Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set

by Stacey O'Neale

  I cleared my throat. “You know who I am?”

  “Princess Kalin of House Paralda.” He pulled up the bottom of his shirt and wiped the black blood off his cheek. The curve of his hip was exposed, and I forced myself to look away. I needed to remember he was dangerous and maybe lying.

  “What’s your name?” I asked, trying to sound like I wasn’t intimidated.

  “Rowan.”

  “Were you tracking Malin?”

  “No.”

  Rowan wasn’t big on details. “Then what are you doing here?”

  “I was in the area,” he smirked.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Was that really your answer?”

  He pointed into the distance. “Taron has knights at your mother’s house. You should be there instead of scampering around in the forest.”

  “I wasn’t scampering.” I crossed my arms. “And how do you know where I live?”

  He leaned close enough that I could see that his eyes were blue. Not pale like the air court. His were deep blue like a sapphire. “Whatever you want to call it, doesn’t change the fact that you’re alone and unprotected.”

  He didn’t answer my question. “Let’s get one thing straight, I—”

  Leaves rustled, and then several twigs snapped. I whirled around. In the darkness, it was impossible to tell from which direction the noise was coming.

  “We have to get you out of here,” Rowan announced.

  “Why?” He looped his arm inside mine and towed me deeper into the dark forest. I had to jog to keep up. The urgency in his stride put my already amped-up suspicions into epic overdrive. “Where are you taking me?”

  “You’re not safe out here,” he insisted. “There could be others.”

  “This is insane.” Pulling back with my seized arm, I forced him to stop. “I’m not taking another step until you tell me who you are and what’s going on.”

  “Look, this wasn’t the way it was supposed to go down. I did my job, and now—” He cut himself off, emitting a low growl. “Trust me. This isn’t going to make the highlight reel for me either.”

  His answer only confused me more. “You were done with what? You’re not making any sense.”

  “You,” he snapped. “You and your…situation.”

  My situation? What was his problem? He didn’t even know me, and who said I invited him to be part of my situation anyway? “I don’t know what your deal is, but I almost got killed back there, so why don’t you cool it with the attitude.”

  “You wanna know what my deal is, princess?” He raised his eyebrows. “I killed two fire court assassins to protect you, and now I have no choice. I have to return to Avalon. The one place I didn’t want to go and explain to the high council what happened.”

  Finally, Mister Personality said something I understood. The high council was judge and jury to everything. The members included the four royal families and several other high-ranking elementals. I didn’t know if I could trust Rowan, but my father was a member of the council. If he planned to go there, then that’s where I needed to be. “I’m coming with you.”

  “No way.” He shook his head. “You need to go back to your mother’s house. The knights can take you somewhere safe until I can get this mess sorted out.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Listen, I appreciate what you did back there. I really do. But I need to find my father. If you want to keep me safe, take me to the council.”

  “Last time I checked, the fire court was part of the high council.” He pointed over his shoulder. “I think the big pile of ash back there sent a pretty clear message.”

  He wasn’t wrong, but I was done getting pushed around. “Okay, let me make this simple for you. I’m not the sit around and wait kind of girl.” I poked my finger into his chest, which was surprisingly hard. “You’ll either take me to the council, or I’ll find my own way. Do you understand me now?”

  With his hands balled at his sides, he replied, “Fine, whatever. Walk right into danger if you insist, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Rowan took several steps forward. He waved his hand in front of him, and the blackness rippled like ocean waves. It was a glamour. He pressed into it with his palms, but he couldn’t breakthrough. There had to be a portal inside. But there was also something else. “I need you to try.”

  A howl cried out strong enough to shake the ground, and we fought to stay on our feet.

  “What the hell is that?” I shrieked.

  He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him. “That is a gabriel hound, which means we’re officially out of time.”

  With the height difference, my face only came up to his chest. My eyes narrowed. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  A second later, he hurled us into the dark current.

