Protector (The Full-Blood Book 1)

by Serena Nova

  “Hello, Isadora Seraphina Savill Royal,” Icas Nox drawled, how he had said my name made my neck hairs rise.

  “What?” I folded my arms in front of my chest, keeping them from reaching towards the knives that were strapped at my legs.

  “That isn’t the way you greet a Council member,” he said. Darkness filled his eyes, and I felt his magic vibrate around him.

  “You aren’t my council member or someone I respect, or like. So, nope, not going to happen. What do you want?” I asked, my fingers itching to grab my knives. Suddenly, I felt the air around me change, and his face turned from night to day. His face was serene, and all the darkness left his eyes.

  I knew the Kings were standing behind me, I felt them. To be precise, I felt Averey the most. His air had wrapped around me, kissing the bare skin on my back, it made me shiver in the best way.

  “Good evening, Your Highnesses,” Icas said, his voice smooth. “We didn’t know you would have an important announcement tonight.” Icas arched an eyebrow, his eyes moved over all four of them, lingering on Flynn. I moved closer to the male, shielding him with my body. He placed his hand on my lower back.

  “Not everything has to go through the council, Icas, this is one of those things,” Averey answered.

  “And as far as we know, you aren’t part of that Council anymore,” Cian added.

  Icas's face turned white and then red in a moment’s notice. I tsked at him before he could speak.

  “I don’t think you want to make a scene here, Icas. It wouldn’t do you any good.” I waved around the room, indicating that people had already started watching us.

  “The Council will not be pleased with the news or with me being out of it. They will turn against you four,” Icas hissed quietly at us. I rolled my eyes at him, and that felt so freaking good.

  “Go suck it, Icas. We don’t care.” I waved at him with my hand, indicating for him to leave. If he could have made steam come out of his ears, it would have happened there and then. Icas turned on his heels and moved away from us. I couldn’t see if he had left the ballroom, because we were swarmed by people. I pressed closer to the Kings, not used to that many people around us. Flynn’s hand moved towards my shoulders slowly, it left fire in its wake, and I shivered.

  Cian bowed in front of me, ignoring the people who stood around us.

  “Care for a dance?” he asked and held his hand out.

  I placed mine in it and bowed my head while I said, “Yes.” He pulled me closer to him and moved us through the people towards the dancefloor.

  When we were in the centre of the room, Cian bowed again, and I did, too, remembering the dancing lessons, we’d had in school; not my best class. When I looked up, I could see the other Kings looking at us, ignoring the group of people around them. Their eyes focused on me, I gave them a soft smile and a wink before I took Cian’s hand. The musicians changed their song, a slower one starting up.

  “Cian,” I growled out at him, playfully slapping his chest. He cocked his head and grinned. He pulled me closer, his hand low on my back. We started moving through the room.

  “Why are we the only ones on the floor?” I whispered to him.

  “Because we are doing a first dance,” he whispered back, now smiling from ear to ear. It had me mesmerized, and I forgot what he had said.

  “Wait, what?” He winked at me, and I rolled my eyes, smug bastard. “Why dance with me?” I asked him, when it had fully sunk in. The first dances were special, normally it was with their Queens. And when they didn’t have a Queen, they used the first dance to show favour to a woman they liked. I knew they liked me, but that they were willing to show it on a night like that, made my heart stutter and my stomach flutter. Cheesy shit happened in my head when I was in the clouds.

  My thoughts were interrupted when I glimpsed short black hair in a corner. Before I could look closer at the person, Cian had swirled me around. I turned my head towards the spot except to find two servants standing there. No one with black hair. I let Cian lead and kept looking around the room, my mind searching for the thing that I was missing, just for Cian to stroke softly up and down my back, pulling my focus back to him. I got lost in his green eyes. It was only him and me on this floor, the music played around us, cocooning us in a bubble. I smiled at him, letting him see how much it meant to me. Forgetting about the threat, forgetting about my nerves, I let myself relax for a moment.

