by A. Bulthuis
Muted sunlight and the sound of husky male voices awoke her the next morning. She stretched and noticed the silky fabric that slid across her tummy. Huffing she realized he had turned her into his doll while she was asleep. Always trying to dress her up and show her off. Slipping her feet into some fluffy slippers she insisted upon getting yesterday she pulled on the cami and used the bathroom to brush her teeth and freshen up. He had even brushed her hair and braided it to keep her from getting tangled. Following the dreamy smell of bacon cooking she came upon three large males and one tiny woman. Autora practically dive at the woman in her excitement.
"Matria...Patria...what are you doing here? When did you get in?" She addressed the woman and one of the males adoringly.
"Oh my little angel! It’s so good to see you. My you are certainly a sight to behold and so beautiful. You've grown up so much in the five years since we've visited last. I'm so relieved and happy you are alright." Autora’s mother hugged her and kissed her face repeatedly. A strong pair of arms pulled her out of her mother’s embrace and into a crushing bear hug. A stern voice filled with concern and love brushed warmly across her hair. "Don't you ever scare us like that again little one. Your mother almost shifted just to get here faster."
"Oh shut up, you were the one trying to shove people out of the way or run them over just to drive us here quicker." The little woman smacked her husband on the arm playfully. “I don't care how you got here, I'm just so glad you are." She kissed both of them on the cheek and wrapped them in a family hug. She shrieked when another pair of arms wrapped long arms around them all. Looking over her shoulder she couldn't keep the tears out of her eyes as she mouthed "Thank You" to her brother. He kissed her nose and smiled mouthing "I Love you" back.
Their embrace seemed to last an eternity until a shuffling noise came from behind them. Separating, Crete shifted Tori behind him as the family faced their guest. Tori's head popped over Crete’s shoulder and narrowed her eyes. The blondest hair she had ever seen haloed around a tan complexion and dark blue eyes, almost black in their depth. With everything that had happened she was very wary. The sense of danger wafting off this guy even as he just stood there was almost unnerving.
"Please excuse my rudeness. I know how frustrating being away from your family can be. I'll just await you in the living room." The stranger bowed and turned on his heel out of the kitchen leaving them in silence. Tapping Crete’s shoulder Tori crossed her arms and tapped her foot, a brow arched in question. With the soft pink of the cami she looked quite adorable in her annoyance.
"Does anyone perhaps want to explain to me why the freaking king is here?!" Grimacing the other three each looked back and forth at each other. Crete was the first to speak up. "Our guest came to check up on you actually. He didn't want to wait to hear the report from the council." Throwing her hands up in frustration she stomped over to the plate of bacon and tossed in two pieces using chewing as an excuse to keep her harsh words from flying out. The nerve of that pompous ass coming here and demanding her story before she even got to recover fully. Granted thanks to her brother she felt a million times better than she had, but how the hell would he know that. She twisted the edge of her top between her fingers. It wasn't something she could blow off and claim exhaustion. As if that man would care. Her family stood back and allowed her this small moment of freak out. This wasn't the only bomb they had to lay in her lap. This time it was her father that spoke up.
"Aye little one we know it is damn inconvenient but it’s a necessity that we give him what he wants. The nature of the beast you understand." Autora growled softly at his words. Her mother stepped in and wrapped a small arm around Tori's shoulder and ushered her out of the kitchen. "Come now sweetie. Let’s get dressed and I'll fix you a plate. You'll feel better after you eat and are in more comfortable clothes." Knowing arguing got her nowhere she avoided looking into the living room as they passed by. Feeling his stare between her shoulder blades made her want to squirm. She quickened her steps and rushed into her room, leaving her mom outside in the hallway without another word. Choosing a simple knit sweater dress in a dark blue and the pair of new crème colored high heel boots to replace her old ones. Throwing her hair up into a low ponytail she refused to dress up farther. A gentle knock brought her from her staring contest with the mirror.
