Mortal Enchantment

by Stacey O'Neale

  Fireballs swirled overtop of Liana's open palms. "I would die before I ever allowed it.”

  Rowan pushed through other elementals until he was directly in front of me in a protective stance. "There’s no time like the present.”

  Liana threw a swirling ball of inferno at Rowan's head. He grabbed it out of the air, extinguishing it in his palm. A moment later, he ran toward her at full speed with his sword raised above his head.

  Then it all went to hell.

  A battle erupted. Jarrod used his wind power to get through the Gabriel Hounds, but he took a fireball to the chest before he could reach Liana. Fighting broke out all around me. I lost sight of Rowan. Everywhere I turned, members of the fire court were fighting against woodland and air court elementals. Gusts of wind knocked me to the floor while fireballs flew all around. Other elementals drew their iron weapons. Screams of pain rang out, blood sprayed across the wooden planks. The water elementals did nothing more than put out fires which had ignited all over the place.

  Two hounds bolted in my direction. I got to my feet a second before a thrust of energy blasted from my fingertips. Both enormous dogs went flying, crashing against two of the council chairs. Neither moved once they hit the ground. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. The surge of power left me weak. It was a struggle to stay on my feet.

  Rowan burst through the crowd. "We have to get out of here.” He put my arm over his shoulders, towing me toward the exit. He sliced through two fire elementals with his sword.

  I didn't want to distract him, but I had to know. "What happened to Liana?”

  "She escaped.”

  Chapter Twenty

  We returned to the grassy courtyard of the air court castle. Rowan released my arm, a second later he collapsed onto the greenery. Blood circled around an incision on his shoulder blade. Steam rose from the wound. He must have been stabbed with an iron blade.

  I fell to my knees at his side, fear racing through my veins. "Oh God, Rowan! What can I do? I still can't control my healing power.”

  Rowan got to his knees as he tried to stand. I locked my arms under his armpits, hoisting him up. "I have some ointment inside my room.”

  "I'll go with you,” I insisted, whether he wanted me there or not.

  He grumbled, but I think he knew he needed help. Either that, or he was too weak to protest.

  Once inside the castle, we headed down a set of stairs. When Jarrod said he had given Rowan a room in the castle I never imagined he meant in the basement. He stumbled down the gloomy hallway, lit only by tiny candles inside decayed metal wall sconces. We came to stand in front of a rotted wood door, which Rowan promptly opened.

  The room was just as dark and dank as the hallway. The walls were made of gray brick with no windows. The room was barely lit by just a few scattered candles. A toilet sat next to a small sink at the far end of the room. Slow drips of water tapped against the brown stained basin. The distinct smell of rust circled the room. The only decor missing was iron cell bars. Jarrod had made his feelings known by the lackluster accommodations he’d offered.

  Rowan rummaged through the top drawer of a wooden dresser, pulling out a rounded glass container filled with a white substance. He sat on the corner of his small double bed, wincing as he tried to take his shirt off. I sat behind him on the bed. Gripping my hands around the bottom trim of his shirt, I lifted slightly, revealing a cascade of bruises around his shoulder blade and a deep incision. Careful not to touch the wound, I raised the shirt over his head.

  A shimmery haze covered his bare back. I edged closer to get a better look. It was a glamour, but what was he trying to hide? Slowly, the glamour faded away and his skin was revealed. I gasped. Even under the shadows of the room, his back resembled something out of a horror movie. I blinked hard, not sure if I was imagining what I was seeing. The tiny white scars I had seen during his workout were revealed to be thicker and brown. Instead of wings, he had two large, blackened scars. His wings had been torn off. The skin around the scars was mutilated, layers overlapped as if they had been sewn haphazardly back together.

  My whole body went rigid.

  Who would do such a heinous thing?

  He curled around, face grimaced from obvious pain. "I can't hold the glamour. The iron…weakened me.”

