Ascension

by Jennifer Ann Reed

  “Nothing will happen, Moonbeam. The people are changing their attitudes and with Kitra on the throne, she will show them there isn’t anything to fear.” Ryn finished off his French toast and drained his mocha. “We have nothing to worry about.”

  “No, but fear breeds monsters. You never know what a person is capable of until then.” Moonbeam’s eerie eyes met mine and I couldn’t agree more. No amount of “get it together” coffee was going to stop the worry I had for the wellbeing of my friends and family.

  “We need to return to the castle.” I stood quickly and Ryn pulled a few gold coins from his pocket. “We have to tell Aunt Mauve. Thank you, Moonbeam.” She nodded in my direction and then I bolted out of the door.

  “Kitra!” Ryn raced to catch up to me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to a stop, panting as hard as I was. “You don’t have to worry. Nothing is going to happen. We will get the weapon, defeat Aelfric, and you will be Queen one day and show the people that shifters are not the enemy.”

  “You don’t understand, Ryn.” Sweat beaded on my brow and I realized we were back to the trading carts near the gate. “I learned a long time ago to trust my gut. If the fae are upset because we are here, then we need to do this as quickly as possible and get back home. My friends and family are in danger and I won’t let anything happen to them.”

  “Fine.” Ryn pulled me into a hug. “I will do all I can to lessen your load, Kitra. If you’re worried, I’ll make sure no one gets hurt, but please remember this is your home too.”

  “Thank you.” I didn’t say anything more as he led me back to the castle. My wolf wasn’t too pleased with Faerie and I didn’t want to voice how much I missed Frost Manor.

  Inside, Ryn took me to the dining area. A long wooden table with lilac upholstered high back chairs took up most of the room and could seat at least twenty. Tapestries of different forest creatures graced the walls and a monstrous golden candle chandelier extended across the ceiling. At the far end of the table, my friends and family all sat, eating breakfast.

  “Kitra!” Caden stood and I ran to be held in his arms. “Are you okay?” My body trembled when I pictured any of them being hurt. “Kitten? Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “What is she wearing Tink?” Linc elbowed Austin in the ribs. “I don’t care what it is. All I know is that every girl should be wearing it.”

  “Shut it, Linc.” Caden squeezed me. “What aren’t you telling us?”

  I pulled away from him and looked at each of their faces and their degrees of worry staring back at me. I didn’t want to add to their concern, but my bones ached with impending doom. “We need to leave.”

  “What?” Allie jumped from her seat. “We just got here. What’s going on?” I knew she was excited to be home, but this was more important.

  “Ryn and I went to a bistro this morning.” I felt Caden stiffen beside me and I stepped away without looking him in the eyes. He had to get used to me spending time with Ryn. “The owner told us the people assume that I’m here and unease is growing against me and my shifter company.”

  “We knew we’d encounter some resistance by coming here.” Lucian’s muscular arms bulged as he steepled his fingers. “What are our options?”

  “Let’s go to the forest and get the weapon. Then we can go home.” Linc winked at me. “If Kitra has a bad feeling, I’m following her in this.”

  “Me too.” My other Guardians and friends sounded off and my mind felt invaded as Austin sought out what I was holding back, so I let him feel all the doom in my being and watched him shudder.

  “The only problem is the forest.” Aunt Mauve looked at me resolutely and I knew I wouldn’t like the next words out of her rose painted lips. “Oberon’s forest has only allowed crowned royals to enter its domain. I don’t believe she’ll be able to enter let alone bring you all with her, without the crown and awakening ceremony.”

  “Do you think it will really matter?” Uncle Kalen pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “It will be safer for her and the rest of you if we go on as planned. We can move everything up to tomorrow.” Aunt Mauve’s violet gaze landed on me. “I know I’ll feel better sending her to the forest at full royal fae power.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Uncle Kalen shook his head once. “Get the preparations going so we can ready ourselves to find the weapon.”

  “Wait, can’t we just do the awakening now and go.” I didn’t like the evil grin Allie was giving me.

