Each knot in my tight muscles relaxed and every ache melted to nonexistent. My breathing evened and I slowly descended inch by inch while my mind grew fuzzy. Sleep was exactly what I needed.
A jolt of ice surged over my skin, raising goose bumps in its wake. My eyes shot open and I gasped, inhaling frigid liquid into my lungs. My chest quaked when I sputtered and clawed my way to the surface. I was hoisted from the pool and deposited by the rim. Each new cough was accompanied by a wave of heat clenching my lungs in a vise-like grip and I thought I’d never breathe normally again.
“There, there, your Highness.” A fluffy violet towel draped over my wet body and my skin heated from being seen in my birthday suit. “You didn’t drown. The calming pool won’t allow it. The waters change temperatures to awaken its occupant.”
“Y…you…d…don’t…s…say.” I managed to get out around my chattering teeth after my coughing fit subsided.
“How about we get you fixed up?” Hattie fluffed my towel and closed her eyes. Her nose scrunched up and she rubbed her hands together before she clapped three times. Then, her eyes popped open and she blew in my face. Warmth spread from the tips of my ears and wove its way around my prone form until it reached my toes. It covered every inch of my body and erased any trace of water. The chattering of my teeth stopped instantly, but my energy plunged, and my eyes closed. “Come on, Your Highness.” Rough fingertips secured the towel and lifted under my arms, pulling me to my feet. “The calming pool is still working on you. Don’t worry though, rest is all you need.”
“Will,” My eyes refused to open, and my head rolled to the side. “It always be like that if I bathe in it?” It was a losing battle to combat the leaden weight in my limbs.
“No, Your Highness.” I was gently laid on a cloud-like surface and covered with silk. “The pool knows when its calming waters are needed. Any other time, it will be a regular bath. Get some rest now.” My hair was smoothed from my face.
“What about my friends and uncle? Where are they?” Rest wouldn’t come unless I knew they were being taken care of as well.
“Everyone is resting. I will check on all of them for you and make sure they are safe and sound. Now sleep.” Blankets were tucked under my chin. “Call on me if you need me.” Hattie’s voice faded to white noise as my consciousness raced into a black void.
*****************************************
A harsh pounding started in my skull and I flipped to the left on the cloud I was lounging on, savoring a sweet piece of chocolate. I flipped my hair over my shoulder, letting the yellow glow from the sun heat my skin. As I reached for more sweets, the incessant sound erupted around me again and my peaceful scene melted away to a ceiling of flowers. I jerked to a sitting position and realized I was still wrapped in a towel while memories of the calming pool flooded my mind. A cool breeze blew through the open balcony I turned towards the door.
“Sparkles? You in there?” Ryn’s low voice was muffled by the door. “Can I come in?” My eyes fell to the towel and I scrambled from the bed.
“Hang on!” My words were shriller than I intended. Taking an even breath, I continued. “Give me a few minutes.” I hurried to the armoire and flung the doors open. What in the world? It was filled with frilly dresses covered in flowers. Where were my clothes? “Hattie?” The hiss was low enough that Ryn couldn’t hear me. My handmaiden appeared with a macabre smile.
“Yes, Princess?” Her hands were tucked behind her back.
“What is this?” I pointed at all the fabric dangling from vined hangers.
“You’re wardrobe, Your Highness.” Her head tilted to the right and her lips stretched showing all her pointed teeth.
“Where are the pants and shirts?” My foot tapped on the floor as my arms crossed. I was ready for proper clothing, not anymore dresses.
“I’m sorry Princess.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “To fit in here, I was told to have your wardrobe styled to that of Faerie.” Are you kidding me? I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath before I pulled my hair out or lashed out at Hattie. It wasn’t her fault and I didn’t need to make an enemy.
“Kitra? Are you okay?” Ryn still waited behind the door, but his tone told me he was ready to burst through it.
“Give me a few more minutes?” I didn’t want to explain my dilemma or let him in while I was wearing a towel.