Thinking it was her mother with the plate of food Autora opened the door and turned her back to pick up her dirty clothes to put into her hamper, the back of her dress creeping up slightly. A small choking sound alerted her to something wrong. Turning around she shrieked in surprise and anger. Setting her plate on a small side table Rharonis, their king, cupped Autoras face in his hands. "Don't scream nor be alarmed. I'm not here to hurt you ma Cher. Just hear me out before you decide to rampage." Fury swirled in her eyes as she looked at him murderously. Storming out of his reach she flopped down onto a padded chair. Crossing her arms she stared up at him and waited for him to continue. Walking over he knelt down in front of her resting on the balls of his feet if he needed to back away quickly.
"I understand you have been in quite the ordeal and are still trying to recuperate. The reason for my visit is in part as I told your family, to hear first-hand what you have found. But that's not all of my reason. I came for you."
His eyes rested on Autoras face watching for her reaction. She looked down at him in confusion.
"Me, why me? Look Roni, we grew up hating each other. You were a snotty nosed brat as a child and you took every opportunity to torment me about my heritage. I wasn't very appreciative of you either. Have to admit I wasn't the nicest of children. But I saved the majority of it to avoid you." Chewing at the tips of her finger nails was the only bad habit she had never broken as a child. Just as he had watched her, she now watched him. "We certainly were a pair back then. You had such fire in you and I was so arrogant. Hell I had to be to become what I am right now. Besides, I enjoyed every moment of the chase with you. You are intelligent, brilliant, beautiful, and deadly. I was told to keep back and not encourage and friendship with you." He gently cupped both of her knees and looked up pleadingly. "I was bound my law to keep my distance until the appropriate time approached. A test needed to be conducted first. You passed it ma cher."
Her mouth popped open wide as she fought with what he said. A test. They had put her thru a bloody test. And for what. They couldn't possibly mean for her to be....
"Uh uh...no way. You had to wait...wait to....oh hell you mean to claim me!" Jumping up she growled and pushed him away as she bolted for her door.
"Tori, Stop!" The authority in his voice coupled with magic inherit thru birth forced her body to a halt mid step. She tried to scream but the order kept her from even uttering a peep. “Gods woman why are you so stubborn? Even the mere mention of getting close to someone has your spikes in a knot. You know not all men are alike. Please relax now alright."
Autora slumped forward to the floor as her halted momentum came back into play making her stumble and collapse to her knees. "Shit I'm sorry Tori. I've never used my powers on you before. Here let me help you up." He wrapped his hands around her upper arms and lifted her with no issue, ignoring her growls of protest. Fighting back against him wore out what reserve strength she had left, falling into his chest.
"What...gives you...the right to come here...and say these things...to me?" Grimacing she pushed weakly against his chest. "Go back to your court and leave me alone."
"Dammit Tori. There is no getting out of this. You know the law just as much as I do." He brushed a strand of loose hair from her eyes. "We can discuss this at a later time. You need to rest. I will be staying here to help take care of you until we are ready to go home together." Picking her up under her knees and around her shoulders he laid her across the unmade bed and tucked her in after removing her boots. He kissed the top of her head and brushed across her pale cheek.
"Don't worry ma cher you will be happy. I'll make sure of it." He left her as she laid in a daze.
&
nbsp; Chapter 9
The door seemed to open back up as soon as it closed. "Go away Rharonis. Just leave me to think since you've taken away my choice." Her emotionally thick voice spoke from under her covers.
"Tori my sweet wonderful sister. Mother and father didn't tell me till after he was in here with your food. I tried coming in. Dad held me back until I saw him walk out the door. Don't worry I gave him a good black eye for you. Stupid bastard taking advantage of your weakness like that. God if I had known I would have never left you by yourself."
