FirePrincesBride

by Rebecca Airies

  Callan and Tyral were dressed very elegantly tonight, far more elegantly than she had ever seen them. Both men wore deep red, silky tunics with intricate yellow stitching which emphasized their broad shoulders. Black leather breeches molded to their thighs and shiny knee-high boots completed their attire. They looked delicious and a little dangerous—like sleek predators that had been groomed and turned loose among pets.

  Callan arched a brow as he noticed that her gaze lingered at his hips. Tyral just flashed his white teeth at her. Each man extended an arm to her, leaving the spot between them for her. With a last smoothing sweep of her hand over her dress, she stepped forward. She laid a hand on each of their arms and allowed them to escort her out of the room.

  The Royal Hall had been prepared for a celebratory feast. Low tables were set with the finest dining ware. Red and yellow pillows offered cushion to those seated before the elegantly laid tables. Volirian nobles were already gathering for the meal when Karissa, Tyral and Callan arrived in the Hall. As their appearance was noted, a low buzz of conversation rumbled through the room. When their Kings arrived, they led her up to the table.

  In most worlds, princes would be seated on either side of the kings, but not on Volir. The Princes were tied together and would rule together. Now that they’d found their mate, they would sit with the woman who would be their Queen when they ascended to their throne. They sat to the left of their fathers and Karissa was seated between them. Just Karissa’s placement was an announcement of the wedding, but the Kings stood and motioned for silence from the gathered nobles.

  “As you all have guessed over the past weeks, the Princes have found their mate.” King Marit cast a smiling glance over at Tyral and Callan. “When my sons forsake the pleasures offered by the Court’s Ladies, the conclusion is obvious.”

  A light wave of laughter swept through the crowd.

  King Tovin motioned for silence. “Their mate, Karissa Moshen of Tengan House, Frejan Aliara, arrived today. We would like to welcome Karissa to Volir.”

  Applause and cheers rang through the hall.

  “As well, we’d like to express our happiness that our sons have found their mate. We look forward to welcoming you to our family, Karissa.” King Marit picked up his glass and raised it.

  Karissa blushed a fiery red, but smiled and nodded in reply to the toast. She’d been the center of attention before, but this time it seemed more important. Callan and Tyral chuckled, hugging her.

  The meal that followed was delicious and she found the conversation engaging and informative. Karissa liked the Princes’ mother, Queen Maya, and found her to be much as they’d described her. The Queen was so tiny compared to the large warriors who were her husbands. She had an innocent air, a sweetness about her that radiated from her and drew others to her, but that wasn’t the first thing that drew Karissa’s notice.

  The Queen had a distinctive ring of blue-green skin that circled her face and dipped down onto her neck, marking her as mate to a Sobrin. Karissa had heard of the characteristic mark, but had never seen it. She thought the way the coloring framed the petite woman’s face was beautiful.

  Karissa was curious about what role Queen Maya played in the court. She really wanted to know what her own life would be like here. Would she be just someone who sat at their side or would she be a partner? She had no idea if the Queen had any acknowledged power in the Volirian Court, but the woman definitely had influence. That much was obvious.

  After the meal, Tyral and Callan began introducing her to some of the Volirian nobles gathered in the Hall. The servants—magically created beings—began to clear the hall, moving the tables out of the way and clearing away most of the pillows.

  A good portion of the non-Sobrin nobles had fiery red hair, but there were also black-haired and brown-haired nobles. Most of the women Karissa met were friendly and welcoming. It was the men who seemed a little distant, even irritated.

  And you haven’t been here long enough to cause any trouble yet. Ijina offered.

  I never caused any trouble at the Frejan Court. As for the incident in the Teiran Court, you know that woman hit me. I didn’t even hit back. Karissa crossed her arms.

  Callan and Tyral were called away by their fathers and left with a promise to return soon. Karissa laughed at their obvious reluctance to leave her and shooed them away. She was more than safe in the Royal Hall and knew her way around Court life. If she chanced to come across some catty behavior, it wouldn’t worry her unnecessarily. That was part of being in Court.

