He put his hand on my shoulder. “She said nothing. That doesn’t mean she agreed with him. Didn’t you see the way he grabbed her wrist? I don’t think it’s a matter of wanting to say something. I’m guessing she couldn’t say something. Think about it.”
Marcus was right about one thing: Kalin didn’t agree with Sebastian.
And when I tried to get her to explain herself, all she did was apologize.
The last time we were alone, Kalin told me about an argument she had with members of the council. Some of them wanted to replace her father, and crown a new king. The same members who pushed for his removal did not support Kalin as his successor. There was pressure mounting for her to marry to strengthen her position in the court. Had the pressure from the council gotten to her? Had she felt backed into a corner without any other options?
I replayed that scene in my mind.
During our conversation, Sebastian was the one doing all of the talking. They had been alone when I found them. I had assumed they were kissing, but thinking about it now with a clear head, I wasn’t close enough to say for sure. For all I knew, they were only talking. Or maybe he was warning her. When Kalin first saw me, she motioned as if she were about to come toward me. I could tell she had something she wanted to say. But she froze when Sebastian whispered something in her ear. Afterward, sadness filled her face. Had he threatened her?
Anger roared in my chest.
Why hadn’t I thought of this before? I should never have left her alone with him when all of the signs were there. Subtle, but there. I just chose to ignore them and believe the load of crap he fed me—that arrogant piece of shit. I didn’t like him from the beginning. There was no proof, but I sensed he shouldn’t be trusted. He said all the right things, but I didn’t think he was sincere. I ran my hands over my face. I had to take a few deep breaths to calm down before I set the beach ablaze.
I should’ve sliced into him when I had the chance. “I’m going to enjoy killing him.”
When I reached back for my sword, Marcus clasped his hand around my wrist. “I share your sentiments, but you have to be smart about this. If Sebastian has threatened Kalin in some way, we don’t want to expose whatever she’s afraid of.”
“I have to find a way to get Kalin alone.” I rubbed my finger over the silver bar in my eyebrow. It was the only way I could truly find out if Sebastian was blackmailing her. But how? It wasn’t like I could walk into the air court inconspicuously. Taron had her followed by knights no matter where she went. And if Sebastian had threatened her, he would surely be monitoring her every move. I thought about trying to sneak in but quickly dropped the idea. If they didn’t recognize me, they would probably assume I was one of the rogue fire elementals looking to harm the royal family. They would attack me on the spot.
Yeah, I was sure that would go over well.
“I’ll get a message to Kalin,” Marcus said. “There’s a hidden tunnel at the bottom of the mountain with a passageway into the castle. Most air elementals don’t know it exists. That’s how I get to Ariel’s quarters unseen. I’ll go there now. Ariel can find Kalin and bring her to us.”
Ariel was her best friend and could easily get to Kalin. Those two were as thick as thieves. A tiny ping of hope lessened the intense ache in the pit of my stomach. I had a way to get to her, but would she see me? A wave of doubt washed over me. As much as I hated to admit it, Kalin might have fallen in love with Sebastian. All of this could end up being for nothing. “And then we’ll find out the truth. Whatever it is.”
Marcus cupped his hands over my shoulders. “We already know the truth. We need to give Kalin a chance to tell it. Have a little faith.”
Feeling insecure about anything was something new for me. I had spent years honing my fighting skills and mastering my fire magic, but I rarely opened up to anyone. My family drama had made me closed off and untrusting. I had to let go of the insecurities I was feeling and focus on the relationship we had built. “You’re right. Find Ariel and have them meet us here tomorrow night at sundown. Kalin knows the spot.”
Marcus nodded.
I refuse to give her up.
I refuse to believe she has given up on me.
And I will destroy anyone or anything that tries to harm her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kalin
What a fool I was letting Sebastian get so close, believing all of his lies.
How could I have been so stupid? He had trained his entire life to be a king. He would never give up all the power and prestige that comes with the crown. And now, he had total control. He could take everything away from my family and me. With the elements out of balance, the council feared for the future of our court. If Sebastian told the council the truth about my father’s weakness, and my inability to use my power, they would vote to remove us.
And without the power of the royal court, my father would die.
Sebastian relished every moment of it. He forced me to remain at the ball for several hours, never leaving my side. I spent the night trying to keep his wandering hands above my waist each time he forced me to kiss him. Always in public, so I couldn’t deny him. Ariel had tried to talk to me, but Sebastian insisted that I push her away. My mother must have sensed my pain because she watched me the entire night—her eyes filled with worry. I tried to smile, but she knew me too well. I had no doubt she could see right through it. But again, Sebastian managed to keep her away by telling my parents that it was important that we mingle with our party guests.
I was his puppet, and he held all my strings.
At the end of the party, Sebastian insisted on escorting me to my room. He even forced me to dismiss my guards once we reached my quarters. As soon as they were out of sight, he cornered me into a wall. His voice was low as he gave me instructions. “You are not allowed to talk to anyone without me being present. I have elementals who are loyal to me watching your every move.” He ran his index finger across the bodice of my strapless dress, making a point to skim over the top of my cleavage. He was testing me, daring me to push him away. I stood motionless without any expression on my face. His touch disgusted me. “If I suspect anything, I will immediately go to the council and tell them all of your dirty little secrets.”
