“Be cautious with your words, Rowan,” Marcus warned. “It’s easy to set them off.”
I was well aware of the dangers. “I know what I’m doing.”
“That’s what concerns me.”
Darius stepped out of the building, pausing when he noticed us. Even in his mortal form, he stood above his pack. He wore a pair of jeans and a sleeveless white shirt that showed off his massive biceps. But his muscles didn’t come from working out a gym. His strength had grown through centuries of fighting and killing his prey. I glanced over at Marcus. His back was straight with his hands clenched at his sides. There was no doubt that he wasn’t expecting this meeting to go well.
My instincts told me the same, but I couldn’t back down or show fear. The hounds had to see me as their king. They needed to see a show of strength. Otherwise, they would never side with me. Rather than wait for Darius to make a move, I headed straight for him. I didn’t stop until I stood in front of him. I sensed Marcus wasn’t far behind. “I understand you were eager to meet with me, Darius.”
“I was curious. Given your past, I had my doubts you would even show up.” Darius glanced at his hounds, snickering.
He had been present during my mutilation. I wasn’t sure, but I thought I heard his voice afterward. If I was right, Darius was the one who suggested throwing me in the dungeon where I would have most certainly died. “Many things have changed since the last time we saw each other,” I said, speaking with a firm, level tone.
He crossed his massive arms across his chest. “Indeed, they have. You are the one who killed Prisma. For that, I am grateful.”
My stomach tightened. I wasn’t proud of the fact that I had taken Prisma’s life. She wasn’t winning any awards for best mom, but she was still the only parent I had ever known. “You deserved your freedom long before you received it. I always said if I became king, that would be my first command.”
“You had a chance to free us, little prince.” Darius cocked his head to the side. Little prince? He was trying to use his words to lure me into a fight. “After Prisma’s death, you should have been crowned. Instead, you abandoned your court, choosing to stay in the mortal world to guard the air court princess. The same court who later attacked us, killing some of my pack.”
Had I not protected Kalin, she would’ve died in the forest before she ever reached Avalon. The war would have started much earlier, and Taron would not have stopped until every fire court elemental paid for her death with their life. “I never abandoned our court. I saved many lives by protecting Kalin. That was more than I could have done sitting on a throne.”
I heard a low, growling rumble come from Darius. I doubt many argued with him. With Liana and Prisma dead, he answered to no one. The other hounds gathered closer, boxing us in. They huffed as they prepared to shape-shift. Their natural body heat thickened the air around us. With each passing moment, the tension escalated. If the hounds decided to attack as a group, I’d be dead within seconds along with Marcus. But I refused to back down.
Darius bent down, settling only inches from my face. “Why did you ask for this meeting, little prince?”
Anger bubbled in my chest. I needed to stay composed, but I had reached my limit. I drew my sword from the glamoured sheath. The closest hounds let out a pained scream. A few backed away when their skin caught fire. Iron burned the hounds the same as any other elemental. I leaped back, landing in a crouching position. Pointing my sword in Darius’s direction, I said, “You may address me as Prince Rowan or King Rowan, but that will be the last time you address me as the little prince. Do you understand?”
Darius began to shift into his hound form. “You made a fatal mistake coming here.”
Marcus appeared in front of me, blocking my view. Speaking to his father, he said, “Please listen to what Rowan has to say. He came to ask for your allegiance. If we return with him, he has promised to give us our freedom. And once he ascends, you will have a seat on his council.”
Darius ignored his plea. The bones in his back shifted while the muscles in his arms and legs seemed to multiply.
“Father, please.” Marcus folded his hands. “I have never asked you for anything, but I am begging you to stop this. Please accept his offer.”
Darius stopped the shift, returning to his human form. I wasn’t aware a hound could do that once the transformation had started. “Very well, Marcus. But first, Rowan must agree to a test. Prove he is strong enough to lead our court.”
I nudged Marcus out of the way. “Name your terms.”
“I challenge you to a one-on-one fight.” Darius smiled wickedly. “If you can beat me, you will have the support of my pack.”
The hounds cheered.
Before I could tell him to bring it, Marcus said, “No, there has to be another way.”
“That’s my offer,” Darius replied, dismissing Marcus with the wave of his hand.
Marcus strode over to his father. Both of them panting heavy breaths. The crowd silenced, eager for one of them to speak. “If you insist on going through with this, you leave me no choice.”
Darius narrowed his eyes.
A droplet of sweat trickled down Marcus’s face. “I challenge you for pack leadership.”
Chapter Eight
Kalin
Mom didn’t need to say a word.
Anger was written all over her reddened face. She was raging like an earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale. As she paced, she rolled up the sleeves of her white button-down collared shirt. Her normally smooth hair hung down her back in crimpy waves as if the strands had air-dried. Many questions lingered in my mind starting with how did she get here? Had someone been communicating with her?
In my entire sixteen years of existence, I had never seen her look this pissed. Worst part? It was all because of me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Kalin, I am your mother. It’s my job to worry.” She threw her hands in the air. “And you are my child, which means you don’t get to decide what I need to know.”