“I’ll be standing outside this door, but if you aren’t out here in five minutes, I’m coming in.” I heard him lean against the door.
“The Commander will keep his promise, Your Highness.” Hattie moved to the armoire. “We better get you dressed.” She reached in and pulled out a mass of ivy leaves. “How about this?”
“You expect me to wear this?” She let some black and purple tulle fall below the leaves.
“You want to fit in here, yes?” She regarded my arched brow with another of her terrifying grins and I knew she was enjoying my unease.
“Fine.” The huff became a startled gasp when the dress moved through the air on its own and replaced the towel over my skin. The ivy wove into a strapless bodice that tightened like a corset and the black and purple tulle created a jagged asymmetrical hem above my knees. “How?”
“Brownie magic.” Hattie produced a set of matching ivy sandals that she had me to step into and waved her hand, so they laced up my legs to the knees with green vines. “Now your hair and makeup.”
She led me to a chair in front of a mirror and shut her eyes and snapped her fingers. I sat with my mouth hanging open wide enough to catch flies as tendrils of my chestnut hair wove itself into an intricate updo dotted with small ivy leaves. She spun me to face her once my hair settled and picked up a makeup brush, dusting my cheekbones in a shimmery green powder.
“Why not use your brownie magic on my makeup?” She added a lilac shadow to my lids and lined them in black.
“I like painting faces.” Her shoulders shrugged as she slid lilac gloss over my lips. “It’s fun.” She laid down the gloss and pointed to the door. “Don’t keep the Commander waiting, Princess.”
“Thank you, Hattie.” My words were said to an empty room. I walked to the door and turned the knob. Ryn spun on his heels and caught sight of my attire and fought the tug threatening to lift his lips. “Don’t say a word.”
“All I was going to say is that you look amazing.” He caressed my check and I leaned into it. “You belong here.”
I couldn’t argue with the statement. A part of my soul was soothed, and it hovered around my wolf keeping her tranquil. This place made my heart sing and settled its rightness into my bones. Nothing could deny that I belonged.
“Are we going somewhere?” Ryn held his elbow out to me. “Where are the others?”
“I thought I’d steal you before the others descended.” My face scrunched up and he continued. “We were told to let you rest and you’ve slept yesterday away, but since you asked, I’ll tell you.” Ryn’s face pinched as if he’d eaten a lemon. “Caden and your other Guardians are checking the perimeter’s security even though I expressed how absurd it was to think an enemy could sneak past our walls, but you know how Caden is.” Ryn’s eyes rolled so far back in his head that I thought they’d get stuck. “Lucian is with your uncle and the Queen deciding how soon we can leave for Oberon’s forest, and Allie and Austin are giving Lilly and Gwen a tour of the gardens. So, I thought, I’d wake you up this morning and introduce you to the Royal Guard before we toured the village inside the kingdoms’ walls and got breakfast.”
“I like that idea.” But then my eyes slammed shut as searing flames pierced my head and pressure built behind my eyes.
“You okay?” Ryn grabbed my shoulders and his breath danced over my lips, bringing a sense of rightness and belonging to my soul. I wanted to melt into his arms and stay there. “Let me see.”
I struggled to open my eyes as I rubbed my temples. My wolf paced along the worn path she’d created over the years any time she was worried, but pulses of
my fae magic lessened her agitation. As fast as the pain surfaced, it dissipated just as quickly. My lids were half-mast in a squint when I peered at the breathtaking fairy in front of me. “What’s the verdict?”
“Your eyes are a bit brighter almost as if they’re glowing.” Goose bumps followed the warm path his thumb traced across my cheekbone. “But I don’t see anything alarming. How do you feel?”
“Better.” He searched my face for anything that said the opposite, but I did feel better.
“Okay. I’ll get word to the Queen at the barracks. Your awakening might not wait much longer. You ready for our date?” I sucked in a deep breath and caught my bottom lip between my teeth at the small space between us. Ryn’s gaze dropped to my captured lip and I held my breath when he closed the tiny gap. A loud crash drove us apart and Ryn spun with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Sorry, Commander!” Hattie’s muffled voice came from behind the door. “I dropped a tray.” Ryn’s face contorted into a mask of hate as his gaze narrowed and his hand dropped back to his side.
