The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince: An Epic Fantasy Romance (Heirs of Magic Book 1)

by Jeffe Kennedy

  “I thought you should know the truth,” he said between gritted teeth. “You deserve honesty from me.”

  “Oh,” she hissed. “Let’s not get into what I do and don’t deserve, because I don’t care. You’ve screwed yourself over, Your Highness Crown Prince Astar.”

  “How so?” he asked very carefully, unsure of what her mood indicated. Was it fury… or something else?

  “I was going to end things because I was trying to be good and honorable and responsible. You are not for me, yes? My name is not on this list of approved brides.”

  “It’s not.” He met her fulminous gaze. “I’d apologize, but I didn’t create the list.”

  She shrugged elaborately, prowling over to him, a predatory glint in her eyes. “I don’t care about that fucking list. You’re in love with me. Say it again.”

  Suspicious, overwhelmed, unable to deny her even this, he did. “I’m in love with you, Zephyr. I’ll never love anyone else in my life like I love you.”

  She half-closed her eyes in pleasure, shivering as if he’d stroked her sex, the gríobhth sharp in her visage. “You’re mine, then,” she declared. “I’m never giving you up.”

  His heart, brain, and voice stuttered. “Ah… Erm. What?”

  Her eyes flew open and she glared at him. “I’m in love with you, Astar. We are in love with each other, which means you belong to me. I don’t care about your stupid throne and ridiculous rules. You had your chance to escape me, but that moment has blown away with last autumn’s winds. You are mine now and I’ll kill anyone who tries to take you from me.” She bared her teeth, her smile as lethal as her black gríobhth beak. “Starting with Dina,” she hissed.

  He caught her wrist as she wheeled about. In her present dangerous mood, he wouldn’t put it past her to do as she’d threatened. “That’s a waste of time.”

  “She can’t marry you if she’s dead,” Zephyr pointed out with sweet reason and murder in her eye.

  “She won’t marry me regardless,” he insisted.

  She tried to tug away. “She will. I know a predator when I see one, and she’s aiming to pounce on and eviscerate you.”

  “No, Zephyr.” He released her wrist and took her by the shoulders. “Now I’m asking you to chill down and listen to me.” When her gaze lost some of the bloodlust and focused on him, he continued. “I told Berendina yesterday that I won’t be offering for her hand.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “No, I didn’t.” He drew himself up. “For one reason, because it had nothing to do with you. Listen to me,” he cut in forcefully when she opened her mouth. “I told her I thought we weren’t compatible, which is my polite way of saying I don’t like her. I wouldn’t marry her even if I’d never met you or if we’d stayed only friends.”

  Cocking her head, more raptor than cat now, she gave him a long look. “I don’t think we were ever only friends.”

  No, the heat, the fascination between them had always burned too hot and fiercely. The profound attraction had complicated their relationship far beyond the bounds of friendship. “The other reason I didn’t tell you is I thought you wouldn’t welcome my declaration, that I can’t possibly marry someone else when I’m so thoroughly in love with you.”

  She considered that, a long, slow blink. “But you have to marry one of the women on the list.”

  He blew out a breath. “Do I?”

  “You’re the one who knows about rules,” she pointed out. “Your honor and duty and so forth.” She made them sound like dirty words.

  “Why are you so angry with me?” he asked.

  “Is that what I am?” she mused. “I feel like I want to take a bite out of you, so maybe so. Mostly I’m confused.” She lifted clear blue eyes to his in rare uncertainty, looking to him for guidance. “I don’t know what comes next.”

  “Me neither.” He slid his hands down her arms to interlace his fingers with hers. “Though you said I’m yours now and you’re never letting me go.”

  “There is that. And we’re in love with each other. I didn’t expect that.”

  She sounded so mystified that he laughed. “I somehow imagined our exchange of declarations of love would be more romantic.”

  “Yes, well.” She darted in and nipped at his bottom lip, then grinned. “Saying so in the midst of an argument is much more us.”

