FirePrincesBride

by Rebecca Airies

  “Your family knows of the danger. Everyone will be prepared.” Tyral curled an arm around her. “You’ll be safe.”

  “I know that you’ll do everything you can to protect me.” Karissa smiled up them.

  She would also be on her guard. These Royalists wouldn’t succeed. She wasn’t about to lose these two men now that she’d found them. This might not be what she’d expected, but she loved them. She’d expected her feelings for them to grow over time. The feelings hadn’t grown so much as exploded. She hadn’t expected it to happen this fast, for the intensity to be so great.

  “You’ll be in this room for only a short time, tana. A knock on the door will inform you when it’s time for the ceremony to begin.” Tyral brushed his hand across her cheek.

  She nodded, hesitated, and bit her lip while she thought. Coming to a decision, she straightened. She wouldn’t chance dying without telling them of her feelings. “Tyral, Callan, I need to tell you…I love you.”

  “I know. It was inevitable.” Tyral smiled and Karissa didn’t know if he was serious or if he was trying to make her smile with that outrageous line.

  She blinked, her head went back and she stared at him blankly for a moment stunned by his statement. “Inevitable…what do you mean ‘inevitable’?” Her hands slammed onto her hips outlining her curving waist. Her full mouth turned down into a ferocious angry frown.

  “Yes, eli moru, inevitable.” Callan stroked his hand over her arm. “We’ve loved you almost from the moment that we met you. It was inevitable that you’d realize you love us. We’re such amiable gentlemen. You were just a little slow in coming to the realization.”

  “You’re beautiful when you’re furious, anger fairly shooting out of your eyes,” Tyral observed with a smile. “Time to go. Soon, tana, you’ll be our mate by law and afforded the protection of that position.”

  Callan took her arm and guided her out of their bedroom. A mixture of exhilaration, dread, and determination swirled through her. She wanted a lifetime with these two men. It might take her that long to win an argument with them.

  The threat from the unknown men made her angry. It shouldn’t be this way. She hated being caught up in this play for power by men determined to end a royal line in the only way they could. She only wanted to marry her men and begin her life, but it wasn’t going to be that simple. First, she had to survive her wedding day.

  The room to which they led her was small, about the size of their closet. There were two doors, the one they’d entered and one which opened onto the hall. A red and gold carpet was spread across the floor. A chair covered in golden fabric had been placed in the center of the carpet and a small, highly polished brown table holding a bottle of wine and a goblet sat next to the chair.

  “We brought the cup and the wine into the room. It’s safe. Have a glass to calm your nerves. There’s a spell in place to protect you within this room.” Callan urged her over to the chair.

  The door shut with a solid click after them. Karissa sank down into the chair, getting more and more nervous as the moments passed. She poured a glass of wine and drank it slowly. She didn’t want to get even a little tipsy. In order to calm herself, she reminded herself of all of the precautions that had been taken to see to her safety. All the men were on alert—even the Frejan King had been told of the danger and he had promised that all Frejan men present would do their best to see that Karissa wasn’t hurt.

  Calm down and relax. Everything will be fine. We’ll make it. Ijina stirred within Karissa.

  Karissa heard a knock on the door which led into the Royal Hall. It was time. This was the one time when she would be vulnerable, unprotected. She’d never felt more alone or scared than she did at that moment. She drew in a deep breath as she paced over to the door.

  She opened the door. The Royal Hall was ablaze with light and color. Banners of red, yellow and gold hung from the walls. Fresh flowers and herbs scented the air. Finely garbed guests were assembled in long rows on benches and chairs, waiting to see the wedding of the Volirian Princes. A straight path lined with a golden carpet led to Callan and Tyral. They’d never looked larger or further away than they did at that moment.

  She smiled, a calm sureness sweeping over her. She’d get to them. If it took the last trace of her energy she would make it to them safely.

