“It’s an honor to meet you,” he said quickly, and then others followed suit. I was shaking so many hands that the faces were a blur as they ushered me through the crowd with Farran at my back. When I stumbled into someone, I righted myself, apologizing before I looked up into Rowan’s furious gaze. This time it was directed at Farran.
“What do you think you are doing?” he growled at him as he placed a hand around my arm in a secure grip, the touch sending tingles radiating through my body. Farran just shrugged as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
“Escorting the princess to her party.”
“Her party is within the palace walls,” Rowan droned, narrowing his eyes.
“We took the scenic route.”
“This isn’t my party?” I asked, looking at the crowd gathered around us in confusion.
“No, this is a party for the people of Alaris in celebration of your birthday,” Rowan said, pulling me toward the palace steps.
“So wait, I’m not allowed to attend my own party? That doesn’t even make sense.” I grumbled at the way my skin still tingled with the contact of his, even though he was being annoying.
“The Six are giving you a party in the ballroom. High-ranking members of the society are invited to attend as well,” Rowan said simply when we entered the palace doors. He stopped to look me over, his eyes lingering a little longer than needed. I felt satisfaction light in my belly.
“What are you wearing?” he scoffed, and I frowned.
“A dress.”
“That is not a dress for a princess.”
“I like it,” I said indignantly as he walked behind me and hissed.
“It is missing the entire back. You cannot be presented to these people dressed in this manner. You must change.”
“This is what I am wearing,” I said firmly, leaving no room for discussion. Who was he to tell me what I could wear? He looked at Farran for help, and when he received none he let out an exasperated sigh.
“So be it,” he growled, walking off. Farran and I exchanged a smile before we followed.
My arrival was announced so that everyone could take a good look at me as I walked through the crowd. The guests were all dressed in extravagant suits and enormous ball gowns. Unlike the people outside, they parted the way, leaving me a path to the front of the room. I tried to remain calm, smiling and nodding as I walked. The air felt stuffy, and I already wished I was back outside with the others. Each of the Six looked me over, trying to hide their surprise at my attire. I caught a smile on Dahlia’s face and grinned back at her. Mauve pulled me up on the stage where the band was set up and began her speech.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice. As you might have discerned, our princess has returned to us,” she quipped, and the crowd chuckled.
“She has been under the protection of the twelve monks of the mountain and remained hidden until her maturity. They taught and trained her in their arts and customs well past the point of mastery, and even then she has graciously agreed to train alongside the other novices her age. I have it on good authority that her abilities surpass even those of our fully trained guard, and that is no easy feat.” She gestured to the wall where the guard was posted. They stiffened with scowls on their faces. I paled. She was exaggerating quite a bit. I could run, climb, balance, and jump in a fun competition as well. I didn’t have any of the skills or experience that the fully trained guards possessed.
“With that knowledge, It is our hope that you will donate to our cause to ensure the welfare of the people of this city. Now, with that out of the way, let the party begin!” She clapped her hands, and music began. Everyone branched off onto the dance floor and began spinning gracefully. Mauve paraded me around, introducing me to people whose names I didn’t even bother committing to memory. Stuffy and entitled, that’s what these people were, and they all looked me over as if I were a piece of meat they were thinking of buying at market. I felt ill.
I looked around in a panic for Farran, and he was at my side quickly, excusing me from the others and pulling me away.
“What was that?” I hissed. This was most definitely not a party for me. This was a political move.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” Farran growled, and I understood. They wanted to show proof that they had me and I was all that I was supposed to be, a descendent of great bloodlines and power. Bragging and begging at the same time. These were people they wanted to secure as allies. I was tired of being paraded around and sat on display. I felt a growl of agitation building in my throat. I didn’t want to be here.
“May I be the first to ask you to dance?” I looked up into Malachi’s face before turning to Farran, who shrugged, leaving it up to me. I nodded and let him take my hand and lead me out on the floor. The guards were all wearing matching black suits, tailored to perfection. I tried to concentrate as Malachi effortlessly began the dance. I had never danced like this before, but the steps were easy enough to follow, and all I really had to do was follow Malachi’s lead.