  Not letting her get away, he pulled her back for a real kiss, consuming and full of desperate hunger. She melted against him, giving herself without reservation, the both of them absolutely united in their hearts, regardless of how the world would view their love affair. Finally, reluctantly, he backed out of the kiss, their lips still lingering in a mutual caress, exchanging wordless promises full of sweetness and longing. “I have to go,” he told her between kisses.

  She growled quietly, very close to a purr, but her displeasure clear in it. “It seems you’re always saying that to me.”

  He grimaced ruefully, but met her gaze without flinching. “I don’t think that will ever change. Not as long as I have responsibilities to the high throne.”

  “And will that ever change?” she asked meaningfully.

  “I don’t know. I would like it if… Could I ask that we simply go on without hard and fast decisions from here? There’s no need to decide anything, and—” What he’d like most would be to persuade Zephyr to marry him and be his queen. Convincing Ursula of that would likely be far easier than talking Zephyr into it, which was saying something. “I’d like to just be in the moment, with you.”

  “Living in the moment is one of my particular accomplishments,” she informed him in a lofty tone that sounded uncannily like Berendina. “But what about when we encounter these other princesses on your list?”

  “Then I will be polite to them, as will you.”

  Her winged black brows flew up in patent astonishment. “I will?”

  “Yes,” he replied firmly. “We have alliances to maintain, and that requires surface politeness. You’ll teach me the art of living in the moment, and I will teach you how to speak the empty words of courtly manners.”

  “Why, Astar, my love,” she murmured huskily, “that sounds very much like lying.”

  “Shades of truth,” he corrected. “You’ll find that courtiers are much like the Tala in embracing shades of gray.” And this would be his first step to maneuvering her into being his queen. She wasn’t the only predator in the room. Now that he’d fixed on having her—and could exult in that she’d laid claim to him—nothing would get in his way.

  ~ 25 ~

  Everyone had gathered in the outer courtyard of Castle Elderhorst—around a pair of carriages. Zeph groaned to herself at the sight. “More bone-bouncing carriages,” she muttered viciously.

  Astar patted her gloved hand on his arm. “How did you think we’d be traveling?”

  “Flying is ever so much faster,” she replied sweetly.

  “I’m sure it is, to the envy of all of us non-fliers.”

  “You could have a flight-capable form, if you’d—”

  “Quit bugging me about that,” he growled.

  “Not likely.” She grinned up at him, then narrowed her eyes at two unexpected figures in the group waiting for them. Henk, with Gen on his arm as he explained something about the castle to her, judging by his gestures and her patiently bored expression.

  And Dina.

  “You didn’t mention Dina would be joining us,” she noted, proud of herself for sounding neutral.

  “I didn’t know,” Astar replied. “And don’t snarl.”

  “I didn’t!” she protested.

  “I can feel the wind from your tail snapping in the air.”

  That gave her pause. “You can’t possibly. I’m in human form.”

  He shrugged slightly. “Your gríobhth is always part of your presence, regardless of what physical form you’re currently wearing. Now, be nice and remember: you won. I’m yours, not hers.”

  I won. Astar is min
e. Zeph preened internally at the thought, then realized Astar had tossed her that tasty bit to chew on as a way to keep her happy. Oh, well—it worked. She even summoned a smile for Dina, who stepped forward to greet them, Zeph’s supposed friends ceasing their own conversations to watch with avid interest. Even Gen turned Henk slightly so she could have a better view, though she nodded at him, obviously only pretending to listen.

  “Good morning, Willy.” Dina’s smile twinkled as she curtseyed. “Lady Zephyr. Don’t you two look bright-eyed and pink-cheeked this morning.”

  “Princess Berendina,” Astar replied, dipping his chin. “Traveling with us to Lake Sullivan?”

  “Yes, Grandpapa asked it of me personally.” She leaned in confidingly. “I’m something of an expert on the region, and the lake monster, in particular.”

  “Though, really,” Zeph cooed, “you have such far-reaching expertise, so many accomplishments. This would be but a small example.”

  Dina paused, giving Zeph a cool look. “Indeed. I don’t believe we’ve gotten to discuss your areas of expertise. Do you have any—besides the obvious?” Her gaze flicked over Zeph’s body, though she was swathed in the golden fur cloak, then meaningfully to Astar.

