Mortal Enchantment

by Stacey O'Neale

  Rowan must have noticed my reaction. He put his arm around me, leaning into my ear. "The crowd is eating up his performance. I'm sure the council feels the same. We can't go after him without proof.”

  Heat raced through my veins like lava. "But he gave me the enchanted wine!”

  Rowan let out an exaggerated breath. "Yeah, but who gave it to him? He could be innocent in this. Do you still have the glass?”

  "No.”

  He lowered his head. "Then we have nothing.”

  Great. I had confirmed his guilt and had no way to prove it. The council would never believe me, especially since Liana was a member. Those two appeared pretty chummy up there. I was sure she would come to his defense if he were challenged. I needed solid proof, but how?

  My attention returned to Jarrod when he addressed the crowd once more. "Since the beginning of time, we have existed as protectors of the elements. Our four equal powers have provided balance to the Earth's nature, which is capable of immeasurable volatility.”

  What a pompous ass.

  "As the Earth's seasons change, so does control of the elements. We have come here tonight to celebrate the shift of power. As fire wanes, air grows its strength. To symbolize the change, the air court will demonstrate their power over the fire court.” Jarrod pointed in my direction. "Princess Kalin, please join us on the center floor.”

  A drum thumped a slow, rhythmic beat. The crowd separated until a large space opened in the middle of the ballroom. I took a few wobbly steps forward, then Rowan blocked my path. "You can't do this now. You can barely walk in a straight line.”

  "What choice do I have? Either I follow through, or I relinquish my throne. Without a sibling, the throne goes to the lead knight, which in this case is Jarrod. I would rather burn alive than allow that to happen.”

  "But, you can be burned alive. You're not in the right frame of mind to control your power. You―”

  Several elementals around us whispered to one another. I was filled with worry, but completely out of options. "Enough. My mind is made up and you're going to have to deal.” I pushed him to the side, concentrating on my steps as I headed toward Liana. She stood about thirty feet in front of me. A blue fireball the size of a basketball floated above her open palms.

  I swallowed hard.

  This was it.

  No turning back now.

  I shook my arms at my sides, taking in a deep breath. Ariel stood at the edge of the crowd with her hands wrapped tightly around her waist. She looked like I felt. Okay, I needed to concentrate. Relaxing wasn’t an option, but I had to try. I had to find my yellow aura. It was my only chance at not becoming a charcoal grilled Kalin.

  Needing a glimpse at my energy, I closed my eyes. My heart jumped into my throat when all I saw was pumpkin orange. Not good, not freakin’ good at all! I wanted to scream and cry and run away as fast as I could. Using my power when it was out of my control was dangerous, but I refused to hand Jarrod the air court on a silver platter. Dad would die for sure—I would not allow it. I garnered strength from this single thought.

  Energy surged from my shoulders to my fingertips. It was stronger than I’d ever felt. Liana's eyes locked with mine—a wolfish grin across her lips.

  It all happened so fast I didn't have time to blink.

  Like a baseball pitcher, she pulled back and threw the raging inferno right at my head. I positioned my opened palms in front of my face. My eyes squeezed shut. The power released, thrusting outward, and the exertion made me fall to my knees. I peeked through one eye when the crowd cheered.

  It worked?

  Ariel ran toward me. "You did it! I knew you could.”

  "I can't believe I really did it.” She helped me stand. My legs were about as sturdy as an elephant on a tightrope, but I managed to stay on my feet.

  A weight was lifted off my chest. With this challenge out of the way, I could focus solely on finding Dad. For the first time, I was confident. I was able to do this by myself. I―

  Beyond the crowd, I saw Liana yelling something I couldn't hear over the noise. Several council members were with her. What was going on? I glanced over at Rowan. Smoke simmered from his two fists.

  Oh, no!

  He did it.

  He put out her flame.

  The elementals continued to cheer and congratulate me, but Liana knew it didn't happen. The ceremony didn't count unless I was the one who performed it, right?

