After a long pause, Marcus pulled his sweater over his head. When he turned around, I gasped. Long, bloodied slices lined his back. As I moved closer, I noticed the faded bruises and scars beneath the raised, swollen marks. There was only one way to get those wounds. "Why were you whipped?”
"They said I needed to toughen up before I could become a guardian,” he replied, slipping his shirt back on. "The whippings were a regular part of my training.”
Rage surged through my body in waves. No one deserved this kind of treatment—least of all, Marcus. "Who’s responsible for this?”
"Isn’t it obvious?”
Prisma. A fire burned at the tips of my fingers, begging for release. I never agreed with the hounds’ position in our court, and soon, I’d have the power to put an end to it. "This is bullshit.”
"That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.” He clasped my shoulders. "You need to go in there with a clear head.”
Another example of her brutality. Throughout the years I’d heard of countless times she’d been responsible for much worse. I had hoped it wasn’t true, that somehow, there might be some degree of decency left in her. It was time for me to accept there wasn’t. "I swear, I will end this. The hounds will be treated as equals in my court from day one.”
"Right now, this isn’t your call,” Marcus urged. “No matter what you see in there, you need to remain silent until you’re sitting on the throne with her crown on your head.”
"No, I can’t go in there and pretend that things like this are okay. Someone needs to challenge her, and I’m the only one in a position to do it.” I took a few steps toward the volcano, determined to have words with my so-called mother.
Marcus stood in front of me, blocking my path. "Rowan, you need to remember that she doesn’t have to abdicate her throne. You could lose everything if you confront her. We may only get this one opportunity to make things right.”
The anguished expression on his face simmered my anger. He was right. She could be queen for as long as she wanted, and if her reign continued, many more would suffer. I was nauseous thinking of the torment our court had endured. I motioned toward his scars. "How am I supposed to walk in there and pretend that I accept this?”
"You will do whatever is necessary to claim your throne.” Marcus must have sensed that I hadn’t let it go because he let out a frustrated breath. "You can make all the changes you want once it’s your court. But for now, you need to play along.”
I smirked. "Well, then I guess it’s time I go play.”
Chapter Two
Home sweet home.
Black obsidian glass-covered every inch of the dark, twisted hallways. I ran my fingers down the smooth surface as we made our way toward the throne room. Gold sconces with an endless fire lit our path. Although the volcano hadn’t been active for centuries, it was always warm in the castle. It reminded me of the Caribbean, minus all the beautiful beaches. The interior walls echoed with an erratic thumping. I wasn’t sure where it was coming from, but I had a feeling I’d find out soon.
"Are you nervous?” Marcus asked.
"Nope,” I lied. I never knew what I was walking into when I visited Prisma. Her moods were unpredictable. I fisted my hands at my sides, unable to shake the feeling that she had ulterior motives behind my planned coronation. I had to find out what they were.
Cheers rang out as we approached. Was that a good sign of things to come? Most of the court activity took place in the throne room, anything from greeting guests to punishing those who broke the decrees—universal laws that all four courts obeyed. Two bare-chested, burly knights moved out of the way as we came to stand in front of a golden entrance.
I pushed against the heavy metal door, stepping into the massive throne room. Inside, dozens of fire elementals stood in groups. Elementals in our court ranged from over-sized ogres to nasty little goblins. Then, somewhere in the middle, there were the more mortal-looking elementals like me. None of them turned when we entered; each focused on something in the center of the room.
Hovering above everyone else on a throne made of lava rocks sat Prisma. Even without her crown, she stood out. Her wavy brown hair hung low down her back. She wore a gown with a strapless red bodice, and a skirt made of black feathers. The feathers likely came from the wings of an unlucky elemental in our court. Noticeably absent were my adopted siblings, who were typically by her side.
Prisma’s light green eyes were wide with excitement as she peered down at something I couldn’t see. We fought our way through the crowd only to be startled by what we saw.
Two gabriel hounds circled each other. Their sleek black fur was covered in bloody gashes and cuts as if they’d been fighting for a while. Except for their fiery red eyes, they resembled over-sized panthers. The room shook when one of them growled, explaining the noise I’d heard earlier. A second later, the same hound lunged forward. His teeth bit into his challenger’s leg, forcing him to the ground. The hound let out a wail of agony.
Marcus hissed.
I glanced at him. "You okay, man?”
He didn’t answer.
The hound who delivered the blow strode away, assuming the fight was over—big mistake. While his attention was elsewhere, the wounded hound leaped to his feet. He dove on top of the hound, rolling him onto his back—sharp teeth sunk into his throat, tearing through his skin. My stomach churned. As a puddle of blood pooled around them, the crowd inhaled a collective breath. Once the hound shrank back into his mortal form, it was clear he was dead.
The boy was my age.
Rousing applause broke out in every corner as the winning hound shifted back into a dark-skinned, muscular mortal form. He was double the size of his competitor. When he whirled around and faced us, I realized it was Marcus’s father. Fire elementals rushed the stage, stepping over the fresh corpse.
Marcus ran his fingers through his brown curls. "My father has never been beaten.”
