Seducing Destiny

by Amelia Hutchins

  “I wouldn’t have interrupted you if it wasn’t important,” Zahruk said as he walked over and gently picked up Zander. He smiled, which made my eyes widen. Zahruk’s face changed completely when he smiled, which wasn’t often. He was a born warrior, and a damn good one. But when he smiled, he was beautifully dangerous. His eyes glowed with a light that he normally kept hidden from everyone, and his lips took on a softness that you never saw behind his warrior side.

  “On a scale from one to ten, how important is it?” I asked as I moved my hand over to touch the wispy blonde hair on the top of my daughter’s head.

  “Twenty,” he said as he kissed the top of Zander’s head and placed him back in his crib. “I’ve called the handmaidens in, and guards to watch over the babies. There’s also been no word from Ristan since he left to go check Alden’s progress.”

  “How long has Ristan been gone?” Ryder asked as he held our daughter closer.

  “He left after the presentation of the babes; ‘bout two days ago in the Human world, but when he left, he mentioned he would only be a few hours there. You know how punctual he normally is.”

  “Did he go to the Guild?” I asked, butting into the conversation.

  Zander let out a small wail and I watched in amusement as Zahruk deftly picked the small infant up and started rocking him in his arms as if he’d done it a million times before. I was amazed at the sight in the room. We each held a child, and it was the farthest thing from what I could have ever imagined. Ryder cocked his head to the side for a moment and from the narrowing of his eyes, I could tell he was concentrating very hard on something. He shook it off, and I felt a foreboding twinge in my gut, but I wasn’t sure if it was for the babes or something else.

  “Send Sinjinn to check on him. Tell him to be careful and not to try and enter the Guild. The Mages are desperate, and it’s likely they’ve grown bolder since they think they’ve gained a foothold in our world. They iced the Tree. It shows that they’ve become stronger, but it also shows how desperate they’ve become. We can use it against them,” Ryder finished and stood as he slowly moved to Kahleena’s crib to set her down.

  I’d never get tired of seeing my fearsome beast become a gentle one when he cradled our daughter like she was the most precious thing in his entire world. I hadn’t thought of what it would be like to watch him with our children, and it’s probably best I hadn’t.

  My emotions sat perched in my throat at the thought of it, along with watery eyes that made me feel too much, too fast. Seeing him like this floored me and made my heart grow warm. I moved to place Cade in the crib as well.

  “Ryder,” I said his name and then felt his magic as it washed over me. I had a scheduled playdate with my mother in the morning to figure out my abilities, since at the moment, I couldn’t even sift. The basics were gone, and I had to learn everything over again. It was like every time I figured out who I was, life would knock me down, and I’d get back up swinging.

  This time, I could feel this most recent change was the last one I’d endure, but I wasn’t afraid of it. I was happy. I had my beast, and he loved me. I had beautiful children who would survive because there was no way I would let this world reject them. We were also on the brink of a massive war, but I knew in my heart that we would be victorious, because we had to be. The alternative was unthinkable.

  I hadn’t spent half of my life protecting the world from these beings, to become one and let them wipe out the entire Human race. No; I was still me and I still had the same principles. Just because I was in their camp now and could see that they weren’t all monsters, it didn’t mean I’d allow them to consume the people I’d once protected. Which meant we had to win this fight, and quickly.

  I looked down to find a beautiful white lace dress with a high imperial waistline, which had small flowers that matched the ring on my finger; it hugged my curves beautifully. I could feel the weight of the crown Ryder had fashioned on my head, and smiled since the beast had even done my hair for me. “Nice, but you forgot something,” I said as I lifted the dress to show him my naked feet.

  “Maybe I like you barefoot?” he said. As I lifted my eyes to his, it was to find those beautiful golden eyes smiling.

  “Maybe, but I still need my feet covered, Fairy.”

  “As you wish,” he said, and I felt the cool touch of leather as it covered the soles of my feet. Next were the bands of silver that covered my biceps, and then bracelets that went halfway up to my elbows and jingled musically. Next he wiggled his fingers and a thin metal band slid over the soft column of my neck. I looked down at the thin band, and then back up at him.

  Zahruk cleared his throat, and I smiled at Ryder, as if we were naughty children.

  “Zahruk, is something in your throat?” Ryder asked him as he glamoured on his cloak, and his weaponry.

  “No,” he said with a grin as he set Zander back in his crib just as Darynda walked into the room. The moment she did, his eyes slid longingly in her direction. But one minute his blue eyes were longing, and before I could even blink, they turned cold and indifferent.

  I watched silently, observing Darynda’s own reaction to Zahruk’s presence. It seemed like Ryder and I were not the only couple in the room. Something was boiling between those two, and it was getting to a point that one of them was about to explode. My money was on Zahruk, because he was primal in everything he did, and I had a feeling Darynda was just as stubborn as I was.

  “We’ve named them,” I announced, trying to cut through the tension in the room. “This is Zander, after his grandfather. We wanted to give him another chance at life, an un-cursed one,” I added quickly when Zahruk’s angry eyes seared into me. “This little lady is Kahleena, and this one is Cade,” I finished and watched as Ryder’s eyes dared Zahruk to say anything about Zander’s name.

