Bethany had come to me. It was the first time I’d seen her where she hadn’t run in the other direction. Cole had already told me they were leaving and as I watched her walk toward me, I could see her debate between a fake smile and the truth. It actually made me feel better when she let the sadness in her eyes remain. It told me what we’d had was real. Before she could speak, I did.
“I don’t blame you for leaving, Bethany,” I said, relishing in her surprised expression. “This isn’t your world and it isn’t your fight. But know I would have fought for you. I would have made a place for you. I would have loved you had you stayed.”
Without thinking, I reached a hand toward her, but Bethany sidestepped it, and with a small shake of her head, reminded me she was no longer mine to touch.
“I know this probably felt like it came out of nowhere for you, but I hope you understand I never saw it coming either. Things changed when I left Derreck’s and I realized, just like all of you, I have choices of my own,” she spoke quickly, but firmly. “I’m not the girl you met at Brighton Community College, and I understand what we could have been doesn’t matter anymore. You made choices and now, so have I.”
I swallowed down words that no longer mattered and nodded. When I didn’t speak, Bethany turned to walk away, but then stopped. She looked at me from over one shoulder, a small smile playing at her lips. “You chose them and you will be the best King these people have ever had, Prince Mikail. There are a lot of things I don’t understand about what’s happened here, but I know that.” I could only stare after her as she walked away.
“Mikail,” Aunt Ryannon whispered, cutting off a memory I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to keep, “it is time.”
I turned to her, grasped her hand, and brought it to my lips. “Thank you. Thank you for making me a part of this and being here today,” I said. Her dark eyes filled with tears.
“Don’t cry, Aunt,” I said, feeling guilty.
She shook her head. “Mikail, these are tears of pride. I am proud of you. You are a good man and you will make a great King.” Her words caused a lump in my throat. It was the first time I’d heard someone say they were proud of me.
Amelia stepped up, her hands in the air as she quieted the crowd. She was truly a vision in a deep purple dress fit for an Elder. She allowed her power to flow freely and her eyes had the white starburst in the center. Aidan stood just behind her, in a tailored black suit similar to mine.
“Hello, everyone,” she said. Her voice caught as her nerves showed through. Amelia truly hated being this visible. I held back a chuckle.
“We are going to get right to the heart of things. We’ve spoken to most of you in person and explained our goals. We want all of our people to be free. Free to live, free to marry, free to do as they want. We hope to reestablish the original castle and lands to their former glory, and to understand more about our history and purpose on this planet. We are obviously different from humans, and we have an obligation to use our gifts for good.”
Various groups in the audience started clapping, especially those who already regained their memories and fully understood our path. None of us could stop from looking at each other, grins breaking out all over the stage.
Amelia held up a hand again and they quieted.
“Many of you believed this day would come. You knew of the prophecy and you believed in it — in me. I’m not going anywhere. I will be a part of the rebuilding of our people and our culture, but I am no Queen,” she said.
The room broke out in hushed murmurs, and my heart rate increased.
“When we began,” Amelia continued, acting oblivious, “there was a purpose to the royal family and the Elders being separate. That purpose was to keep those who were tied to the lifeblood of our people separate from those who needed to make decisions about politics and how we sustained our day-to-day lives. I believe that the balance is still needed. I am your heart, but Prince Mikail is your mind. He is rational, he is trained in how to run a kingdom and rule a people. He sees your needs where I see your wants. We are two halves of a whole, and because of that, I rescind my prophesied right to the crown and put it in the rightful hands of Prince Mikail.”
Aunt Ryannon stepped between Amelia and me, holding a pillow with a thin, silver crown sitting upon it. As Amelia took the crown, I crouched so she could put it on my head. A voice rang out from the back of the room.
“At last, decisions are made for the right reasons. It took children to bring peace, and it will take children to bring life.” The old woman with long silver hair and a one-shouldered gown of deep green stood just inside the door. A white light glowed around her and two tall men stood on either side of her. Both with bright white hair, one with dark eyes, and the other light.
“Gaea,” Aidan said quietly as Amelia moved to his side.
The crowd parted and she walked through, the two men just a step behind her. She looked up at the stage and then floated to land in front of me.
“Prince Mikail, I am Gaea. They often call me Mother Earth.” She winked at Amelia and Aidan, who held conspiratorial smirks.
“Welcome to Cresthaven, Gaea,” I said, trying to keep the shake from my voice.
She smiled. “I have been here before, many times, but thank you, Mikail.”
Aunt Ryannon still held the crown and with a nod from Gaea, she used her shaking hands to put it on my head.
Gaea turned to face the crowd. Making a few hand motions, she brought her two fists together and then burst them apart, her arms flying wide as her head dropped back. It looked and sounded like lightning struck the center of the room as a bright flash blinded us all momentarily and the ground shook. She turned to me and winked again. “This will make it easier,” she whispered.
“Now,” she said loudly, quieting the crowd with a clap of her hands. “Over the next few minutes, your minds will clear. You will have access to memories you never knew you lost. You are likely older than you thought. You may have done things you don’t remember. But, it is time to know who you are and who you can be. I put you on this earth to protect it. You are the guardians of everything I hold dear. I made this sanctuary as a haven for animals and humans alike.
