I stayed there all afternoon, but no matter how hard I tried, my aura burned light orange without ever returning to the yellow it had been on the beach. The meditation wasn’t working. I decided it was time to try something else. Maybe Rowan was wrong. Maybe I didn’t need to be calm to ignite my wind power? What would it hurt to try? I focused on a mental image of my aura, envisioning myself as I pushed wind out of my palms. A jolt of heat raced down my arms as the power surged. My fingertips burned with energy, aching to be released. Flexing my fingers toward the skies, I let go of the force. The momentum of the discharge knocked me to the ground—every one of my joints throbbed as if bruises covered my body. I immediately regretted not listening to him.
Knights rushed over to help me up, but I held up my palm, and they stopped. I spent the next half hour gazing into the tangerine and purple colored skies. The day was passing into twilight. Fluffy clusters of clouds surrounded the castle. As the sunset in the skies, the mist protecting Avalon was visible. Sparkling golden shimmer surrounded the isle like a blanket. Dad had told me how magnificent it was from this altitude, but this was the first time I’d seen it for myself.
The mountain air grew colder. I rubbed the sides of my naked arms, wishing I had worn something more than a silky dress.
Ariel appeared out of nowhere, startling me. She was out of breath. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
My eyebrows furrowed. “What’s going on?”
“Didn’t Rowan tell you?”
I shook my head.
For the first time since I’d met her, she looked irritated. “He was supposed to send you to me so we can get you dressed for dinner.”
Dinner? “That’s news to me. Who will be there?”
Ariel’s face lit up. “The entire air court council, of course. They’ll be here in less than an hour. We need to move quickly.”
She headed back toward the stone entryway, and I followed. I still wasn’t fully recovered as I struggled to keep up with her. We sprinted across the grassy courtyard toward the castle entrance. Once inside, we marched up the stairways until we were back in my bedroom when she all but threw me into the bathroom. I wasn’t the only one who thought I needed refreshing. I turned the faucet on in the tub and prepared for a quick bath.
Once I’d finished, I walked out with a towel wrapped around my chest. Ariel had a dress laid across my bed. I strolled over to the mirror and held it against my body. This dress hadn’t come from my closet. It was a canary yellow like my other clothes, but heavier and likely uncomfortable. The tiered, skinny-strapped, floor-length gown had a black jeweled belt around the waist. It was something I would expect someone to wear while dining with the Queen of England.
“The dress goes on last,” Ariel said, getting my attention. “First, we have to do something with your hair.”
Twirling a few wet strands around my finger, I said, “I usually let it air dry. That’s about the only way to contain the curl.”
She made her way behind me, twisting my hair into a loose bun. “Which is why you’ll be wearing it up.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You say that like I have no choice.”
“You always have a choice, but this is part of my job.” She let the back of my hair hang down while maneuvering the top into another style. “You’ll end up loving what I do, I promise.”
“It still doesn’t sound like I have a choice,” I teased.
Ariel smiled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
I sat in a chair, watching her through a vanity mirror. She primped and curled my hair into all kinds of formal designs that I’d only seen in prom magazines. For a moment, I pretended I was back in my old life preparing for a school dance. Mom would have been part of every step, from picking out the dress to perfecting the hairstyle. A knot settled in my throat, and I swallowed hard.
It had only been one day, and I already missed her so much. I thought about contacting her a thousand times, but how could I tell her Dad was missing? “Is all this necessary?” I asked. “It’s just a dinner, right?”
“Yes,” she said, patting my shoulder. “It’s imperative that they see you like the princess you are.”
It only took a moment to remember their distaste when I spoke at the council meeting. They thought I was nothing more than what they saw: a halfling, covered in muck and blood. The dinner was important. I had to show those snobs I was one of them. I had to earn their trust so they would help me. But how?
When Ariel finished, the hair at the crown of my head had been pinned up with tiny white flowers sewn into the braids. Loose curls hung down my back. Without a doubt, this was the most stylish my hair had ever been.