  But, how? His power should not be strong enough to extinguish a royal flame. None of this made any sense.

  Rowan came to my side. "We have to get you out of here.”

  "What did you do?” I asked.

  He took a quick glance around. "Not here.”

  "Fine, follow me.” I tried to walk, tripping over my own feet. He caught me before I nose-dived into the floor. "I think I'm going to need a minute.”

  "I have a better idea.” He swooped me into his arms like some old-school prince charming, carrying me out of the ballroom.

  "Dramatic much?”

  Rowan raised his pierced eyebrow. "Quit pretending you're not loving every second of this.”

  As soon as my bedroom door shut behind us, he put me down. I was sturdy on my feet once again. The power drain must have wiped out the effects of the elixir. My room was barely lit. The candles had been snuffed out by the cool breeze wafting from the open window. I closed the curtains. Under the dimmed light, the room held a pinkish hue.

  Rowan leaned against the wall with his arms folded in front of him. His silence was another reminder of his secrecy. I went into full interrogation mode. "Tell me what happened back there. And this time, I want the whole truth.”

  He watched one of the dancing flames flicker across the wall. "What's there to tell? You were about to get killed and I stopped it.”

  "You shouldn't have. Liana knows I didn't put out that flame. I don't know the severity of the situation yet, but I have no doubt its bad.”

  Leaning his head back against the wall, he said, "What was I supposed to do? Stand there and watch you roast?”

  My anger was blooming. "I had it under control.”

  He chuckled. "Yeah, sure you did.”

  I came to stand directly in front of him, making it impossible for him to look anywhere else. "Fine, whatever. We both know why you did it. What I want to know is how?”

  His eyes bore into mine, squinting. "You know how I did it. You've seen me use my powers before.”

  My magic sparked at the tips of my fingers. "You shouldn't have been able to do what you did. Liana is the most powerful member of the fire court. I don't know much about her court, but I do know her position as queen elevates her power. As a solitary, you should be much weaker, and yet, you extinguished her flame without even blinking.”

  He stood straight up, closing the rest of the distance between us. Peering down, he said, "What are you asking me?”

  No way was I going to let him think he could intimidate me. I leaned in until our faces were barely an inch apart, taking in his cinnamon scent. "I want to know who you really are.”

  We were in the midst of a staring contest. Silent seconds passed like hours. On the outside, he appeared furious, but there was something else in his eyes. It was almost painful to watch. It was as if he was breaking right in front of me.

  Rowan hung his head. "I am the prince who rejected his crown.”

  I blinked twice to make sure I hadn’t imagined what he said. "Prince?” A second later, it came to me. "Is Liana your…mother?”

  His tone was grim. "No, she's my aunt. I'm the son of the disgraced queen.”

  Nothing was making sense, but I had gotten used to that feeling by now. "You said your mother is dead.”

  He took a few steps away from me, running his hands through his hair, his back was turned toward me. "She was found guilty of treason against the courts and put to death. My brother and sister were exiled for trying to help her escape. Without the protection of the veil, they died a few weeks later.”r />
  Something told me the story was about to get even worse. I didn't want to ask, but I needed to know the answer. "Why weren't you exiled with them?”

  "Because I was the one who provided the evidence against my mother. And when she tried to escape—” Rowan faced me, his defeated expression made me want to cry. “I killed her.”

  I had to remind myself to breathe. Now, it all made sense. He wasn't hiding secrets, he was ashamed. He felt responsible for the deaths of his entire family. The cocky exterior was a cover-up for a broken, lonely soul. I tried to get closer to him with a desperate need to comfort him, but he moved farther away with every step I took.

  I held my hand out. "Please, Rowan, let me―”

  His face reddened with built-up anger. "Let you what? Pity me?”

  Tears welled in my eyes. "No, that's not what I―”

  "You see? That's why I don't talk about it. I don't need your sympathy. I don't need anyone or anything.”

