Possession

by Samantha Britt

  “Jona, my love, why don’t you tell your friends about our honeymoon trip?”

  Vik’s prompt effectively distracted Jona from her disappointment.

  The princess and I listened to tales of the mountain lodge they’d stayed in, as well as the stunning lake they’d explored on a hike. As the couple talked, a crowd of guests gathered around them.

  An older couple stepped forward to try and speak with the newly-joined couple.

  Still holding my hand, the princess tugged me towards the table full of spirits. “Come. Let us get something to drink. Jona, we’ll be back soon,” Cienna called to her cousin. We waved goodbye. We’d been monopolizing the couple’s attention, and there were many who’d like the chance to speak with them.

  After retrieving two flutes from the table, the princess handed me one, and we stood against the far wall, watching the party. I sipped my drink slowly, musing at how strange my life had become. Not once in my almost nineteen years had I thought I would ever be served a drink by a draekon, let alone the princess. Our world was an unpredictable place, and there were times I felt conflicted about the ease with which I assimilated into my life as a recruit.

  A young draekon caught my attention. The broad-shouldered male was surrounded by friends, but he didn’t pay them any mind as they chatted around him. His gaze was locked on the draekon by my side. I peeked at my friend and noticed Cienna returned his stare.

  I lifted my flute to hide my lips as I asked, “Who is that?”

  Cienna jolted and pivoted to face me. “Hmm?”

  I pressed my lips together, but I couldn’t hide my grin. “That draekon you are staring at over by the door.” I wasn’t going to let her get away with not answering. “Who is he?”

  The princess ran a hand over her hip, smoothing her skirt. “Oh. Him?” She didn’t even bother looking back to see whom I was talking about. She already knew. “No one. Just a childhood friend.”

  I was about to insist he didn’t seem like “no one”, but a brash, yet equally aloof, elven male interrupted me.

  Lord Erwin, the elven ambassador to the draekon court, arrived at my side. I was surprised I hadn’t noticed him before that moment. His light blond hair stood out like a beacon in the sea of dark draekon and human heads.

  I still couldn’t believe the impressive elf and I shared the same birth continent. I may have been raised in Caldiri, but I’d recently learned there was only one place humans with blond hair lived, and that was on the elven continent, Avelin.

  My eyes traveled the length of him, taking in his tall stature and lean, athletic build. He oozed power. The type of power only a race of beings capable of cursing the draekon could possess.

  “Healer Amelissa.” Lord Erwin’s blue eyes gleamed, noticing my perusal. “It is good to see you.”

  “It’s just Amelissa now,” I corrected on instinct. Ever since I’d started working for the princes as their secretary, I’d lost the respected professional title.

  “It’s Miss Amelissa, actually,” Cienna interjected, glaring in disapproval at the elven male.

  Lord Erwin wasn’t deterred by her hostility. He stepped in front of me and turned to face the princess. “Your Highness.” He lowered his neck. “Always a pleasure.”

  In a tight voice, Cienna returned, “Lord Erwin.”

  When he straightened, Lord Erwin twisted his body back toward me, observing my royal attire. “I’ve heard about the recent change in your occupation,” he said. “Congratulations on achieving such an honored and coveted position.”

  My stomach twisted. Lord Erwin’s words implied I’d had a choice.

  Not only was I the daughter and sister of prominent rebel leaders, I was a census recruit. I was destined to spend the rest of my days doing whatever the prince of draekon told me. That’s how recruitment worked. At least, that’s how mine had worked so far.

  I smothered my frustration, simply saying, “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Lord Erwin’s eyes continued to shimmer. We’d only interacted on two occasions, and both had been orchestrated by the impressive elf. He’d been intrigued to see someone from his home continent in Draek, but I hadn’t known it at the time. I thought he was just inappropriate and enjoyed toying with a lowly human servant.

  That may have been the case in the beginning, but now I knew there was another reason for the male’s continued attention. He’d said as much at Jona’s companion ceremony, right before Prince Finn had arrived and escorted me to sit with him and his siblings.