“I get it, all right?” I reached for the knob on my bedroom door, quickly turning it. The entryway creaked open.
Before I could step inside, he cupped my face and forced another kiss. He moaned as his hands roamed my body. There was nothing I could do as he took what he wanted against my will. I froze as his fingers slithered up my sides and down to my bottom. Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them go. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “You look incredible tonight, princess. I would like to see what you have for me under your gown. If I weren’t a gentleman, I would disrobe you right here.”
I had to hide my emotions. If I got angry, he would continue this assault. The last thing I wanted was for him to follow me inside and do much worse. The thought made my stomach churn. “I am grateful you are a gentleman, and that you respect my wishes.”
A surprised look fell over his face.
“You never gave yourself to that mongrel prince?” He let out a noise that sounded like a mix between a hum and a moan. “Wonderful.”
I put my fist to my mouth, letting out a fake yawn. “I am really tired. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get some sleep.”
Sebastian backed up a step, giving me some much-needed space. “Yes, of course. You’ll need to get your rest for tomorrow.”
My eyebrows knit together. “Tomorrow? I don’t have any plans for tomorrow.”
“I forgot to tell you the great news.” A wicked grin grew across his lips. “We are getting married tomorrow at sundown.”
“What?”
“I cannot wait one more day. I’ve pushed everything up to tomorrow.” He kissed my hand. “Sleep well, my princess.”
Sleep was not my friend. I tossed and turned in bed all night. Even after I drank severa
l glasses of the wine someone brought to my room, I couldn’t stop thinking about my impending marriage. This wedding was happening. I had no choice. I was going to marry Sebastian. Each time I closed my eyes, I could feel his touch on my skin. I could hear the vile things he whispered to me. All of the things he wanted to do with me once I was his.
It was too much.
Bile raced up my throat.
I reached the toilet only a second before I vomited.
Once I cleaned myself up, I made my way to the window. The sun had just risen over the horizon. Puffy clouds surrounded the castle with flecks of blue peeking through every crevice. I sat there for hours curled in my comforter. I couldn’t stop the images flashing in my head. Rowan, his face full of anguish as he turned to walk away from me. The anger in his enflamed fists. How would he react when he found out I was getting married today? I wished for a way to reach him. I wanted one more chance to tell him the truth without endangering my family. I burst into tears. I couldn’t be strong anymore. Sebastian had drained all of the hope out of me.
A tiny scratching noise broke me from my thoughts.
I wiped away the tears with the sleeve of my cotton nightgown as I tried to follow the sound. It only took me a second to realize it was coming from my bedroom door. When I opened it, I discovered Ariel outside with a finger over her lips. I nodded, pulling her inside. The moment the door clicked, I threw my arms around her neck. She hugged me tightly, wordlessly, letting me know she was there for me.
“I heard the news. Is it true?” she asked.
Sebastian must have announced our wedding was moved up to today. “It’s not what I want, but I have no choice. He threatened my family.”
Ariel's eyes widened. “What could he possibly have to threaten you with?”
Then I realized I hadn’t told her about my power problems. I hadn’t told anyone except Sebastian. Even Rowan didn’t know I had completely lost my power. “I had confided in him about my father and the issues with my power. He has enough information to cause me a lot of problems with the council.”
Her voice was so low that I had to read her lips. “Maybe I can help.”
Remembering Sebastian’s threats, I lowered my voice. “No one can help me. I’m out of options.”
“Maybe not.”
A sliver of hope swelled in my chest, and I leaned closer to her. “What are you talking about?”
“Marcus came to me last night,” she whispered. “He had a message from Rowan. They had a feeling something bad had gone down between you two.”
My heart warmed. Somehow Rowan saw through all of Sebastian’s lies. He didn’t doubt my feelings for him. I should’ve known. “What did he say?”
She scanned the room, landing on a pad of paper on my nightstand. She picked up a pen and wrote.
He wants you to meet him at sundown at the beach. He said you would know where.
As soon as I read it, she got up and threw the paper into my lit fireplace.
I always met Rowan at the same place where he trained me when I first arrived in Avalon. The beach had become our solitude—our little slice of heaven. I glanced over at last night’s ball gown draped over a chair, and reality set in. What remained of my heart crumbled into pieces. “I’m supposed to marry Sebastian at sundown. How can I possibly get away? I’ll have a non-stop flow of elementals swarming around me.”
Ariel paced the room for several minutes. I watched her as she tapped her finger against her lips. Abruptly, she stopped. “You need to go along with whatever Sebastian has planned for you. I’ll be expected to be at your side, helping you get ready for the wedding. No matter what happens, you stick to the plan. Don’t give Sebastian any reason to doubt your intentions.”
My eyebrows knit together. “Are you saying you have a plan? You’re not making any sense.”
Ariel grabbed my hands. “Just let me take care of everything, okay?”
