Freed

by Samantha Britt

  Another woman came out of the bathroom, holding a basket full of cosmetics. Her name was Hailee, and she was younger than her colleague by about ten years. “Are these colors not to your liking?” She asked, obviously noticing their lack of use. I hadn’t bothered to touch them during my stay. I barely knew how to use them. “We can get you different ones if you prefer.”

  I withheld my moan. I had nothing against the women, but they’d been overly obliging to the point of annoyance. I assumed the king had stressed to them the importance of making sure all my needs were met, but they went over-the-top with their kind offers and accommodating gestures. I’d had enough. I just wanted them to help me prepare for the celebration so I could get it over with.

  “Those are fine,” I politely said, then offered an explanation, “I rarely wear cosmetics.”

  The women shared a look. The older one said, “Of course. Why would you? You are so pretty without it.” She gave me a warm smile, then continued twisting a strand of my hair against a heated rod. When she released it, the strand bobbed into a perfect spiral curl.

  Hailee approached with the basket. She sat it on the vanity and rummaged through it, pulling out different colors of rouge. “Let’s see, which will go best with your complexion?” She muttered to herself, holding the colors next to my face. I didn’t comment. I had no opinion.

  Half an hour later, with the help of Rita and Hailee, I slipped on the white dress King Aquin had had delivered earlier that day. The gown had a sleek satin skirt and bodice with sheer material as the top layer. Crystals and pearls encrusted the high-waisted belt tied beneath my breasts. Matching sandals adorned my feet. I was seated back in the chair in front of the vanity as Rita lowered a delicate diamond tiara onto my head. Someone knocked, and I was surprised to see Min walk into the room.

  “Min!” I greeted, surprised but pleased with his presence.

  He bowed. “Your Highness.”

  My lips pursed. I didn’t think I would ever grow comfortable with that title.

  “Might I have a word?” Min glanced at each of the women. They didn’t move.

  I cleared my throat. “Of course. Rita. Hailee. Will you please excuse us?” Now that they had my blessing, the women didn’t hesitate. They scurried out of the room, careful to keep as much distance from the broad draekon standing close to the exit. I had to muffle my chuckle. If they only knew Min, they’d realize he was the kindest of males. He wasn’t a threat to them in any way.

  Unfortunately, long-held prejudices and painful pasts weren’t so easy to overcome. I hoped that one day the world wouldn’t be so divided. But that would take time. And it would require King Roderick no longer ruling Draekon.

  Well… imagine that. I was talking like a rebel. Erwin had been right. I had to pick a side. And while I didn’t condone violence, I supported the rebel’s mission. Avelin and Draekon would never be able to achieve true peace while King Roderick was on the throne.

  Min cleared his throat, bringing me out of my wayward thoughts. “I have heard a rumor.” He didn’t waste any time. His directness put me on edge.

  “A rumor?”

  “Yes.” Min walked forward. I turned to watch his approach. He stopped four feet in front of me, forced to look down from his massive height.

  “I’ve heard a rumor that you hold a special bond with a particularly obnoxious elven ambassador. Care to comment?”

  My face flooded with mortification. “Who told you that?” I hadn’t expected anyone to bother telling the palace’s draekon guests about my connection with Erwin. It didn’t concern them.

  “Does it matter?” Min returned. He raised a brow. “Well? Is it true?”

  I slumped. I itched to run my hand down my face, but I didn’t want to mess up Hailee’s work. “It’s not what you think.”

  “So you don’t share a life bond with an elf while also holding my prince’s heart hostage.”

  His tone stung. I flinched. “I’m not bound to Erwin.”

  “No? That’s not what I’ve heard.” He crossed his arms. “Rumors say it will be announced this evening. You and Erwin will formally be introduced as a couple.”

  Nothing he said could have shocked me more. “W-what! I didn’t know that!”

  Min watched me, searching for any sign of deceit. He didn’t find any. His demeanor relaxed, and he no longer looked angry with me. “What’s going on Amelissa? Why does King Aquin boast of a connection between you and Erwin?”