I tried to lighten the mood. "I wouldn’t want to take him on.”
"Neither would I.”
"What is this I see?” Prisma’s unmistakable voice silenced the room. "Has my son finally returned to me?”
After years of rejection, I’d accepted that Prisma wasn’t capable of traditional love. She saw love as a weakness. Only the most feared could rule. "I was just enjoying the entertainment,” I said, pointing to the trampled corpse. I thought this was completely barbaric. Forcing the hounds to fight to the death was another way to keep them from being seen as equals in our court. “This is quite a welcoming party.”
She stood, eyes squinted. "Come closer so I can see you.”
Without a word, Marcus joined the group of hounds. His father noticed but didn’t acknowledge him. The rest of the crowd parted as I headed toward her.
Tension built in my chest as the potent scent of blood and burnt flesh filled the air. Elementals whispered as I passed, followed by winks and seductive smiles. News must have spread that I’d be on the throne soon. Now, they would covet my attention.
When I reached the bottom of the throne steps, I bowed. “You summoned me, Your Majesty.” I addressed her formally because I refused to call her mother. She never earned that title.
Tapping her fingers against her armrest, she asked, “Are you happy to be home amongst your kin?”
Living in Avalon was my preference. I didn’t have to hide behind a glamour as I did in the mortal world. Here, I was free. But she made sure no one in our court lived happily. “Yes, I am.”
She sat down, taking a glance at the hounds, then returned her attention to me. “I am delighted your new guardian was able to return you to court. Tell me, are you pleased with my selection?”
Bile built in my throat. I had no doubt she was intentionally digging, hoping I would lash out so she’d have an excuse to punish me. I’d never give her the satisfaction. “I am pleased. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“You’re quite welcome,” she replied smugly.
I bit my tongue, hoping it wo
uld prevent me from saying something I would regret. Instead of speaking, I smiled. The tension in the room was as thick as butter.
After a long uncomfortable moment, she rolled her eyes. I would bet she was disappointed that she couldn’t get a reaction out of me. “Tomorrow, there will be a ball at sundown in celebration of your upcoming coronation. You may return to your quarters until then.” With a wicked grin, she turned to Marcus. “Your guardian will escort you.”
Again, she attempted to upset me. No doubt, she’d meant to use this to teach me a lesson. To her, the hounds were little more than animals. Most of them were feral, but that was due to their brutal training and forced upbringing. They were capable of much more. Prisma watched me intently for any reaction. Rather than giving her what she wanted, I bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm looking forward to the celebration tomorrow night.”
“Continue with the games,” she instructed to the hounds. The crowd roared with anticipation.
Two more hounds somberly transformed into their animal forms, preparing to fight to the death. My power surged in my fingertips, aching to stop what was happening. But I remembered what Marcus had said about control, and I did nothing. I tilted my chin toward Marcus. He nodded. Together, we headed for the exit as I tried to block out their pained cries.
I wanted to talk to Prisma about the coronation, but there was no point. There were too many elementals around, and she was having fun enjoying the blood bath. It would be easier to speak to her at the party tomorrow night. At some point, I was sure I’d have an opportunity to get her alone.
When the door closed behind us, Marcus let out a sigh. “You handled that better than I thought you would.”
Some of the tension released from my shoulders, but the image of the dead hound remained at the forefront of my mind. “There were a few moments where I almost lost it.”
“But you didn’t lose control, and that’s what matters.” He patted me on the back. “Who knows? If you can keep this up over the next week, you might just pull this off.”
I needed to prepare myself. “Tell me more about this celebration tomorrow night. Who’s going to be there?”
We strolled down the hallway, heading toward my bedroom. “All of the royal families are expected. The preparations have been going on for days. It’ll be a lavish event.”
No doubt. Prisma relished any opportunity to show off her wealth and power. With all of the families invited, it would seem she was planning quite a show. It would be nice to see the other court leaders. The royal families were extraordinarily reclusive, except for King Taron of the air elementals. I had met him on a few occasions during my childhood. He was friendly. Prisma disliked him, but that wasn’t abnormal. She didn’t like most elementals.
For now, I’d focus on showing up and continuing with my Oscar-worthy performance. I’d do whatever necessary to survive this week. The future of my court depended on it. After a few twists and turns, we made our way to my quarters. Marcus reached around, turning the gold handle on the door, pushing it open. I cringed. I knew he had to play the role of my guardian while we were here—Prisma had spies everywhere—but it still felt weird to have him opening doors for me.
The interior walls of my room shared the same obsidian glass as the rest of the castle, with gold sconces hanging on every wall. There were no windows or any living plants. Several zebra skinned rugs covered the floors that led to a massive fire pit in the middle of the room. I headed past the adjoining black marble bathroom toward the closet. When I slid the door open, I was surprised to find my closet filled with clothing.
I smirked at Marcus. “Oh, honey, you shouldn’t have.”
“You’re kidding, right? I’m the last person they’d send shopping.”
I chuckled, returning my attention to the clothes. There were several traditional red robes for the important meetings, a three-piece black suit, dark jeans, shirts in a riot of colors, and an assortment of boots sitting in a row on the floor. “Well, they did a good job. They’re all my style.”
