by Godiva Glenn
“Are you ready?” Iona asked from behind Fianni.
Fianni turned and approached the pool, feigning confidence. She had traveled with Iona before, off-world to a few planets as a sort of mediator. Over a century had passed since her last trip. Iona had always been a portal between worlds—the water from her birthing pool was the same water that replenished the pool of reflection that allowed magical gate travel to the rest of the fae.
Only aspects could travel with the undine and survive.
“Just second-guessing my clothing choice,” Fianni muttered.
She wasn’t afraid, but she’d been blasé when telling Gerri about the method. Iona’s magic forced the second phase of travel, the part where Fianni would become pure essence. There was a time when Fianni could do it on her own, but she’d lost the ability.
Somehow, the loss of that ability made her feel slighted. Iona was ever growing and discovering new ways to hone her magic. Forever confined to water, yet she thrived and would likely outlive them all.
“It’s perfect,” Iona replied.
Fianni combed her fingers through her soft, petal-pink locks. Nova Solara was a shifter planet. Magic would be in the atmosphere. Still, her appearance was likely to be changed.
“I can’t recall the last time I saw you nervous,” Iona commented.
“There was probably a war involved,” Fianni joked, but regretted it. For her, it would always be too soon to be casual with Prism’s history.
Iona picked up on the unspoken darkness that entered the room and shook her head. “Come on, now. They are meeting by a fountain. I plan on giving you a grand entrance.”
Fianni stood on the rim of the pool and stared down into the clear water. “Iona… what if Kohl was my one true love?”
Iona’s expression lost its excitement, swiftly replaced with sadness. Fianni’s former fiancé had died in the last war, and they’d never spoken of it. Time had eased the pain, but her memory of him still held him clear as day.
“You never asked me this with Troy,” Iona said carefully.
“Because we both always knew Troy was something different. It wasn’t soul-deep love.”
“Then why do you worry now?”
Fianni examined Iona’s carefully neutral face. Iona had always been silent about how she felt about Fianni’s attempt at casual happiness, but it was there under the surface. She thought Fianni was kidding herself trying to hold back her heart while giving it away at the same time.
Fianni bundled a section of dress in her hand. “Gerri deals in true love, and I don’t have to be in the same room with the dragons to know that they are the all or nothing type.”
“The world is filled with second chances,” Iona said reassuringly. “I think Kohl would want you to meet yours.”
Fianni flowed along the rushing current, her own essence mixed with Iona’s as they traveled across space. The sensation was unbelievably freeing, and Fianni always thought it must be close to what it felt like to fly.
She’d arrive on Nova Solara within minutes from when she first stepped into Iona’s pool back home on Prism, a trip that felt too short in many ways. Being pure magic was cleansing, and she had a moment of disappointment when too soon she was reforming into her physical body.
Her feet hit the ground with a splash, and she looked up to see the three dragons, all shocked. She glanced over her shoulder quickly, just in time to see Iona’s brief wave before vanishing.
Though she’d traveled through water, she was dry except for the small puddle around her sandals, but she still instinctively wiped at her face—a wet feeling lingered.
“What is this,” Rask growled. “Who are you and how did you arrive?”
He’d moved in front of Liam and held a menacing dagger. Likewise, both of the others had drawn similar weapons and stood in a threatening stance.
Fianni smiled gently, unafraid of the weapons or aggressive postures. Her presence would calm them within seconds.
“Speak,” Liam called. “This is a restricted area and you are unknown.”
Her brow furrowed. As seconds ticked by, the men didn’t relax a hair. On the contrary, they’d slowly moved without her notice, effectively caging her in, and her heart now pounded in her chest. Is my magic failing? No… I can feel their shifter auras.
They looked like ordinary men—not that most ordinary men were clearing six-three, muscled like warriors, or dripping with near-tangible sex appeal—but the pulse of their inner animals pressed against her skin. Different for all shifters, it was something she usually ignored and let fade into the background. The dragons felt like flames licking her skin, and that licking wasn’t confined to a small vicinity. Her entire body flushed with the strange prickling.
“I’m Fianni of Prism. I was sent by Gerri Wilder—the matchmaker,” she sputtered.
“That makes no sense,” Liam said, but lowered his dagger. Glancing at the others, he muttered something else, something low and foreign.
They have their own language… figures…
Rask lowered his weapon as well, but the look he cast over Fianni gave her chills. She’d noticed his eyes were dark, but now realized they weren’t just dark—they were pure black orbs. Furthermore, and he had a feral air about him. Though they were all imposing, Rask seemed the only true danger.
“How are you here?” Rask demanded.
Arron shifted his weight to one foot and added, “Why are you here?”
The hostility in their voices and stances shook her. She couldn’t recall the last time her presence did nothing. Her head swiveled side to side, seeking escape. She just needed some space. This wasn’t right.
“Damn. She’s terrified,” Liam muttered.
After sheathing his dagger, he stepped forward and Arron and Rask finally put their weapons away too, though their attention never left her.
His golden eyes swept up and down over her. “Fianni? If you intend us no harm, we aim none towards you. But you need to answer.”