  I stood and paced the room. Min stayed put, content to watch me as I worked out how to say what I needed to say.

  I didn’t want to lie to a male who’d shown me nothing but kindness. It didn’t feel right.

  “Erwin and I are Kyrie Spirits, though I didn’t know that until we arrived in Avelin.”

  Min nodded. “So it’s true.”

  “Yes, but you don’t understand. It’s an unusual connection caused by my elven blood, but I don’t feel anything for Erwin. My soul is tied to Brion. He’s the one I care about.”

  Min tilted his head to the side. “Erwin knows this?”

  I nodded. “Yes. We needed the king to believe I was who I claimed to be. My powers, appearance, and Erwin’s link to me all worked together to convince him. That is the only reason Erwin brought it up in the first place.”

  “I see.” Min rubbed his chin, looking off to the side of the apartment. “And I thought things couldn’t get any more complicated.”

  There was something Min wasn’t saying. I could feel it.

  I stopped pacing, turning to face him. “Is everything all right?” My heart threatened to stop beating as I thought something might have happened to Brion. What if news of my link to Erwin had reached him? What if he thought I was abandoning him?

  Min’s eyes shined with regret. “I’m afraid not.”

  “What is it?” I placed a hand against the wall to keep from stumbling. “What’s happened?”

  “Nothing yet, but I’m afraid we cannot keep your connection to Brion a secret from Prince Finn any longer.”

  My forehead creased. I’d been way off. “Why not?”

  “You may want to sit down for this.”

  “I’m fine standing,” I replied. Telling Finn about the gliminee bond would mean revealing I was half-draekon. As of that moment, Finn had no idea. What could possibly warrant revealing the truth to him now? In Avelin?

  “As you wish.” Min’s arms tucked behind his back. He lifted his chin. “The prince confided a rather fantastical peace treaty with me today.”

  “Oh?” But that was good news. Finn was actually trying to negotiate with King Aquin. That’s what we wanted.

  Min continued, “Yes. A marriage alliance. Between Draekon and Avelin.”

  Two things went through my mind.

  Number one, what Finn proposed was not fantastical as Min described. It was outrageous. Everyone knew that the two powerful races didn’t mate. Well, except for my parents. And Kurtis’s ancestor, of course. But other than those examples, a marriage between the two continents just didn’t happen.

  And number two, I wasn’t a fool. I could tell by Min’s regretful expression just exactly who Finn planned to drag into his marriage alliance.

  “Finn is going to offer to marry me?” I barely managed to choke the words out. Gods, help me. Were there no other women in the world? There was only one male I wanted, but he was half a world away, leading an army to try and defeat my parents to protect his father’s role as king. Oh yeah, and I hadn’t heard a word from him.

  “Yes,” Min replied, looking grateful that hadn’t been forced to actually reveal the dreaded news. “The prince plans to speak with King Aquin about it when they meet tomorrow morning. He tasked me with testing the waters of the palace, to see if the king had potential suitors lined up for you. That is when I heard the rumors of your link to Lord Erwin.”

  Indignation, swift and strong, heated my chest. “And was Prince Finn planning on asking me if I even want to marry him.”

 
Min ducked his head, bearing the shame that should’ve belonged to the prince. “I do not believe he thought to consider it.”

  How dare he?

  Who did Finn think he was?

  I scoffed. The prince of Draekon, that’s who.

  Finn always treated others with kindness, but he never dropped his regal bearing. Not like Brion.

  I’d gone to the garrison with Brion several times in Draek, and I’d been taken aback by how normal the prince acted with his fellow soldiers, both draekon and human alike. In those moments, Brion wasn’t a prince. He was a soldier—their general. He garnered respect not because of his title, but because he earned it by working beside his men, striving to accomplish the same goals.

  I couldn’t say I’d seen the same from Prince Finn.

  A realization hit me. I groaned. “You said King Aquin plans to announce my link to Erwin.”

  “That’s the rumor.”