  She smiled as one of the Volirian Advisors strolled up to her with a smile across his round face. This was Darel Nacain. He and three other members of the advisory council to the Kings had been introduced while they still sat at the table. She had found him to be friendly and outspoken.

  “I noticed that you seemed a little confused about the behavior of some of the men here at the court.” Advisor Nacain bowed briefly.

  Karissa smiled. “They almost seem a little angry with me, but I haven’t even met them.”

  “Don’t make the mistake that any of them are being disrespectful or that they’re angry at you specifically.” Advisor Nacain grinned. “They’re merely a little angry about all of the changes brought about by the Princes’ meeting you. Some of them cherished their freedom.”

  She looked at him blankly. “There were changes after they returned?”

  “Apparently the Princes took a few of your conversations to heart. Men in Volir no longer have the freedom to wait as long as they want before they begin searching for their mate.” Advisor Nacain chuckled.

  She couldn’t keep the wide grin off her face. She could easily imagine some of the men’s feelings about even the idea of having to go look for a mate just because they had reached a certain age. And the fact that it had been motivated by a woman would make it all the more infuriating to them.

  “After they told their fathers some of what you’d told them, it was soon decided that we wouldn’t risk our males that way. That has obviously not been met with the full approval of the males. They do understand the reasoning, but they don’t pretend to like it.” The advisor’s amusement was more than obvious.

  Her mouth fell open in astonishment, but a slow smile crept across her face. She’d never thought anyone would even try to remedy the disparity in the treatment of males and females, much less that the change would be almost immediate. Of course, quick results became a little more probable when it was princes seeking to change things.

  “Even when you were on that planet with them, they considered you their future Lady. It’s only natural that your worries became theirs.” Advisor Nacain nodded kindly when he saw her confusion. “You might not have known them as your mates, but they had declared themselves clearly in the way of the Sobrin and of the Volirian people.”

  “How?” She stepped closer to the man, anxious to learn what they’d said or done that had signified their intentions to bond with her. Callan and Tyral kept saying that she would have known they saw her as their mate if she’d known Volirian culture.

  “There are many ways for them to do it. From your comfort in the way they address you with Sobrin endearments, you’ve been hearing them for some time.” Advisor Nacain raised an eyebrow.

  “Well, yes, but I thought they were just love words,” Karissa admitted without really understanding what was so special about them calling her by an endearment. Males in the Frejan Court often called females by endearments when they wanted only a bed partner for the night.

  “Those aren’t merely love words to a Sobrin male. They’re said only to their chosen mate.” He nodded again when Karissa looked at him incredulously.

  Did you know that? Karissa asked Ijina.

  No, I didn’t know the words were important. They didn’t tell me.

  “Almost from our introduction to each other, they used what I knew were endearments even if I didn’t know their exact meaning. I didn’t think anything of it. Lots of men throw around such words w
ithout meaning it.” She shook her head and felt her irritation rise. How was she supposed to have known Sobrin males only said those words to one woman?

  “As well, they probably served you when you ate, which would have been an obvious indication to any Volirian woman.” Darel Nacain smiled in amusement as she turned a severe frown on him.

  “I’m not Volirian. We talked of many things, but they weren’t at all chatty about that.” Anger bubbled up within her and she again felt the urge to ice them. Even serving her food had had a hidden meaning. Both of them needed to be kicked. They could have tried harder to reveal the bonding to her.

  Everything they’d done seemed to have been a reinforcement of their bond with her, a clue to their intent if she’d had the knowledge to unravel them. All of it had been laden with meaning beyond the obvious. That first meal had been a statement of intent, yet she hadn’t known what they’d meant or wanted from her. By the Ancients, if they were in front of her at this moment, she would have been tempted to cascade a freezing downpour over their heads.

  “Wha…” Her eyes widened as pain sliced through her back. She could feel warmth spreading down her back in a wet rush.