As I reached for one of the strands, my chair spun around. “Not so fast,” Ariel said. “Let the artist work.”
Ruffling through a silver pouch, she pulled out brushes of every size and lined them on a small glass table. In no time at all, she had applied glittering make-up on my eyelids and cheeks. With the tip of a flat brush, she applied the gloss over my lips. She stood back and admired her work. The grin across her face gave me the impression she was pleased with her efforts.
“What do they typically discuss during these dinners?” I asked.
“I can’t say for sure. Only members of the royal family, the council, and high-ranking knights receive an invite.” Ariel bit her lip. “I would imagine your father’s disappearance would be a hot topic of conversation, along with the preparations for the ball.”
If she was right, this was a huge opportunity. I had to play this right. Ariel had certainly dressed me for the role. I had to show them who I was. If all went as planned, I might make some alliances of my own. My chest bloomed with hope.
Ariel turned my chair to face the mirror. I suddenly felt like I was on one of those make-over shows. Hardly recognizing myself, I stepped closer to my reflection. My brain couldn’t accept what I was seeing. I was about as polished as I could get.
The girl staring back at me was a princess. “I can’t believe it’s me.”
Ariel’s expression turned serious. “Not so fast, Cinderella. You’re not ready for the ball just yet.”
“What could be left?” I asked.
She placed a delicate gold crown on my head. Golden roses with twisting vines accented the rounded crystals that sparkled in the light. “Your princess training.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Princess training?”
“The crash-course version.” She pulled back on my shoulders to straighten my posture. “When you enter the dining hall, look straight ahead. Never lower your eyes. You must exude confidence.”
“Anything else?”
“Don’t pull your chair out. A staff member will do it for you. Once seated, thank everyone for joining you for the evening.” She glanced out the window, letting out a defeated breath. “Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time to go over food etiquette.” Her tone turned harsh, and I wondered if she was internally cursing Rowan for not telling me about the dinner. If he had told me, we would’ve had the entire afternoon to prepare. “When it’s time to eat, follow what everyone else is doing. No large bites. No talking with your mouth full.”
I was starting to feel like a child, and my irritation got the best of me. “This is lame. Are you going to tell me to keep my elbows off the table next?”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.” Her gaze lowered to the floor. “I’m trying my best.”
Guilt washed over me. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, truly.”
“Learning proper manners may not be as exciting as power training, but it’s just as important.”
“You’re right, please ignore my bitchy tantrum and continue.”
“That was hardly a tantrum,” she replied as she helped me into the dress, then stood behind me and buttoned up the back. “Honestly, I think you’re handling all this remarkably well. I would’ve run away by now, or at the very least, had a full-on breakdown.”
&nbs
p; We both broke into a laugh. I reached out and pulled Ariel into a hug. I’d waited my whole life for a friend like her. Someone who knew all about me. Someone who I didn’t have to pretend around. If it weren’t for her and Rowan, I definitely would’ve lost it by now.
“All right now, I don’t want you to smudge my masterpiece.” She fluffed out the bottom of my dress. “Now, get down there and make me proud.”
Chapter Twelve
Kalin
Two palace guards in yellow satin robes bowed as I made my way through the entryway.
I placed my hand over my stomach as I took in the beauty. Every wall featured intricate wood etchings, while large white pillars framed each corner. The starry night sky was visible through the vaulted glass ceiling. My attention shifted to the servants rushing in and out of the room with glasses of amber wine and plates of various appetizers. At the farthest corner of the room, a musician was playing the harp. The melody sounded like a sad, melancholy love song.
Then the music abruptly stopped. A group of knights created a path that led to a long table. As I strode through, I thought about everything Ariel had taught me. Most importantly, I needed to exude confidence. I had to behave as if I were already their queen. I stared forward with my face relaxed. I didn’t smile at anyone, only slightly nodding as they bowed. Members of the air council stood as I approached, which I took as a good sign.