  I had reacted so poorly at the sight of his back. It was insensitive and I was embarrassed. "I'm sorry.” I had barely touched the tips of my fingers on the top of his shoulder when he flinched. I pulled my hand back.

  Conscious of his discomfort, I shifted farther away. "Please,” he said, grabbing my wrist. "Can you help me with this ointment?”

  Rowan placed the glass container in my hand. I spun the lid open, dabbling some of the contents into my palm. The salve was cold to the touch and as thick as my Jergen's body moisturizer.

  "What is this?” I said, putting my hand to my nose taking in the clean peppermint scent.

  "It's a mixture of salt, aloe, and grounded-down herbs from the woodland faeries. It will clean out the wound and remove any iron residue. Afterwards, I should heal quickly.”

  I examined his body. He was covered with cuts, dried blood, and bruises. I was responsible for his pain. He had been at my side since the moment we met. Defending me, training me, watching over for me. Without him, I’d probably be dead right now. My heart broke to see him like this. "Does it go directly inside or around the outside of the wounds?”

  "Both.”

  My fingers trembled as I carefully applied the cream with the tip of my index finger. He growled, but stayed in position. I glanced at his face every couple of seconds. Each time he was watching me intently. His stare sent my pulse racing.

  I needed to say something. Anything to get his mind off of the pain.

  "What's the story with the scars?” The words came out so casually, even I was surprised. Subtle Kalin, real subtle.

  His lips pressed together. I didn’t think he was going to answer. "I think I'm done with the cream. Do you have anything I can use as a bandage?”

  Rowan held out his hand, I gave him the container of ointment. I was surprised when he got to his feet without any trouble. Whatever this salve was, it seemed to work at lightning speed. He opened the drawer, placing the ointment inside. "The scars were a punishment from my mother,” he said, in an emotionless tone. "I refused one of her commands.”

  Stunned by his response—but equally shocked that he answered me at all—I desperately wanted to know more. I pointed to my own back. "Your mother did―”

  Still rustling through the drawer, he pulled out several other jars. As he appeared to be reading the side of the container, he said, "No, she ordered my best friend to do it.”

  I shook my head in disbelief. “But those look like claw marks?”

  “Marcus is a Gabriel Hound,” he said, bluntly.

  I clasped my hand over my mouth. "How could she do that to her own son?”

  Rowan found the ointment, bandages, and some tape. He sat back on the bed. "She would never allow leniency in her court. I disobeyed an order and I had to be punished.” He pointed to several brown slash marks stretching across his ribcage. "My mother could control the Gabriel Hounds. She forced Marcus to tear off my wings.”

  I went numb. "How did you survive that?”

  "Marcus carried me to this castle. Taron healed me, but as you can see, there was only so much he could do.”

  Rowan rubbed the new green ointment across the cuts on his ribs. He tried to hide the strain as he applied the dressing but flinched each time. After watching him struggle to hold the bandage in place while he peeled the tape, I took the adhesive out of his hand. He sat somberly as I sealed the tape over the bandages. My fingers ran across his skin. Goosebumps surfaced on the tops of my forearms. Despite the sweat, dirt, and blood on his skin, there was still a hint of his natural cinnamon scent. Even covered in muck, he remained the hottest thing I had ever seen. The perfect contradiction.

  Catching myself mid-swoon, I
refocused on my task and managed to finish dressing the wounds. When I was done, Rowan maneuvered toward my corner of the bed. We sat next to each other in identical positions until he leaned backwards, balancing on his elbows. I was entranced, watching the candlelight dance across the muscles in his stomach.

  He snickered, I assumed he caught me checking him out. My cheeks instantly burned. "What was the command she gave you?” I blurted, trying to take the attention away from myself. "The one you refused.”

  He shifted to the side, facing away from me. His bare back was exposed, but he had covered most of his scars with another glamour. They appeared faint once again. "Why does it matter?” his tone, emotionless.