  “First is the coronation followed by the Royal Ball to celebrate the new princess and then you go through the awakening.” Allie got up and walked around me with a finger on her chin. “And you definitely can’t wear something like that. I have some work to do. Gwen, I need your help.” Gwen bounced up and followed Allie out of the dining room.

  “Kitra, I need you with me.” Aunt Mauve stood and two guards I hadn’t noticed moved behind her. “Let’s make the preparations.” I followed her out the door, not sure if I was ready to make my claim on the throne.

  Chapter 6

  A UNT MAUVE LED ME down a hallway from the main entrance which I hadn’t been in before and we paused before a tapestry of a man whose blonde hair brushed the top of his shoulders. The man’s eyes matched the violet I now shared with my aunt and his features were chiseled like many of the fae males I’d seen so far, but his eyes were haunted and hollowed by a past I may never know or understand. A pale mustache and goatee circled his full lips which were pressed into a grim line. Before I had the chance to ask about the figure, Aunt Mauve moved the sconce beside the tapestry to the left. A soft pop split the silence and the tapestry fluttered as if guided by the wind. She tugged the bottom right corner, revealing cracks in the pattern of a door and pushed it open.

  I expected a dark abyss, but a soft yellow glow filled the space. Aunt Mauve motioned for me to enter first. The white stone walls curved around a golden spiral staircase with seashells embedded in the steps. Tiny, long windows followed the curvature of the staircase several stories to a wooden door at the top. Aunt Mauve closed the stone door, erasing any proof that it was even there. I followed her up the winding steps and stopped in front of the door. My heart beat an erratic tune against my chest, and I ran my hands up and down my arms to wipe away the chill lifting the small hairs. Why was I reacting to this door? I knew once I crossed the threshold, my life was going to change.

  “Where are we?” I wanted to stall my aunt, but her fingers already grasped the knob.

  “My private quarters.” Her bedroom? I feared her bedroom? She opened the door and my heart stopped. I’d seen this room before in a dream. Was it real? The bed, furniture, and balcony entrance were all the same. Aunt Mauve paused across the threshold, “Kitra, are you alright?”

  The words stuck to the roof of my mouth as I entered the room. It couldn’t be? Could it? I quickly covered the distance to the balcony and saw the seats made from flora and fell to the stone floor. “I…I know this place.”

  “You should.” Aunt Mauve sat next to me. “You’ve been here before.”

  “How is this possible?” My mind couldn’t wrap itself around her words. She was wrong. My first time in Faerie was when I entered with the others. “I’ve never been here.”

  “You were.” She lifted my chin and wiped at the tears I didn’t realize I was shedding. “I promise you were.” She tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “The night you were locked up by the Council, you came here, and I told you to tell the others to bring you here.”

  “But how was I here when I was imprisoned?” What she was saying didn’t make sense.

  “It’s a rare gift. One you shouldn’t have before your awakening.” Aunt Mauve cradled me in her arms. “Kitra, you teleported to my room in Faerie. Once I realized what you had done and that you were alone, I knew you had to go back to get the others because your mission can’t be accomplished on your own. Otherwise, I would have made you stay here.”

  “Teleporting? Seriously? I can’t teleport.” Her br
ows rose and she witnessed my mini breakdown. This was madness. So far, my life had been full of second-guessing myself and my failures. Otherwise, Aelfric would have been dealt with already. They couldn’t build me up into someone special when I couldn’t be relied on to fix the Dark Ones’ mess. She was wrong, but then my conversation with the Creator filled my head and I bit my bottom lip. Part of me still wanted to argue that she was crazy to say this was possible, but how could I deny knowing this room? “Why is this happening to me?”

  “I think it may have to do with your dual nature.” Her fingers smoothed my hair. “Or you’re going to be more powerful than we’ve even imagined.” I stiffened in her arms and her grip on me tightened. “But no matter what, you have your uncle, me, and all your friends to stand behind you. Don’t ever forget that.”