Autora rolled over and reached for him as he curled in next to her on the bed. A few tears trickled down her face when she looked up at him. "Crete, why is it that now I've become the popular girl. I just want to be left alone. I don't think I'm going to go back to work. It was a bloody test Crete. A test. I went thru all that just to meet the council’s approval as a mate for that arrogant jerk. I don't want or need a mate. Haven’t I gotten this far without depending on a man? Hell after we grew up I barely saw you when we were in finishing school. I didn't depend on you then to protect me from other people." Autora rubbed the palms of her hands against her eyelids and cleared away her tears. "And thanks to that jerk, my room smells like him. All warm....and....and vanilla-e. Geez it smells like a snickerdoodle in here. Crete what do I do? They can't possibly mean for me to go thru with this. The council won't approve of me. Not as their queen. There isn't even...a pull."
Autora took a deep breath and shivered." No not even a tingle of wanting him." The look on her face was desperate as she dug her nails into his upper arms. “You have to help me. I'm too impulsive to do this. I'll bring our people ruin. No one will accept me. I'm not pure enough. Hell no one even knows who my parents are. Please Crete I'll do anything for you. Just please get me out of this."
Shaking her side gently he grabbed her attention from her hysteria. "I'll do whatever you need darling. Don't worry about work. You’re on leave until you want to come back. I'm making sure of it. I am also going to be beside you for as long as you need me. He is just going to have to get over it. No need for a lady in waiting when you have me around." Tweaking the tip of her nose he smiled his signature crooked smile making her smile back softly.
"There really is no getting out of this is there. Thank you for taking care of me once again. I need to get my report to him over with first." Kissing the middle of his fore head she rolled out of the bed and padded over to her cold plate of breakfast. While he climbed out of the bed and walked to her door opening it. Soft classical music flowed from the front room. Nibbling on her cold scrambled eggs and chewy bacon she bumped his shoulder as they passed thru the doorway. Handing her half empty plate to her brother she brushed her hands together and then settled onto the couch opposite the king. He looked at her in surprise. He leaned his body forward to rest his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers under his chin. Autora angled her knees to the side and rested her hands in her lap.
"I apologize for my reaction earlier. Your declarations just came as a shock to me. I still do not think I would make a good candidate as our peoples Queen. But in the interest of being fair I will consider your proposal over the next week at least until after the report to the council. I am however ready to go over my report with you."
"Please ma cher go ahead." Autora recounted the whole tale from the moment she received the envelope with the reports to the moment she had woken up in her brother’s guest room. Rharonis didn't even twitch as he listened to her intently, wanting to hunt down this Fadan and his father himself. He knew there were rogue groups but they were few and far between. But this one was bolder and causing too much of a disturbance to be ignored. He was infuriated by the males blatant display of possessiveness over what was not his. Autora arched brow noticing his frown.
"There were very persistent about me staying. Obviously it wasn't about mating but about how they did not want me to be able to tell anyone about what I saw. I was very lucky that they had a defector inside their compound. Unfortunately that contact gave her life to help me and to keep my memories intact."
Rubbing her palms on her knees she shrugged and took a long breath. "That's it. It's up to you and the council to decide what to do with it. Next time find yourselves a different guinea pig to do your dirty work. I am taking leave from work."
Roni started to say something but Tori held up her hand. “I’m taking a leave and it's already been approved by my boss. I'll be taking someone with me and going to the high council. Needless to say they will be like my chaperone. Where ever we are, they will be also. That is my condition. You want me happy and I want to feel normal. I think it seems like a good compromise."
Roni chewed on his bottom lip and stared at her waiting to see if she was done. Picking up the glass of water that sat in front of him he sipped from it before he spoke. “You are within your right to take your leave as well as to have someone with you as a chaperone. I had hoped you would feel safe with just me but it cannot be helped. I will only agree to this so long as your chaperone does not interfere with my pursuit of you."
An overly calm voice spoke from behind them both, eerie in its softness belying its agitation and anger. “Her chaperone won't interfere so long as you don't push her too far and ignore her requests. I might understand your position but hell if I like it." Crete came up beside Tori and patted her shoulder.