  “Beautifully chosen, my lady,” Darynda whispered as the rest of the handmaidens entered the room.

  “I wanted to name her Larissa, but I settled for Kahleena Larissa, princess of the Horde. My friend told me she would be reborn, and I wanted to honor her.”

  “It’s perfect,” Adam said from where he leaned against the doorway. “Larissa would have loved it.”

  I smiled at Adam, and felt a pang of regret that I couldn’t feel him with me any longer. I walked over to him, smiling at the jingle of sounds I created with the jewelry Ryder had glamoured on.

  “You look beautiful, Synthia.”

  “Thank you, Adam.”

  “So, she said yes?” he asked as he reached for my hand and held it up to get a better look at the beautiful ring.

  “She did; she’s to be my wife, soon,” Ryder said as we started out of the nursery to where the other guards were waiting at a distance from the doors.

  “This calls for a celebration,” Adam said as he winked and smiled at me wickedly.

  “There will be no wedding until the babies’ futures are secured. They are our number one priority right now,” I said, more to Ryder than to Adam, and was relieved when he agreed with me.

  “Speak,” Ryder said to the guards, their eyes on us as we approached.

  It was amazing how he could change from my Ryder to the ruler of the Horde instantly. As if he wore two faces, and went from being my smiling doting beast, to the elusive yet very deadly Horde King in a blink of an eye.

  “You’ll have to see it Sire, it’s not something we can explain,” Aodhan said as he glamoured on his own armor, as did the rest of the men.

  “Well, that can’t be good,” I said as they glamoured on their weapons as well.

  Ryder sifted me to the throne room and what my eyes beheld was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I gasped, but held all other emotions in check. The room had been enlarged, which was a good thing considering what had been waiting for us here. I felt the tension in Ryder as well, and was glad that he w
ore his weapons, as well as his men.

  Chapter Twenty

  The Winter Queen stood as tall as she could, and smiled at me. She’d not only brought her own people back with her, but she’d brought every court, and more. The Summer, Winter, Spring, and Autumn Elven courts stood together, even though they were like the Unseelie and Seelie of our courts, with both a benevolent and malevolent side.

  “I’ve spoken to them of our meeting, Ryder, King to the Horde. They have come to see if I spoke the truth of the changes to our world, and your court. I told them of the fierce woman who stands at your side, and of her promise.”

  I remained silent as I took them all in. They were all, at first glance, strong, eerie, and ravishing. The Spring Court was filled with dark and green haired Elves, all of who wore vines and clothing that mirrored spring. Flowers covered naked breasts and skirts looked as if they’d taken leaves and fashioned them into something a model would wear on a catwalk in Paris. The scent of spring waged war with the other seasons, and yet I found myself drawn to it and the promise of flowers that normally blossomed to life in the spring.

  The Winter Court all wore outfits similar to their Queen, beautifully crafted garments of ice, and soft blue dresses and cloaks. They stood behind their Queen proudly. I withheld a shiver as a gentle breeze started, and even though I knew it was a test by her people, I refused to shiver even as my body shivered internally.

  Mental note: When visiting the Ice Kingdom, make sure Ryder actually puts underwear on you, dumbass!

  The Autumn Court had flame colored hair, and other varying shades of leaves that you’d often see in fall. They wore outfits which matched, but instead of leaves, they had actual clothes on which had simple things like acorns and other varying items on them. Their eyes were mostly deep reddish-brown, their features sharp and expressions revealing that they were intrigued by us.

  The Summer Court looked nothing like summer. Their King had horns that spiraled up, and looked like they belonged on a goat; only these were golden and really quite beautiful. His eyes were clear, and completely white. If he had irises, they couldn’t be seen. He wore paint on his face that was illuminated by his skin, and eerie didn’t even begin to describe the look of him.

  There were others as well. Some were unclaimed Unseelie, as well as Seelie from the looks of mixed Fae and Castes in their ranks. They looked hardened, and cold. Their eyes told of a hard life, and trust was not something they’d give us anytime soon. They were of medium build, and differed in height. The only thing that said they were together was the leather they wore. It crisscrossed over their shirtless chests, and held an assortment of weapons on their backs. Their pants had been crafted from leather as well. They all carried similar axes and swords, and it looked like they were more than capable of using them. Another sign of their mixed breeds was the ears. They were slightly less pointed than the Four Courts that stood beside them.

  A male moved forward, but I couldn’t make out which Court he was from. He was beautiful, and yet I could feel power wafting off of him, and so too could Ryder. His eyes were a clear blue, so light in color that they appeared to glow from within. He had a symbol tattooed on his cheek, just below his left eye. His hair was the same blue-black of Ryder’s, and thick white and black brands pulsed on his biceps, and chest.

  “I am Elijah,” he said as he approached us. “Half-Angel and half-Fae, King of the Unclaimed Fae and son of Alazander.” The last part was said with hatred.

  “My father took no angels other than one, and she remained in his pavilion until just recently,” Ryder said quietly so that those in the assembly would be forced to strain their hearing.