  His eyes filled with an emotion I didn’t want to name, an emotion I wasn’t ready for. Before I could look away and focus back on my surroundings, the music stopped, and Cian stopped, too. He bowed low and kissed my hand. Before he led me away from the centre of the room, he stepped close. I heard shocked gasps around us. He lowered his head, and for a second, I thought he would kiss me. Except his mouth stroked softly over my cheek, and when he was at my ear, he whispered, “It may be that Averey is the only one of us who has had you, yet. But you are ours, and soon, we will have you in more ways than one.” He softly kissed my earlobe and pulled back. He smiled and said a little louder, “You look amazing in this dress, the whole court needed to see how amazing you look in it.” He winked, and I blushed, suppressing the giggle that wanted to escape. He softly stroked his thumb over my hand and brought me back to the others. When we were almost at the others, he moved closer with his head to whisper something one more time, “And you will look even better without that dress, my hands on your skin, and my head buried between your legs.” I almost faltered in my steps. He pulled me closer, steadying me with a hand on my back. It made my core wet. When we reached the others, I let go of his hand and bowed at him.

  “Thank you, my King,” I said.

  “You never bowed to us, don’t start now,” Rayan chuckled, and I winked at him. Another hand landed on my back; Flynn.

  “Now it is my turn,” he whispered in my ear, his thumb stroking my lower back. I nodded at him. He moved me towards the centre of the room, there were more people then, and I really hoped that they would stay there.

  I didn’t protest against him dancing with me, even when I heard the whispers starting. I liked how his hand felt on my back and how he held my other hand in his. As well as how he guided me around the room. We didn’t speak, just looked at each other while I got lost in his dark eyes. His magic surrounded us, mine mingling with his as we danced. I knew I was smiling when I saw a small one reflected on Flynn’s face. When the music came to an end, and I could hear the people around us again, Flynn lowered his head towards me. I almost froze, scared that he would kiss me in front of everyone, only, for him to say, “I’ll be the one taking off that dress tonight, slowly.” He trailed his hand up and down my back, making my body react to him. I wanted to moan right there, but the sound of the people around was what kept me from doing it.

  We parted before I could bow, though he bowed to me. This had the people around us murmuring, not whispering anymore. A King never bowed to anybody, let alone to somebody they didn’t know. A blush had crept onto my face, I quickly bowed back. He took my hand in his and guided us back towards the others. Rayan held out a glass of wine for me, and I took it gratefully, slowly sipping on it while I looked around the room. Searching for Astra, I spotted her near a table, Banu still with her. I sighed in relief. I kept looking around the room, searching for that specific black hair and the man that came with it. I wasn’t sure if I had been looking for him to keep the rest safe or for other reasons.

  “What is it?” Rayan asked.

  “Nothing,” I said and focused back on them. Enjoying their closeness, I looked around, only to notice that Averey wasn’t with us.

  “Where is Averey?” I asked them.

  “He is on the dais, we have to go there, too. It is time for our announcement.”

  I looked at Rayan. “What announcement?” I asked him.

  “You will find that out with the rest of them.” He pointed towards the other Selection Witches who were still glaring at me. He took my hand and kissed the back of it. He move
d towards Averey. Cian stepped in front of me.

  He kissed the back of my hand, too, and winked when he said, “Don’t worry, love.” and walked off to the other two. Flynn took my hand, too, and kissed the top as well. His thumb stroked my palm before he let go of it. He moved towards the rest, and the whole room turned from me to them. I breathed out the breath I had been holding and looked at my Kings.

  “Ladies and Gentleman, members of the Council.” Averey nodded towards a group of people close by. “We are here to announce something that will change the world for the better,” he started. My hands had turned sweaty, and I had to hold them together to keep from wiping them on my dress.

  “We aren’t here to announce the Selection Witches.”

  The girls he had talked about all squealed, a high-pitched noise. It made me chuckle, I mentally sent them a ‘suck it, bitches,’ and kept looking at the Kings on the stage. There were now murmurs going around the room.