  “Not at all,” Zeph replied with a knowing smile. “I’ve found that being good in bed is plenty to get me through life.”

  Astar coughed, then pretended to be clearing his throat. “Shall we be on our way?”

  It took the better part of the day to reach Lake Sullivan. Dina had been assigned to their carriage, which meant she and Zeph ignored each other, while Henk narrated the sights of the entire journey to Gen. At least Zeph didn’t have to worry about Dina working her wiles on Astar. He might believe that politely telling Dina he wasn’t interested would put a stop to her hunt, but Zeph knew better. She caught the calculating glint in the princess’s eye and was prepared for trickery. In the meanwhile, Zeph pretended Henk’s nonstop monologue was an endlessly babbling brook, and she caught up on her sleep.

  When they paused for everyone to stretch their legs and answer the call of nature, Lena grabbed Zeph. “So, Henk,” she said. “I’m concerned.”

  “Why?” Zeph glanced around and spotted Henk kissing Gen’s hand while she blushed at something he said.

  “Gen is smitten, and I don’t think he’s trustworthy.”

  Zeph gave Lena the side-eye. “Are you sure you’re not just feeling bitter about men in general?”

  “Don’t go there,” Lena bit out, a hint of ozone singeing the crisp winter air. She heaved out a sigh. “All right, you have a point. That’s why I’m asking you. What’s your take on Princeling Henk?”

  Zeph shrugged, Gen’s delighted giggle ringing out. “He’s an empty-headed, pompous, and pampered boy who’s been told all his life that he’s special, so he’s never exerted himself in the slightest to be or do anything worthwhile.”

  Lena snorted. “But what’s your real opinion?”

  “He makes Gen happy. Isn’t that enough?”

  “It is until he makes her miserable,” Lena replied, very seriously. “Gen isn’t like you or me, or even Nilly. She’s got an innocence to her that makes her think everyone is wonderful. Henk could damage her.”

  “Then let’s ask her,” Zeph said. “Gen, over here!”

  Lena groaned. “This was not what I had in mind.”

  “Direct approach is always best,” Zeph told her cheerfully as Gen came toward them. “So, Gen, tell us about Henk.”

  She pressed her lips together mulishly. “You don’t like him.”

  “I don’t have an opinion about him,” Zeph corrected, then threw Lena to the wolves. “It’s Lena who doesn’t like him.”

  “Really?” Gen demanded. “Are you sure you’re not just bitter about men in general?”

  Zeph choked on a laugh when Lena muttered an oath of disgust. “I’m not denying the possibility,” Lena admitted tersely, “and you’re dodging.”

  Gen sighed. “I know he talks a lot, but—”

  “There is no but,” Lena inserted.

  “But he likes me,” Gen insisted with a glare. She twisted a long lock of chestnut hair around her finger and sighed again, this time wistfully. “He thinks I’m beautiful and exotic.”

  “Of course you’re beautiful.” Zeph rolled her eyes, though Lena gave her a warning frown for it. “What? Last time I got in trouble for not telling her that.”

  “It’s not the same coming from you.” Gen flicked her hair away again. “Henk has been around court ladies all his life and has very refined taste. He says I have a unique beauty and that I fascinate him, that I’m like no other woman he’s ever known. He’s never met a shapeshifter before. He thinks my abilities are miraculous. That’s the word he used.”

  “Have you demonstrated your shapeshifting for him?” Zeph asked, knowing the answer already, but beyond surprised.

  Gen brushed that off. “It’s not against the law.”

  “Her Majesty asked us to be discreet,” Lena pointed out.

  “Henk is discreet,” Gen insisted. “Besides, what harm is there in it? He says he’s dazzled by me.”

  Zeph and Lena exchanged uneasy glances. “Honey,” Lena said, “you have so much more going for you than any of that. You’re smart, talented, and fundamentally good-hearted. You don’t need some minor mossback prince to fetishize your exotic nature.”

  “That’s not what’s going on here.” Gen punched her fists to her hips. “Besides, my mossback father fell in love with my exotic shapeshifter mother because she fascinated him. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “Marskal knew Zynda for a long time,” Lena countered. “They served the high queen together and were friends first. It was more than a surface attraction.”

