I raised my eyebrows, curious. “If it’s that bad, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
He lowered his voice. “I wanted to wait until we were alone.”
An overwhelming sense of worry came over me. “Okay, tell me now.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s about Kalin.”
My entire body tensed when he said her name. I tried not to get angry, but he knew me well enough to know that anything involving her was top priority. He shouldn’t have waited to tell me. “What happened?”
“I want you to promise to hear me out before you react.”
“Tell me.” I said, teeth clenched.
He let out a long breath. “Kalin is set to marry an air elemental named Sebastian in six months, but Ariel said it was all part of Kalin’s plan.”
Setting a wedding date was never part of Kalin’s plan. This was exactly what I had warned her about. This asshat had no intention of helping her. He wanted the throne. Fire ignited from my fingers to my shoulders, burning away half of my shirt. “I’m going to kill him.”
Marcus waved his hands in front of him. “Easy now. You need to hear the rest of it.”
“I know all about him. Kalin told me they were betrothed, but she said it would go no further than that.” Every inch of my body felt as if I were on fire. Like my blood was boiling in my veins. “I knew I was right about him.”
“Don’t be so sure. Kalin may have no other choice. She’s under a lot pressure from the council.”
“Yeah, she told me all about her issues with the council.” Since her arrival, they had done very little to support her. “But I still don’t believe Sebastian is helping her out of the kindness of his heart. The guy has an agenda. I’m sure of it.”
Marcus shrugged. “You could be right, but Ariel confirmed that Sebastian is helping her. When they’re together, Kalin is trying to read the akasha journals.”
“What do you mean, when they’re together? Where are they going? What are they doing?” I didn’t trust Sebastian as far as I could throw him. But I’d still like to throw him. I would also like to punch him, burn him, and slice open his throat.
“Nothing has changed, Rowan. I followed them around for a while after I left Ariel. Kalin is keeping up appearances. That’s all. There’s nothing between them.”
“I think I may need to see for myself.” I said, rubbing my hand over my knuckles.
A knock at the door startled us both. Marcus moved first, opening the door. One of his hounds stepped inside, bowing in front of him. It was strange to see him in this new position among his pack. “What’s wrong, Ethan?” Marcus asked.
Ethan glanced at Marcus, then to me. “There’s an army of elementals outside of the volcano.”
“Valac.” I said, with venom in my tone.
Chapter Sixteen
Kalin
The sun had begun to set, painting the skies with a golden yellow tint. Each cloud was highlighted with a different shade of purple. Flocks of birds flew overhead, singing their sweet songs. I admired their tranquility. With the temperatures dropping, I threw on a black hoodie over my t-shirt, then returned to my meditation. I had spent the last several hours in this same spot on the side of the mountain. The place where Dad once went for peace. I tried to reconnect with my power.
Unfortunately, nothing was working.
Bash stayed close, completely silent while I focused. Things had gotten about as bad as they could get. Instead of gaining the akasha powers, I had lost my own. When I closed my eyes, my mental pictures were shaky. It was as if I was watching myself on a scrambled television station—nothing but static and broken images. The more I concentrated on my mental projection, the worse it got.
An overwhelming sense of anxiety flowed through me.
When I worked with Rowan, my aura was affected by my fear. The panic I couldn’t release made it impossible to relax. I worked tirelessly to get to a calming state. It took an incredible amount of time just to learn to concentrate. My body was nearly at rest before my aura changed from deep orange to bright yellow. Once I reached the color, I had a perfect handle on my power. Now, I couldn’t see my aura at all. It wasn’t dark or light.
It was nothing.
After the mental images faded away, all I saw was an eerie blackness. I was totally disconnected from a part of myself. I didn’t know where to go or how to fix whatever had happened. All I could think about was how many elementals I would let down. And Dad still was not getting better. As an akasha, I may be able to regenerate his power. At the very least, I could restore the air court. I could bring balance to all four of the courts and stop the out of control natural disasters in the mortal world.
Without any power, I was helpless.
I pulled my knees to my chest, resting my head inside my crossed arms. “I don’t know what to do.”
Bash put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. “Why don’t you talk to your father? Maybe he can help.”
Dad couldn’t help himself or his court. Why burden him with my problems when he already had so much on his plate? “No. It’s my body, my power. I should be able to figure this out on my own.”
Two of my father’s knights appeared next to us. Both bowed in unison. “Princess Kalin, the king requests your presence.” The knight’s eyes turned to Bash. “The king has also requested to see Sebastian.”
“Why would he want to see me?” Bash asked, looking at me.
I bit my bottom lip. “I really have no idea.”
As I stepped inside the throne room, my mouth fell open. Mom was straddled on top of Dad. They were all over each other. It was like watching two teenagers kissing and touching as if no one else was in the castle. Knights stood in each corner of the room—looking every which way except in their direction. It was unreal to see them like this, especially Mom who never dated anyone ever. I covered my eyes with my hands, and said, “Okay, your impressionable teenager has just entered the room.”
Bash leaned to the side, whispering in my ear. “Oh come on, you have to admit that’s pretty hot. I guess it’s safe to say the feelings they had for each other are alive and well.”
