by Aurelia Skye
“But I don’t feel it this time. I feel like I could do anything. I could pick up everyone…” He trailed off with a harsh gasp as the others levitated a few inches off the floor, all encompassed by the purple light. This time, the power was clearly coming just from Eamon. She wasn’t contributing to it.
North gradually released her hold on him, finding she remained aloft like the others until Eamon slowly lowered his arms, and they all floated to the floor. When her feet were firmly on the floor again, she looked around at the stunned faces, certain her expression mirrored theirs. “Did that take anything out of you?”
He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “It doesn’t feel like it.”
“You definitely have a connection with Eamon, so who’s next?” asked Kriss.
Responding to the challenge in his gaze, North stepped closer to Kriss. “I guess it’s your turn.” There was a fair note of challenge in her own voice, though she wasn’t certain about what she was challenging. Maybe it was just his general arrogance, which was equally annoying and charming, depending on how he wielded it.
He didn’t wait for another invitation. Kriss simply swept her into his arms, enfolding her in them, and pressed her close to his body. The weight of his erection against her hip left no doubt he was already turned on just from her proximity, and their lips hadn’t even met yet.
He fixed that a second later, pressing his mouth firmly to hers. Her lips softened, and she yielded to his dominance willingly. She could’ve kept fighting, but didn’t want to. His alpha aura made her want to surrender.
His lips curved to hers, and his tongue pressed insistently at the seam of her mouth, encouraging her to let him in. She acquiesced, and his tongue swept inside. As it stroked hers, another surge of desire filled her. What she felt was still different from the others, and she was certain it would happen like that with Orin and Ryland when she kissed them. They would all make her feel different things, but they were no less intense. So far, her reaction was equal for all, though manifested differently with each man.
Kriss threaded his fingers through her hair, pulling back her head to expose her vulnerable throat. His teeth raked lightly down the column of her neck as he nibbled his way to the bend, where he sucked forcefully. He was sure to leave a mark, but she didn’t care at the moment. She could find a garment to cover it up before dinner.
Right then, she just wanted to surrender to the sensations coursing through her—including the pleasing hum of power. It felt hot, making her skin itch. She suddenly wanted to tear off her clothes. It was difficult to tell how much was from desire for Kriss, and how much was reaction to the power surging through her.
His wings unfurled and wrapped around her, effectively shielding them from the others for a moment. It was like being wrapped in a cocoon, making her think of the ice faerie and its chrysalis, and she briefly wondered if she would emerge from this kiss transformed into something else. North gasped when flames suddenly surrounded them, but didn’t burn. It was like a protective barrier rested between her and the flickering heat they emitted.
She pulled back as Kriss lifted his head. When he opened his eyes, there were flames reflected in his irises and obscuring his sclera. Even the strands of his hair were on fire, but there was no singed smell, so his elemental magic must protect them from the flames.
As soon as the kiss broke, and he moved her away from him, the flame restricted itself to Kriss. It flamed high for a moment, turning blue at the center in its intensity, and the room was suddenly sweltering. And yet a second later, the fire was gone with not even a hint of smoke remaining. He simply pulled it back, looking cool and unaffected—except for his eyes, which still had flickering flames slowly burning down.
“And that’s another connection,” said Eli, whose tone was difficult to analyze. He sounded…displeased, and yet…resigned?
“Whoa,” said Kriss. His wings rustled as he retracted them.
“Is it all right if I go next?” asked Orin.
She nodded, still stunned by the fire that had consumed her without so much as pinkening her skin.
There was a sexy swagger to his step as he closed the distance between them. When Orin moved closer to her, she quickly forgot about anything but him as he took her into his arms. One of his braids brushed her cheek, and she lifted her hand to smooth it back behind his ear before pressing her palm to his cheek.
His lips took possession of hers in an easy, confident way that said he already knew she would respond to him. She knew it too, so it was no surprise to feel a familiar surge of desire, though it also felt different than it did with the others. His lips were somewhere between tender and firm as they moved slightly over hers, pulling away for a moment before returning to snag her lower lip and drag it slowly between his teeth. He nibbled lightly before soothing the spot with his tongue.
His hands pressed against her lower back, bringing her body fully against his. Her breasts crushed against the firm pressure of his chest felt decadent, and her nipples hardened to tight points as his tongue slipped into her mouth. He parried and thrust against hers, dancing away when she would’ve stroked the appendage; once again going back to light, almost teasing, kisses as he pulled his tongue from her mouth.
She followed, plunging it into his, and he allowed her to take the lead. The kiss turned urgent and needful in seconds, and she swept her tongue through his mouth in an attempt to memorize his taste and fuse with him.
The humming sensation filled her again. The vibration sounded lower and felt different in the way it pulsed. It was almost…lazy? No, playful, like the kisses he’d bestowed. It felt just like how she would’ve imagined Orin would feel, and the sensations seeped into her.
