me you desired wooing, Mira. I figured I should probably start now.”
“I suppose it’s better than nothing, even if it is a little late,” she teased, pleasure at his words bubbling up within her.
“I suppose it’s a good thing that I can spend the rest of our lives making it up to you.”
Helena’s heart swelled at the earnestness of his words.
He brushed back a curl from her face, smiling down at her.
She had promises of her own she wanted to offer, but she could not find the words her heart wanted to speak, so instead, she kissed him and hoped that was enough.
Chapter Nine
“Von?”
The whisper would have startled him if it hadn
’t brought the feeling of warmth and peace he was learning to associate with Helena.
“Kiri?”
“Am I disturbing you?”
“Well at the moment I am being lectured by Timmins on the importance of protocol. So, no, definitely not.”
He felt, rather than heard her amusement. “Finally, someone else is on the receiving end of one of his speeches.”
His lips quirked at her irreverence.
“This is no laughing matter, Von. I do not need to remind you what is at stake.” Timmins stood in front of him, frowning, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I know the words, Advisor; you need not continue shouting them at me.”
“You’re getting me in trouble, Mira. Is there something you need? Preferably something that requires my attendance far away from your Advisor?”
“Not at the moment. I seem to be at the mercy of Alina’s ministrations once again. I may just go cross-eyed if she asks my opinion on one more piece of ribbon or some such trinket.”
“Shall I rescue you? Steal you off to the garden?”
He felt her smile in another rush of warmth. “I fear that this particular assault is as much your fault as it is mine, Mate. I’d hate to see what she did to me if I interfered or ruined her creation.”
He chuckled softly, earning another of Timmins’ frowns.
“Did you really just call on me to say hello?”
There was a pause before she responded, as though she was weighing her words. “I was just curious if you would still be able to hear me this far away.”
The lie sounded like a discordant note in his mind. “Are you lying to me, Kiri?” he teased, curious what she was trying to hide.
“No!” He felt her surprise. “Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the entire truth, although it isn’t very gentlemanly of you to call me on it. I was just feeling…”
Lonely. He had known the answer before she was able to finish her sentence. It seemed their bond came with more than the ability to speak with their minds; it also allowed them to sense one another’s emotions and their truthfulness. This revelation was yet another thing for him to consider, especially since it would mean that she could sense his own as well.
Von struggled with his response to her admission. He had never been one to fall for a woman’s games, but coming from Helena, the admission was not used to snare, it was simply the truth. That appealed to him.
“You could send for me. I’m sure Alina could use another hand to hold ribbons for her.”
“Ha! You really would do anything to escape Timmins. Besides, it’s not as if Alina would actually allow someone to see her masterpiece before she was finished anyway. Not even at my orders.”
“Really Von, you could at least pretend to pay attention.” Timmins snapped.
Feeling like a schoolboy, Von uttered an apology.
“This really is for your benefit you know. You are the one who has to stand up in front of the entire realm this evening.”
“I said I was sorry, Timmins.” Von’s strained voice betraying his irritation.
“Just because she chose you, doesn’t mean you deserve her.” The older man bit out.
Any vestige of good humor at Helena’s mental presence dissipated at those words. Von held himself stiffly, shooting a look of ill-concealed displeasure at Timmins.
“I’ve killed men for less, Timmins. You may want to choose your words with care.”
The man paled but stood his ground. “Even your jaded soul must realize how rare and special a creature she is. She doesn’t deserve to be made a fool of in front of her people.”
“You think I don’t know that? That I would go out of my way to embarrass her? I know the damn words, Timmins.” Von stood quickly, his chair crashing to the floor.
“Von?!” Helena’s concerned voice rang out in his mind. He ignored her and closed the distance between himself and the older man.
“You think I haven’t asked myself what twist of fate made her choose me? Made her soul speak to mine? You think I don’t know that I don’t deserve her goodness and light after the choices I’ve made in my life?” His voice a furious whisper.
“I will do my part, old man.” He finished, stepping away.
“It’s not enough to know the words, Von. I had to ensure that you understood them as well. You are binding your soul to hers this evening. More than any other bond, the Mate’s vow reunites two pieces of a soul back into one. It is not something that can be done lightly, or without true commitment and intent. You can destroy her if you do not understand the vow that you will make today.”
“And I do not merely mean hurt her feelings, or betray her. You can kill her if you do not mean the words you speak tonight. Her destruction is our own. Remember that when you utter those words you know so well, Von.”
His temper left as quickly as it came. Von stared at the Advisor, a chill of fear worming its way into him.