One of the female servants helped to bundle my gown, and I plopped into the chair at the head of the table. They all stared at me for an uncomfortable minute until I realized they were all waiting for me. When I waved my hand, everyone seemed to sit in unison around the massive rectangular table. Each wore lavish yellow robes and dresses. A large plant with multi-colored flowers, bright berries, and fruits covered most of the table.
"Thank you for joining us, Princess,” Jarrod said. Every other member nodded, and I did the same in return. No one spoke. My hands shook in my lap. I cracked my knuckles—a nasty habit I'd picked up to hide my nerves. Sweat pearled on the nape of my neck as the temperature of the room rose. I had to do something to break the tension, but what? Normally, I would have told a joke or said something sarcastic. Would a queen do the same?
"We are very pleased to have you in Avalon finally. To Kalin, heir to the House of Paralda.” Jarrod raised his wine glass filled with the amber liquid. "Welcome home, Princess.”
The council members held out their glasses, but no one glanced in my direction. There were no smiles or anything else resembling a happy greeting. "Welcome home,” they said, their voices sounding monotone.
They behaved as if they were here against their will. I wished more than anything that Dad was by my side. His presence would’ve wiped those smug looks right off their miserable faces. I wanted to give them a proper one-finger salute, but the gesture wouldn’t win me any allies. Instead, I had to go along with this little charade. Tipping my wine glass forward, I said, "Thank you.”
Most of the council members drank the contents in one sip, but I hesitated. I watched the wine swirling inside the glass. Was this one of the drinks Rowan had warned me to avoid? He called it enchanted wine. If I drank mine as they did, would it feel like I had ten shots of vodka? Would they be offended if I sat the glass down without having any? Rather than risk offending anyone, I took one tiny sip.
A council member with waist-length hair turned to Jarrod. "Any word from the search party?”
Jarrod cleared his throat. "They have searched through every inch of our territory, and they haven’t found anything. Not a single clue.”
This outcome was what I’d feared. They were no closer to finding my father than they were the day I arrived. And instead of helping them, I was preparing for the Ball, where I was sure to embarrass myself. I tried to hide the irritation brewing in my chest. "What about the other courts?” I interjected. “What have they found?”
A few of the council members glared at me as if I’d said something offensive. It seemed even the sound of my voice annoyed them. This dinner was a bad idea. It was obvious I wasn’t going to get anywhere with them, and I was running low on patience.
"We must be cautious when requesting information from the other courts,” Jarrod replied, acting as if my question was somehow impolite.
"Why?” My voice was sharper than I had planned, but I was starting not to care.
A pixie-cut blond female with purple jewels in her hair turned to me with eyes narrowed. "This is a delicate situation we’re in, and we have a protocol we must follow. We cannot simply ask the courts for their results. It would be considered an insult. We must trust that they will tell us when they have new information.”
Her snotty tone was enough to earn her my bitch stare. "So, the plan is to wait on them for information? We have to come up with something better. Perhaps I could go to the high council meeting and speak to the leaders of the other courts directly? Maybe—”
"Princess Kalin,” Jarrod interrupted a softness to his tone. "We empathize with your sense of urgency, but you have to understand, we have our methods for getting these matters resolved.”
What I understood was that my father would not be recovered any time soon, and the system I was working within was only making the situation that much more difficult. I had to attend the next high council meeting, but how? Learning my power and preparing for the ball took up the entire day. I didn’t expect either to let up any time soon.
Rowan was my only option. Although he no longer considered himself a prince, he had a royal education. I’d bet he knew the Avalon landscape better than most. It was time I started my search. Maybe I could persuade him to help me. From the beginning, he said he wanted to help me find my father. If he were with me, this could be the opportunity I needed.