  “And how do you imagine Finn will react?”

  Min grimaced. “Not well. He fancies himself in love. It is very likely he will cause a scene.”

  “Gods help me!” I couldn’t contain my outburst. “That’s absurd!” Finn didn’t know me. Not really. We shared one kiss. Now he might be at risk of causing a scene if he hears news he doesn’t like? How had the night suddenly turned to this?

  I spun around and headed to the exit, my gown flaring out behind me. “No. I can’t let that happen. I have to talk to King Aquin and convince him not to say anything.”

  Min was in front of me in a flash. I stopped short of running into his broad chest. “And what will you say? How do you plan to convince the king not to go through with his announcement?”

  I threw my hands in the air. “I don’t know! I’ll figure it out. I’ll deal with the king, and then I’ll talk to Finn. I’ll convince him his negotiation plan is absurd, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll tell him to his face that I’m not interested in being a pawn in his game.”

  Min cracked a smile. It was so unexpected that I paused my dramatic exit.

  I lifted a brow and planted my hands on my hips. “What?”

  His smile grew. “Nothing. I’m just glad to see more of the real Amelissa emerging from that careful mask.”

  His words filled me with pride, and I stood a little taller.

  “Come,” he took my arm in his. “I shall escort you to the king. Then, I will accompany you to speak with Finn. With any luck, we can avoid two unwanted spectacles this night.”

  Little had either of us known, we were not destined to escape the evening unscathed.

  27

  Min and I never found the king. We’d explored the east wing, but he was nowhere to be found. No doubt, he’d left his rooms early to oversee last minute preparations for the evening’s event.

  Supportive as ever, Min had reassured me we would find him before the celebrations began. He said he wouldn’t rest until I had the chance to dissuade the king from announcing my link to Erwin. I wanted to believe him, but so many things felt like they were going against me that I couldn’t allow myself to hope.

  Guests trailed out of their rooms and glided through the halls. Min and I caught their attention. I might’ve been able to blend in, but there was no hope for Min. His dark hair and complexion were a beacon in the sea of fair heads and light eyes.

  Our next stop on our journey was to find Finn. Alas, we only discovered that he wasn’t in his rooms either. Min’s face had darkened with alarm until a passing servant informed him, in a shaking voice, that His Highness had gone to the terrace. Without a word spoken between us, we headed that direction.

  King Aquin had kept silent about the finer details of the party, but I knew it would be divided into three separate areas.

  The terrace overlooking the palace gardens would serve as an open space for guests to mingle without the interruption of dancing or music. Refreshments and appetizers would be served amid the cool night air and flickering candlelight.

  Next, the parlor connecting to the terrace had been set up with gaming tables and a bar. Cards was a much bigger past time on Avelin than Draekon, and the king had assured me the room would be lively and at capacity most of the evening.

  And the third room was the ballroom, where the king would kick off the festivities by welcoming his guests and, of course, introducing me as his long-lost granddaughter. Afterwards, it would turn into a ball, complete with a multi-instrumented orchestra and dancing.

  I needed to find the king as soon as possible. If I didn’t reach him before he started to speak, I would be too late. He’d announce my connection to Erwin, and Finn might cause a scene. I couldn’t let either event happen. Perhaps it would suffice to find Finn and tell him about what the king planned to say before he said it. If he knew it was coming and that I didn’t acknowledge the bond, maybe he would refrain from speaking out in the crowd of guests.

  Min and I weaved our way towards the terrace. A string of clear orbs with illuminated candles stretched above our heads. Glittering jewels dangled from tall vases full of blooming violets and roses. The sight was breathtaking, but I couldn’t allow myself to admire it for more than a moment. There, standing against the stone railing decorated with flowering garland, was Prince Finn. He was alone, sipping from a crystal tumbler and staring off into the night. I tapped Min’s arm and looked towards the prince. We crossed the space the next moment. The few guests who stood on the terrace practically scrambled to get out of our path when they noticed us. No doubt, their urgency was due to Min’s draekon features.