  I held the elf’s amused eyes, inviting him to keep talking. It’d been a week since our last conversation, and I was eager to learn the real reasons behind his interest in me. But Princess Cienna had other ideas.

  “Please excuse us, Lord Erwin.” She stepped in between us. “We have somewhere to be.” Not bothering to give him a polite or believable explanation, the princess tapped my arm and gestured for me to follow her. She walked towards the exit without looking back.

  I watched her, torn between wanting to leave and staying to hear what Lord Erwin had to say.

  Knowing I had no desire to stay at the party by myself, subjecting myself to any more whispers or loaded stares, I sighed and said, “Goodbye, Lord Erwin.”

  “Amelissa.” He smiled, and I was surprised to note it wasn’t teasing. “Until next time.” He delivered his typical farewell before dipping his chin and disappearing into the crowded party. My curiosity would have to wait for another day.

  Now, it was time for me to escape reality and forget my worldly troubles in the comfort of deep, thought-silencing sleep.

  3

  I raced to catch up to the princess, eager to leave, only to be coaxed into staying for another three hours. Apparently, Cienna had no intention of allowing me to stay at the party for only ten minutes. She claimed I’d been distant the past week, and she asserted her brothers worked me too hard. Cienna was determined to make sure I had a fun evening” and according to the princess of the draekon, fun meant drinking in excess and stumbling back to the royal quarters at midnight.

  We definitely had different ideas of fun.

  Supporting the taller female’s weight, I guided Cienna up the four flights of stairs. Other than her tripping and tearing a hole in her dress, our journey ended without incident. I managed to help Cienna change into a nightgown and get into bed before I made it back to the princes’ private apartments.

  My eyes were heavy and my vision blurry. I rarely stayed up so late and I was exhausted.

  Careful to be quiet, I slowly opened the door and shimmied inside. The main room was dark, and I hoped that meant both of the princes were already asleep. Maybe they didn’t even realize I wasn’t in my room.

  I tiptoed across the carpet, careful to keep my black boots from squeaking. I made it to my room.

  I pushed the door open and entered the silent bedroom. Reaching to my left, I felt for the table with the metal striker. Once I had it in my hand, I lit the candle on the table. I was in the middle of illuminating the wall sconces beside my bed when the door flew open behind me.

  I whirled around and saw the door smack against the wall. “Where have you been?”

  I backed away from the imposing male filling the doorframe.

  “W-what?” I stopped my retreat, overcoming the surprise of his abrupt entry.

  Prince Brion’s nostrils flared. He stomped into the room, slamming the door behind him. I jumped at the sound. “Where have you been?”

  “I was at a party for Jona and her companion.”

  “Where?”

  “The greenhouse.” I hoped the party’s location wasn’t supposed to be a secret, but I wasn’t going to lie to the prince. I didn’t want him to think I’d been doing anything foolish like trying to escape… or going to a secret rebel meeting. Who knew what he thought I might do?

  Prince Brion gritted his teeth before saying, “You went to the greenhouse alone?”

  I shook my head. “No, I was with your sis–”r />
  “My sister?” he finished. “You let your patient go to a party?”

  I frowned. I didn’t let the princess do anything. She was the princess for gods’ sake.

  “Cienna is fine,” I used the princess’s own words from earlier in the evening. “We completed her treatment, and then we went to visit Jona and Vik.”

  “Who’s Vik?”

  “Jona’s companion,” I said with an obvious tone. Prince Brion had been at his cousin’s companion ceremony; he should know the man’s name.

  “Why would you go visit them in the middle of the night?”

  His angry tone was beginning to get on my nerves. I crossed my arms and avoided answering his question. Instead, I asked one of my own, “What’s wrong with you?”

  The prince might’ve been my captor, holding me as insurance so the rebellion kept their promise and didn’t attack Draek, but that didn’t mean I would sit meekly by and let him shout at me for no good reason. At least, not when I was tired.