“Mages, you are here to influence and shape the humans. To guide them to the right choices. You could say you are their guardian angels, because you are meant to act without your interference being known. AniMages, you are to do the same for the animals. You work with the Mages to ensure the humans do not overtake this world and destroy the beauty I’ve created. Hunters, your place has always been the protector of the rest. You keep the peace, you interfere when our presence is known, and you keep those who would harm the Immortals under control.
“No one of you is more or less important than the others,” she continued. “That is the truth you forgot once. You are all necessary if you are to succeed. But, you are individuals and require guidance. The choices made today were the right ones.
“Mikail is your rightful King,” Gaea said. “He leads the Mages and oversees you on all. His job is to keep you on track and to deal with the day-to-day necessities. He will also appoint the next Hunter leader.”
“Amelia is your Elder, the keeper of my power and will.” Gaea paused to give Amelia a fond smile. “Eventually, she will be joined by others, but for now, she is as close to me as you will get. Aidan will take his place as the head of AniMages. He will rebuild a race that needs attention after the devastation wrought upon it.”
Aidan stood tall and was rewarded with a smile from Gaea before she turned back to the silent audience.
“These three have done what I failed to do when I created you. They are tied together and their futures depend on each other. Their choices, their lives — and for two — their hearts. Hear me when I tell you you will not get another chance. I created you and I will destroy you. I am a Goddess and that is within my rights.”
As the crowd stared, clearly processing her words and their own memories, Gaea focused on Amelia. “I
gave you the power you needed to bring us to this place and you made every right decision, Amelia. But, for you to truly be an Elder, and to walk among your people as one of them, you cannot keep my gift,” she said. A look of panic crossed Amelia’s face.
“Don’t fear, child,” Gaea reassured her. “As an Elder, you will always be connected to me. The strings that tie you to my heart will never be undone. I will take the Goddess power from you now and leave you the strongest Elder my children have ever known. You are formidable, but you are still one of them. Do you understand?”
Amelia’s features relaxed and she nodded. Gaea reached out, laying a hand on Amelia’s cheek. With a graze of her thumb, Amelia’s power flared and sent a bright white streak into the air. Gaea waved a hand absently and it disintegrated.
“There, it is done,” she said.
“And you, Aidan,” she continued. “You are the rightful King of AniMages. Your father was a great man and your mother a strong-willed, yet gentle woman. You will honor their memory and you will bring your people together. Trust your wolf and your mate. They will not steer you wrong.”
Aidan tipped his head to her in thanks.
“Mikail, never forget where you came from,” she said, coming back to me. “But know you are phoenix rising from the ashes of your parents. They are gone and have left you to flourish on your own. Burn bright and call our people home.” I was speechless, unable to even acknowledge the words that had struck my soul.
“Your power is my gift, but your obligations have been your choice,” Gaea said to all of us, her voice carrying across the room. “You will be tempted by so many things. Others will come for what is yours. It is bound to happen. But you are strong. Focus on the children and use what I have given you. When the time comes, go back to our homelands and start anew. It is where you began and where you belong.”
We nodded, solemn in our commitment.
Gaea let her eyes linger on each one of us for a second longer, and then she was gone — no flash of light and without a sound.
As we looked out over our people, we knew our story was only beginning.
We hadn’t started this. We hadn’t been the ones to make the choices that led to where we were. But we had the ability to change every day going forward.
We were bound by nothing but the promises we made to Gaea, and ourselves.
A note from the author
Amelia and Aidan’s story arc is complete and I hope you feel fulfilled with the ending of this segment of the series. But, as you’ve likely noticed, I left doors open and questions unanswered at the end of Bound by Prophecy.
When I wrote Bound by Duty, I intended for this to be a trilogy. It was never supposed to go past three books. But, as is typical with the Muse, she knew what I didn’t (along with quite a few of my friends). This world needs to continue. These characters must carry on. And so, the Bound Series will not end with Bound by Prophecy.
I can’t tell you how many books there will be. All I know is this story isn’t finished, and I’m looking forward to continue exploring this world. Buckle up, this will be fun!
Don’t miss book 3.5 in the Bound series!
Bound Together continues the Bound series in a short holiday novella. Find it on your preferred retailer, or here.
Read on…
Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from Stormy’s next project, a contemporary clean new adult story.
Who She Was
Part One
Trevor
August
“What exactly is the point of us being here, Sam?” I asked my new roommate.
Sam shoved his shaggy red hair out of his face and looked hesitantly around the crowded back yard of Sigma Alpha house.
There had to be a hundred students between the house and the yard. Flasks were passed and innocent grimaces, immediately followed by hacking coughs, followed.
A parade of sorority pledges were being auctioned off one by one, with shouts of “Twenty five bucks” and “Fifty bucks” interrupting the chatter of commentary on everything from their hair to the their heels.
“I’m pledging. I’m doing this,” he replied, narrowing his eyes and standing taller.