  Finn was so lost in his thoughts, he didn’t hear our approach.

  “Your Highness,” Min said as we took our final step and stopped behind the prince. He released my arm, and took a step back, partially shielding the prince and I from view.

  Finn lowered his glass and turned. His eyes illuminated when he saw me. “Amelissa. This is a surprise. As the woman of the hour, I’d expected you to be preoccupied the majority of the evening.”

  “I expect I will be, but I have a few moments before the celebrations are scheduled to begin.” I didn’t know if that was true or not, but I knew King Aquin couldn’t start without me. I was free until he sent someone to come find me. I needed to get this over with.

  “Prince Finn, I—”

  “You look stunning,” he interrupted, his eyes roaming me from head to toe.

  Normally, his compliment would make me blush. But I was too focused to be embarrassed.

  “Thank you,” I replied, then tried again, “Prince Finn, there is something I need to tell you.”

  “There is something I need to tell you as well,” he interrupted again. I wanted to demand he wait, but I was aware of the curious eyes trained on us. I couldn’t cause a scene.

  “Indeed,” I huffed, not trying to hide my impatience. “What is it?”

  Finn glanced over my shoulder and his lips turned down as he, too, realized we were being watched. “Perhaps we should speak somewhere more private.”

  It hit me, then, what he wanted to tell me. He was going to mention his plan to propose a marriage alliance between us. I couldn’t let that happen. I needed to tell him about Erwin, first. I could hold off telling him about my bond with Brion for the time being. Knowing King Aquin had his mind set on me being with Erwin would deter Finn from proposing the alliance, at least for now.

  “I’m afraid I don’t have time,” I told Finn, determined to stay out in the open. Finn might show a reaction out here, but the terrace was far less populated than the ballroom would be during the king’s speech. It would spur gossip, but it wouldn’t cause as much damage. Hopefully.

  Finn’s frown deepened. “Very well. I’m afraid my news must wait, then.” He obviously felt put out, but I showed no remorse.

  I looked back at Min for support. He gave me an encouraging nod. When I turned back around, I saw Finn eyeing the draekon with curiosity. “What is going on?”

  I took a deep breath. “I have something to tell you. King Aquin will be m
aking an announcement tonight, one that he is misinformed on, but he will make it nonetheless. I wanted to be the first to tell you so you will not be surprised.”

  “I’m intrigued.” Finn leaned against the railing and took another sip of his drink. “What is it that you need to tell me?”

  I paused for several seconds and braced myself for any number of reactions. If I explained the situation well, there was hope he would barely bat an eye at the news. If I didn’t, however, there was no telling how the prince would respond.

  Alas, Fate never let me have a chance.

  An unearthly roar boomed through the night. It was a sound full of pain and anguish. My eyes flew up to the sky. A shadow passed through the clouds, but I couldn’t make it out. Another painful howl reached me, and my eyes immediately adjusted into their draekon form. With my enhanced vision, I watched in horror as a draekon in his beast form struggled to fly through the sky. Dark liquid trailed down his chest, confirming he was hurt.

  “Min, are you seeing this?” Finn shouted, just before the injured draekon lowered out of the clouds enough to be identified by the rest of the guests on the terrace.

  “A draekon!” Someone yelled.

  “We’re under attack,” another cried in terror.

  “Everyone, get inside! GET INSIDE!”

  A strong hand grabbed my wrist. Someone tried to yank me back. “Princess, you must get inside. It’s not safe out here.”

  With one swift pull, I freed my hand. “I’m fine!” I yelled, not bothering to look back at who’d tried to pull me away. My eyes were on the draekon, rapidly descending through the sky. His long neck hung low, and his enormous wings were curved, barely keeping him in flight. Terror seized my chest, but it lessoned when I was able to see the draekon wasn’t Brion. Even in the dark, I could see the beast lacked Brion’s characteristic blue and green scales, and he was much smaller than Brion’s beast. The draekon falling from the skies wasn’t my prince.