He shrugged. “Maybe it was the queen?”
“Not a chance,” I said, shutting the door. Prisma was centuries old. If she went beyond Avalon’s mist, she would rapidly age until time caught up with her. I imagined she’d be dead in a matter of weeks. There’s no way she would age herself for anyone, especially me. “She probably sent one of the younger elementals.”
A knock on the door piqued my interest.
A young skinny female hound stepped inside holding a tray of cheese, crackers, and wine. I could tell by the patched-over burn holes on the side of her gray dress that it was old. Her shoes weren’t in much better shape. With everything available at her fingertips, Prisma should provide better attire for the castle staff. The little hound kept her eyes lowered to the floor as she waited for instruction.
“I can take this.” I took the tray from her, placing it on the black lacquer nightstand next to my bed. “Thank you.”
Our eyes met, and I smiled. As a hound working here in the castle, I doubted she got many kind words from the other high-ranking elementals. Her cheeks blushed. “Is there anything else you need, Your Majesty?”
“Nope. We’re all good.”
She took a glance at Marcus. Her eyebrows furrowed as if she were confused, then she hurried back out the door.
I sat down on my king-sized platform bed. Leaning against the white leatherette headboard with my hands crossed behind my head, I asked, “Why did she look at you like that?”
“Because I wasn’t staring at the ground waiting for a command from you.” Marcus crossed his arms. “If she reports me, I’ll be punished.”
I sat up, ready to chase after her. “I won’t allow it.”
“Yes, you will. You have to keep up appearances.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Besides, I should have known better.”
“I don’t want to hear you talk like that. You’re my family.”
Marcus held his arms open, smiling slyly. “Now I’m ready for my hug.”
“Whatever.” I chucked a pillow at him.
His eyes settled on the mountain of cheese and crackers. “Why don’t you send some of those goodies my way? I’m starving.”
I rolled my eyes, sliding the tray across the bed. “When are you not hungry?”
He stuffed a handful of cheese cubes in his mouth. “Hey, it’s hard work chasing after you.”
Marcus continued to scarf down food while I thought about tomorrow night’s ball. If all the leaders of the courts attend, I couldn’t help wondering if my future betrothed would be one of them. All the high-ranking elementals had their partners chosen for them. It had nothing to do with love or attraction. For us, it was all about forming alliances and gaining power. Prisma hadn’t chosen my bride, as far as I knew, but I was sure my opinions had no bearing on her decision.
“Looking forward to seeing anyone special tomorrow night?” I asked.
Marcus swallowed what was puffing out his cheeks in one large gulp. “There could be one person, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to talk to her.”
My eyes widened with curiosity. Marcus had never shown any interest toward a female elemental before. They must have met during the last few months he’d been in Avalon. “Why can’t you talk to her?”
“Ariel is an air elemental.”
I couldn’t help being a little shocked. Hounds only mated with mortals or other hounds. “Does your dad know about her?”
He stared down at the crumbles of food left on the tray. “No way. My father would never approve. Plus, Ariel’s parents have already arranged for her to marry a high-ranking knight in her court. You know it’s all about moving up the popularity ladder.”
This information wasn’t a surprise. Air elementals typically married within their court. That was why most of them had the same wheat-blond hair and blue eyes that were so pale they were almost gray. I always thought it was kind of weird, but whatever. “Well, you can at least tell me if she’s hot?”
/> “She’s gorgeous,” he gushed. “Long blond hair, full lips, and pale blue eyes, but there’s something special about her. I can’t explain it. It’s like I come alive when she’s with me.”
Sheer joy radiated out of him as he spoke about her. It was something I rarely witnessed in my best friend. “Damn, maybe I should introduce myself.”
Marcus scowled. “You’re not her type.”
I smirked as I patted my hand on his shoulder. “I’m everyone’s type.”
He threw a cracker at me, and it bounced off my cheek, landing in my lap. “I know there’s at least one girl out there capable of seeing through your bullshit, and I can’t wait to meet her.”
I picked up the cracker and ate it. It would be nice to have to work for it for once. I would enjoy the chase. “No way, I’m too irresistible.”
Marcus coughed. “I just threw up in my mouth.”
I grabbed the bottle of wine, removed the stopper, and poured two glasses. “You can wash it down with this.”
He took one of the glasses. “What are we toasting?”
“Being awesome?”
“To our continued awesomeness,” he announced, tapping our glasses together with a clink.
Chapter Three
Damn, I look good.
With my slicked-back hair, cleanly shaven face, and perfectly fitted suit, I looked like a prince befitting my title. I checked out all the rest of my angles in the mirror. The shoes that went with the suit were a bit snug, so I decided to wear my leather boots. I’d rather be comfortable. No telling how long this ball would run. They’ve been known to last for days.
Marcus had left a while ago to get changed. He said someone would come to escort me, but I’d been pacing for an hour. At the ball, it would be easy for me to pull Prisma aside and get to the bottom of her decision. There was a part of me holding onto a shred of hope that her offer was genuine. But the rest of me anticipated the letdown.
I had learned not to trust her a long time ago.
Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set Page 2