  Chapter Three

  Kalin

  We passed through the glamour and rolled several feet on the ground. When we came to a stop, Rowan was on his back with me on top. My head pressed against his chest. Without thinking, I inhaled the woodsy scent coming off of him. Our eyes met, and he smirked. As my cheeks burned, I wished I had the power to disappear. I rolled off of him and onto my feet. While he brushed the muck off the back of his jeans, I scanned the area.

  Less than a few feet away, a large oak tree had been split down the middle and spread open wide enough for a doorway. The cloud-colored wind spun rapidly inside like a tornado. I was right. This portal must’ve been the one the air court knights had planned to use.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered.

  The heat of his breath against my skin made me shiver. I didn’t know why my body kept reacting to his touch, but I didn’t like it. “I’m fine. Let’s get this over with.”

  The magnetic force of the portal tugged at my feet, slowly dragging us closer. I’d read all about them in one of the books my father sent me, but nothing compared to seeing a portal in person. The idea of it all unsettled my nerves. Rowan held out his hand. This was it, no turning back. I slid my hand inside his. The connection sent a warm sizzle up my arm.

  We entered the abyss.

  Dad compared the experience to being sucked into a vacuum bag. He was exactly right. There was nothing above, below, or on either side of us. Icy air circulated within a silent wind tunnel. We kept a steady pace across a hard surface, but I had no idea what this was. My teeth rattled from the bitter cold. “I hope you know where you’re going.”

  “Doubting me already?”

  Any sane person would’ve doubted him. I didn’t feel confident about anything. After being attacked and not knowing why I was saved by someone who seemed to wish it had never happened. On top of that, air elementals were dead, and now I was traveling through a dark, freezing hole with no idea where I was going. Who wouldn’t be freaked out? “When will we get out of here?”

  “It will be over any minute now,” he said calmly.

  A camera-like white flash snapped in front of us, and I covered my eyes with my forearm. I took a few more steps and quickly realized the cold was gone. Lukewarm air surrounded me, and I let my arm fall to my side. My vision was hazy but cleared within seconds.

  We stood at the edge of an emerald green forest. Moonlight illuminated the twisted tree trunks that rose so high it seemed like they touched the sky. Beyond the trees, I saw the mountain ranges of the air court. Intermittent bolts of lightning flashed, followed by the turbulent boom of thunder. Something was unsettling about the sound. Like it was unnatural. An odd feeling crept over me, and I felt as if something was wrong.

  A strange jolt shook me out of my thoughts.

  I stared at my hands as the skin on my arms began to pulse. The sensation traveled throughout my body, coursing through my veins. I closed my eyes. Tired muscles re-energized, and I no longer felt the pain from my injury. My eyes flashed open when I realized what was happening. It was Avalon. Being here ignited all the dormant power inside of me. I’d always felt like I was missing this huge piece of myself and now I was whole.

/>   “That’s what you’ve been missing your whole life.” Rowan smiled almost as if he were proud. “You’ll be even stronger once we reach the mountains.”

  His reaction left me with more questions. Although he had saved my life, I still didn’t know why. “How do you know so much about me?”

  “We need to get to the forest,” he replied, avoiding my question. “You’re not safe out here in the open.”

  Before I had time to ask why, he headed in the direction of the woodland. I hurried to catch up with him. We strode deep into the inner sanctum of the forest. Sandy paths that I could barely see through the foggy mist went in every direction.

  He cautiously led while we passed beautiful fruit trees. I stopped. My mouth watered as their aromas traveled on an invisible wind straight into my nostrils. They had a sweet citrus smell. One particular grapevine caught my eye. It appeared ordinary except that the fruit was a shimmery gold. This must be the fruit they used to make amber wine. I picked a single grape off the vine. But when I pinched too hard, the juice ran in between my fingers.

  Rowan turned around to see what was keeping me, and I jogged to catch up with him.