  Instead of answering my question, he decided to ask a question of his own. I thought we’d moved past that. Things were going so well, then he put up the brick wall all over again. "It matters because you don't want to tell me.” Frustrated, my tone came out with more bark than I intended.

  Rowan sat up, leveling our eyes. "It's not important.”

  "Obviously, it is because you are so adamant on not telling me.”

  "You.” He snarled.

  "You?” I stood, planting my hands on my hips. "What does that mean?”

  He ran his fingers through his hair. "She wanted me to kill you. That was her command. Happy now?”

  “No I'm not happy. I'm not even in the vicinity of happy! Why would she want you to kill me?”

  “She thought you were the next akasha,” he said, looking away. “She said she would pass the throne on to me if I killed you before your return to Avalon.”

  The akasha was an elemental who could control all four elements. As far as I knew, there hadn’t been one for at least a century. I was sure none of them had ever been a halfling. Why would she think I was one? And why had my father not told me? My trembling hands dropped to my sides. "Why didn't you do it?”

  He rose. "I just couldn't, okay? For once, can't that be enough?”

  No way could I stop at this point. "You went against your own mother and nearly died for someone you didn't know. Is it so odd that I would ask you why?”

  "What are you getting at?”

  "I think there is more to the story. There’s something you're not saying.”

  He smirked. "Like what, Jelly Bean?”

  I bit my lip to hold back my grin. He was being flirty, but I couldn’t respond to it. If I did, I’d never know what he was trying to hide. "The day you saved me in the woods, you said you were just in the area. If that’s true, why did you save me? You didn't know me. Why would you care what happened to a stranger?”

  Rowan stared at an empty wall. "I don't care.”

  Now he refused to make eye contact with me? "Okay. If you don't care, why are you here right now? Why continue to protect me?”

  He growled. "Dammit Kalin, what do you want from me?”

  I tugged at his arm until he met my stare. "Rowan, the same thing I’ve been asking for since we first met. I want the truth.”

  "If that's what you want, then fine. Yes, I knew what she would do if I refused her. And yes, whether or not I thought it was right, I did plan to kill you. There was more at stake beyond your life. I had an entire court to think of. Elementals who deserved freedom.”

  He had been sent to kill me. My father had to know about this. Did my mother know? Was that why I was protected by his knights? "How long ago was this?”

  "You had just turned fifteen.”

  His words burned into me like hot coals. I remember there was an increase in knights around my birthday. They never left my side, even following me into my classes. I assumed it was because I was getting close to returning to Avalon. Had my parents lied to me? I put my hands behind my back so he wouldn’t see them trembling. "How did you know where to find me?”

  "The fire court had spies within all the territories. Once I knew where you were, I watched you from the woods behind your house. I was there for a few days.”

  I swallowed hard. "What changed your mind?”

  An incredible sadness radiated off him. His eyes lowered to look at the ground. "I watched you. It was easy to see that you were not an akasha. You were more mortal than any other halfling I had ever known. You were so innocent…and beautiful.”

  Rowan thought I was beautiful? With everything going on, I shouldn’t have focused on that admission. But I couldn’t help it.

  He lowered his head. "I couldn't hurt you. No matter what my mother would do to me.”

  I shocked myself when I put my finger under his chin, tipping his head up until our eyes met. "And you kept coming back, didn't you?”

  "After my mother's death, I feared my adopted siblings would try to kill you. Staying in the mortal world made sense. I could protect you there.”

  My hand rested idly on his chest. "Because you do care.”

  He leaned down, brushing his mouth softly against mine. It was a kiss like I had never experienced. One of those kisses in a movie or a romance novel that never actually happens, and yet here I was, having it happen—to me. Everything else in the world disappeared except the feel of his touch. His hands slinked onto my neck, slowly down my back until they rested firmly above my hips. His fingers tightened around the belt loops of my jeans, and in one swift motion, he pressed our bodies even closer.

  I let out a gasp.