  She coughed, her hand automatically moving to cover her mouth. Drawing in a gasping breath, she was amazed at how much effort it took. She couldn’t understand what was wrong or why she was having trouble drawing breath. She half expected someone to apologize for bumping into her. When she looked down, she saw blood on her fingers. Confusion began to cloud her thoughts.

  Even through the bewilderment and pain, Karissa saw Ijina stream from her body. The Ice Spirit solidified in front of her. The Spirit’s hands clenched at her side. Karissa opened her magic to the Ice Spirit’s use. Ijina would need the power to defend them both, especially if Karissa lost consciousness.

  “Assassin!” Advisor Nacain’s voice rang through the hall above the murmur of the people conversing around the hall. He caught her as her knees buckled. He felt wetness on one of his hands and when he looked at it, he saw dark red blood. “I need a Healer! The Princes’ mate has been hurt.”

  She saw a man running across the room. He pushed one person out of his way when he didn’t move aside fast enough. Callan and Tyral arrived just before the Healer and both went pale when they saw her barely conscious and bleeding from the wound in her back. The bleeding gash bubbled with each shallow breath. From the gurgling sound, she knew that blade had punctured her lung.

  The Healer skidded to a stop, dropping to his knees. He worked quickly and efficiently. He checked the wound for spell work. When he was certain he wouldn’t do her more harm by healing her wound, he performed a spell to close the wound and repair the internal damage. Then he turned her to her back and waited.

  Her eyes fluttered open and she jerked back, tensing when she saw three blurry faces hovering over her. She blinked and the faces came into focus. Tyral, Callan and a strange man leaned over her. She remembered talking to the Advisor, pain in her back and then everything had slowly faded. The thing that most concerned her was the worry, almost panic that clouded Callan and Tyral’s faces.

  “What happened?” Karissa reached up and stroked her fingers across Callan’s cheek.

  “Someone stabbed you, tana.” Tyral took her other hand and lifted it, giving it a soft squeeze. The sight of her like that had instilled a sheer panic that still rang through his body. Rage had been quick to follow. The last emotion had been sheer determination. No one would take her from them. “Did you see anything, anyone?”

  Ahvin was raging inside him. Only the need to reassure Karissa, to make sure she was safe, kept the Fire Elemental from rampaging. She needed to be protected from the enemies who had hidden among their Court.

  They won’t succeed in killing her, Ahvin promised.

  Tyral wanted her safe, completely protected now, but all he could do was guard her. Ancient custom, one that every Volirian King was expected to uphold, kept him from placing the one spell that would ensure her protection.

  Now he knew exactly what his fathers had suffered before their marriage.

  “No, I didn’t see anything. I was talking to the Advisor and then I felt a sharp pain. I thought someone had bumped into me or something. Everything began to fade and it became hard to think.” She saw the need in Tyral’s eyes and squeezed his hand. “Why would someone here want to hurt me?”

  “No one’s going to hurt you, eli moru. Someone has been trying to end the line of Sobrin Kings for many years.” Callan stroked a finger over her lips. “You’re our future, the only woman for us.”

  “At this moment, you’re at your most vulnerable to attack and they’ll seek to take advantage of that.” Tyral helped her into a sitting position, his arm curling around her waist. Who had done this? He’d never have thought a member of their Court would try to assassinate their Lady. There hadn’t been trouble in years. They hadn’t had any reason to believe she’d be in danger among the most trusted of their Court. “After our marriage, they won’t have that opportunity. There will be protection spells on you.”

  Callan lifted her into his arms. “You have our word that they won’t harm you.”

  “I’m not afraid, Callan.” Karissa slid a hand over his chest as she saw the tension in his body. “Who did this? Did you catch them?”

  “Not yet, but we’ll get them.” Tyral’s voice was hard and utterly confident as he gave that assurance. His eyes swept the room. Almost everyone present was suspect. “We’re going to get you comfortable, seated, and guarded and then we’re going to help with the search.”