At first, she thought his hands had moved to her thighs, but quickly realized that couldn’t be, because he was still pressing both palms against her lower back. She whimpered and pulled away, startled by something caressing her leg. She looked down and gasped at the sight of vines twining around her in a playful fashion. Experimentally, she tried to pull away and was able to easily, indicating they were to tease and tempt her, not hold her captive.
She didn’t even have to think about it consciously. She was certain her magic caused the vines to twist and turn before blooming with colorful yellow flowers. It was like an invisible tether that she could almost see, pulling her toward the power.
He chuckled, and the vine started to withdraw. “You’re a natural at this.”
She grinned as the green glow surrounding them slowly faded before the vine and flowers disappeared. “Elven magic feels different from the others. It’s almost…”
“Fun,” he filled in for her with a wink.
She nodded. “That’s exactly it. It’s carefree and light.”
Orin surprised her by frowning and shaking his head. “It’s not always like that, love. When you get powerful enough, you can control all of nature, including the weather, the animals, and even some people, to a lesser extent. That depends on how deeply entwined they are with nature. It seems harmless, but can be devastating in the hands of someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.” There was a shadow in his dark eyes as he spoke the words.
She reached out instinctively to offer comfort. “Are you speaking from experience?”
He nodded, looking haunted for a moment. “When Mariwyn and I were children, my father was giving us a lesson in how to control wind. I lost control, wanting to see how high I could make my kite soar, and it got stuck in a tree. I was annoyed, and I remember wishing I could get my kite back. There was a crack of thunder, and then a brilliant streak of lightning as it struck the tree. It came tumbling to the ground and only missed Mariwyn by a couple of inches. If it’d fallen on her, she would have died. So, I urge you to be cautious.”
She absorbed his experience with a thoughtful nod. “I certainly will, and I’m relying on you to guide me when we’re in your realm.”
Ryland cleared his throat. “I think it’s my turn?”
A moment later, she lifted her head and licked her lips, staring up into his colorless eyes that had started to darken to amber as she ran a finger through his sandy-brown hair he wore loose around his face today. It touched his shoulders, and she traced it down until reaching his neck. She placed her palm there, cupping the column of his throat gently, and stretched high on her tiptoes with her chin tilted upward.
A moment later, his face pressed against hers, though their lips didn’t touch. It was like the technique he’d used to soothe her when she’d been panicking a few days ago at the Great Hall of the High Council, though there was definitely a new note of sensuality. She held her breath for a moment until his lips finally touched hers, lightly stroking against hers in a gentle, unthreatening way.
She responded, keeping the kiss slow and leisurely. He nibbled at her lower lip gently, not creating any pain. It remained pleasant even when his fang raked against her lip in a rougher technique. He immediately ran his tongue over the spot in a comforting way, but there been no pain. Truth be told, she was intrigued by his fangs, and a little unsettled when realizing she wouldn’t mind if he fed from her the old-fashioned way sometime, rather than draining her negative emotions.
She waited for the flutter of magic to fill her. When she searched, she could feel it. The power was a low and soothing hum that didn’t match the intensity of some of the other power surges. She was alarmed, wanting to have a similar connection with Ryland, and strained to feel it. The peaceful, soothing hum of the magic swept over her, but didn’t seem to gain in intensity. It was so laid-back she feared it was a weak connection, at best.
There were gasps all around them, and she lifted her head in time to see semi-opaque clouds of green vapor expelling from the mouths of the men forming a half-circle around her and Ryland. The clouds connected to her and Ryland both, though mainly to him.
As the vapors reached her, an acrid taste in her mouth made her want to spit, and she coughed. As she did so, he broke the kiss, and a putrid green cloud escaped her. A moment later, Ryland kissed her again, and that was gone. When she pulled back this time, parting from the kiss at the sound of a knock on her door, she exhaled a pale violet cloud instead.
One of the men moved to her door to open it, but she kept her attention focused on Ryland. “Do you feel stronger?”
He gave her a grin, though it seemed a little lazy at the edges. “Definitely. I’ve never siphoned off negative emotions from four people at once before. That’s what we did, you know?”
She nodded hesitantly, tearing away her gaze from his briefly to see who had arrived. It was Marek, and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, but she needed to know what was missing in her connection with Ryland before greeting him. “I felt it, but it was so gentle and quiet. It wasn’t anything like some of the more forceful reactions I felt.” She said the words regretfully as she looked away from him, hating to see his disappointment.
To her surprise, Ryland put his fingers under her chin, nudged her to face him, and tipped up her head so she looked at him. “That’s how my power feels. It’s soothing and calm. It’s different if I’m in a frenzy of bloodlust, but I prefer a more peaceful method of using my power to sustain me. It sounds like you felt a connection with me too. I’m sure it will grow stronger, if that’s your concern?”
She nodded as Marek moved closer. “It is. I thought maybe it wasn’t strong enough…” She trailed off as she turned to face an angry Marek.