“That was some introduction you got.” He chuckled in my ear, and I grimaced, embarrassed.
“I didn’t know she was going to say those things,” I said honestly, looking him square in the eye. It was hard not to admire Malachi’s handsome face, especially when it was this close. I held his stare and after a moment he nodded, deciding to believe me. He twirled me around before pulling me closer, my body flush with his. I stiffened and he chuckled again.
“So uptight, Vivi. Why don’t you let loose a little?” He challenged me, and I forced myself to relax into his hold, following his lead and pulling a devilish grin to his full lips.
“Much better,” he praised before letting his hand slide down my bare back, splaying his fingers firmly across my spine. I tried not to, but I stiffened again. I was unused to this kind of touch completely.
“My, my . . . you are as innocent as he says, aren’t you?” he whispered in my ear, and the heat of his breath sent a pleasant shiver across my skin. I relaxed into him again, and when we turned following the dance, I saw surprise in his eyes as he reached toward my thigh where my dagger was hidden.
“Are you planning to use that?” he asked, touching the sheath, and I jumped back from him quickly. Rowan was between us in the blink of an eye.
“Do not touch her that way.” He growled.
“It’s OK. It wasn’t what you think,” I said stepping around him to stand beside Malachi, who grabbed his chest in mock pain.
“It wasn’t?” he asked winking before walking away. I glowered at Rowan.
“Why do you always insist on ruining my fun?” I hissed, and his eyes widened before darkening.
“He was making unwelcome advances—”
“If someone is making moves that I don’t like, I will let him know. I am not a child. I can take care of myself,” I growled, angry at having to repeat the sentiment, and his eyes flashed.
“You may not look like a child, but you certainly act like one.” Rage surged through me and I rushed at him—to do what, I’m unsure—but he thwarted whatever would have occurred by spinning me and pulling me into the dance again. I blinked in confusion when I saw humor in his eyes.
“You must learn to control yourself. The spirit of your tigress is fierce, and you do not want to make a spectacle of yourself in front of all these people.” He whispered as the anger left me in an instant, and I fought the urge to mold my body to his. He smelled of mint, fresh and crisp. His hair was secured behind his neck, giving me uninterrupted view of his face. His brow was furrowed, and I noticed a scar along the underside of his jaw and ached to run a finger across it, to know how he got it, to know everything about him that I could. He looked so well put together, and all I wanted to do is mess him up. I blushed at the line of my own thoughts. Something about him drove me wild.
“Your eyes are alight,” he remarked as he glanced down at my face. I blinked, trying to will them to return to normal as my heart raced in my chest. One of h
is hands held mine firmly in his and the other was at my back, his fingers barely brushing my skin. Oh, but I wanted more . . . if he would only flatten his palm to my skin, I might burst into flame. I could feel that my tigress’s curiosity was piqued by my reaction to him, and I wasn’t sure how to control it.
“What is the matter? What have I done to anger you further?” he questioned as he stared into my eyes. I knew that they must have been bright with the need for him to touch me more firmly. I tried to breathe deeply, looking away from him and at anything else in the room, but I simply couldn’t ignore the fact that he was touching me. Why did my body react to his so desperately?
“You must control your anger before this song ends, Vivienne,” he complained, and I rolled my eyes at how absolutely oblivious this man was.
“I’m not angry,” I half whispered, leaning into him and deciding to give in to the need that was deep within my bones, if only for a moment. His eyes flashed, and then apprehension dawned on his face as he stiffened, causing me to stumble. He released his hold, and I blushed from head to toe, embarrassed by my own forwardness. We stood completely still, even as others danced around us for what seemed like an endless amount of time.