“Another time then.” One side of his mouth lifted, and he shook his head. “Ready?” He held his hand out to me. I slipped my fingers between his and he walked me down the hallway and turned onto the one which led to the quarters of the Royal Guard.
We hadn’t spent a lot of quality time together. Our stolen moments were always interrupted or rushed. Either he or Caden were destined to be mine, but I couldn’t make a definitive choice between the two without first finding time to get to know who Ryn really was. I kept replaying the warning I had received from my dream about the Creator. Which one of my soulmates would fail me? Would it be my childhood friend and confidant who’d bullied me and made me a pariah when I first returned to Serenade Falls or would it be the fairy who had waited years for his other half?
All I knew for sure was that both deserved a chance.
“Are you ready to see my training grounds?” We stopped just outside an open door and I caught a glimpse of a circular sand arena.
“Lead the way.” I motioned for him to go before me.
From the east, the apricot glow of Faerie’s star was still rising but it already brightened the entire arena, showing off pale pink sand. I stooped and traced my fingers through the rose texture, noticing how fine the grains were and how delicately they slid through my fingers. I looked up to see Ryn as he watched me with an authentic smile gracing his full lips instead of his usual smirk. I returned his smile and dusted the remnants of the sand from my hands when I stood to observe more of my surroundings.
Wooden posts with smaller protrusions were scattered around the edges of the circle. Some showed signs of splintering and contained tiny nicks in their surfaces. White stone encompassed the area, rising over twenty feet above our heads. A few Royal Guard members were standing at attention, facing what I assumed were the perimeters of the Seelie Kingdom. Dark brown wooden doors were spaced at intervals around the ground level and I could only guess where they led.
To our left, a half-walled partition with silver columns covered by a royal blue awning stamped with the Seelie seal of their sun, created the only safety from the star’s rays. From the right, one of the doors opened and a gigantic form emerged from its black depths. His armor glittered under the sunlight, casting rainbows along the sand. This guard member didn’t acknowledge us and marched to one of the wooden posts, pulled out a large broadsword. The sword arced above the guard’s head and he spun gracefully on his heel before the steel met his opponent. A reverberating crack interrupted the silence and I swore I felt the sand beneath my feet shift from the impact. Now, I knew what had caused the destruction among some of the other posts.
Ryn and I watched more of the polished giant’s kata before we approached.
“Dannick,” Ryn called already knowing who was under the armor. Dannick raised the silver visor blocking his face and another door opened from the right.
“Commander.” Dannick saluted Ryn as Bretton and a stream of other Royal Guards marched into the arena. Dannick saw me and dropped to his knees in a low bow. “Your Highness.” Bretton and the others soon followed suit and stayed in this position.
“You have to tell them to rise or they will stay like that.” Ryn’s signature smirk was back in place.
“Please, rise.” The words were barely a whisper and heat spread across my cheeks. They all stood in unison and saluted their Commander. Ryn gave the “at ease” command and all eyes turned to me.
“Let me introduce you to your Princess, Kitra Noel Frost.” He swept his gaze in my direction.
“Kitra.” Their eyes widened and even a few jaws slackened. “Just Kitra.” Whispers spread among them at how unorthodox I was behaving with them.
“Well, just Kitra.” Pride was evident in the reverence of Ryn’s voice as he turned back to the others. “Is skilled with a blade herself and once she gets settled, I’m sure you will find her and her Guardians gracing us with their presence in the arena.”
“Really? A princess able to use a blade?” Bretton’s arms crossed and smugness lifted his lips. “That’s definitely something I’d like to witness.” He faced Ryn with a raised brow. “Or do you only think she’s capable because of your connection to her?” I was really starting to dislike this guy. Ryn’s mouth opened to retort Bretton’s statement, but I silenced him with a slice of my eyes.