“They can be alive and well all they want, but I’d prefer they do it when I’m not around.” I lowered my hands in enough time to see Mom adjusting her bra. Did she let Dad make it to second base? I shook my head, needing to expel these thoughts and images from my memory. “Did you send for us, Dad?”
“Yes,” he said, wiping lipstick off the corner of his mouth.
Mom had certainly adjusted quickly to life in Avalon. Her red hair was styled in a high bun like a Greek goddess. As she slipped into the chair next to him, I noticed that she wore the same garments as the other air elementals. She looked fantastic in a yellow tank top with long, flowing matching skirt. “I’m so sorry, Kalin. We got a little carried away.”
I wasn’t really bothered by what I saw. It was nice to see them both happy. I had always wondered if my parents would ever get back together. None of the scenarios I had in my mind involved Dad groping Mom in front of me, but whatever, they were enjoying each other. “It’s no big deal, Mom.”
Bash headed toward Mom. He reached for her hand and kissed it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tricia.”
Mom put her other hand on top of his. “The pleasure is all mine. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you’re doing.”
Bash bowed. “I am a servant of the royal family. I would do anything you asked of me.”
Dad reached for Mom’s hand, and then said, “We are very fortunate to have you in our court, Sebastian. If there is ever anything you need, I will be happy to oblige.”
With his head still bowed, he said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Bash certainly didn’t lack in the charm department. It only took minutes to have my parents enamored by him. Too bad he wasn’t around when I was trying to win over the council. I probably could’ve benefited from his skills. No matter what the situation, he just seemed t
o know exactly how to handle it. He was born for a career in politics.
I glanced at my parents. They stared at each other, not paying the least bit of attention to anything else around them. I cleared my throat. “Dad? Weren’t you about to tell us why you sent for us?”
Dad jolted, surprised to hear my voice. He really had forgotten we were here. “Oh right, of course. Orion is coming for a visit. He will arrive within the hour and I would like for both of you to be here.”
It would have been an insult not to offer a formal greeting to a visiting king. Bash—acting as my fiancé—would also be expected. Dad must not have told Orion our wedding plans were a ruse. It made more sense to keep up appearances. “Will there be a formal dinner as well?”
“Yes, there will be an intimate gathering.” Dad responded, eyes still on Mom. “Orion is coming for a social visit.”
Intimate gathering meant the council would not be included. Dad had not spoken with any of them since he had returned to Avalon and started his recovery. I was sure he had no interest in discussing his health during Orion’s visit. “I will go and prepare for dinner.” I said.
Bash chimed right in without missing a beat. “I need to get changed as well. I’m certainly not prepared to meet a visiting king in these clothes,” he said, pointing to his casual air court attire.
My parents both shook their heads, chuckling in agreement. They just ate up Bash’s every word. The guy just oozed with charm.
Once I got back to my room, I found Ariel waiting for me. Six possible gowns lined my bed. Each a different shade of yellow. I quickly decided on the floor-length gown with the beaded halter neckline. “This one is perfect.”
“It will look great on you. Now, let’s do something about that hair.” Ariel twisted my curls into a high bun, sporadically gluing little crystals into my hair.
“Is the bling really necessary? It’s just dinner.”
“Bling is best. Trust me on this.” Ariel replied, winking.
“Have you heard from Marcus?” I asked, biting my lip.
“Not since he left.” She answered, while applying my make-up. She went with a natural look, finishing me off with a clear lip gloss.
Marcus would tell Rowan that the wedding date was part of my plan, but would he believe him? Rowan wasn’t big in the trust department. He had been betrayed by so many elementals in his life. Who could really blame him for being guarded? Still, I hoped he would accept the news since it was coming out of the mouth of his best friend. There was really nothing I could do at this point. I would have to wait and see if Rowan contacted me…or showed up here to slice Bash’s head off. Just the thought made me shudder.
Ariel managed to get me ready in less than thirty minutes. That had to be a new record for her. The girl was a cosmetology Jedi. I examined her work in the full-length mirror. “I love everything you did. You totally rocked my do.”
She smiled, proudly. “I did, didn’t I?”
I made my way over to the window as cheers erupted outside. Lanterns lit the way as a small group of elementals headed toward the castle. I was too high up to know for sure, but I had a feeling Orion would be here in minutes. “I have to go. Our dinner guests have arrived.”
Ariel patted my backside, pushing me toward the door. “You’d better get your cute butt downstairs then.”
“On my way, boss.” I said, saluting her.
I rushed down several sets of stairs. By the time I reached my father, Orion was in sight. Panting, I moved into position between Mom and Bash. “I’m here.”
Bash leaned to the side, his nose tickling my ear. “You look stunning,” he whispered. “Are you sure you don’t want to marry me?”
A little giggle came out, even surprising me. “Thank you.” I managed to say.
Orion approached with his queen, Marlena, at his side. Surrounding them was at least a dozen knights in full body armor. The woodland fae were known as the most lavish of all the courts. The king and queen were no exception. Both dripped in gold jewelry featuring large gems in a riot of colors. Marlena wore a full-length forest green gown. The dress hugged every one of her curves. Her long golden blonde hair hung low in loose waves. She was just stunning. Orion had on a long green jacket that came almost to his knees, a white shirt, and black pants. His long blonde hair was tied back in a low ponytail.
