by Terry Spear
What had she done? She had done nothing! But found her mother and…and…
The king looked at Viviana, then said, “Everyone leave the room but my daughter and granddaughter.”
As soon as everyone vacated the chambers and the guard shut the door on their exodus, the king turned to Alicia. “History seems to be repeating itself.” His tone was grim.
Her mother said, “You must wed whosoever your elders—in this case your grandfather and the parents of the male fae—deem fit. Don’t make the same mistake I made, Alicia.”
Alicia couldn’t believe her mother’s words. Did she not love her father any longer?
“You mean that I am a mistake?” Alicia asked, her brows deeply furrowed as she nearly growled the words.
CHAPTER 20
A resounding repeated banging at the countess’s chamber’s door forced King Tibero to shout, “Who is interrupting me now?”
The door opened only enough for a man to poke his nose in. “My lord, a woman, claiming to be the princess of the Denkar, and a man, claiming to be the prince of the sphinx fae, have come seeking Prince Deveron’s release. The woman says he is her brother, and her mother, Queen Irenis, is being made aware that we have taken him prisoner.”
Alicia folded her arms. “Just what I’d said, if anybody would bother to listen to me.” And to think someday she’d rule the place. She’d certainly make some great changes.
Before the king could say a word, another man leaned in through the doorway, opening it wider. “Sire, six Denkar fae have just arrived at our gates. They say their crown prince is here, and they demand to see him at once.”
The king’s chest rose as he filled his lungs with air, then answered. “The afternoon feast is nearly served. See that these guests are taken to my solar. Have Lord Jessup provide wine for them until the bells ring for the meal.”
“And the prisoner?”
The king ground his teeth as he looked at Alicia. She attempted her most pleading, woeful look. It almost always worked with her mother.
His hard face softened.
She curbed smiling, not wanting to risk him changing his mind.
“Take him to my throne room. But remove the shackles first. Tell him he will have an audience with me before the meal. That he has nothing to fear. After feasting with us, he’s free to leave.”
“Can I go to him, too?” Alicia asked, trying to hide the enthusiasm in her voice in case it irritated her grandfather.
“No.” He motioned to his men. “Go, do as I say.”
When the men closed the door, the king shook his head as he gazed at Alicia. “You are just like my daughter when she was your age.”
Then he stalked out of the room. He turned to Viviana. “Return to your chambers until…” Then he reconsidered. “Join me in my throne room with my granddaughter.”
Within minutes, the king sat on a golden throne, encrusted with gems of every conceivable color. A long blue runner led to the dais where the two thrones sat. The other was just as ornate, just as decorated, but vacant.
He patted on the empty seat and wiggled his finger at Alicia. She whispered to her mother, “Why don’t you take the seat there?”
“He is punishing me for running away. It won’t always be like this and when you are queen, you will treat me well.”
“But you should sit upon the throne.”
“Go, before my father throws a tantrum.”
Alicia smiled, not imagining an old man could do such a thing. Then she reconsidered. A king throwing a tantrum could be an awful situation for the ones he ruled. She hugged her mother, then walked down the carpet. The throne room soon filled up with courtiers, the ones dressed in the most elaborate gowns and tunics most likely the higher lords and ladies made their way to the front of the crowd.
Guards escorted Ritasia, Raglan and the fae trackers in through a side entrance. Alicia’s heart skipped to see Ritasia.
The princess’s face remained stern and unsmiling. Alicia assumed it was because she still feared for her brother.
Then guards led Deveron before the king, dressed in new garments of red satin, heavily embroidered in gold.
Alicia wanted to rush to him, to embrace him, kiss him, and tell him how worried she’d been about him. But something in her reaction to seeing him, caused the king to motion to one of his lords.
The tall man hurried forth, and took her arm, then guided her to stand before the king. She curtseyed.
He smiled. Then his face turned harsh. He motioned for her to sit beside him.
She glanced back at Deveron. An almost imperceptible smile played on his lips and in his dark brown eyes. Most would probably not recognize it for what it was, but she knew. Not only was he relieved she had come to no harm, he seemed to be glad she was being seated at the king’s side. But something more?
Did he think her grandfather was making some momentous overture by welcoming the prince of the Denkar into his throne room? She sat down on the throne and smiled a Deveron.
He smiled brightly.
The king was not amused. He cleared his throat. “We thank you for bringing our future queen back to us, Prince Deveron, crown prince of the Denkar.”
Movement near the entryway caused a low roar of conversation, and the king paused.
A guard rushed forth, bowed hastily before the king, then spoke low for only the king and close courtiers to hear. “Sire, Queen Irenis is here with a force of too many to fathom.”
“Show her in. Tell her to join us for our feast.”
Again the courtiers conversed in a hushed roar as events unfolded.
Ritasia watched the entryway for her mother’s arrival, if her mother dared enter the dragon’s lair. But Deveron kept his gaze focused on Alicia. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Was he trying to make a statement to the king? That he wanted the dragon fae princess and she him?
She couldn’t deny she was totally attracted to him, but she had a whole new life to become accustomed to.