  She stepped out into the hall. Her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for those she knew. She saw her father, but a movement drew her eyes to the middle of the row. A redhead with a pale face and light green eyes caught her attention. She’d never met him. Something, some shift in his eyes, gave her warning a split second before the door slammed behind her.

  She threw up the strongest shield she knew. Less than a breath later, battle erupted in the Volirian Royal Hall. Women’s screams rang out as they scrambled to get away from the danger of the magic being wielded.

  Karissa winced as a strong bolt of magic hit her shield. She knew it wouldn’t hold long against such power. She knew that she couldn’t fight a man trained in battle magic. She had to defend herself, hold her shield and hope Callan and Tyral reached her before her shield failed.

  Ijina appeared, a hazy form standing beside her. She hurled shards of ice toward the surrounding men. A cry of pain tore from one of the men in front of them as one of the sharp ice spears sank deep. Ijina laughed triumphantly and kept throwing.

  “Hold on, Rissa,” Callan roared as he ruthlessly slammed a bolt of power into the red-haired man trying to block his path even as he formed an energy arc to take out another.

  Make your shield stronger, Rissa. Our mates are coming for us. Ijina only briefly glanced toward her.

  Karissa dropped to her knees trying to make her shield stronger, denser. Throwing all of her strength into her shields, she felt Ijina’s strength pump into her, flooding her with power. Ijina was still lobbing sharp icy spikes toward the enemy surrounding them. The Royal Guards and Callan and Tyral were getting closer. A few more moments and they would break through the line of men. She focused only on surviving, on staying alive.

  A ripple at the edge of the line of men drew her gaze. Karissa’s eyes widened as Rana managed to slip through the line of men. Her golden-haired friend stepped in front of her and threw up a shield around them both as an extra line of defense. Rana stood tall and fearless as magic slammed into her shield. Rana’s Elemental appeared and began throwing long icy blades. Karissa was amazed. She never would have asked Rana to risk her life like that, but she was overwhelmed with gratitude for the help.

  Men forming the ring around Karissa began dropping. She looked up to search for Callan and Tyral and saw anger and desperation cross the face of the brown-haired man just to the side of them. He began to gather his energy and she saw other men begin to do the same.

  “Rana…” Karissa screamed trying to warn her friend but only got the first word out before the balls hurtled toward them.

  Ijina took over in an instant, forming an ice barrier around Karissa as an added line of protection. The blast of magic hit the shields, slamming them back, shattering the ice shield. Karissa was knocked off her feet, but the ice shield had managed to absorb some of the impact. Karissa scrambled to her knees and looked around, desperately searching for Rana. She had to be all right.

  Callan slammed his fist into the jaw of the man whose power had just failed. The brown-haired man came back swinging. She saw them grapple and then the brown-haired man fell to the floor. Callan surrounded her with his magic, protecting her until the last of the skirmishes were finished by the Royal Guard.

  When the last Royalist fell, the guards began to gather the prisoners together. The captured men were taken out of the Hall. Their fates would be decided after the Formal Joining.

  Ijina looked around the hall. Karissa could see the tension in the wispy form standing in front of her. A moment later, she dissolved and flowed back into Karissa’s body.

  “Tana, it’s time. We have to marry now.” Tyral came forward and knelt in front of he
r as her eyes darted around the room.

  “Have you seen Rana?” Karissa stood allowing her shield to drop. She looked around, searching for her friend among those milling around the Hall. “Where is she, Tyral? She protected me and I haven’t seen her since that wave of magic hit us. You have to help me find her.”

  “Karissa…By the Veil, I don’t want to have to be the one to tell you this.” Tyral grimaced. “I saw the bolt hit both of you. Rana isn’t here. She was…”

  “What are you talking about, Tyral?” Karissa blinked confused. “Where is she? She has to be here!”

  “Karissa, we have to perform the ceremony. Your friend put herself before you to protect you and there’s no way we can thank her enough for it. There could still be danger to you. Don’t let her sacrifice be in vain, eli moru.” Callan took her arm and urged her toward the front of the room.