Finally seeming to collect himself, he turned and rushed from the dance floor . . . leaving me standing alone. I tried to regain my composure as I glanced around for Farran. I couldn’t spot him in the crowd, but I noticed that the members of the guard were staring at me suspiciously as they whispered among themselves. I watched Adelaide rush out the door after Rowan, and I ground my teeth, unwarranted jealousy rushing through me like a flood. I had to get out of here.
I looked around for another exit, but I quickly realized I would most likely end up lost, and so I headed for the front of the room. Briony popped her head into the door and caught my eye, waving me over. I hurried for the exit, nodding to people as I went. I was beyond caring whom I offended by leaving; this party was never for me anyway. They had gotten what they came here for: a look at the would-be queen.
The whole crew was waiting for me in the hall, and I smiled, finally among friends. We ran down the halls and to the front of the palace as silently as we could manage while trying to keep the noise of our laughter down. Luca took my hand and pulled me to the front of the group. I liked the way my hand felt in his, and I smiled at him when he gave me his signature wink. Maybe it was the complete rejection I had just faced, but I didn’t mind feeling wanted.
“This is going to be the best party ever! We are all going to get our asses kicked tomorrow. Wait until you see what we’ve done.” He whispered excitedly. I was just about to respond when we rounded a corner and shock split through me, my heart dropping to the floor.
Rowan had Adelaide firmly pressed against the wall. Every part of their bodies were intertwined, their lips dancing furiously. I gripped Luca’s hand so tightly that he yelped, drawing attention to us. Everyone laughed and ran for the exit, busted while helping me escape. Rowan’s eyes met mine, and my heart turned to stone. Fury, betrayal, disgust, and—outweighing it all—pain. My heart physically hurt at the way his eyes softened. Within minutes of holding me, rejecting me . . . he was kissing her. I wasn’t giving him a chance to explain, and I could see that he intended to do just that. I turned, pulling Luca toward the exit while forcing a laugh that sounded fake even to my own ears.
“Hurry, let’s go!” I said, and he smiled, happily running behind the others out the door and into the slowly fading sunlight.
This was not going to ruin my birthday. I kept repeating it like a mantra in my mind as we hurried along the road leading to our secret spot. Rowan had made his feelings (or rather, lack thereof) toward me very clear, and I wasn’t going to cry over my first crush rejecting me. Especially not on my birthday! This was not going to ruin my birthday . . .
When we made it to the clearing, a smile split my face at what I saw. Streamers were hanging from the limbs of the tree, a “happy birthday” banner spread haphazardly across the trunk, and piled beneath it was an array of bottles that raised my eyebrows to my hairline. I had tasted wine before in Velia, but these bottles looked like a home-brewed variety of alcohol that had quite a reputation for having that extra kick. The kind of kick that made men into fools and just what I needed to get my mind off all that had happened.
I sipped the bitter-tasting liquid as the others shared stories of the party . . . the one that was in my honor, and I wasn’t allowed to attend. They had danced, sang, played games, and they had even had cake! I should have refused the exclusive party in the palace and joined the regular people in the streets. I took a big gulp of the liquid and hissed at the burn. Next time I would refuse special treatment. I looked around at my group of friends and smiled. I wanted to be like them. I wanted to spend my time with them, not locked away. I was going to take care of this. I took another sip and the burn was gone. It tasted much better now. I would take care of it tomorrow.
Griffin pulled out a guitar and began playing an upbeat song. Briony joined in clapping and singing. Her voice was surprisingly sultry. It was lovely. We all gathered around the fire and danced along. I finished my cup before Luca took my hands in his and began spinning us around to the beat. One too many turns sent us sprawling on the ground, heads whirling dizzily even after we fell. Laughter spilled loudly into the night, both from us and the others who continued to dance along.
I had definitely had more to drink than I should have. He tried to help me to my feet and ended up falling on top of me again instead. We laughed, and I blushed at the way it felt to have him firmly pressed against me. He must have noticed because a flicker of attraction flashed in his eyes. I lifted my hand to his dark hair and brushed it out of his face. The move felt both odd and natural. A smile quirked the corner of his mouth, and I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful he really was. He leaned in and my heart sped, because I knew he was going to kiss me.