  We remained silent for a while as she held me, rocking us back and forth while I pondered her words. Was my heritage the cause of my new ability or the reason my fae side tried to awaken itself on the road here? What if I was as dangerous as the Council believed me to be? Should I be under lock and key until we knew for sure?

  My brain was so wracked with each new question and possible doomsday worthy scenarios that I didn’t hear Aunt Mauve.

  “Kitra? Did you hear me?” My aunt pulled back and held me at arm’s length.

  “I’m sorry. What did you say?” I shook my head for emphasis that I had been out of it.

  “How are you really? I’ve been worried about how you’re coping with two soulmates?” Aunt Mauve searched my gaze for her answer, but I dropped my head.

  “About as good as can be, I guess.” I blew out a breath of air and scooted back against the stone railing of her balcony. “Truthfully…I’m drowning.” I hugged my knees. “My feelings are all over the place. How am I supposed to choose between them? What if I choose the wrong one? What do I do then? How do I navigate a relationship with both?” Most of my questions were spoken to the floor terrified of seeing judgment on her face.

  “Kitra, look at me.” Aunt Mauve’s voice was steady and even giving me the strength to face her. “You don’t have to do this now. Your choice can wait. Ending this conflict with the Aelfric and the Dark Ones is more important. Use this time to get to know both Ryn and Caden. Build solid friendships first.”

  “What if it isn’t that simple?” I hadn’t told her about kissing either one of them yet. “I’m being pulled in half. One minute I’m all in and the next…I hit the brakes.”

  “It is that simple. You are in charge and if they can’t wait, then they aren’t worthy of you and it makes the choice even easier. Until then, focus on yourself and the mission at hand.” Was it truly that uncomplicated?

  “I can do that.” My smile was slow to grow, but it mimicked hers once it appeared.

  “I know you can.” She stood to her full height and held a hand out to me. “Let’s get these preparations over with.” She pulled me to my feet and walked inside to a plain cherry wood desk and matching chair where she grabbed some paper and a pen. I half expected her to use a quill instead, but I didn’t mention my musings. “Let’s start with the guest list.”

  We spent several hours perfecting what my aunt deemed worthy of a royal ball and had food brought up for sampling multiple times throughout the day. I hated big parties and this wasn’t any different, but Aunt Mauve told me that all the powerful houses had to be invited and my eyes came close to bugging out of my head once she settled on a final number of 450, which wasn’t counting the public who would watch the actual outdoor coronation. My head was spinning, but at least she allowed me a few stipulations when it came to the dresses. First was who dressed me. I knew my friends wanted to be a part of the process and even though the thought of what they’d create frightened me, I wanted them to do it. At least it wouldn’t be another crazy fairy dress with actual leaves. Once that was settled, Aunt Mauve called Allie and Gwen to join us and we came up with my royal attire for the ceremonies. The coronation gown was going to be royal blue with Seelie sun adornments to show my fae heritage, but for the ball I wanted to wear something less flashy. Gwen and Allie promised it would meet my demands and be sophisticated. After their departure, we got down to business about my awakening. She told me that only she, my uncle, and friends would be allowed to watch the ceremony and my breathing evened out.

  “What is the ceremony?” I couldn’t stop the yawn my question ended on when I eyed the darkened landscape past her balcony. Pale light shimmered from the circular orb taking dominion of the inky blackness, casting the entrance in a silver glow to fend off the cold tentacles demanding entrance into the castle.

  “Well the others will be the first allowed to witness it because it’s been done in secret in the past.” She kept making more notes in the margins of her paper as a new idea came to her. “But I knew telling them would only result in an argument, so I’m bending the rules.”

  “Thank you.” I hugged her tightly.

  “I would do anything for you, Kitra.” She pulled back and wrote something else down. “But to answer your question, the ceremony takes less than a few minutes and all you have to do is touch something infused with fae magic.” I waited for her to say more, but she started on another page and I knew she wasn’t telling me everything. If my awakening involved blood, someone was getting a bruise. Another yawn ripped from my mouth and Aunt Mauve stopped what she was doing. “I think it’s time you got some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day. Your coronation will be at midday on the dot.”