  “But your tradition…” Karissa protested, hanging back, unable to believe that Rana was dead.

  “At this moment, I don’t care about tradition and time-honored customs which have never before been broken. All I care about is your safety. Tradition left you vulnerable.” Callan tugged and she fell into step beside him.

  The men and women in the room quickly found somewhere to sit in the room. The once beautifully decorated hall was in shambles. Some of the hangings had fallen to the floor. Others hung precariously on the wall, scorched and in tatters. Most of the low benches had been destroyed during the fight, so most people sat on cushions on the floor.

  Callan and Tyral walked beside her up to a man in golden robes trimmed in black. He smiled as they came to stand before him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “My Lords and Ladies, we come together to witness the Joining of Prince Callan and Prince Tyral to Karissa Moshen, Aliara of the Frejan Court.” The Officiate ran his eyes over the crowd. “My Princes, take your Lady’s hand.”

  Callan and Tyral turned to Karissa. Her eyes swam with tears. Thus far it had been a nightmare of a wedding and it wasn’t yet over. Hopefully nothing else would happen and after the ceremony things could settle down.

  Karissa blinked, coming from the haze of sadness which had enveloped her when she had learned what had happened to Rana. Callan’s warm palm slipped under hers and Tyral’s hand covered her hand. Their hands turned sliding over hers and their fingers laced together, locking her hand between theirs. Her eyes met Callan’s and she gave him a little smile to show him that she would be all right. She could see the worry in his eyes.

  “The bonding of the Elemental Spirits begins each Joining. It’s a call that no one can ignore. As the Spirits join, so must the people join and acknowledge the truth, the reality of the joining, for it can never be broken. When this bonding occurs, it is indeed a blessing.” The Officiate looked into their eyes and then his gaze moved beyond, to those gathered to celebrate the wedding.

  The Officiate drew a red ribbon from a pocket on his robes, raising it so that those gathered could see it. “This ribbon symbolizes the Joining. It binds them together in a way we can all see, but the true binding has already occurred. In heart and spirit, they are one.” He wove the red ribbon around their joined hands.

  Next, he pulled a yellow ribbon from his pocket and held it up. “This ribbon symbolizes the emotions—the love, the caring—which will grow as the years pass. It binds them now and will strengthen their bond in times of trouble.” He wound the yellow ribbon around their hands, over the red ribbon.

  The Officiate tugged a golden ribbon out his pocket. He held it up for all to see. “Finally, this ribbon symbolizes the future—the children which will hopefully come to be, the many years of laughter and love ahead of them.” He encircled their hands with the golden ribbon.

  Karissa felt a tingle move through her. She looked down stunned as the ribbons around their hands wove together in a tight braid. She knew for a fact that the Officiate hadn’t used enchanted ribbons and neither Callan nor Tyral had cast any type of spell. Those things shouldn’t have braided.

  “The Marriage of the Princes is now sealed.” The Officiate announced.

  Tyral, Callan and Karissa turned to face the crowd and they raised their joined hands. The crowd roared with joy and relief. For everybody, it had been a long, tense day and one of the most memorable Joinings in history.

  She felt magic wrap around her. The protection spell took full, immediate effect. The threat to her physical safety was removed in most ways, but the cost had been great. Karissa could find little joy in the assurance of her own health. Rana had been lost because of those who sought to take the throne. Karissa had known that she could get hurt in the ensuing fight, but the fact that they’d wanted to kill her had blinded her to the reality that those she cared about could lose their lives just as easily as she could.

  The braided ribbon freed their hands, but the ribbons remained tightly interwoven. Karissa held it while and Tyral released her hand. They led her forward to those who wanted to offer their congratulations on their marriage.

  Her father stood at the front of the crowd. Gervis stepped forward and took her in his arms. Karissa lost all trace of her composure. She leaned into him and the tears began to flow.

  “Your marriage was destined to be one of a kind, but I don’t think any would have thought that it would have been this memorable, Karissa.” Her father patted her back. “Blessings on your union, my daughter.”