I panicked at the last second, rolling to the side and knocking him off me clumsily. He blinked a few times and shrugged as if to say it was all right and started helping me to my feet more slowly this time. Everyone was still laughing and dancing around us, but my mood was more subdued now. Why hadn’t I just let it happen? Luca was clearly a great guy. I nodded my thanks as he smiled at me . . . even as Rowan flashed through my mind. I was about to apologize when a flicker of movement in the cornstalks caught my eye. I watched for a moment and almost thought that I had imagined it until I saw it again. I grabbed Luca’s arm, and when he saw my face, his smile fell.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think I saw something over there, I’m not sure . . . but I have a feeling . . . a bad feeling.” I stumbled over my words because of the drink. There was an unease building in me that I couldn’t explain as his eyes scanned the distance, and he whistled to get the group’s attention. When the music stopped, I felt even more uneasy in the silence. The others joined us, quickly catching on and scanning the stalks for movement. I looked up and noticed for the first time since the sky had darkened that the moon was full. Master Liung’s premonition flashed through my mind, and I felt a sense of foreboding.
“Guys . . . we have to get out of here,” I whispered just before the growling began. Eyes shone bright red in the moonlight, bodies still hidden in the corn stalks. Briony pulled some sort of whistle from her pocket and blew. I didn’t hear any noise come from it, but she nodded at Luca and swiftly became a fox before dashing off into the opposite field and thankfully away from the danger.
I turned my attention back just in time to see six enormous creatures, very much like the ones from the premonition, creeping out of the cornstalks. Big hulking beasts that looked like mutilated wolves. They stood on two legs like men and had humanlike features under patchy fur and thick bodies. The faces looked wrong, jaws stretched too tight and dripping saliva from huge canine teeth, red eyes shining bright in the night. I let out a scream before I realized it was escaping my mouth, the memory of what creatures like this were capable
of fresh in my mind.
In a rush, the fire grew and spread around us in a protective circle. Jonah was waving both his hands furiously to manipulate the bonfire and turn it into a barrier. Sweat prickled his brow with the effort it took to hold it. The others shared a horrified look, and next to me Luca shifted into a beautiful black wolf, larger than any natural wolf I had ever seen. A sleek panther paced in front of me and a hawk soared high in the air, screeching loudly. Hopefully to lead help our way.
The creatures began circling, looking for a gap in the fire that Jonah was trying to protect us with. It was a lot of magic for a novice to hold, and one successfully made the jump through. Peyton tried to manipulate water to stop it without success and it lunged. The barrier of fire fell as Jonah turned to help Genevieve stop the creature from attacking Peyton.
With the fire gone, the creatures vaulted toward us. Luca plowed into the closest one ripping at it and trying to find purchase with his huge jaws. It knocked him away but he kept coming at it, refusing to be ignored. It turned its full attention on him and I scrambled to the side looking for something to use as a weapon. My brain was sluggish, and I wanted to smack myself as I remembered . . . my dagger! Finley was dropping from the sky and tearing at the creatures’ faces with his talons.
Griffin pounced on a creature who tried to make a grab at me, and it knocked me into action. My friends were not going to die because of me. I pulled the slit in my dress up, accidently ripping it with the force as I struggled to pull the dagger from its sheath. I turned to face a beast that was coming my way. It leaped, knocking me to the ground, and I barely managed to thrust the dagger in front of myself in time for the force of its fall to impale it. The hilt dug into my chest, air rushing from my lungs as the creature’s weight fell on me. Its head rammed into my lip, and I tasted blood as it split. I felt the hot liquid of the creature’s blood pour onto me from the wound in its chest, soaking through the thin fabric of my dress for only a second before it was ripped away from me.
Out of the Mountain Page 10