  “Your physician healed me. There’s no need for any fuss or even to carry me.” She looked earnestly up into Callan’s concerned golden eyes. “Just go find out who did this.”

  “We will, but first… Do you mind if I clean you and change your dress?” Callan drew his finger down her cheek.

  She swallowed and nodded. “You can do it. I don’t want to wear it any longer either.”

  As he changed her clothing, he sent a wave of magic over her skin. The spell cleaned away even the smallest traces of blood. In a blink, she was wearing a dress of deep red.

  Tyral felt the same urgency she did. He needed to know who’d done this, who had tried to kill her, but she came first. He and Callan would see to her comfort and safety before they joined the search for the traitor. Placing her in a chair next to their mother, they stationed Jadal, a trusted, seasoned warrior, near her to stand guard and brought her a glass of hot, sweet ica berry tea. Only then did they join the search.

  Because of Advisor Nacain’s presence of mind in yelling the warning of the assassin, the doors to the Hall had been barred and no one had been allowed to leave the room since the incident. Everyone knew the assassin was still in the room. The warriors were prepared. He was likely still armed and desperate to escape by now.

  Callan and Tyral along with the other warriors moved through the room in a systematic search, looking for anyone or anything out of place. There weren’t very many places for someone to hide a weapon in the large open room, but for a time after the stabbing, everyone’s attention had been distracted, so they also looked for the weapon. Everyone was a possible suspect because no one had seen the person stab her and impersonating another required only a simple, well-known spell.

  “Prince Callan, Prince Tyral, over here,” a warrior’s voice rang out from across the room.

  Anger and determination boiled through Tyral as he stalked through the crowd. Those in his path hurried to get out of his way as he made his way there. He looked across the rapidly clearing space and saw two warriors holding a man who appeared to be a servant from the clothing he was wearing. As Tyral approached them, he knew this man wasn’t one of the magical creations. Once he got close enough, he could feel the light presence of a glamour spell.

  “We found this in his pocket, my Princes.” Laed Garresh held out his hand revealing a blade coated with blood.

  The sight of that blood sent rage exploding through Ty
ral. “What’s your name, assassin?” A smooth gliding step carried him to within a step of the man and a wave of his hand dispelled the glamour.

  “What does it matter, usurper?” The man jerked against the strong grip of the two men holding him. His lips curled into a sneer. “The rightful line of the King will rise again.”

  “The old royal line died with its last King.” Callan shook his head at the stubborn denial of fact. There had been thirty pairs of Sobrin Kings since the last of the old royal line had disappeared, its last King leaving the world unmated and childless. “Take him before the Kings. He will be judged for his treachery.”

  The stocky man was taken before the Kings. Callan and Tyral joined their fathers, standing at their side as they stood to pronounce judgment. The warriors never left the assassin’s side or removed their hands from him. He had already shown that he couldn’t be trusted. He wouldn’t be given a chance to inflict more harm and possibly kill someone.

  “The line of Sobrin Kings will come to an end with this generation. All hear me and know, rejoice that their perversions will come to an end soon. The rightful and true King will ascend to the throne and rule Volir justly,” the assassin proclaimed in a strident voice.

  “Silence.” King Tovin’s voice was hard and accompanied by a whiplash of magic that ensured the man’s compliance with the order. He glowered down at the man.

  “According to Volirian law, we regrettably can’t sentence you to the death you deserve for your attempt on the future Princess’s life. As she isn’t yet a member of the royal family or of the Volirian Realm, we must spare your life. Still, you won’t find the punishment for this crime light.” King Marit stood, his mouth twisted into a harsh frown as he looked at the defiant man.

  “You’ll live, but we don’t have to make it easy for you to remain alive. You’ll have to survive by your wit and skills from now on. You’ll have no magic to rely on.” King Tovin waved his hand, sending a wave of magic toward the man who was only now showing fear for the consequences of his actions.