“You convincing me or yourself?” I muttered. We’d only been on campus for a week and with the cliques already forming around us, college was starting out just like high school ended. Great.
Sam and I stood awkwardly in the center of the yard as he looked between the punch I assumed was spiked and the stage, deciding which way to go.
His nervous look reappeared and I threw him a bone. “Come on, man. Let’s check out this dating auction. I won’t explain how archaic and ridiculous it is since they are at least shaming the freshman under the guise of donating to charity.”
Sam’s relief was evident as he led us toward the stage. Though, stage was probably too nice of a word. It looked like someone who failed shop class nailed a bunch of pallets together. Still, the freshman sorority pledges did their best to strut their way from one end to the other and pray some frat boy would save them from their own humiliation. If I were them, I’d hand over the fifty bucks and call it a wash.
We stood toward the back of the crowd and my eyes wandered the area. I was a music major, a loner, and though they didn’t know it, the last person a frat wanted in their mix. I would ask questions they didn’t want to answer. I had a tendency to challenge the rules, whatever they were.
The crowd erupted in claps and cheers just as Sam exclaimed, “Wow. Look at her. I mean, just, wow!”
I did look at her and my breath froze in my lungs. Like ice forming on a rainy windshield, it quickly locked the air in my chest. I couldn’t move. My heart thundered behind my ribs and I heard the echo between my ears.
It was the look on her face that broke the spell. The smile she’d plastered on to cover the panic. The way her eyes moved over every head in the room with focus. How her shallow breaths expanded and deflated her chest rapidly. She was terrified. She didn’t want to be here, and she was my best friend — at least, she used to be.
“One hundred and fifty dollars.” My voice cut through the noise of the crowd and heads turned to see where the sound originated.
But I wasn’t looking at them. I was looking at her.
Charlie’s tight smile and perfect posture relaxed by a small degree, her nerves obvious to me and likely no one else. The small stage she stood on wobbled beneath her sky-high heels as she peered into the darkness where I stood.
She couldn’t see me. I smiled to myself as the emcee announced my next two months of spending money won the bid. I hoped the Animal Rescue League would buy decent dog food with it all.
As soon as Charlie released the hand of the half-drunk frat boy who helped her down from the stage, she made her way in my direction.
She was ten feet away when I came out from the shadows.
I knew every inch of her face and knew the moment she recognized me. I saw the slight widening of her eyes and the flare of her nostrils as she tried to breathe. She forced herself forward until she finally stood a short foot from me.
“Hey, Charlie. How goes it? It’s been awhile.” Rocking back on my heels as I pushed my glasses up on my nose, I gave her a relaxed smile — one I certainly didn’t feel.
“Charlotte. My name is Charlotte. And what are you doing here, Trevor?” Her voice was cold, but I caught the shake in it, and she looked everywhere but at me.
As soon as she realized her scowl was on display for everyone watching — and they were watching — Charlie forced a smile. Stretched lips over too-white teeth that didn’t belong to the girl I knew.
“Charlotte,” I said, drawing out the last syllable. It felt wrong coming out of my mouth. “You hate being called Charlotte. And why did you raid Katie’s closet? Is this a joke?” I waved my hand around at the sorority rush dating auction I just saved her from.
The fake smile fell from her face and she paled.
“Th-these are mine,” she sputtered, smoothing her h
ands over her bright green, skin-tight skirt. “I’m not the person you used to know, Trevor.”
I waited for more. There had to be more of an explanation than that.
“I…it…this is pointless.” She turned to walk away and I grabbed her elbow.
“No, stop. I want to know whoever you are now…Charlotte. It’s been too long.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “I miss you.”
She froze, her exhale rounding her shoulders.
“Fine. Fine, Trevor,” she conceded, not even turning back to look at me. “One dinner. You bought it, so I’ll give it to you. But that’s it.”
“I’ll take it,” I responded quietly, and then I let her walk away from me — this time.
*
I turned to find Sam giving me a surprised look. Then his eyes trailed over my shoulder.
“Dude, I like you,” I warned, “don’t make me punch you.” I refused to turn around, but if Sam didn’t pull his eyes from the skirt hugging every inch of Charlie from the waist down, we would most certainly have issues.
I ground my teeth together and shoved my glasses up again. I had been protecting Charlie my whole life, but back then, she had been a tiny girl with a big attitude. Charlotte was something else entirely.
Charlotte was still small, but she had curves that hadn’t existed when we were fourteen. Charlie’s chin-length black hair and rock-band T-shirts were gone. Instead, Charlotte wore her hair long and light brown, which I knew was her natural color. Her green skirt matched her green heels. Her black button down was tucked in and unbuttoned just far enough to make a guy wonder without showing anything she shouldn’t.
She was putting on a good show, but I wasn’t buying it.
“Care to explain?” Sam asked, his eyes flicking back and forth over my shoulder.
The best I could do was grunt as I walked around him through the Sigma Alpha house. I needed away from the noise and all the people.
“I’m paying my tab and then I’m out of here,” I threw over my shoulder. I felt Sam fall in line behind me.
Bound by Prophecy (Bound Series Book 3) Page 26