The door crashed open, and Helena stood in the doorway, eyes of swirling smoke and chestnut curls flying around her.
“Helena,” Timmins said softly.
The Kiri turned her gaze to her Advisor, a growl sounding in her throat. The need to protect her Mate overriding her ability to sense reason.
Von watched Timmins swallow and take a step back.
He understood now what Helena meant when she said that she didn’t react well to seeing him with another woman. It was pure instinct that fueled her at this moment.
“Mira,” he called to her with his mind. “He did not truly threaten me. I am fine. Look at me.”
She took a step towards Timmins, lifting her hand as she did.
“Look at me.” He ordered.
Eyes of swirling gray met his.
“He hurt what is mine.” The multitude of voices snapped.
“You wound my pride if you think the old man could have hurt me, Mira.”
She blinked slowly, and her eyebrow furrowed as if confused.
Aqua eyes met his, “But I felt it. I felt your pain.”
Timmins watched the silent exchange in surprise but made no move to break the silence.
Von frowned at her comment and spoke aloud for Timmins benefit. “Truly, Kiri, he did nothing more than wound my pride. He was teaching me a lesson, and a valuable one.”
Helena met his gaze sheepishly, “I’m sorry for bursting in on you. I’ll leave you to your lessons.”
“I think, perhaps, we are done now.” Timmins murmured ruefully.
“Would you like me to escort you back to your chamber, Kiri?” Von asked neutrally.
As if realizing where she was, and the effect her flight to the chamber must have had on Alina’s work, Helena took stock of herself. A few choice profanities rang from her lips.
Von let out a bark of laughter and Timmins raised his eyebrows. Alina chose that moment to round the corner and find her mistress.
“Oh Kiri, what have you done to your hair? We must start all over, and we still have to get you in your gown for the ceremony!”
Pleading aqua eyes met his.
“Come on. I must get to work right away if we’re ever going to finish in time.”
Shooting him one last look, Helena followed meekly behind her maid.
After a few moments of staring silently at the now empty doorway to the chamber, the two men looked at each other and laughed at the absurdity of the sight.
Helena stood in front of the mirror for what felt like the eightieth time that week. For once, however, she was actually vested in the reflection before her. She stared at the fabric of her gown with something akin to wonder.
“It’s perfect, Alina,” she said softly, letting the material slip through her fingers.
The gown was stunning in its simplicity. It fit her snugly, molding to her curves from shoulders to hips, and then cascaded like water to the floor. It was a straight line across her neck, baring no skin from the front until she lifted an arm. The sleeves were deceptive, appearing loose and full to the tips of her
fingers, and mimicking the fall of material in the skirt of her dress. However, there was a slit from shoulder to wrist, leaving her arms entirely bare.
The material was like liquid smoke, ever changing and throwing light like a diamond. She twisted to the side, glimpsing the back of the dress, her mouth opening in delight.
All the skin hidden from the front was more than made up for in the deep plunge of the back. She would have felt indecent, had her hair not been a riot of chestnut curls, falling down her back, revealing only glimpses of bare skin as she moved.
Alina had woven a strand of amethysts in her hair, which reflected the light from her dress, and were constantly twinkling in her hair. As a final touch, she fastened the Kiri pendant around her neck, allowing it to rest between her breasts.
The end result was that she appeared to be cloaked in mist, both shrouded behind it and vulnerable to its mercurial nature.
Alina clapped her hands in glee, “You’re a vision, Kiri!”
“It’s all because of you, Alina, truly.”
She shook her head adamantly, “No, Kiri, it takes true beauty to shine through such simplicity.”
Helena felt her cheeks warm, her smile shy.
A quick rap on the door had both girls turning towards it.
“I suppose it’s time then,” Helena murmured.
Alina squeezed her hand in a final display of support and moved to open the door.
Darrin stepped through the doorway, “It’s time, Kiri.” He stopped, his mouth falling open as he stared at her. She twirled for him, as she had when they were children. She could see the approval glowing in his eyes as he smiled at her. “Beautiful,” he said simply.
She smiled, pleased, and threaded her arm through his. “I suppose you should walk me down then.”
His smile faltered slightly, as though he was only just now realizing he was the one who would be walking her down to present her to the man she would be joining her life with. He nodded, “I suppose so.”
The walk was a short one, only from her room to the chamber where the first of her Circle had sworn their oaths to her. Like with the others of the Circle, the commitment between Mate and Kiri would be done only in front of the Circle. There would be a formal celebration afterwards, but the vows themselves would be spoken with a modicum of privacy, for which Helena was immensely grateful.
