Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set

by Stacey O'Neale

  I wasn’t bothered by what I saw. It was nice to see my parents 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. “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 to 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 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 that our wedding plans were a ruse. Although they were close friends, it made sense to keep up appearances. Plus, Orion had his issues to deal with within his court. He didn’t need to know about our problems. “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.”

  An intimate gathering meant the council wouldn’t get an invite. Dad had not spoken with any of them since he had returned to Avalon and began his recovery. I was sure he had no interest in discussing his health during Orion’s visit. I nodded. “Okay, I’ll go prepare for dinner.”

  Bash chimed right in without missing a beat. “I need to get changed, as well. I’m not properly dressed to meet a visiting king,” 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 pointed to a 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 colorful gems into my hair.

  “Are the jewels necessary? It’s just dinner.”

  “Woodland faeries are always extravagant. They’ll love this look. 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 makeup. 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. Except for Marcus, every other elemental in his life had betrayed him. Who could 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 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.

  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’re the best.”

  She smiled proudly. “I am, aren’t I?”

  I made my way over to the window and heard the cheers erupt from somewhere 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’m here.” 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.

  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.”

  Orion approached with his queen, Marlena, at his side. Surrounding them were at least a dozen knights in full body armor. Woodland faeries 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 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 blond hair was tied back in a low ponytail.

  My parents were much more toned down. Air court elementals rarely wore any jewelry. They did dress it up a little for special occasions like this dinner. Dad looked the best I’d 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 with 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 in his fitted black tuxedo. Everything about his look was perfection. Dangerously handsome in a James Bond sort of way. 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 come out 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 my father. 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. We might’ve avoided all this mess.

  “You’re looking better, my friend,” Orion said, patting Dad on the chest.

  “I feel stronger every day.”

  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.”

  Bash bowed. “The pleasure is all mine.”

  “Come on, old friend,” Dad said, putting his arm around Orion. “Let’s get you inside. 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 rectangular glass table was set up in the middle of the square room with a bouquet in the center. The scent of fuchsia wafted through my nose. 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 parents 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 pretense was something else entirely. It might be considered 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, anything 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 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.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Rowan

  We climbed to an opening in the volcano. Wind from that height chilled the air. Had I not been a fire elemental, I would be freezing. The setting sun had just enough light to see Valac’s army slowly approaching. I would guess that he had several hundred elementals with him. It would appear they had all come from our court. How had he convinced so many to join him? This situation was worse than I had anticipated.

  If this was what Valac wanted, so be it. My sword had been clean far too long. I was ready to filet someone alive, and now, I had a befitting prey. Imagining all the lives these rogue fire elementals had taken made my power surge at the tips of my fingers. I needed a release. Valac had successfully ignited the war between the courts, dismantled the high court, and unbalanced the core elements. His death would bring an end to all of this turmoil and restore peace.

  “What should we do?” Ethan asked, his blue eyes darting between Marcus and me.

  “It’s your call,” Marcus said to me, crossing his arms.

  Valac had an army, which meant he had no plans to challenge me one-on-one. But if he came here prepared, he must have felt he had enough to take out our side. I doubt he knew the hounds would still be here. Someone probably told him they left. That could work out to our advantage if this came down to an actual battle. “I would like to hear your opinion, Marcus. Tell me what you think.”

  Marcus stared out into the distance, watching the army as they drew closer to the volcano. He remained silent for several long moments. “I think we can take them, but it will cost us many elementals. With the elements out of balance, how many losses can we endure without creating a larger rift?”

  “What about the eternal flame?” Ethan asked, voice as low as a whisper.

  My eyebrows knitted together. “What about the flame?”

  Ethan opened his mouth, but Marcus put his hand up before he could speak. “It’s just a myth, Rowan. Don’t listen to him.”

  How was it possible that I hadn’t heard about this myth? Was this something only known to the hounds? “No, Marcus. I want to hear it.”