“Your brother, He's your chaperone. For the love of magick you've got to be joking. This is gonna be great. Just freaking great. Fine, have it your way. But I get to add a female to help you in more delicate situations." Waving his hand he dismissed himself but not before he placed a tender kiss on her hand, letting it linger just a bit longer than appropriate. The rustle of his wool slacks moved down the hall.
"I'm proud of you sis for standing up for yourself. That took a lot of guts. I think it's time for us to ditch this stiff and go to a party." Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out the black envelope he found in her apartment the other day. “I’m not quite sure what this is, but it looks cool." Tossing the envelope onto her lap he flopped down onto a seat beside her and threw an arm behind her on the back of the couch. Picking it up she looked over the outside, a brief whiff of sandalwood assaulted her as the outside had no return address, and only her name written on the front. Sliding her finger under the edge of the envelope she cut open the back and winced at the bite of the paper cut, a small drop of blood welled up across her fingertip. One droplet splashed onto the parchment within. A brilliant flash lit up the room surrounding Autora in a smoky white haze.
"What the fuck!? Tori...Tori are you okay?" Crete reached out a hand into the haze and came back only a single strand of hair. Crete sniffed the hair and cursed.
"Rharonis!"
Jogging followed by a skid was heard coming from the hall. “Crete what's wrong? Wait where the hell is Tori?" Stepping into the room Roni took a deep breath and his face flushed red. “That bloody bastard! How the hell did this happen?" He turned to Crete angrily, his whole body trembling in fury. “I don't know Sir. I handed her an envelope I found in her apartment thinking I had found a party invite for her. She cut herself opening it and then poof, this horrid blinding light and then Tori was surrounded by a haze. How the hell did they find her and where are they getting the magick to do this. What the hell did you get her involved in?"
Crete turned on Rharonis and struggled with him to the floor. Rolling around like two teenagers they got pulled apart by Crete’s mother and father. “Stop it you two idiots. I heard your shout from outside. Fighting each other isn't going to bring her back." Shoving his son down onto the couch he turned to their king. “Your majesty the decision is yours on where we go from here. I'm sure the council will want to know about this turn of events. Leave that up to me. You and Crete...have a damsel to rescue, and if you don't do it then who knows what she'll leave for you guys to pick up." Wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders he ushered her outside of the apartment. Crete and Rharonis looked at each other, both th
inking the same thing. Nodding at each other they walked out thru the patio door and launched themselves off the railing both shifting midair. A warm rich gold shined back on a platinum silver. Their bestial roar of the hunt shook the glass from a few windows as they disappeared out of sight following a faint trace of magick left behind from the transport.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tori coughed and choked at the thick white smoke. Her hands dropped the envelope, momentarily forgetting her cut, she waved her hands frantically in front of her trying to clear her vision. The lack of oxygen was starting to make her woozy. No matter how much she waved her hands the smoke only got thicker. Doubling over she covered her mouth with her arm as her body was wracked with coughs. She couldn't even choke out her brother’s name. Black spots filled her eyes before total blackness settled in, Tori slumping over to the ground. Before she fell completely a pair of arms wrapped around her torso and tossed her over a shoulder.
"Sorry cailin dathuil, but your presence has been requested by the high council and we don't like to wait."
Chapter 10
Rharonis sent out a call to his enforcers and informed them of his change of plans. Him and Crete stretched their wings and beat past the tiredness making them ache all over. It had been awhile since they had to fly so long and hard. The iridescent swirl of their eyes locked as they decided to set down on the roof top of the hotel Autora had stayed in while on assignment. An updraft flipped chairs over and towels flying off deck railings. The two men shifted back and thought of clothes as they pulled the magick of their being back under control. Ripping the top entrance from its hinges they wasted no time and jumped down each stair level bounding over hand rails and stopping at a floors entrance that faintly held her smell. Opening the door they sniffed until they reached her room. It was paid for up to a week and had the do not disturb sign hangar on the door. Picking the electronic lock on the door with a few key strokes of his phone Crete pulled it open silently. Both of them slipped in and closed the door behind them to prying eyes.