  About a quarter of a mile away, a luminous watery haze rose from a tiny stream. The bright liquid materialized into the form of a young female surrounded by a glowing aura. Her charcoal-colored hair hung past her waistline. As we got closer, I saw she had white henna markings on the edges of her pale blue eyes and cheekbones. Scaled fish fins poked out from behind her like wings. Her facial features were tiny, almost childlike when she smiled.

  A water elemental.

  Her eyes bore into mine. Inside my head, I heard a female’s voice. She must’ve been trying to speak to me telepathically, but I couldn’t make out the words. It almost seemed as if there was some interference. Curiosity got the best of me, and before I realized it, I was heading in her direction. The angelic creature held up a wine glass, offering it to me. I was suddenly overwhelmed with thirst.

  “You can’t accept a drink from her,” Rowan blurted out, almost as if he were scolding me. “The elixir she’s holding is enchanted. Drinking that would be like chugging ten shots of vodka on an empty stomach, and that’s if you react well.”

  He redirected us onto an adjacent path leading us farther from the water elemental. She shrugged. The light surrounding her dimmed like a sunset until there was nothing but darkness.

  She disappeared, and the dehydration was gone. I didn’t want to admit Rowan was right, but he was. I stared down at my bandaged arm. “You don’t need to say anything. I know I should’ve been more cautious.”

  When I glanced up, he was staring intently at the fresh blood covering my makeshift bandage. Had he just noticed my injury? He reached for my arm, unfastened the binding, and then examined the cut. His fingers traced along the incision, and goosebumps peppered my arms. “This should’ve healed when your power awakened. There are two possibilities: infection or poisoning.”

  Did he say poison? I tried not to panic, although I was internally freaking out. “Can you fix it?”

  He stared at me curiously. “You should be able to mend this. It’s part of your lineage.”

  How did he know so much about me? I shot him a knowing stare. “If I knew how to turn it on, I would’ve done it a long time ago.”

  “I don’t have the ingredients to mix a salve, so we’re going to have to try to ignite the healing ourselves.” He placed my hand on top of the wound, then cupped both of his hands around mine. A cool breeze circled us, tickling my face. “Close your eyes.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  The corner of his mouth curled into a half-smile. “I’m going to give your engine a jumpstart.”

  “What does that even mean?”

  He didn’t answer as he shut his eyes. I let out a growl of frustration, then did as he asked. “Fine, my eyes are closed. Now what?”

  There was a flash, and then a vision. I saw my wound. Tiny prickles sparked around the edges, and my skin burned. I fought hard not to pull my hand away. Moments later, a clear liquid filled the open cut. I felt a tug. The skin had closed back together. When I opened my eyes, I gasped. White light crept through the cracks of our overlapping hands. As the light faded, Rowan opened his eyes and backed away.

  The cut had disappeared. All that was left was a fine pink line.

  “How did you do that?” I asked. “Did my father teach you?”

  Without answering, he headed down another path. I threw my hands up in the air. What in seven hells was wrong with him? “Yeah, sure. No need to answer any of my questions.”

  Again, no response.

  I sighed, then caught up to him before he got too far away.

  “Why didn’t Taron allow you to visit Avalon?” he blurted out. “I mean, it’s not like he could come to you.”

  I considered not responding. Ignore him, so he knows how it feels. But maybe if I answered his questions, he’d start answering mine. “It was an arrangement he made with my mother. They wanted me to have a mortal childhood.” I shrugged. “But, he did cheat a little by dreamwalking with me.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “Dreamwalking?”

  “That’s what he called it.” I shrugged. “He could enter my mind while I was asleep.” It was the only way I was able to get to know him. He taught me about each of the courts, and through vivid imagery, gave me a tour of the castle. But it didn’t happen that often. Dreamwalking required a tremendous amount of power. He said it took him days to recover.

  “Clever,” he replied, sounding like he was impressed. “What did he teach you about our world?”

  Rowan certainly had a lot of questions for someone who didn’t like answering them. “Surprisingly, nothing about you. Care to fill in the blanks?”