My parents were much more toned down. Air court elementals rarely wore any kind of jewelry. They did dress it up a little for special occasions like this dinner. Dad looked the best I’ve seen him in weeks. He had on a black tuxedo with a yellow tie and cummerbund. Mom wore a canary-yellow strapless floor-length gown. The style was very simple—no frills like special beading or elaborate designs. I could tell she was going out of her way to fit in with the other air elementals. It was pretty cute.
As I expected, Bash was gorgeous. I could tell his black tuxedo had been fitted because it was perfection. He was dangerously handsome, looking all kinds of James Bond with his hair slicked back. I couldn’t make out his cologne. It was a scent I had never smelled before. A combination of honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. The fragrance made my stomach growl. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten something, but my belly was telling me it had been a while. Dinner couldn’t be served fast enough.
Dad welcomed Marlena first, kissing her hand. Then, he greeted Orion. The two elementals embraced in a hug. They had been friends for centuries. It was no wonder why Orion rushed into a war against the fire court. He thought he was helping a friend. He made some mistakes for sure, but Orion couldn’t be held accountable for everything that happened. Jarrod was a trusted member of our court. He had been just as close to Dad. I could only imagine the lies he told Orion to get him into battle against Liana. I wished every single day that I could have rescued Dad sooner. All this mess might have been avoided.
“You’re looking better, my friend.” Orion said, patting Dad on the chest.
“I feel stronger every day.” Dad replied.
I tried to hold back my cringe. Dad wasn’t stronger. The iron in his blood kept him from recovering. Using any power at all made him weak. Worst of all, I wasn’t the only one noticing. The council was right on this point. As long as Dad was in power, we were vulnerable. I had to find a way to either heal him or ascend to the throne. But if I had to ascend, I would likely have to do it with Bash at my side. “We’re hoping for a speedy recovery.” I chimed in.
“Yes, we certainly are.” Mom added, rubbing the side of Dad’s arm.
Orion pointed his open palm toward the ground. Within moments, a pink rosebush grew up from the dirt. He picked a single flower, handing it to my mother. “I was so pleased to hear you had returned, Tricia. I couldn’t be happier for you both.”
“That was awesome.” I said, touching the leaves of the bush. “What else can you do?”
Orion laughed. “What would you like to see?”
I tapped my finger against my lips, trying to decide which flower was my favorite. “How about a black orchid?”
No sooner than the words came out, a black orchid branch rose from the ground. Orion handed the beautiful flower to me. “To answer your question, anything is possible.”
“That’s quite impressive, Your Majesty.” Bash said to Orion.
“You must be Sebastian.” Orion shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” Bash said, bowing.
“Come on. Let’s get you inside, old friend.” Dad said, putting his arm around Orion. “I’m starving.”
Dad wasn’t kidding when he said intimate gathering. Compared to the other rooms in the castle, this one was baby-sized. A glass rectangular table was set up in the middle of the square room with a bouquet of flowers in the center. The scent of fuchsia wafted through my nostrils. A crystal chandelier hung above the table, illuminating the room with candlelight. My heels clicked against the marble flooring as I was seated across from Bash. Orion was seated next to me with his wife across from him. My p
arents sat at each end of the table.
“I was so pleased to hear that you’ve set a date.” Orion said, smiling. “At a time like this, all good news is appreciated and welcomed.”
My stomach recoiled, knowing the lies I was about to tell. “Thank you, Your Majesty. It was a surprise, but I am very happy.”
“I expect you will have a grand engagement party.” He added.
“Well, we…I mean I—” I glanced at Bash, unsure of what to say next.
“We hadn’t planned for an engagement party.” Bash answered. “Most air elementals aren’t fond of grand gestures.”
Orion shook his head at me. “Nonsense. You are an elemental princess. It would go against tradition to not bring the courts together for such a wonderful celebration.”
“A celebration such as this could unite the four courts once again.” Marlena said, speaking directly to Dad. “Perhaps reunite the high council.”
Setting a wedding date was one thing, but bringing the courts together under false pretense was something else entirely. It may be seen as an insult. Trickery. But how could we get out of it now that Orion and Marlena viewed it as a means for peace between the courts? My mind raced as I tried to come up with some reasonable excuse. Any excuse that made even a shred of sense. “Don’t you think a private meeting with members of the high council is best? A large party seems like a disturbance.”
Mom and Dad looked at one another, seemingly unsure of what to say.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea.” Bash said, the shock from his words nearly knocked me off my chair. “With the elements out of balance, we should do anything and everything we can to reconcile the courts. An engagement party might be just what we need.”
Orion smacked his palm onto the table. “It’s settled then. I am going to throw an engagement party unlike anything you’ve ever seen. No expense will be spared.”
“Marvelous,” Marlena added. “We will start the preparations as soon as we return to our court.” She glanced my way. “You need not worry about a thing. All you have to do is find a fabulous dress. Leave the rest to me.”
Fragile Reign (Mortal Enchantment Book 2) Page 12