  A lump swelled in my throat. "Rowan, please. That's not―”

  I jolted when my bedroom door slammed shut.

  Rowan was gone.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I spent the rest of the night tossing and turning. As soon as the sun rose, I changed into my white tank top and jeans, then headed outside. Hours passed as I leaned against a large elm tree on the side of the mountain. The clouds around the castle were puffy, but the sun found a way to shine through, keeping the temperature pleasantly warm.

  Three questions were toiling away in my head: How do I prove Jarrod was involved in Dad's disappearance? How can I prove he was working with Liana? And where do things stand with Rowan?

  The first two questions would take time to mull over. I thought I could find Rowan and tell him I didn’t pity him. I thought he was brave to do what he did, and if he wouldn’t have left abruptly, I could have told him. I checked every place that we had ever been together, but nothing. No one had seen him anywhere in the castle since yesterday. Wherever he was, he didn't want to be found. Each time I blinked, I returned to the moment when our eyes met and I caught a glimpse of the utter despair he must have felt reliving his painful memories.

  "You know, you're not an easy princess to find,” Ariel said, jolting me out of my thoughts. "What happened last night?”

  Where could I even begin? Was I supposed to tell her Jarrod drugged me? Or that Rowan completed my power display? Maybe I should’ve skipped over the Ball all together and gone right to the part where he told me he was the former prince of the fire court? The more I thought about it, telling her anything didn't feel right—not without proof against Jarrod. "Rowan took me back to my room. I wasn't feeling well.”

  Ariel waited a few seconds before she spoke, as if she was choosing her next words carefully. "I know it's none of my business, but what's going on with you two?”

  I wish I knew. Was there any point in trying to clarify our relationship to her if I couldn't explain it to myself? "Nothing really. He promised to help me train, and that's pretty much it. Why?”

  She bit her lip. "I don't know. I just think you should be careful.”

  Those were not the words I was expecting. "Why should I be careful? Is there something you're not saying?”

  "I'm sure someone's told you about his family, right?” I nodded, assuming she was talking about his mother's death. "After the smoke settled, your father offered him a position as a knight. It would never be official because you can't switch your elemental power, but he would have been given every other privilege of our court.”

  Rowan said Dad gave him asylum in the air court, but never mentioned he’d been offered knighthood. "He did tell me.” Part of the story, at least.

  Ariel crossed her arms. "And you don’t find that strange?”

  Of course I did. He had no one else. Nowhere to go. Why would he turn down Dad’s offer? "I don't know him well enough to know why he said no, but still, I don't understand your concern.”

  She ran her hand across the back of her neck. "Think about it for a minute. If he turned down your father’s protection, doesn't that make you wonder which side he's really on?”

  "I hadn't even thought―”

  "Princess Kalin.” Two male guards in traditional yellow court ropes were heading in our direction. "The council has called an emergency meeting. Your presence has been requested.”

  Hope bloomed in my chest. "Do they have news about my father?”

  They glanced at each other, saying something I couldn’t make out. The younger looking one responded. "We were told nothing other than to escort you to the meeting.”

  The fact that they seemed hesitant to answer made me wonder if Liana had told them about the botched power display. It didn’t matter. I had planned to tell them anyway, although I would have preferred that they hear it from me. I turned back to Ariel. "We'll finish our talk later, I promise.”

  She smiled from ear to ear. "Of course, please hurry.”

  The ache in the pit of my stomach felt like a warning. Whatever I was about to walk into was not going to be good.

  Just like the last time, I pushed my way through the vines shielding the entrance. As I stepped onto the wooden planks, the sound of rushing river water plummeting over the falls surrounded me. Again, the place was packed with various members of each of the four courts. Most had their backs to me, their attention completely focused on the council members at the opposite end of the room. Each stood, carrying on conversations I couldn’t hear.