  He smirked. “Another time.”

  The leaves rustled in a nearby shrub, but there was no wind. Rowan thrust his arm out in front of my mid-section, stopping me in my tracks. We stood still, watching the bush. “It’s probably just a rabbit or a squirrel,” I dismissed. A twig snapped, then I heard whispered voices. “Or maybe not.”

  He reached behind his back, and a leather sheath appeared with a sword inside. I stared at him wide-eyed. Now that my powers were supercharged, I should’ve been able to see through his glamour—one of the benefits of a royal family bloodline. But I didn’t. If he could hide his weapon from me, he must come from a high-ranking, powerful lineage.

  “Show yourself,” he ordered, unleashing his sword. He swung it once as if it was meant to be a warning.

  Two little elves that looked like walking garden ornaments stepped into view. A grin grew across my face. They didn’t wear pointy hats, but they did have chubby faces and little pot bellies. It took everything I had not to pick them up and kiss their cute faces.

  I glanced at Rowan. The empty expression on his face told me he didn’t share my excitement. He pointed his sword at them. “Why are you following us?”

  Their jaws dropped in unison. They either sensed the iron in the blade, or Rowan was scaring the crap out of them. My guess was both. As they took several steps backward, one elf waved his hand. “We mean you no harm. No harm here. We saw you exit the portal, and we followed. You don’t look familiar.”

  The elf standing beside him narrowed his eyes. “These forests belong to the woodland court after all.”

  Rowan took another step toward them. “We don’t owe you any―”

  I placed my hand on his shoulder, and he stopped mid-sentence. That was a surprise. I smiled to put the elves at ease. “I’m Kalin, daughter of King Taron of the air court. I’m looking for him. He’s in a council meeting somewhere in your forest.”

  Both elves smiled, nodding their heads. “Yes, yes! We know where to find the council meeting.” They pointed farther into the distance. “Stay along this trail and you’ll―”

  “I know the way,” Rowan stated in a monotone voice, shooing them away with his hand.

  The elves didn�
�t say another word. They ran in the opposite direction and disappeared into the thick shrubbery.

  “Wow, your manners are impeccable.” I shook my head. “You must have tons of friends.”

  “They’re wasting our time,” he grumbled as he slid his sword back into its sheath.

  I rolled my eyes. “They were only trying to help.”

  “They were nosy,” he corrected. “Come on already; you’re slowing us down.”

  My hands fisted at my sides, but I didn’t say another word. We trudged our way through the vast forest until we came to a stop in front of a wall of hanging green vines splayed across a large boulder.

  Rowan pushed the strands out of the way to reveal another glamoured entrance. He stood motionless for a few awkward moments with his jaw tightly clenched. It was obvious he was reluctant to go in there. Watching him put my nerves on edge.

  “The council meeting should’ve already started,” he said, breaking the silence. “I guess it’s time to make our grand entrance.”

  I was about to meet my father. I glanced down at my clothes and cringed. I was a wreck. Covered in dirt and blood, I attempted to brush off the grime. I failed. I tried one last time to run my shaking fingers through my knotted hair. There was no fixing this disaster. I was the definition of a hot mess, but I’d run out of options. I had to suck it up.

  After taking a few long, relaxing breaths, I stepped inside.

  It was as if we had stumbled into a landscape painting. The council room had no walls or ceilings. It was a flat, massive landing made of wooden planks nailed together. Perched on top of a waterfall, the will-o’-the-wisps circled our heads like floating tea lights. Rushing water flowed beneath. In the distance, we could see the stunning mountain ranges of the air court.

  Elementals from every court filled the space. Almost all of them turned their heads when we entered, but no one spoke. Instead, they ducked into groups and whispered to each other—not one single greeting. An uncomfortable feeling rushed through me. My unease must have been apparent because Rowan leaned down and whispered, “Don’t worry. They’re not staring at you.”