  “Make sure you get some sleep.” I kissed her cheek and met Hattie at the door.

  The brownie didn’t say anything the entire time she led me back to my room and disappeared at the door. I hoped she wasn’t too upset because I had chosen my friends to help with my dresses, but my thoughts were pulled to the sounds coming from behind my door. A deep bark of laughter brought a smile to my face and I threw the door open. Each of my Guardians and friends were hanging out in my room.

  “Kitra!” Austin jumped up and lifted me, swinging me around in a circle. “You’re free!” I laughed at his enthusiasm but felt the probe of his mind in mine. He was worried. I’d kept my walls up the past couple of days. My thoughts had been so crazy, if he had known, I’d be in a one-on-one therapy session.

  “Everything settled for tomorrow?” Caden extracted me from my familiar who went back to the girl he loved.

  “I think so.” My wolf nuzzled against him. “Aunt Mauve keeps making last minute changes.”

  “Are you okay?” I couldn’t take my gaze off his questioning eyes.

  “Okay! Tell me who did it and I’ll pulverize them.” Linc sat up from lounging on my bed and mussed up his hair. “I’m itching for a good fight.”

  “I heard about this morning.” Caden’s words brought my sparring session with Bretton to the forefront. “I knew my Kitten had a mean set of claws, but are you good?”

  “I’m good.” My eyes strayed to his lips, but the conversation I had with Aunt Mauve echoed in my brain and I stepped back. Caden’s brows drew together, examining the distance between us. “It’s been a tiring day. I’m exhausted.” I didn’t have to fake my yawn.

  “We should let Kitra rest.” Zander’s highlights peeked over Caden’s shoulder as a hand clapped him on the back.

  “Let’s go everybody.” Curtis gave Allie a chaste kiss and Austin did the same with Gwen.

  Caden reached for me but dropped his hands. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  “We girls are having a sleepover, so deal with it.” Allie planted herself back at my vanity. When the boys took their leave and she narrowed her eyes in my direction. Once the door was closed, her fiery red head tilted to the side. “Okay, spill it. What’s going on with you and Caden?”

  I spent the entire time while we were getting ready for bed, hashing out my feelings about Caden and Ryn with my two best friends. When we finally crawled into my gigantic bed, I felt better about the situation. Nothing could clear the head like girl talk an
d a smile was on my face when the sandman sprinkled dust in my eyes.

  ************************

  When I woke the next morning, I found myself alone and yanked the blankets back over my head. It didn’t matter that the alien star’s rays outside scattered a billion diamonds into every corner of my room or that the symphony of wildlife and excited chatter of the village below reached my ears, today was the day I’d been dreading since I found out about my royal heritage of the Seelie Court. The others were blinded by the effortless smiles and laughter I hid behind, but they’d forgotten how I’d perfected the art of invisibility over the years, including masking my true feelings. They didn’t see the straight jacket binding my limbs, or the chain around my ankle locking me in place while piercing screams bounced off the padded walls in my head.

  I’d mentioned my reservations to Uncle Kalen and Caden, but I didn’t tell them how each breath in my throat seared my lungs to blackened char. I had been told I was born into leadership but that was completely different from living it. I was a hot mess with no right to tell others how to live or tell them to sacrifice themselves for whatever cause I deemed worthy. I was stuck because of the DNA replicating in my cells. Everyone thought I was ready to leap headfirst from the sheer cliff of childhood into the depths of responsibility, but I wasn’t ready and there wasn’t anything I could do to stop this train from derailing. How were they sure I wouldn’t self-destruct and take Faerie and its people down with me?

  A knock on my door poured ice water on my inner monologue and I schooled my face to one of being awakened by the intrusion.

  “Princess?” Hattie opened the door, carrying a tray with a covered golden platter and flute of what I hoped was orange juice. “Your breakfast is ready. As soon you as you’re finished, your friends will be here to dress you for the coronation.” She placed the tray in my lap and focused on the floor.