  “We,” he moved his arms to indicate the other three, “are here tonight to resign our duties as Kings.” That had me freezing, and the whole crowd exploded in noise. All four of them moved and looked at me, my heart stopped.

  “We are here to pledge our loyalty to the last Savill and the rightful Queen of this world.”

  My heart exploded, and anger rushed through me. Those sons of a sheep had promised me they wouldn't do that. I had been sort of okay with them telling the world who I was, but they were making me Queen, they were giving up their throne, to hand it over to me.

  Their eyes were focused on me. I looked at Averey, his silver-grey eyes filled with hope and understanding. He lowered them, as if to say ‘I’m sorry.’ I looked at Flynn, his dark eyes showing me nothing but love. Rayan’s blue eyes bore into mine, pleading with me to do what I had to. Finally, Cian and his forest-green eyes, the ones I loved to disappear into. They calmed me down, and I took the breath I needed to focus back on the world around me.

  Averey cleared his throat, but still his voice wavered. Everything flashed through my head, from, turning around, running away, and never looking back, to having my freedom, my own future. But, what kind of future would that have been? Me, alone in the forest, without those men, who had slowly made their way into my heart. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to push them out of it then, they were my Natural Bonded. My other part, the ones who would always be there for me. My rocks. If I placed my hand in theirs, I would be agreeing to them making me Queen. It would mean that I would have to sacrifice something of myself. Would that be so terrible if it meant I would have a family back for it? To have love?

  I gave him a small nod, letting him know I was okay with it. For a little while, anyway.

  “We want to introduce you all to Isadora Seraphina Savill Royal.” He held out his hand, the crowd in front of me parted, and they looked at me. I pulled my shoulders back, breathed out, and moved to the stage. I was done hiding, it was time then for me to claim what I had wanted. And not what the world or Gran wanted me to do. Averey pulled me on to the raised platform. When I stood in front of them, they all lowered themselves, placing one knee on the floor, their heads bent.

  “We, Averey Thorne,” Averey said.

  “Cian Reeve.” Cian’s voice flowed through the room.

  “Flynn Nox.” I followed them with my eyes.

  “And Rayan Leighlin.”

  “Pledge our lives and magic to the rightful Queen of this world. We swear to never leave her side and protect her from anything that would want to harm her. We would love her forever and beyond, we swear on the magic that flows through us.” I could feel a pull in my magic when they spoke those last words. I let it flow where it filled the room, and I could hear people moving behind me. But my eyes were focused on the four Kings on the floor, and my magic, which made them glow.

  31

  I was stunned for a moment, the feeling of being almost complete filled me, my eyes watered, and I opened my mouth. “I accept,” I whispered, accepting more than the role of Queen. Before I could say more, the room exploded in screams.

  An explosion had sounded next to me, and all four of the Kings jumped up. They moved around me, protecting me. I pushed past them, searching for Astra. The Kings let their magic go, and I was filled with power, it swirled around me. It took some time for me to adjust. They were truly powerful.

  “What is going on?” Rayan asked. His head moved over the screaming people, some were hunched low. I was still looking for Astra, I couldn’t find her, and I hoped that the girls were with her. My focus moved towards something else, magic. Another explosion sounded. The castle vibrated with that one.

  “We need to get these people to safety, send them to the strongest place in the palace,” I directed a Protector close to us. He nodded and moved towards the doors behind the musicians. Another Protector ran up towards us.

  “King, chief,” he said, taking in a big breath. “We are under attack. Dark-world monsters.” That had me looking at the others.

  “Where and how?” I asked. Before he could answer, more people screamed even louder. In the doorway, were creatures, creatures we hadn’t wanted to see in this world again. Some of them were on four long legs, others on two. None of them even looked close to human. With another rush of magic, the glass doors from the garden blew in, scattering the whole room in glass. I cast magic, trying to shield as many people from the flying glass as I could.

  More creatures ran into the room.