  He pulled back for a second, staring into my eyes as if he searched for my approval. I stood frozen, my sweaty palms shaking. My lips trembled, parting slightly. And again, he kissed me. This time, his mouth crushed into mine. He was voracious. His tongue poked into my mouth, teasing. The further this went, the more my body ached to keep going. It was intoxicating. When he nibbled on my bottom lip, my legs weakened. I lost my balance.

  We fell onto the bed, him on top of me.

  Tilting his head, he leaned in until he was right above my collarbone. His hot breath tickled my neck as he kissed his way to my ear. Whispering, he said, "I've wanted to do this for so long.”

  My heart beat faster with every passing moment. An electric force pulsated through my body, urging me toward him as if he were a magnet. I bit my bottom lip. "Then don't stop.”

  His body relaxed next to mine as he slid his leg firmly between my thighs. My hands curled, gripping the comforter as if my life depended on it. He watched my expression as his fingers crawled through my hair, behind my ear, and down the side of my neck. My eyes fluttered. His hand curved around the side of my face, and again, he delicately grazed my lips. I pushed my body weight against him until he was lying on his back. I was straddled on top of him.

  He moaned.

  All of the confusion and tension between us had culminated into this moment. I was energized by desire as he ran his fingers under my shirt, unfastening my bra. And then, without warning, Rowan grabbed hold of my hips and sat me next to him.

  No, no, no!

  "You don't hear that?” he asked, glancing at the ceiling.

  Once I left hot-guy-fantasy-land and actually paid attention, it sounded like a riot of voices echoing through the ceiling. "Whatever it is, it can wait.”

  Rowan got off the bed, slipping on another shirt. "After what happened at the council meeting, I don't think it can.”

  I was sure my disappointment showed all over my face, but he was right. "Okay, let's go find out.”

  He pulled me into his chest, pressing another long, lingering kiss on my lips. A tiny groan escaped from his throat. "On second thought, I’d rather you talk me into ignoring what’s going on upstairs.”

  "Tempting, but I think you’re right. We really do need to see what’s going on.”

  "Makes sense to go check it out.” His classic smirk appeared. “Besides, you probably need some time to recover.”

  I rolled my eyes. Rowan sure didn’t lack in the confidence department.

  Crowds of air court elementals filled the great room and continued into the outdoor courtyard. Rather than the yellow robes I was used to, most wore leather and metal body armor.
Iron swords hung from their hips. The swell of voices made it impossible to understand what anyone was actually saying.

  I faced Rowan. "What could this be?”

  He scanned the room. "If I had to guess, I would say war.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Nervous energy raced through my veins as I pushed through the masses searching for Jarrod. If Rowan was right, I was sure he planned to attack the fire court. I had to stop this. If they did have my father, I couldn’t take the chance that they would kill him if threatened.

  I reached the center of the group. Oh, this was beyond bad. Fae from the woodland court wore the same attire as the air elementals. King Orion had told me at the Ball that he would join us if necessary.

  Once I made my way outside, I found Jarrod with the woodland king. They stood next to a few men passing out swords and shields to a long line of elementals.

  Rowan’s hand curled around my bicep. "Think before you go charging over there. We still don't know anything for sure.”

  The weak and bloodied vision I had of Dad appeared again in my head. I jerked my arm out of his grip. "I can handle myself.”

  "I know you can,” he said, releasing his sword from its sheath. "I'm right behind you.”

  His words of confidence gave me a ping of ease as I approached Jarrod. "Jarrod, what the hell is all this?” I asked calmly. On the inside, I was in freak-out mode.

  Jarrod's eyes widened when he noticed me for the first time. "I'm relieved to see you, Princess. We searched for you and were concerned that you had been taken.” He glanced down at my white tank top covered in blood and dirt. "Have you been injured?”

  I still wasn’t sure I could trust him. He had defended me at the council meeting, but I couldn’t forget that he was the one who handed me the enchanted wine. "No, I'm fine. Rowan brought me back to the castle when the fighting broke out. You still haven't answered my question.”