  Liana was very animated with her arms flailing. But when our eyes met, she froze. Each of the other council members seemed to simultaneously realize I was there because they stopped talking. Once they were silent, the crowd parted. There was now a path for me to walk toward the council. An uneasiness crept over me as I took my time through the open walkway. The last time I came to a meeting, they pretended I wasn’t even there. This time they were all paying attention, which made me worry that the news was grim.

  "I'm assuming you asked me here because you have news about my father.” Even though their faces appeared grave, I still held out hope that there might be some good news.

  Liana squinted, disgust all over her face. "You were brought here to confess your crimes against the fire court.”

  Her words seared into my chest like a hot iron. They brought me here to stand trial? This was so not how I expected the meeting to play out.

  I was about to say something when Jarrod spoke first. "Liana, you have no proof to base such claims.” Was he taking my side against Liana? This didn’t make any sense at all. What was going on?

  Liana turned to face the other council members. "You saw what took place at the ceremony. Kalin conspired with the deserter instead of completing the power display. She broke one of our sacred laws and should be punished.”

  "An exception should be made.” A familiar voice called out. The crowd turned as Rowan made his way toward the council. Relief spilled over my shoulders knowing he was all right. I smiled at him, but he never made eye contact. Instead, he was completely focused on Liana. "Her father is missing and she had only days to master her power.”

  "Ah, yes, her missing father.” A wicked grin grew across Liana’s face. "A powerful king goes missing and no one can find him.” She said, sarcastically.

  "Get to your point before I accuse you of treason.” Jarrod said, his fists balled at his sides.

  His reaction continued to shock my system, making me question every conclusion I had reached. If Jarrod had gone along with Liana, and my family was removed from power, he would’ve been next in line for the throne. Rowan suggested that Jarrod could have been given the enchanted wine without knowing. Could he have been right?

  Liana chuckled, clearly not fazed by Jarrod's threats. "Kalin arrived only hours after Taron went missing, claiming she was attacked by a member of the fire court.” She points her accusing finger at Rowan. "Coincidentally, saved by the deserter.”

  Rowan reached over his shoulder, releasing his sheathed sword
. The crowd moved back several feet while some of the weaker elementals cried out in pain. My own scar burned at the memory of the iron against my skin. "Kalin was attacked by a member of the fire court. I watched her attacker burn to ashes minutes after I slit her throat. Only a member of the fire court would ignite into flames after death.”

  Liana crossed her arms. "Do you have any proof of this, other than the fake necklace you presented to the council? Surely, you can't expect that the council would take you on your word?”

  Jarrod headed toward Liana. As he approached, two of her Gabriel Hounds came to stand in front of her, growling in their animal form. The wooden planks beneath our feet rumbled. "For the last time Liana, what is your point?”

  This time, she addressed the crowd directly. "I believe Kalin intends to start a war against my court.” The room erupted with gasps and whispers. "The false claims were meant to break the peace treaty amongst our courts. I doubt Taron is missing at all. For all we know, she killed him for his throne.”

  Jarrod tried to push through the hounds, but they wouldn't budge. "I suggest you take those words back before you break the treaty with your accusations.”

  Enough! My power surged through my fingertips like an electric shock. "I would never hurt my father!” I said, voice coated with anger. The clouds turned dark, thunder rumbled in the sky. "You on the other hand, Liana, are a different story.”

  Liana faced Rowan with a look of total revulsion on her face. "All of these questionable events point to one conclusion; together they have killed Taron to start a war against the fire court. Once I am dead, our court will be weakened. The deserter will claim the fire court throne for himself.”

  The room roared with shouting from every direction. Members of the courts argued. Orion, the woodland court king, came to stand at Jarrod's side. His council quickly circled around him. The water court elementals glanced at one another, but didn’t say a word or show any obvious reaction. Likely, they were speaking to each other telepathically, watching passively as the incident played out.

  "You're a fool, Liana. I could have claimed the throne without anyone's help.” Rowan stood tall and firm. "As Prisma’s only biological child, it is my birthright if I so choose.”