To heck with that. She wanted to see more of Deveron. That’s what she wanted to become accustomed to…more of the same life with the dark fae hunter.
His smile broadened.
And he knew it, too.
Damn him.
Was she so transparent when it came to her feelings for him?
Yeah.
And then boots tromped toward the throne room. Two guards led the way, several more followed as a dark haired female fae walked in between them. She held her head high as her dark eyes surveyed the attendees, her eyes shifting from her son, who didn’t bother to look in her direction, and Ritasia. Seeing her children well, the queen glanced at Alicia, then cocked a dark brow.
Yep, Alicia was the cause of the trouble for all their kingdoms.
Alicia smiled at the queen, dressed in flowing gowns of purple. The queen never smiled, but shifted her attention to the king.
He eyed her with a darkness that disturbed Alicia. They wouldn’t fight, would they?
Then what? She’d want to side with Deveron and Ritasia…but her mother. She took a deep breath, trying to massage her jagged nerves. She couldn’t upset her mother.
The king stood and bowed.
The queen curtseyed most regally.
There seemed to be a deep sigh that spread across the breadth of the throne room. Did everyone think as she did? That war was imminent?
“Welcome to Crislis,” the king said, still standing.
Alicia rose to her feet, realizing belatedly she should have been standing once he stood. She had a lot to learn about royal court proceedings.
She caught Deveron’s eye. He immediately winked at her and grinned.
The queen noticed their reaction at once and stiffened her spine.
The king said, “We would be honored if you would join us at a feast to welcome my granddaughter and my daughter home.”
“I would be delighted,” the queen said, her voice icy.
“It seems, Queen Irenis, I hav
e rather a situation on my hands.” He stepped down the stairs and reached his arm out to her.
Alicia stared at the king’s actions. He was going to escort his worst enemy to the meal?
The queen rested her hand on his arm, and they walked down the carpeted path toward the entryway.
Immediately, Deveron dashed forth to take Alicia’s arm.
“Oh, Deveron, are you all right? They didn’t torture you or…”
He kissed her, stopping her words at once.
A pronounced number of gasps resounded across the room.
No one left the room, not until the king and other royal family members exited. So Alicia’s face burned with a fever of embarrassment that Deveron would kiss her in front of her mother, and his sister, and the whole dragon fae court.
What would her grandfather think? Would he lock Deveron in chains again?
She peeked around Deveron’s arm.
Her grandfather and Deveron’s mother were watching them. And then her grandfather shook his head, and the lady looked at him. The two walked outside of the throne room in conversation.
Alicia’s mother and her ladies hurried after the king. And Deveron followed with Alicia.
Raglan escorted Ritasia after them. When Alicia looked back at Ritasia, she shook her head, too.
Well, Alicia was certain she’d hear more from both her mother and grandfather about her poor manners after the meal.
But just after everyone was settled into their chairs at the high table, a messenger brought word to the king. He looked at Viviana, then at Alicia. And again he shook his head.
Now what had happened? The suspense was killing Alicia as the king motioned for the man to leave.
Loud voices and the tromping of more boots nearing the great hall caused everyone in the hall to cease their conversation.
CHAPTER 21
As soon as the gray-haired man entered the hall, Deveron knew him to be Raglan’s father. No doubt upset with his son’s visiting the dragon fae, particularly after imprisoning two of their royals, he was sure to worry Raglan might have been incarcerated.
King Persenus approached the table, acknowledging first that his son was all right, then greeted the dragon fae king and smiled broadly at the lion fae queen. But the next man who entered the hall forced Alicia to rise from her chair.
What was going on? Did King Reynolds learn Deveron was interested in Alicia and not his daughter, Lorelei? Great. Now he had to explain himself out of this situation.
King Reynolds’s gaze shifted from Alicia to her mother, and Deveron could see a flame burned for Alicia’s mother.
Alicia folded her arms and scowled at King Reynolds.
She couldn’t be his daughter. She was half human. Wasn’t she?
Deveron nudged at her arm, trying to get her to sit down beside him again.
But instead, she stepped away from her chair and stalked toward King Reynolds. “How could you leave us like you did? And mother? How could you come here and show your face when you married that despicable…despicable…”
Deveron joined her, hoping to make a new marriage proposal at once while the time was ripe. He couldn’t believe his good fortune, or Ritasia’s that King Reynolds was Alicia’s father. He bowed to King Reynolds and said, “My mother has attempted to make an alliance between my kingdom and yours. I wonder if you would wish to still make this…only Alicia would be my bride?”
Alicia’s father’s mouth dropped as he looked from Deveron to Alicia. Then he frowned. “This would have to be decided by—”
“I wholeheartedly agree to the arrangement,” Queen Irenis chimed in.
And why not? Not only would his mother be allied with the sphinx, and it appeared Alicia was next in line to the Venician throne by virtue of being King Reynolds’s first child, but also an alliance would be forged with the dragon fae. Would King Tibero agree also to the proposal?
Deveron waited with baited breath. Say yes, King Tibero. Say yes.