  Well-rested and sensible Lissa could endure the prince’s dominating personality. But exhausted and emotionally drained Lissa? She wasn’t as patient.

  Prince Brion blinked, and his eyes adopted a reptilian look. I’d learned from my recent research that such a shift happened whenever draekon’s emotions ran high. Sometimes, experiencing strong emotions could make a young, inexperienced draekon shift on accident.

  “What’s wrong with me?” He pointed to himself. Then, he threw an arm out in my direction. “I’m not the one who went traipsing into the night without saying a word.”

  If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he sounded worried.

  I dismissed the thought. The prince had been clear about his priorities.

  Prince Brion might’ve been concerned with my safety in the past, but the welfare of his people trumped whatever excuse he’d had for keeping me from harm. More than likely, his anger stemmed from lack of control. He didn’t want to lose his leverage.

  “Don’t worry,” I said. “I wasn’t trying to escape.” There was nowhere for me to go.

  “What’s going on?” Prince Finn entered. He rubbed his eyes, and his hair wasn’t arranged in its normal, sleek style. He’d been woken up by his brother’s banging and shouting. My gaze traveled lower, and I noticed he was shirtless. Only a loose pair of pants hung low on his waist, revealing the glory of his sculpted abdomen and bare chest.

  Beside me, I heard Prince Brion growl in annoyance. My attention snapped up to the sleepy prince’s face.

  “Nothing,” Prince Brion answered his brother. “I was checking on Amelissa. She just arrived a few minutes ago.”

  “At this hour?” Finn looked at the clock on the wall.

  “I was with Cienna,” I said before Prince Brion could say anything damning. “At Jona’s party in the gardens. It was nothing.”

  Finn frowned, looking from his angry brother to me. He sighed. “Maybe tell us before you plan to stay out late, Amelissa? That way, Brion won’t have a reason to overreact and wake me up in the middle of the night.”

  I crossed my arms and looked at the carpet, annoyed that I was to be treated like a wayward, mischievous teenager. But despite my annoyance, I smirked. I was glad Finn didn’t approve of his brother’s over-the-top behavior, either.

  Prince Brion, however, was not amused. “You and Cienna had no business staying out so late.”

  “Oh, come on, Brion. It’s not like they were in danger within the castle walls.”

  “Are you forgetting we were just attacked a little over one week ago?” Prince Brion snapped at his brother. “Because I certainly haven’t forgotten the dozens of honorable draekon we lost in that conflict.”

  His words punched me in the gut. My parents were responsible for ordering the attack on the capital, and Lin had been involved in the death of those draekon.

  I kept my gaze on the carpet, hiding the guilt I felt building in my throat.

  “Of course not,” said Finn. “Don’t be ridiculous, Brion. I only meant that our people are safe now that we’ve made the agreement with the rebellion…” I hadn’t seen it, but I suspected the prince gestured towards me.

  I continued to stare at the ground, shifting. I had no desire to continue arguing. I wanted the princes to leave, so I could go to sleep. I’d lost my initial aversion to the plush mattress and heavenly pillows of my lavish prison days ago. Now, they taunted me, seducing me with their promise of comfort.

  As if hearing my thoughts, Prince Brion grunted. “Get some sleep. We’ll talk about this first thing in the morning.” He stomped out, and I heard his bedroom door slam seconds later.

  After shooting me an apologetic look, Prince Finn said goodnight and went back to his room, but not before closing my door behind him.

  I waited ten seconds before stripping off my royal uniform, throwing the shoes and clothes into a pile in the corner. I made quick work of blowing out the candles before diving into my bed, happy to finally have the chance to escape my lonely reality, even if it was only for a few hours.

  4

  Surprisingly, Prince Brion did not make good on his promise. The sun was already high in the sky by the time I woke up the next morning.

  Blaming my late night with the princess, I quickly jumped out of bed and ran into my personal bathing chamber. Thanking the gods for the gift of draekon plumbing, I turned on the water in the washbasin and cleaned my face before rushing to get dressed.