  “No; shortly after he took her, my mother was called back to heaven, and he couldn’t stop the summons. He did not know she carried me when it happened. I chose to come back here and help others like me who had no rightful place in this world.”

  I remained silent, as did Ryder as animosity poured in waves off of the stranger.

  “I could challenge you, fight you, kill you,” Elijah continued. “Would you fight me…brother?” he sneered.

  “No,” Ryder replied, and you’d have had to be deaf to not hear the threat in his answer.

  “And if I demand it?” The stranger continued.

  “Enough!” I growled and stepped forward, my eyes turning to match his own as the Goddess within moved to defend her beast and her people. “This is not the time or place to retaliate against someone who had nothing to do with the details of how you were conceived.”

  “Synthia,” Ryder warned.

  “No,” I said as I turned to look at him. “You are not your father, and you’ve never raised a hand against this man. You’ve not wronged him by words or by deed and this meeting means too much for us to have one of your father’s offspring popping up and pushing up daisy drama!”

  “I was told you were bold,” Elijah said as he raised a hand as if he’d touch my face.

  “Then you’ve also been told I bite,” I warned. “Don’t touch me. If you’ve come here to damn Ryder for the deeds of his father—your father—you can leave now. If you damn him, you better damn well damn yourself in the process. He killed his father! He killed him for what he’d done to helpless women who he protected long after his father had gone. He’s a better man than any of you, for he’s fighting this war alone! He’s been fighting it, for you, for this world, and for what? To protect you, all of you. He’s better than I am, for I would have called for blood if I’d been left alone to fight for entire world. He doesn’t ask anything from any of you, and yet you think because of some crap his father did, that you are all lesser beings and not valid? His father was a tyrant, and incorrect in his beliefs. You all have power, if you all stand together. Do not let the deeds of one monster sway your choices. We’ve asked you all here because we need you. This is no longer a fight we can win alone, and it’s not one we should even consider fighting alone. It’s not only the High Fae who will be pushed out of Faery; you will all be pushed out. If this world dies, and the Mages win, we all lose. It doesn’t matter of you are lesser Fae or born of the higher Castes, in this fight we are equal and we can win, but only if you can all pull your heads out of your asses and stop listening to some tyrant that has long been gone from this world. You all have a place in this world, as do we.”

  “Beautifully said, for a mother who is willing to do anything to save her babes,” Elijah stated.

  “You’re not wrong,” I admitted. “I am a mother, and I will see that my children are accepted by Faery. Make no mistake, I am desperate. What I am not is stupid. I was raised by Humans, and while you may think it makes me weak, I say it makes me stronger than you. I have felt mortality, and I have lived in its world. I’ve also lived in this one. I’ve been on both sides, and I see us as one. I’m willing to break down walls and create a world where we all live as one; can you say the same?” I challenged him.

  “I can, because I too lived in the Human world for a very long time. I’ve also seen their weaknesses, and I know without a doubt that my people could live amicably with them, should this world die.”

  “For how long, Elijah, or how long would Humans continue to exist should the Fae fully come into their world? The half-breeds could, and depending on who sired them, they might even get along with the Humans. But then add the Horde, the rest of the High Fae, and the rest of those who live in Faery into the Human world, and recalculate the odds. How long before their Gods move against us for touching the Human race and wiping them out? How long before your mother’s God intervenes and removes us as a threat against his children?” I asked.

  His jaw ticked, and it reminded me of Ryder’s when he was angry with me. I turned to him and found him sizing up his brother. He’d stepped away from a challenge, probably for the first time in his entire life. He’d done it for his children and I couldn’t have been more awestruck and in
love with him as I was right now.

  “I asked the Winter Queen to speak with her council, because we need you. The Tree has been frozen by the Mages, and for those of you who are not up to date on the Mages, they want us all dead.”

  “Not us, just your kind,” someone shouted to Ryder.

  “My kind?” I asked and watched as one of the pasty Elves approached us. He was unclaimed Unseelie, of that I was sure judging by his fierceness, and his eyes.

  “His kind,” he corrected with a tilt of his head.

  “His kind is your kind,” I said softly. “You are my kind. We are all Fae, and that’s all they see in their rage of hatred. You think this war won’t come to your door? How long after they kill us would it take them to find you? They don’t want to rule this world; they plan to wipe us out by killing our world. Now correct me if I am wrong, but you live here too. If the entire Horde dropped dead tomorrow, they wouldn’t stop. If the entire high born Fae Castes left this world, they’d come after you next. They’d either want to rule your people, or kill them. It’s hard to say when they are fucking insane.”

  “You would have us fight beside you?” he changed his direction so quickly that I had to pause and actually look at him. He was scarred horribly, but he was still beautiful.

  “I would, as would my King. We want to unite this world, and make it one. You are a warrior, and it would honor us to have you on our side,” I said softly, pulling a page from Ryder’s book and making them all strain to hear me, “to have all of you on our side, and by our side for the upcoming battle.”

  “Then we have a Tree to unthaw so that your children can be accepted,” the Winter Queen said with a brilliant smile.