  “I love that you assume Henk is so shallow,” Gen fired back. “What does it matter, anyway? I’m just doing what Zeph advised me—and it’s good advice.”

  Lena gave Zeph such a sharp look that Zeph held up her hands in surrender. “I only said to stop evaluating each potential partner for true-love potential, to play the field a bit.”

  “See?” Gen smiled triumphantly. “That’s all I’m doing. You two worry too much.”

  Never in her life had Zeph been accused of worrying too much—which made her worry that Lena was onto something.

  They reached Lake Sullivan by midafternoon, which meant the sun was sinking low in these northern climes in midwinter, the slanting light streaking across the lake like a volley of fiery arrows. The carriages queued up at a pull-out area with a view of the lake, and they all piled out to look. Dina and Henk immediately flanked Astar, giving him the official rundown of the region, Gen trailing a step behind Henk like a neglected puppy.

  So, Zeph decided to practice being all polite and circumspect—and not puppyish—and went to join Jak where he’d scrambled onto a spur of rocks, braced with one knee high as he leaned on it to peer into the sheer drop below. “Amazing, huh?” he said to Zeph, his dark eyes sparkling with excitement. “Makes me wish I could leap off this ledge and fly.”

  “Me too,” Zeph admitted with a sigh. The sight was truly spectacular. Surrounded by startlingly high cliffs all around, the lake sat still and glossy black with chilly depths below. The steep grade of the hills made the drop all that much more dramatic, their pristine whiteness a stark contrast to the dark water.

  “The bottom is all the way at sea level,” Jak informed her. “That’s why these cliffs look so unusually high. A bit of an illusion, but it’s also a Danu-cursed significant change in altitude from here to there.”

  “Have you been talking to Henk?” she said wryly.

  “That guy,” Jak replied with considerable disgust. “What does our Gen see in him?”

  “He thinks she’s exotic.”

  Jak snorted. “Sounds to me like an asshole thing to say.”

  Zeph had to agree. “So, what happenings are we here to observe?” Everything looked perfectly quiet, the snow smoothly undisturbed, the water g
lass still without the slightest ripple. She frowned at that. Where was the native wildlife? Even in winter there should be fish surfacing to make ripples, birds circling in the sky or diving for those surfacing fish, trails in the snow where land mammals traveled to the lake to drink. Using selective shapeshifting, she increased the long vision of her eyes, searching for signs of life.

  “I’m surprised Astar didn’t give you the details during your intimate briefing.” Jak snickered and waggled his eyebrows.

  “Clearly you haven’t had an ‘intimate briefing’ of your own in far too long if you think that’s what happens,” she replied archly.

  Jak grunted, shaking his head and staring at the distant water. “You would be exactly right there, my friend. It has been too long.”

  “None of the court beauties of Elderhorst to your taste?”

  He glanced over his shoulder, gaze going unerringly to Stella, who stood at the cliff’s edge, by herself as usual, the wind off the higher peaks whipping her hair into a banner dark as days-old blood. Zeph frowned at that. Why was there wind up here and none below to ripple the lake surface?

  “My taste seems to be off these days,” Jak admitted. “I seem to have acquired a yen for the unattainable.” He transferred his gaze to Zeph and grinned, cocky and self-deprecating at once. “I could star in my own tragic Dasnarian ballad of unrequited love. The beggared sailor boy pining after the princess in the tower.”

  “Nilly is standing right there, hardly in a tower,” Zeph pointed out pragmatically. “And you’re hardly poor.”

  He lifted a shoulder and let it fall in the fatalistic Dasnarian style. “I own nothing. I have no prospects, no particular skills or talents. She’s a powerful sorceress who will be queen of Avonlidgh or Annfwn. And she might as well be in a tower, because the only person who can touch her is her twin.” He assumed a tragic posture, clutching his heart. “I’m doomed to long for the one woman who is literally untouchable.” He dropped the pose and put his hands on hips, staring down at the distant water. “Even if she would have me, which—let’s face it—why would she?”