  “I never wanted anyone to get hurt trying to defend me.” Karissa lifted her head up and blinked at her father. “I never would have asked Rana to put herself in front of me.”

  “We’ll find Rana.” Her father looked grave, but confident. “She chose to give you aid and I know that you would have done the same for her. You were the best of friends. The ways of the Veil are many and varied, Karissa. She would still be here if she wasn’t meant to at least visit another place. Her fate will find her.”

  “I…I thought she’d been…” Karissa hiccupped and dashed tears from her eyes.

  “No, she was hurled into the vortex meant to take you from your mates. It was powerful, but she should ride it safely to its end. It drained the power of those who formed it.” Her father looked over her head. “Your husbands would like some of your attention.”

  She should ride it safely to its end. The phrase tumbled over and over in her mind. Her safety could depend on where that tunnel would end. Karissa knew her friend’s location relied on that. Had the men fixed the destination or had they meant to control it? If they hadn’t specified a location and time, the vortex would continue until it connected with another transport tunnel.

  She turned and looked at the two waiting men. They stood waiting, but impatience sparked in their golden eyes.

  She paced over to them. “I’m sorry I’m acting like such a baby about this.”

  Callan’s hand brushed over her cheek in a soft caress and his eyes softened. “It has been a far more eventful day than anyone could have predicted. If we’d known that you believed your friend dead, we would have reassured you, told you of what happened.”

  “Do you think that we’ll be able to find her?” Karissa looked up at Tyral as they steered her through the crowd. “She could be hurt and lost.”

  “Your friend will survive and flourish. I’m sure she’ll be safe.” Tyral squeezed her hand and smiled down at her at they arrived in front of the Kings of Volir.

  The two Kings stood with the Queen between them. They were separated slightly from the main crowd. Queen Maya held a pillow on which a delicate ceremonial crown rested.

  “My Kings, I present to you our bride, Karissa.” Callan urged Karissa forward with a nudge in the center of her back.

  “Come forward and kneel, bride to the Princes.” King Tovin extended his hand, gesturing to a spot before them.

  Karissa took a deep breath as nervousness fluttered in her stomach. She strode forward and dropped to both knees and bowed her head. King Marit took two steps closer to her and turned back, taking the crown from the
pillow the Queen held. He gently placed the crown on her head.

  “Rise, Princess,” King Tovin instructed.

  Karissa rose and smiled at them. She was just thankful this was over.

  “My sons, I want you to take the Princess on a tour of the Gallery and then return to us. By that time, the destruction should be cleared away and the celebratory meal ready to be served. She deserves a little time without this mess as a reminder of what has happened.” King Marit looked around the Hall. “In your absence, we’ll see to everything.”

  Callan and Tyral ushered Karissa out of the room as they saw guards begin to clear the room of people. They led her down the wide hallway to a set of double doors.

  “Welcome to the Volirian Gallery. Every King in our history is represented here in some form, be it statue, painting or sketch.” Tyral swept his hand wide to indicate the huge rectangular room. Instead of tapestries, pictures hung on these walls. Lamps hung from the ceiling, casting light on the images of Volirian royalty.

  “Every King is here?” Karissa raised her brows, disbelief clear on her face. “Even the Kings that came before the Sobrin rule?”

  “Yes, even they are included. The beneficent and the infamous Kings are displayed here, side by side, in the order that they ruled.” Callan chuckled. “If they were Kings of Volir for even a short time, their image is here.”

  “I see a few women’s pictures hanging on the walls here. What did they have to do to get displayed in this vaunted hall?” Karissa paced over to study a woman with a face ringed by blue green. It was obvious that she’d been mate to a Sobrin or a pair of Sobrin twins.

  “Ah for a woman to be displayed here, they have to be infamous or have done something very special. Queen Diera gave birth to two Sobrin daughters as well as two sets of male twins.” Tyral smiled at the picture.