  Ethan kept his eyes on Marcus but spoke to me. “Prisma was born from within the flame, correct?”

  “Yes,” I answered, not sure where he was going with this. She was the first fire elemental. Along with the other three original elementals, she oversaw the creation of the first generation of elementals born from the core elements. Since then, all of the other generations have come from live births. The rumor was that Prisma had successfully created the first gabriel hounds by combining her blood with the flame. No one knew for sure because she had never shared the story with anyone. If she told Valac or Selene, they never told me. “Why do you ask?”

  Sweat beads rose across Ethan’s forehead. I wondered if he might pass out before he answered. “If the queen of the fire court could stand in the eternal flame, so should the true heir.”

  “Have you lost your mind, Ethan?” Marcus asked, eyes wide with shock. “Are you suggesting that Rowan step into the fire to prove he is the rightful king of the fire court? No one has ever attempted something like that. It could kill him.”

  Ethan had a point. If I withstood the flames, I could show Valac’s army I was meant to lead them. I could end the rift in my court without a drop of bloodshed. I patted Ethan on the back. “He’s right, Marcus. I am Prisma’s only blood heir. If I stood in the fire, I might be able to unite our court. How could they choose to fight for Valac after witnessing something like that?”

  Marcus shook his head. “You’re assuming everything will work out when you have no idea what will happen. No one has ever entered the flames. You could die in there. Would you risk your life to prove a point?”

  “If we go out there with what’s left of our court, hundreds will die. I could save all of their lives by doing this.”

  “Or you could enter the flame and die,” Marcus countered. “Then we’re all screwed.”

  I put my hand on his shoulder. “I have a feeling about this. I believe it will work.”

  “I agree with Rowan,” Ethan added.

  “No one asked you, pint-size,” Marcus said, scowling at Ethan.

  “Ethan, I want you to send a message out to Valac. Tell him to meet us in the caves of the eternal flame.”

  “I don’t like this,” Marcus said, grimacing.

  “I know.” I nodded. There was nothing he needed to say. Any number of things could go wrong. I had weighed out the possibilities already. But if I wanted to prevent another war within our court, I had no choice. Valac had to die, but I wouldn’t risk hundreds of lives to take his. The only way to defeat him would be to prove I was the rightful ki
ng of our court.

  Marcus released an exaggerated breath. “I’ll summon the rest of the hounds. We’re all going with you.”

  Smirking, I said, “I know.”

  Only a pathway could reach the caves of the eternal flame. The location was deep within the core of the planet. There was no way to get there from the surface. Once inside, only a fire elemental could withstand the heat. As we entered the caves, I remembered how easy it was to get lost down here. The tunnels go on for miles in every direction. Lucky for us, I knew the way. Prisma brought me down here a few times, threatening to throw me into the fire. She told me the spirits of the dead fire elementals existed within the eternal flame.

  The bulk of our army stayed behind. If something were to go wrong down here, I needed to make sure they still had the numbers to defend themselves. And by wrong, I meant the possibility that I might die the moment I entered the flames. The closer we got to the fire, the greater the test of my confidence. Prisma’s words echoed in my ears. When speaking about the eternal flame, she once said, “Anything you create, you can also destroy.” Not the most comforting words to think about as I prepared to step inside the inferno.

  I turned around, glancing at the army of hounds behind me. Some were staring at their hands as if they expected something to be there. Others closed their eyes, wearing expressions of enjoyment. They must have sensed the energy from the eternal flame, but likely had no idea what it was. Most fire elementals had never been down here. The portal had guards. I spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear me.

  “What you’re feeling is the presence of the flame,” I shouted back to them, making sure everyone could hear my words. “Your power will soon be the strongest it’s ever been.”

  Ethan made his way to the front of the crowd. “Is that true for all fire elementals?”

  It was easy to see what he was implying. “Yes, this includes all of the rogue members of our court.” The crowd rumbled. “But I don’t plan on anyone having to fight today.”