My throat was dry. I hadn’t had anything to eat since early this morning. One of the servants had left a cup filled with a clear liquid. It had to be water. When I lifted the glass, my hand shook. I wiggled my arm and realized my muscles had weakened. I must’ve been hungrier than I thought. I reached out, plucking a few of the berries from the massive centerpiece. I popped them into my mouth.
I swallowed, and a large piece of the bitter fruit lodged in my throat. I gagged, unable to breathe. In a panic, I grabbed the tablecloth. The tug on the fabric was enough to knock the wine glasses over, spilling on several council members. They collectively shrieked. I tried to stand. Jarrod raced around the table, positioning behind me to perform the Heimlich maneuver. After a few seconds, I spit the berry onto the table.
"They’re not edible, Princess.” Jarrod alerted. “Those berries were only meant for decoration.”
In between my heavy panting, I heard curses and laughter. I wished I could sink into the floor. This evening had been a total disaster in every way. I had to get out of here. Without another word, I headed for the door while Jarrod pursued me.
"You don’t have to leave,” Jarrod pleaded. “We can go back.”
"No,” I croaked.
"Then at least let me escort you to your room.”
Since he was still following me, I didn’t appear to have a choice. I kept a pretty fast pace as I headed to my bedroom. Behind me, I heard something that sounded like a chuckle. I stopped. When I turned, I saw it was Jarrod laughing. My chest filled with anger. I pointed behind him. "You think all that back there was funny?”
Jarrod pressed his fist on his mouth, clearing his throat. "My apologies, Princess. I wasn’t laughing at you. It just occurred to me that your mother had a very similar experience the first time she had dinner with the council.”
A ping of surprise jolted through me. It was hard to imagine Mom in Avalon, and at the very least, meeting with the council. But since Dad couldn’t spend time in the mortal world without aging rapidly, it made sense that he must have brought her here. Unfortunately, Mom never spoke of her time in Avalon—she refused to say much of anything about Dad.
As Dad’s second in command, Jarrod must have known Mom well. He likely knew more about t
heir relationship than I did. "What were they like when they were here together?” His eyebrows furrowed. "My parents, I mean. Before I was born.”
"I would say they were happy. King Taron doted on her incessantly, and she appeared to appreciate all of his attention.”
We resumed our stroll toward my room. "What went wrong?”
"I don’t believe that’s a question I’m qualified to answer.”
"I’m just asking your opinion, that’s all.”
He lowered his head. "Princess―”
"You know, I could command you to answer.”
His face turned stern. "That’s not fair.”
"It never is.” I smiled cheekily. "Now, what’s the answer?”
"It took a turn for the worse after you were born.” He sighed. “Your mother wasn’t aware that King Taron couldn’t leave Avalon. When he told her that mortals would raise you, she refused to leave you. Taron insisted she stay with him. In the end, they made their arrangement, but that’s all I know.”
The arrangement was that I would spend my first sixteen years living as a mortal, then return to Avalon to rule. But that didn’t explain why Mom wouldn’t come with me. She never dated anyone after Dad, which made me believe she still loved him. There was more to their story. I hoped Dad would fill in the blanks when he returned.
It must have been so difficult for her. My grandparents died when she was a teenager, and she had no siblings. She was completely alone. Once I reached my door, I turned and gave Jarrod an awkward smile. "Well … thanks for, you know.” I shrugged.
Jarrod placed his hand on my shoulder. "The next council dinner will fare better. I’m sure of it.”
I nodded, shutting the door behind me. It really couldn’t get much worse.
As soon as he was gone, my thoughts returned to my night from hell. I growled in frustration. Acid burned in my stomach while wetness lined my bottom eyelids. Those elitists didn’t deserve my tears. They should’ve been working with me, but instead, it was all a hot mess. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I roughly wiped my palms over my eyes. Makeup smeared across my cheeks. I glanced down at my dress, which represented everything I hated about them and their whole stupid society.
Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set Page 14