  “Get these people out!” I screamed at the Protectors around me. “Leave the creatures to us, get them out first, then help!” I pulled out my knives and cut the dress above my knees. I pulled off my heels and started running towards the creatures, my knives in my hand.

  “ISA!” I heard a bellow behind me. Ignoring him, I kept running. I pushed out a wall of air, pushing the creatures back towards the garden. I needed to focus on the ones that still stood in the door. Their mouths were already covered in blood, and bodies littered the floor in front of them.

  I pushed faster, and when I reached the first creature, I slid underneath it, cutting through its belly. It screamed and dropped to the floor. I jumped up and moved towards the next. They were focused on me then, their hound-like mouths opened up, full of teeth. They moved their spidery legs towards me. The other two creatures stayed standing, not moving at all. I kept my focus on the three that had come towards me. I jumped and pushed myself into the air, landing on top of one with my knife right in its head. It bucked and then fell to the floor. Two down, two to go. I moved off of the creature, my knife making a sickening sound when I pulled it out of its head.

  When I turned around, I saw the man who had attacked me on the roof. It made me hesitate. He was looking at me, his arms crossed in front of his chest and a smirk on his face. Before I could throw magic at him, I was knocked to the ground. I groaned and turned around, just in time to pull up stone around me, using it as a shield against the snapping mouth of the spider-dog. I needed to get out from under it. Before I could do anything, the creature flew off of me. I looked up, seeing Averey standing in front of me, his hand held out towards me. I grabbed it, and he pulled me up. The creature lay on the floor, its legs twitching. Before it could get up, Flynn threw a fireball at it. It incinerated right there on the spot. I wished it had smelled like bacon or popcorn, but it didn’t, the smell made me gag, and I turned my head away.

  “We have saved as many as we could,” Averey started.

  “Good, let’s clean them up then,” I said and moved towards the last spider-dog. “Good doggy,” I said to it and threw my knife at it only for it to dodge. “Sprinkles,” I cursed and moved towards it, I pulled at the earth, using the stone to throw it at the creature. Hitting it with disc after disc of stone, it crumpled down to the ground.

  “Good, stay there,” I heard, and I moved on, knowing that Flynn was right behind me. I heard the creature scream when it was burned to nothing but ash. The other two creatures were still standing in the door, doing nothing. They reminded me
of the servant girl that man had controlled. I looked around for him, he was there, and I knew it.

  “What are you looking for?” Flynn asked me.

  “That man,” I started, and a growl escaped Flynn. “Kill those two, they are his puppets,” I told him, and we both moved towards them. “Averey, our backs,” I said to him. I didn’t wait for his reply, I moved towards the creatures. They looked like the Ilunias, but these two didn’t move or breathe at all. They just stood there, giving me the chills.

  Flynn and I moved closer, slowly, keeping our eyes on them, trusting Averey for having our backs. Before we could slice our knives through them, they moved. Faster than the wind, they shimmered in front of us, and then they were at the other end of the room. I blinked and moved into the room. There was fighting all around us, Protectors holding the creatures out of the room. I ignored them and moved towards the two creatures.

  “Help!” I heard someone yell.

  “Go,” I told Averey. Not checking if he had gone, I kept walking towards the creatures, my feet slow. My magic tingled under my skin, warning me of the danger in front of me. When we were close, I motioned for Flynn to slow. “Do what I do,” I told him, and crouched lower, making me look less like a threat. I summoned air, slowly letting it fall around them. “Now,” I growled at Flynn, hoping he would understand what I was doing. He threw fire at them, at the same time, I opened the air cages enough to let it pass through. I added some more fire of my own and watched them burn. But they shimmered away again. I cursed and whirled around, trying to find them.

  “Why haven’t they attacked us?” Flynn asked. I pulled up my shoulders, not having an answer. As if they heard what he had said, they reappeared a few feet in front of us and opened their mouths. A scream came out of them. It made me grab my head, covering my ears. I could see the others doing the same. Protectors fell down to the ground. I needed to do something. I was a Full-Blood, and I could use the elements, but it didn’t mean I had to use them like every other Witch.