Suddenly, I was making excuses like a kid who had come home with a bad report card. “I didn’t want to put you in danger. You were safer at home. I had extra knights guarding the house to make sure of it.”
“You were protecting me?” She shook her head in disgust. “You have this whole thing backward. It’s my job to protect you. Not the other way around.”
While Mom paced the room, she mumbled a whole lot of something under her breath. I glanced over at Dad. He hadn’t moved one inch since he saw her. His eyes were wide while his mouth hung open. I couldn’t tell if he was breathing, so I nudged him with my elbow. “You could try helping me out.”
“Sorry,” he said, jolting as if I’d awakened him from a daydream. “What should I say?”
I raised my eyebrows. “How about you tell Mom it was your idea. I think that would be helpful.”
Dad cleared his throat. “Tricia, much of this is my fault. I should have—”
She made eye contact with him for the first time. For a moment, her shoulders relaxed. Then a smile appeared and then disappeared as quick as a finger snap. Before I could get another word out, she went right back to anger mode. “Oh, believe me, I blame you, too.”
Dad made his way over to her, taking her hands in his. All the bitterness drained from her face. It was so obvious they still had deep feelings for one another. I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s wonderful to have you here. You’re just as beautiful as I remember,” he said, rubbing his thumb across her cheek. “Will you be staying?”
“I’m not sure,” Mom answered, frazzled. “I planned to come here and strangle you both.” Appearing pained, she put some space in between them. “But now that I’m here, I don’t know what to do.”
I cut in. “You should stay, Mom.”
In a soft tone, Dad added, “I wish you would.”
“You look so grown up.” Mom cupped my cheeks in her hands. “I hardly recognize you.”
It was hard to believe I had only been in Avalon for two weeks. After everything I had been through, I felt like I had aged ten years. I certainly wasn’t the same person I had been in the mortal world. I placed both of my hands on top of hers. “It’s still me.”
Her voice turned serious. “From now on, I want to know everything. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
She softly flicked the tip of my nose. “I want to hear you promise.”
“Okay, okay. I promise,” I chuckled. No more secrets.”
“Good,” she said, releasing a lazy breath. Then she turned her attention to Dad. With her hands on her hips, she asked, “Where will I be staying?”
Dad’s entire face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Anywhere you’d like.” He held out his arm for her to take. “It’s been so long since you’ve been here. How about I show you around?”
Mom hesitated.
I wanted her to spend time with him. It had always been my dream that one day, they might get back together. Mom’s eyes darted back and forth between us. She had more to say to me, but I could also see she wanted to go with him. “It’s fine, Mom, I have a council meeting I have to attend.” It was true, but I would have been happy to blow it off.
“Find me when you finish,” she said, pulling me into a hug. “I mean it. Find me.”
Having her around never felt as wonderful as it did right now. “I promise.”
Mom slid her arm in his, letting Dad lead her out the door.
By the time I reached the stone balcony, I was surprised to find the area empty. A few glass tiki torches lined the space. The decoration made the area look more like a party than a council meeting. In the middle section, six wicker chairs were set up in a circular design. As I plopped down into one of the seats, I watched the tiki flames twist in the mountain winds. The citronella oil inside the glass gave off a scent that reminded me of the woods behind my mother’s house. It also kept the bugs away, which I appreciated. At this time of night, they were everywhere.
I turned my head toward the entryway when I heard several voices coming up the cement stairs. One by one, the other five council members entered the balcony. Most bowed when we made eye contact, except for Samson. He sat in the last empty seat. Each member wore yellow robes with a tie in the middle. Once I realized they were waiting for me to speak, I asked, “Why have I been called to another emergency meeting?”
Samson smiled at me before he spoke, and my stomach knotted. Whatever he was so pleased about wasn’t going to be good for me. “Your Highness, it has come to our attention that King Taron was seen in public today.”
Where was he going with this? “Yes, he was greeting some of his loyal subjects. They were very excited to see him recovering so well.”
“Really?” he said. “We heard he was distressed. Several witnesses saw him struggling to control the storms. Had it not been for your assistance, he might have lost control altogether.”
Crap! “I’m not sure who is providing you with this information, but the situation was far less dramatic. He put on a show for everyone and got tired. Need I remind you it has only been a week since he was found and treated for his severe injuries?”
Samson sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers against his knee. “Yes, his injuries are severe.” He stood, addressing the group. “I don’t believe he will ever recover from them.” Every member of the council gasped. “This is a time of war. Our court cannot appear vulnerable. We must act in the best interest of our people.” He glared right at me. “I call for a vote of no confidence.”
The shouting began, growing louder by the second. Members loyal to Dad accused Samson of treason. Others wanted Dad brought here to defend himself against the accusations and to prove he was healing. I had the urge to take one of those tiki torches and shove it down Samson’s throat. “I would like to know your intentions. If you had my father removed, the throne would fall to me. I can’t imagine that’s what you want.”
“You cannot ascend to the throne,” he said, acting as if I had insulted him. “There has never been a halfling on any elemental throne in our entire history.”