He opened his mouth, looking like he was about to launch a tirade. Before he could, she acted on instinct and moved closer to him, bringing her mouth close to his without touching. Instinct guided her as she filtered out his anger and jealousy, sucking it from his aura and absorbing it into her own. She instantly felt stronger and more alert, without feeling the emotions of irritation or envy. There was a bitter taste in her mouth, and she exhaled a lighter green shade as she looked at him.
Marek looked far calmer, and a little stunned at the turn of events. “I…” He trailed off with a helpless shrugged. “I was so angry for a moment when I came in and realized you were kissing Ryland, but you took that,” he said with a hint of accusation.
Ryland cleared his throat. “Marek has a valid point, North. You should always get consent before feeding off someone’s emotions. People have a right to feel however they want, no matter how extreme or intense, and not everyone appreciates a soothing touch.”
She nodded at the gentle rebuke, gaze still on Marek’s. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to take away your ability to consent. It was honestly instinct. I’ve never felt anything like it.” That made her heart skip a beat as she realized she had a strong enough connection with Ryland to have his power lingering in her for at least a few minutes past their shared embrace.
She was encouraged by that, though she should’ve been hopeful for a lesser connection. That would have helped her eliminate at least one possibility among the six, and she was no closer to doing so even after having kissed them all. If anything, she was closer to them and finding it even more impossible to choose.
“I think I need some time alone. My head’s hurting.” That wasn’t a lie. It had been pounding at a low level since she started absorbing their magic. It was likely a reaction to the unexpected and unaccustomed power flowing through her, or maybe even a weird type of withdrawal now that the power seemed to be fading away.
There was no protest as the six of them formed a line and started filing out of her room. Marek was at the end, and as he started to leave, he leaned back and pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss. It caused power to surge, and her headache lessened. “Is magic addictive?”
He frowned. “I don’t believe so. Never heard of it being anyway.”
“I just felt like I was having withdrawals or something, but when you kissed me, I felt better. The headache lessened when you shared your power—or I absorbed it?”
“That’s the power of me, princess.” With a smug grin, he swept through the door. Shaking her head, she closed and locked it behind him before making her way to the bathtub. A hot bath sounded like heaven and would allow her time to process everything she’d learned during the last few minutes.
She soaked for almost an hour before emerging. There were a few hours before dinner, so she simply wrapped herself in the freshly cleaned fae fabric that formed a pair of flannel pajamas. Her headache had eased between the hot water and the last surge of magic and was certainly manageable now.
She was running a brush through her wet hair when there was a tap at her door. With a spring in her step, she hurried toward it, expecting it to be one—or more—of her six suitors.
Instead, Milo stood on the other side of the door. He looked nervous and self-conscious as he ran a hand through his silver-blonde hair.
She gave him a tentative smile. “Hello.”
He nodded his head. “About that message…” As he trailed off, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and slipped it to her discreetly. “This is crazy.”
She shrugged. “Maybe, but you can’t help who you love.” Or how many, she added silently. The Oracle and the Council were insane if they thought she could pick just one of the six.
He shook his head, looking appalled. “I’m not in love with her. I don’t even know her.”
She nodded, keeping any skepticism from her expression. He might not love Lyssa yet, but there was definitely something between them, and she wouldn’t be surprised to find out they fell quickly if they managed to get together to start with. She could relate, knowing a little something about falling quickly.
He turned and left after that without another word,
and she closed the door behind her. She was halfway across her room before an unsettling thought occurred to her—what if the Oracle and Caius got tired of waiting for her to make a decision and tried to choose for her? Would they take away five of her guards if she was taking too long to decide? The thought haunted her for the rest of the afternoon.
Chapter Six
The entourage took the train back to CenterPoint the next morning, after North parted with the king, queen, and Milo. Now, the Celestina side of the world, and the Drakken Castle, waited before her.
It wasn’t as hot as it looked, but it was humid, bordering on sweltering, as they stood on the platform and waited for transportation. It came a few minutes later in the form of three long vehicles similar to an Earth limousine, but higher off the ground. The chrome-looking exterior was also unlike anything she’d seen.
They ended up having to split into two cars, with their luggage in the third. North had left behind her lovely gowns, feeling it was inappropriate to take them from Haedra to Celestina. She wore the fae fabric, which was currently configured in short-shorts and a tank top. If she didn’t remember to change it to something more appropriate for greeting the king and queen, she was fairly confident the fabric would do it for her. It was just too hot at the moment to wear an appropriate dress or suit.
Kriss and Marek shared a car with her, but she had deliberately taken a seat across from them, so they were forced to sit together. It did them good to share proximity, even if it was forced. They had to find a truce between them. She couldn’t keep both of them if they couldn’t get along.
And she was certainly giving deep thought to doing just that. She didn’t know them well yet, not nearly as well as she was certain she could. They’d barely scratched the surface of getting acquainted, but she felt a bond forming with each of them. After sharing a kiss with all of the guards around her, she knew each one had a special feel to it as well. She would never mistake one of them for the other and could instantly recognize them just by how each of their touches made her feel.