The king looked at Viviana who nodded her consent.
Alicia’s mother was agreeable. Now if only the king would agree…
Queen Irenis tapped her fingers on the table as she waited for King Tibero to announce his decision.
He nodded.
Deveron smiled, but Alicia did not.
She wasn’t interested? His blood heated. She would turn down the crown prince of the lion fae?
“Nobody asked me,” Alicia said, her chin tilted upward, her lips pressed firmly together in the cutest little pout.
“Would you agree?”
“I…”
“Not for another year,” King Tibero said. “She doesn’t come of age until then. She cannot make a decision of this magnitude before then.”
Viviana seemed to take a deep breath of relief.
“Nonsense,” Queen Irenis said. “She is not the one to make the decision. Her elders have made the decision for her.”
“A year,” the king reiterated.
“I will make sure you don’t change your mind during the year,” Deveron said, kissing Alicia’s hand.
“Without seeing the young man,” the king added.
“What?” Queen Irenis squeaked. “You can see they’re clearly in love. They’re meant to be together.”
His mother didn’t care about things like that. She wanted commitment and feared during the year, politics might change the scheme of things as they now stood. What if King Tibero decided to marry his granddaughter off to someone else? Was this the reason for his agreeing to the marriage, only to revoke the plans by the end of the year? Would he have other suitors chase after Alicia, wearing her down until she felt she loved one of them instead, particularly as she wouldn’t see Deveron in so long? Maybe her feelings for him would fade with time?
He smiled and led Alicia back to her seat. He had no intention of staying away from her. No intention whatsoever. Another dark fae quality. Extreme perseverance…when it was something one wanted badly enough.
When they sat together, she glanced over at her father who sat next to her mother. Alicia’s grandfather didn’t seem pleased, but Viviana did.
They talked in whispered secrets and laughed and touched with fond remembrances. Good thing his Venician wife didn’t see him flirting with his former dragon fae wife.
Deveron handed Alicia a slice of bread. “You won’t forget me during the year, will you?”
“How could I ever forget you, Deveron?”
“Time has a way of making memories fade,” he said glumly.
She smiled. “Somehow I can’t see how it would be possible. Do you fear I might find someone else more appealing in that time?”
“No.” He couldn’t look her in the eyes or she’d see he was lying.
“Liar. You do, too. Do you think I’m that fickle?”
“I worry your grandfather may use this as a time to find someone more of his choosing to court you.”
“I won’t see anyone.”
He smiled. “But me.”
“Not even you, so my grandfather says.” She reached over and touched his hand.
He wrapped his fingers around hers. “To think I thought you were half human.”
“You couldn’t have been more surprised than me.”
“You know a cousin of mine saw you turn invisible.”
“I did?”
He nodded, then smiled. “As soon as you can fae transport we can secretly rendezvous,” he whispered.
“You may disobey your mother all of the time, but I don’t mine.”
He buttered a slice of bread, totally amused with Alicia. “When you have not had my kisses for so long, you will find a way to see me.”
“I will obey my grandfather. What if he said I couldn’t marry you, if I saw you behind his back? No,” she said lifting her goblet off the table, “it wouldn’t do to anger him.”
She glanced at her father. “He looks just like I remember him, only a little grayer. And he loves my mother still. I don’t want us to have to stea
l moments like that, if my grandfather should say no to my marrying you in the end.”
“I would pine away for a year if I could not see you for all of that time.”
She twisted her mouth in thought. “I could see Ritasia.”
“What?”
“Sure, I could visit Ritasia, and then if you happen to be with her at the time—”
“That’s my faery princess.
“If my grandfather will permit it.”
“You promised you’d teach Ritasia how to practice with a bow.”
“Ah, I did.”
“And I want a rematch.”
“You’ll never beat me.” She grinned at him.
He wanted to kiss her smiling lips again, but caught her grandfather’s concerned eye. “We will just have to find a place to make it happen. Neutral grounds, so to speak.”
“To neutral grounds,” she said, raising her goblet to his.
But when the feast was done, the king ensured Deveron was smartly escorted out of the hall after barely giving Alicia a quick peck on the lips.
Alicia gave her father a warm hug. “I would come visit you at Venicia, but Lorelei tried to poison me and had me imprisoned in the sphinx’s dungeon.”
“You may visit me anytime, Alicia. I will let your sister and brother know how displeased I was with their actions toward you. And they will also know what would become of them should they try anything more when you visit.”
Queen Irenis gave Alicia a strange little smile. “You know my son I believe almost as well as I do. And I approve.”
Alicia wasn’t sure what the cryptic message meant, but she thought it might have something to do with her son disobeying orders, only this time it benefited Queen Irenis. In fact, the last time it had, too.
Queen Irenis kissed her cheeks, then hurried after Deveron.
“We must get together to practice archery,” Alicia said to Ritasia next.
“Oh, yes.” She glanced back in the direction of her disappearing mother. “You know what my mother meant, don’t you?”
Alicia took Ritasia’s hands and leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Deveron wishes to see me despite my grandfather’s orders.”