This situation was getting worse by the minute. He wasn’t suggesting my father step down. Instead, he was pushing to remove our entire family from power. I rose, hands clenched at my sides. With venom in my voice, I said, “My father will remain king, but when he does decide to step down, I will take his place. Anyone who objects should say so now.” I made a point to make eye contact with every one of them, daring them to disagree.
Jaya rose from her chair, eyes on me. “As much as I hate to say this, Samson does have a point. With your father recovering, we do appear vulnerable to the other courts. We must maintain balance at all costs.”
Samson grinned, seemingly pleased with himself. “I’m glad to see someone on the council has come to their senses.”
Jaya smiled at me. “Effective immediately, I vote that Kalin ascends to the throne.”
A lump swelled in my throat, and I swallowed hard. “Hold on one second. I wasn’t suggesting—”
“She is a halfling,” Samson argued. “The elementals of our court will never accept her.”
“A few might have reservations, but we can find a way to resolve their concerns.” The group remained silent while Jaya tapped her finger against her bottom lip. “If Kalin were to marry a full-blooded air elemental, it would strengthen her position.”
Samson crossed his arms, chuckling. “I’m not at all surprised to hear you make this suggestion. After all, Sebastian is your son.”
Sebastian? I was still trying to wrap my head around her proposal that I take the throne. Were they now trying to decide my future husband for me as well? “Wait one second. Who is Sebastian?” Before anyone could answer, I thought back to the conversation I had with Ariel at the Midwinter’s Ball. She said it was common for high-ranking elementals to betroth their children during their infancy. I cringed, already knowing what they would say, but not wanting to hear it.
Looking surprised by my ignorance, Jaya answered, “Sebastian is the elemental your father chose to be your husband.”
Revel, a younger council member who rarely spoke during these meetings, said, “I second the motion. Kalin shall marry Sebastian, and then ascend to the throne.”
I watched in horror as the other council members agreed with the ruling. Everyone except Samson, of course. He sat back in his chair, seemingly unsure how his big plan had failed. Was I engaged? I shook my head in disbelief. I didn’t even know Sebastian. And what about Rowan? How could I explain any of this to him? My stomach sickened, then my legs went numb. Had the floor been knocked out beneath me? I sat down in my chair before I collapsed.
I lost several minutes wrapped up in my thoughts. When I came back to reality, I realized most of the council had left. Only Jaya remained, sitting in the chair next to me. “I can’t do this. I can’t marry someone I don’t even know.”
Jaya pressed her lips together, compassion written all over her face. “No one said ruling was easy. Sometimes sacrifices are necessary for the greater good.”
Giving up carbs was a sacrifice. Marrying someone was something else entirely. I would miss out on everything: dating, falling in love, everything. It meant ending things with Rowan. My chest ached at the thought. “I’m just supposed to be okay with all of this because I’m royal? How could my father do this to me?”
She frowned.
“I’m sorry.” For a moment, I forgot Sebastian was her son. I needed to tone it down. “I don’t mean to sound negative about your son. I’m sure he’s great.”
She leaned closer to me. “Your father arranged this marriage to help you. He anticipated the objections to your birthright. He wants you to be the next queen. This betrothal solidifies your ascension.”
That made sense. Dad never meant to hurt me. He arranged the marriage because he thought he was helping me. I wish he would’ve shared that little nugget of information wit
h me. Hearing it from a council member only made it worse. “But I’ve never even met him.”
Jaya patted my hand, smiling. “Maybe it’s time we change that.”
I could hear the resistance in my tone. “You mean—”
“I mean, it’s time you met Sebastian.”
I had an out-of-body experience. That was the best way to explain how I felt after the council meeting. I was engaged to an elemental I had never met. Engaged. I shut my bedroom door behind me. Leaning back against the wall, I closed my eyes. Jaya left only minutes ago, planning to return with her son.
“The meeting went that well, huh?”
I screamed.
Two knights rushed into the room with swords blazing. That’s when I noticed my mother sitting on the edge of my bed with her hand over her chest. Her eyes widened with horror.
I ran to her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. She was shaking. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I didn’t see you there.” I glanced at the guards. “I’m fine. You can leave us.”
They both nodded, leaving the room.
Mom laughed. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I should have said something as soon as you entered the room.”
I sat next to her. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I brought these for you.” She handed me a cardboard box. “I can’t believe you left without them.”
I opened the box and shrieked. It was my entire Pez collection. Since I was a toddler, we had collected them. We spent hours on eBay bidding on the rarest ones. Last time I counted, I had well over two hundred dispensers. It was probably a silly hobby, but it was special to us. I sat the box on the floor. “Thank you for bringing these. It means a lot.”
She gave me one of her all-knowing-Mom stares. It was the expression she made when I was sure she was reading my mind. “What happened at that council meeting?”
Mom had been in Avalon for less than one day. She had just reconnected with Dad after being apart for sixteen years. Now wasn’t the time to explain my engagement. I was sure she had no idea. There was no way she would have gone along with it without eventually telling me. Instead of worrying, I wanted her to focus on her relationship with Dad. Let her enjoy some happiness for once. Throughout my childhood, I could never remember Mom going on a single date. I always assumed she was still in love with Dad, but I never asked.
Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set Page 33