She took a deep breath. Laced within the fear churning through her blood was a heat she almost wanted to deny. These men were hot.
Troy was cute, but he wasn’t like the primal men before her now. The water of the pool had softened their appearances somewhat, but now all three were crystal-clear, massive, and unbelievably perfect.
There was a rich vibrance to Arron’s brown skin. She could see the stubble on Rask’s chin. And Liam’s posture was even more commanding than she’d originally observed.
Liam held out his hand to her, and she swallowed with dry-throated lust at the sight of his muscled forearm.
“I…” she blinked and placed her trembling hand in his, floored by his hypnotic gold gaze. His eyes were like pools of molten honey, and she was trapped. She opened her mouth and managed to whisper, “I traveled with the undine.”
“What’s that?” Liam asked.
“Water spirit,” Arron replied. “Though I’ve only read about them. And one cannot travel with one without dying a most unpleasant death.”
The undine were always rare, and now nearly extinct. Hardly the stuff of common knowledge these days. She was instantly impressed with Arron for knowing. She wanted to say something to that fact, but his stern expression didn’t encourage her.
“She doesn’t look dead,” Rask mused.
Fianni breathed slowly as she looked at each of them, trying to tamp down the sudden raging hormones that were pulling her under. “I’m an aspect. I can’t drown, and my essence can’t be destroyed with magic. Or rather, not with magic that isn’t malicious.”
“I don’t understand,” Liam admitted.
“Prism is a fae world. I am one of the ol—” She coughed and stopped herself from saying ‘oldest.’ “I’m quite strong,” she amended. “I came because you hired Gerri, but she hasn’t been able to get back in touch with you.”
Liam shook his head. “We’ve done no such thing.”
“The matchmaker has a reputation, but she’s never been to Nova So
lara, and we certainly didn’t hire her,” Arron added. There was certainty in his silver gaze.
Fianni pursed her lips. The situation had just gotten a tad more awkward. “Someone had to have. She told me about how you were seeking a mate and…”
“You’re to be our mate,” Rask finished. His eyes flickered for a moment as if the whites stretched away and were filled with blackness.
She swore a slender curl of smoke escaped his nostrils. I may be in over my head. She’d never met a dragon before, and so far they were several hundred times more intense than any other shifters she’d encountered.
“Should I just… go?” she wondered aloud.
“No,” both Liam and Arron said quickly.
“If Gerri sent you, then perhaps you could be our guest while we sort out this miscommunication,” Liam said.
“Maybe someone hired Gerri, and Fianni is intended for one of the other packs?” Arron questioned. “The Flame Hill clan has a few needy bachelors, I believe.”
“She doesn’t look like a fox mate,” Rask said to no one in particular.
“Either way, you will stay with us for now. You claim to be an aspect and that sounds like someone worthy of the highest consideration. We’ll find a room.” Liam stared deep into her eyes, then down at his hand which was wrapped around hers. A curious look crossed his face, but he said nothing.
“The bears will be here soon,” Arron said carefully.
Liam looked over his shoulder while gently pulling Fianni away from the fountain where she’d backed herself. “We have time. I’ll show Fianni to a suite, then we can go meet with the bears.”
“We?” Rask asked. “I’d sooner dive out a window—without my wings.”
“I know you want to present a united front, but they won’t see that. They’d be defensive, and likely bait Rask into confrontation,” Arron said, glancing sidelong at Rask, who growled and crossed his arms.
With a heavy sigh, Liam nodded. “Fine. I’ll show Fianni her room and then meet the bears alone, as usual.”
“Wait,” she said. “Don’t I get a say in this? Before you drag me away and lock me up in your castle?”
Rask arched a brow, amusement finally breaking through his intimidating features. “I don’t think locks were planned, though it can be arranged. Maybe chains. Ropes?”
Her jaw dropped, and Arron pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance while groaning, “Unnecessary commentary.”
“Did you really intend to leave after making a dramatic arrival?” Liam asked.
Fianni glanced around. She certainly had no intention of leaving now, but she hadn’t expected the way things had unfolded. “I just mean that it would be nice if you’d ask if I’d like to be your guest, instead of just announcing that you’re going to take me to a room.”
“I’m the King,” Liam said slowly as if that excused everything.
She pulled her hand free of Liam’s gentle yet firm grasp, an action that she’d not done sooner because simply put—he felt incredible. “I appreciate your hospitality, obviously, and I would like a place to stay while we figure things out,” she said politely. “But it’s likely to get strange since I was sent for the reason of… well, meeting you all. And now it seems that you weren’t looking to meet me.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” Arron said. “But in the meanwhile, I have to admit I would like to hear more of your planet. I’ve never heard of Prism.”
“She should be lodged in the keep,” Rask added, eying Liam. “If she is a guest from off-world, we should offer personal protection.”
“True. We don’t have visitors often. It would be wise to keep her close,” Arron agreed.
Liam ran a hand through his sleek hair and his eyes glowed for a moment in clear frustration. “I’d already intended that much. It’s not like I’d very well throw her in the dungeon.”