“Care to elaborate?” My arms crossed, matching Bretton’s stance and my wolf’s hackles rose.
“He’s a fool, Kitra. A man who speaks before thinking.” Ryn turned to me and lowered his head. “He doesn’t trust easily.” The words were breezed over the shell of my ear for only me to hear, but they did nothing to calm the rage rising in my heart.
“It doesn’t matter. I want to hear his reasoning as to why it’s so hard to believe I can fight with a sword.” My gaze stayed glued to the chauvinist fairy.
“Playing hero is for men.” Bretton moved to circle me like a predator and my wolf rose in a flash as a growl left my lips. “Princesses are made to be seen, not heard. Once you marry the Commander, he will be in charge and your duties will fall to producing heirs, not playing soldier.”
Ryn slid between us, shoving his second in command back. “How dare you speak to her that way? She is your Princess!” Ryn wasn’t the only Royal Guard member shocked by their comrade according to the slack jaws, but I would not allow any man to fight this battle for me. I would take care of it myself.
“I can assure you, I’m more proficient at being my own hero than you’d ever guess.” I slid around Ryn and right in Bretton’s face as liquid fire pooled in my eyes and I saw his jaw tightened while his face lost some color. Only his pride held him in place as my Fae magic and wolf boiled beneath my skin. “Maybe you want a firsthand demonstration?”
“While you’re wearing that?” His pupils flared and his face purpled when he pointed at my feminine attire.
“No matter what I wear.” The words hissed between my clenched teeth. “I will best you.” My harsh gaze clashed with Ryn’s pinched features. “How are we doing this?”
“Kitra, I don’t think.” Tension rippled between Bretton and me. I was tired of being underestimated by everyone. It was time to show them how capable I truly was.
Now only if I wasn’t wearing the stupid get up Hattie put me in earlier. No sooner than the words skimmed my thoughts, I felt the gauzy fabric move. The black tulle lengthened and wrapped around my legs, thickening into opaque black pants. The purple strands left hanging braided around my waist into a belt and stretched into two stripes down the outside of each leg. My leafy sandals wove together, hardening and morphing into boots. Gasps echoed around the arena.
“How did she?” Bretton backed up from me.
“That’s not possible.” Another guard pointed at my new attire. “She’s not awakened.”
“It seems our Princess is more powerful than we were led to believe.” Dannick’s gruff voice boomed over the others. “Bretton, I think yo
u should reconsider your words.”
I watched as a myriad of color coated Bretton’s face, but they mixed to a bright red as pride hollowed his cheeks into a steel mask. “I’m not taking it back.”
“And I’m not backing down.” My ire was focused on the long-haired fairy in front of me. I bet that pretty face never heard the word no or had a woman stand up to him. There was a first time for everything.
“Let them settle this.” Dannick the lumberjack glided across the sand. “How about having a sparring competition with the wooden training swords? No one will receive a fatal injury, so the Queen and the others won’t kill us. The first to five points wins. Can you two agree to those terms?” Bretton and I nodded without taking our gazes off each other. I wanted to not only show Bretton, but all of them what I was made of.
Ryn stepped between us, moving us apart. “If this is going to happen, neither of you can use Fae magic. Just a test of skills with the trainers.” He turned toward Bretton. “And no armor. It will be a clean, fair fight. The first to yield loses. Understood?” He glanced between us, face pale and beginning to sweat.
Bretton and I both nodded before he left to remove his armor. He stripped down to brown trousers and pulled his shirt over his head, leaving his chest bare. What did he think his eight pack abs were going to do? Distract me? He was going to be sorely mistaken.
Both of Ryn’s hands landed on my bare shoulders. “Are you sure of this? You have nothing to prove here.” I had everything to prove here and backing down now would only make Bretton think his backwoods ideas were correct.
“Then you don’t know anything.” Ryn took a step back and a resigned sigh left his lips when he passed me a thick wooden sword. “This type of attitude towards me stops now.” I said.
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