  Minutes later, I half-walked, half-fell out my room as I struggled to get my boots on. The apology for my tardiness was already spilling from my lips, but no one heard it. The princes weren’t in the sitting area.

  I frowned. The brothers usually ate breakfast and drank coffee together before separating to complete their respective duties, but I saw no empty mugs or dirty dishes. Assuming the royal servants had already been there to clean up, I straightened and began walking around the main room, looking for a note from Prince Brion.

  In the seven, now eight, mornings I’d woken up in the princes’ apartments, I’d never not had a task bestowed on me for the day. Usually, the task was delivered by Prince Brion’s own lips, but since that was clearly not how the morning was going to go, I assumed the serious prince would leave me instructions somewhere. So I searched.

  I was in the middle of scanning papers stacked on a table when I glanced at the door. There, nailed in the middle of the door, was a piece of paper with my name written in bold, large letters.

  I pulled the instructions down and held the paper in front of my face.

  LISSA

  Continue studying the historical text.

  I expect no less than two pages of notes by this evening.

  Seek out the master librarian. He will help you.

  There wasn’t a signature, but there didn’t need to be. I knew who the note was from.

  Ignoring the fact Prince Brion addressed me by my nickname, I turned around and gathered the text and my notes from the table Prince Finn had placed them upon. Then, taking care to keep my gaze downcast, I made my way to the main library. Yesterday’s insult still stung, and I didn’t want to see anyone’s curious stares or their whispering.

  The library was practically empty, as it would be for another hour or so. Only human servants and the castle scholars moved through the tall bookshelves. I adjusted the book in my arms and picked up my pace, heading towards the Master Librarian’s office.

  The draekon had his back to the open door. I took a fortifying breath and knocked on the frame.

  “Yes?” The male did not turn around. His black robe, adorned with a golden rope for a belt, swayed as he moved toward a table and unrolled a scroll. The gold chain with the royal emblem hanging on the end clanged as the links shifted. He used two paperweights made of sipal stone to hold the scroll open.

  “Master Olek, Prince Brion sent me.” Hearing his prince’s name, the draekon stopped what he was doing and turned. His eager expression fell the moment he saw me.

  “Oh. Miss A
melissa.” His lips puckered like he’d tasted something bad.

  I’d only spoken to Master Olek once before, and just like now, the master librarian did not hide his disdain for me. I didn’t know if he was prejudice against humans in general, or if he’d heard the rumors about me and the princes. Either way, he didn’t like me. And he definitely didn’t want to help me.

  But I’d rather face his rudeness than return to Prince Brion empty handed.

  I explained my task. “The prince wishes for me to take notes on a historical text. He said you could help decipher the draekonian.” That wasn’t exactly what the prince’s instructions said, but I’d read between the lines.

  Master Olek eyed the volume in my arms. His youthful appearance belied the several centuries he’d been serving as the master librarian. He reminded me of Master Errol, the master healer. He, too, looked no older than thirty.

  While both males held distinct positions in the castle, I’d always been surprised by Master Errol’s humility. I didn’t see the same modesty in the librarian.

  “Is that the text?” Master Olek asked.

  I nodded. “Yes. I only need one more page. I don’t believe it will take too long…” I noticed the smirk pulling at the master librarian’s lips.

  “What is it?” I lifted a hand and smoothed my hair, wishing I brushed it before tying it back.

  Master Olek continued to smirk. “The prince wishes for you to take notes on that?”

  “Yes,” I confirmed. The idea amused him, but I didn’t understand why.

  Now, he chuckled. It wasn’t a warm or good-natured sound.

  “What?” I asked, unable to stand there and let him continue laughing at me.

  “Miss Amelissa,” he began in a condescending tone, “do you know who was responsible for the prince’s education?”

  I blinked. “No.” How would I know that?

  “Me,” Master Olek provided. “Now, do you honestly think the prince is lacking in any knowledge about the history of his people?”