He closed his eyes and asked what seemed to be a question, again in that strange language she couldn’t decipher.
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not right here, listening,” Fianni stated, annoyance slipping free. Then she examined her surroundings. “And do you really have a dungeon?”
“Several,” muttered Rask.
“I’m sorry,” Liam offered. “You’re right. Let’s start over. Would you please join us while we investigate everything that seems to be colliding at this moment?”
“Who else lives in the castle?”
“Mostly family and family friends. All dragons, of course,” Liam replied. “If you wanted to stay someplace else, we could find something.”
Fianni pretended to consider his second offer but knew she’d rather stay close. Either they were holding on to their pride by claiming not to have contacted Gerri, or they were telling the truth. And if that was the case, something was up.
Fianni didn’t like games. If someone else was playing a trick to get her here or make them lower their guard, she was getting to the bottom of it. Besides, they made it clear they didn’t want her to leave, so she was curious to see what happened.
It wasn’t the first impression she’d hoped for, but it was an impression nonetheless.
Liam walked with his hands held behind his back and a serious furrow in his brow. He played the part of stoic king well when his council wasn’t around ruffling his scales. They were alone since Arron had to meet with the wolves, and Rask… Rask just had places to be, it seemed.
Fianni followed him through the maze-like castle, which was bustling with people. It was lively and crowded in some sections, quiet in others. It was a place of life. The castles on Prism were nothing like this. The fae didn’t socialize and linger on the castle grounds. They went for their business and left after, save for servants. The dragons’ castle was truly a home.
As they’d passed by, most of the shifters would pause and greet Liam. He lit up faces with smiles. She always felt that how the majority reacted to authority was what defined that figure. So far, it seemed everyone loved their king.
Liam pointed out a gated exit to the left. “If you are looking to explore the gardens and the lands attached, you would go through there. But I’d request you bring someone along. The circumstances of your arrival concern me.”
“I can take care of myself, even if it doesn’t look that way,” she replied.
“You’re new, and you aren’t a shifter. How you look isn’t changing my concern,” he said with a slight grin. “Besides, have you experience with our kind?”
“Dragons? Or shifters in general?” she asked, swiveling her head as they passed a group of young boys and girls racing through the courtyard.
“Either.”
She shrugged. “Many of the fae are shifters, and I’ve met many shifters from Earth before.”
“We’re different,” he stated.
“I’ve noticed.” She glanced over at him and saw that he’d relaxed his features. His strong jaw had lost its rigid line and stark shadow of stress. “I was told once that the shifters of Nova Aurora were larger and more aggressive than those that dwell on Earth. It seems that if you three are any indicator, Nova Solara is equally… primal.”
“Hmm. Primal. An accurate description. We are rebels and survivors on Solara. We fought change that we thought went against our goals for prosperity. As a result, we are harder. And maybe our edges rougher.”
She nodded to herself. “It couldn’t have been an easy decision to start over here. But I can’t say I disagree with the choice. Technology in particular… doesn’t agree with me. Prism can’t support it, thankfully, but I guess magic provides the same excess.”
“I’d imagine magic means all matter of posh creature comforts,” Liam agreed.
“But I’ve seen the world when it was all mud, so I can do without,” Fianni admitted without thinking.
They’d reached a door and Liam paused with his hand on the handle. The stop had brought them close, as she’d kept walking automatically and now brushed his arm.
“When you touch me, it’
s calming,” he whispered. “Is this what you mean when you say you are an aspect? What is it?”
She bit her lip. She hadn’t intended it to be a secret, but given everything else—them not expecting her, Rask’s suspicions, the fact that they had a dungeon and enemies—she wondered if revealing her talents would make her look like she’d been sent by someone other than Gerri.
“The origins of the aspects are a mystery,” she said carefully. “We started as one. Life.”
“I mean you, specifically. You just implied that you were as old as dirt, yet you look…” He pushed the door inward and she hurried through.
“There you are,” a husky voice boomed.
“Shit,” Liam muttered through his teeth. He stepped in front of Fianni and greeted the loud man. “Solomon, you’re far from our meeting room.”
“You weren’t there. We decided to explore,” Solomon replied tersely. “Nick, stop hiding.”
A second man walked up. He lifted his chin in subtle acknowledgment of Liam, and Fianni was struck by their oddly familiar candor. The strangers were both bulky and tall, with sandy hair and stern brown eyes. Like everyone else she’d seen, they wore simple clothing, and had the powerful shifter aura, yet they felt different than the rest. Something told her they weren’t dragons. Yet, if these were the bears, they weren’t acting like defiant bullies.
Or they are, by hinting that Liam doesn’t deserve the respect usually reserved for a king. It made sense for the dragon shifters to be friendly and casual—as Liam said, they were family. These men, whoever they were, were not family. She could feel their ill intent in the air. She crossed her arms and stared at the men.
Liam drew back and held his hand out, indicating her. “I was just escorting a visitor to her room. Solomon, Nick, this is Fianni.”
Two pairs of dark eyes landed on her and instantly softened.
“Hello,” she said softly.
The men bowed awkwardly, and she glanced to Liam to find him visibly stunned.