“Okay,” I said, watching her sneak out of the room and down the hallway before anyone noticed her. I closed the door, wrapping my arms around my waist. I had no idea what she had planned, but I prayed it would work. I had to see Rowan. Knowing he still believed in us and was fighting for us, energized my hope that we still had a chance. That there was a way to get out of this marriage without hurting my family. The alternative was too much to bear. Rowan wasn’t giving up on me. I won’t give up, either.
I had to find a way to fight back.
I had to find a way to save my family.
I had to find a way to save my love.
Hours passed like seconds. As I expected, the castle was buzzing. I didn’t know how Sebastian managed to do it, but everyone was on board for the wedding today. I expected my parents to resist. They both knew I had no intention of marrying him, but my father had approved all of the preparations. I wanted to speak with them, but Sebastian had done all he could to keep me isolated. There was a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me Sebastian had threatened them too. It was the only way to explain why they were going along with all of this.
Where was Ariel?
I hadn’t seen her since she slipped into my room this morning. She had promised she would find a way to get me out of the castle before the wedding, and that Rowan would be waiting for me, but I had no idea how she planned to do it. The knights were everywhere. Sebastian insisted that I needed extra protection. He said he feared another court might attack while we were busy preparing for the big event. It was a great move on his part. Now more than ever before, I felt like a caged animal.
In addition to the extra guards, Sebastian made a point to pop in on me. He even managed to show up during my final wedding dress fitting. He forced a seamstress out of the way, insisting he would help attach the clips in the back. I could feel his knuckles against my spine. It took everything I had not to push him away. I tried to tell him it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, but he chose to stay.
After the brownies finished the hem, they started unclipping the gown. Sebastian watched intently. Once the gown dropped to the floor, they helped me step out of it. I was fully exposed, wearing nothing more than a white strapless corset and matching panties. Sebastian didn’t have to say a word. The wild-eyed look on his face told the whole story. Each time he glanced at me, I felt sick. I could never marry him, never love someone like him. I prayed Rowan had found a way to cancel this wedding. As much as I feared for my family, I didn’t think I could go through with it. There was no divorce with elementals. If I married Sebastian, we would be together until one of us died. It was a lifetime commitment, unlike anything in the mortal world.
I had to find a way out of it.
Ariel finally showed up an hour before sundown dressed in formal yellow robes. Elementals don’t have bridesmaids. Sebastian watched her closely as she organized her makeup and hairbrushes. I sat in the chair in front of her. Instead of her usual banter, Ariel kept quiet. I wasn’t sure if she was downplaying our relationship or just keeping low key. Whatever her motivation, it worked. Sebastian left the room yawning. I guess all this girlie stuff finally got to him. The moment after he was gone, I grabbed Ariel by the wrist. “Where have you been?”
“I had to meet with Marcus,” she said while applying a creamy foundation to my face. “We have a plan.”
“Well, spill it.”
Ariel bit her bottom lip. “It’s probably best to keep you in the dark. This way, your reaction will be believable.”
She was making no sense. “My reaction to what?”
“All you need to know is this.” Ariel leaned down, only an inch away from my ear. “When the distraction starts, head out of the castle toward the portal.”
There would be some distraction. It made total sense. In all the commotion, I could leave without anyone noticing. “Perfect.”
Ariel smiled. “It will be. I promise.”
It was time for me to head downstairs. According to Ariel, the wedding had been set up in the ballroom. I had no idea what it would look
like because I hadn’t been part of the plans. Most of the day had passed, and I still hadn’t seen either of my parents. I was worried, but I had to push those feelings aside. I had bigger problems at the moment. I only hoped whatever Marcus and Ariel had planned would work. It would take something serious to get Sebastian’s attention away from me and his ascension to the throne.
I took one last look in the mirror. My wedding dress had a beaded lace sweetheart neckline bodice with lace straps, featuring an empire waist and low back. The shape reminded me of a mermaid painting I saw when our high school class went on a field trip to the Baltimore Museum of Art. It wasn’t something I would have picked out, but I didn’t care since I had zero interest in this wedding. I would have walked down the aisle in a paper bag, and it wouldn’t have mattered to me in the least.
With armed guards I didn’t recognize surrounding me, I took my first steps into the hallway.
Ariel left just minutes ago. She had been called downstairs, leaving me to walk alone. My uncomfortable heels clicked against the marble walkway. Beyond the sound of our shoes, there was only silence. I felt like one of those sentenced prisoners taking their last walk toward the lethal injection chair. I wasn’t about to die, but it sure felt like part of me was withering away. With each step, my spirit was breaking. The only thing keeping me going was the shred of hope I had in Rowan. My fate rested in his hands.
As we entered the main foyer of the castle, I heard a commotion in front of us. A few of the knights ran ahead while the rest circled me with swords raised. Screams rang out over the sounds of weapons scraping against one another. Somewhere in the middle of all of it, I heard a roar that shook the floor. Only one creature was powerful enough to rattle the ground: a gabriel hound. It had to be Marcus. Was this the warning sign? I nudged a few of my guards with my elbow. “Go up there and help them!”
They glanced at one another, seemingly not sure what to do.
Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set Page 44