Chapter 5

Miriam I had tossed and turned all night; what little sleep I did get was haunted by my vision of Mikah's last moments. I laid in the king-sized bed, feeling the hollowness in my chest expand. Not all of it was for Mikah, as soon as Aro had closed the door last night I had been hit with a deep ache and longing that only grew the empty feeling in my chest as the night went on. A light knock on the door interrupted my internal cursing of the Goddess for fating me to someone who was not only my enemy but had a reputation for extreme cruelty. "Your highness, I have brought you some fresh clothing." Said a petite woman, entering the room with her arms overloaded with gowns. I moved from the bed intent on helping her, the tiny woman looked like she would topple over at any second due to the massive load of gowns she was carrying. "His majesty has requested your presence for breakfast. We weren't sure what you would like so we took the liberty of selecting several options based on the size of the clothes you came in." She stated, skirting around my hands reaching out to unburden her. She may have been a small woman, but she was quick. She swiftly laid out all of the gowns for my inspection before turning to curtsy to me. "Um, do you by chance have any jeans and t-shirts instead?" I asked, "I'm not really a gown kind of gal unless I have to be." "Oh!", she squeaked, "Of course your highness. Apologies for the assumption, but we thought with you being a Royal that you would prefer a gown. I'll fetch some more casual options!" Before I could say anything else, she had left the suite and returned once again loaded down with clothing. This time she had come with several pairs of jeans and an assortment of t-shits and sweaters. "What's your name?" I asked as she laid my new load of selections out for my inspection. 'I'm Kira your highness. His majesty has ordered me to be at your disposal for the duration of your stay." She responded; her voice filled with pride causing me to look at her curiously. I didn't quite understand how someone who served a ruler with such an awful reputation could be so proud to have been put in charge of my care. This had to be a trick to prevent me from attempting anything. He couldn't harm me without causing all-out war, so he had to have chosen a sweet ladies-maid to serve me to keep me in line. I was certain he would beat her if I made a single misstep while I was here. "I will leave you to dress now your highness. There is a guard posted outside, waiting to take you to his Majesty when you're ready." Kira smiled before leaving the room. I quickly threw on the closest pair of jeans and began looking over the tops Kira had laid out for me. I was surprised to see a graphic t-shirt with a human band on the front. I picked it up expecting it to be from one of their neighboring kingdom and was surprised to find that the back held openings common in Fae clothing, meant to allow our wings to be expanded without harming our clothing. How odd! I thought to myself before deciding that I would wear the shirt. As long as I was dressed and appeared at breakfast after his summons, he wouldn't be able to harm Kira. That didn't mean that I had to look like I'd put any effort into it. I smirked at my malicious compliance and quickly went to the bathroom to use the toiletries that I had found laid out for me the night before. Throwing my long, brown hair into a messy bun to complete the look, I took a moment to ponder my reflection. I looked like shit. There were dark circles under my eyes, and it was clear that I hadn't slept well. My outfit and hairstyle choices added to my overall disheveled and unattractive look. I sighed and decided I had better get this over with. "This way, your highness." Said the guard as soon as I opened the door. He led me through the halls for what felt like ages. I shouldn't have been surprised at the size of the castle, after all I had grown up in one as well, but I was still surprised at the size of the place. I wasn't sure I'd be able to find my way out of this castle on my own if I needed to escape. The guard stopped abruptly, pulling me from my internal musings about the castle, and knocked on the door in front of us. He didn't wait for a response before he entered the room to announce my arrival. I entered behind him, feeling the room suddenly become thick with electricity. The scene before me was not at all what I had expected. There was a small round dining table in the middle of the room, but unlike the suite I had slept in, Aro had the table setup in his sleeping area. He looked like he had not slept either, raking his hands through his hair as he studied the mess of papers strewn across the table in front of him. He looked anything but the cruel Prince he was rumored to be, and I was left with the strong urge to run my hands through his hair. With a sheepish grin, he looked up from the document he was studying. "Sorry," he said, standing, "Please, sit. The food will be in momentarily and we have a lot to discuss." I hadn't even realized he had moved until he was gesturing to the chair in his hands for me to sit. Once I was seated, he rushed to gather the mess of papers, just in time for a servant to place an obscene amount of food before us. My stomach growled loudly as the smell of bacon reached my nose. I wasn't sure why, but my grief seemed to have subsided enough for my appetite to reappear. As I ate, I couldn't help stealing glances at him. He seemed tired, but much more relaxed than he had when I first entered the room. He was a gorgeous man. Even without the beautiful glowing light around him, he would have been the most attractive man I had ever seen. I could only imagine the affect he had on women in general, they must have thrown themselves at him. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to maintain my self-control and not throw myself at him again. The magnetic pull I felt demanding physical contact was still there, but for the moment my body was calmed by his presence in the room. As my eyes moved from his mouth to his eyes, I realized he had been watching me stare at him. A blush creeped into my face as I caught a glimpse of humor in his dark eyes. "Miriam," he sighed, before clearing his throat. I felt a heat deep in my core at the sound of his voice and fought the urge to climb him like a tree. "I've had word that the Earth and Air clans have experienced similar murders to that of your brother and my father." He raked his eyes over me as he spoke, almost as if he had read my mind. "I am scheduling a summit here with the remaining rulers from each kingdom to discuss what we have discovered and how to work together to uncover the real motives behind these murders." "I'm not sure how you will get my father to come," I replied, "He thinks you or your father are behind my brother's murder.". "I know, he sent you to murder me." I paled at his words. He didn't know that my father had no idea I had enacted this plot against the fire kingdom. "He doesn't know I'm here," I whispered, "The plan was my own and I forged orders from him to set things into motion." "Well, I suppose that may make things a tad easier than. I will have one of my men take you to the dungeon and you can speak with your men and choose one to send the invitation for me. I was already planning to move you into the suite adjoining mine so that security could be tightened. If you can assure me that your men won't attempt to assassinate me in my sleep, I will release them from the cells and provide them with better accommodations." "Why not send me to my Father with the message?" I asked, taken aback at his words. "Miriam," he said, voice barely above a whisper, "There is a plot against at least four of the kingdoms, it's not safe for you to leave. I don't think I could survive if something happened to you." I sat in stunned silence. I had only met this man the night before and even with every fiber of my being feeling as if I needed him, I couldn't wrap my mind around what he was saying. "The summit will be in two weeks, until then, you remain here, where I can keep you safe. If you wish, you can return to the Water Kingdom with your father once the summit has ended." He stood abruptly and I could see hurt and anger in his eyes, "I have matters I must attend, there will be a guard outside to take you to your men once you have finished eating." A sob escaped me as he left the room. I didn't want to accept that fated mates were real, and I was fated to this man, but the hurt in his eyes cut through me. I needed to get away from here before I was in too deep to go; before he could live up to his reputation of cruelty. Taking a few breaths to regain my composure, I stepped out of the room and motioned for the waiting guard to lead the way to my men. The dungeon was dark and cold. I could sense the anger and nervousness of my men before we reached the large cell where they were being held. They must have realized that the assassin they escorted was actually me at some point during the previous night's skirmish. Movement caught my eye as we came closer and I realized Xaviar was pacing in the cell, anxiety radiating from him. "Princess!", he gasped as he noticed I was approaching. "We thought he had killed you!" "I am alive and well, Xaviar. There are things I need to fill you in on and I need you to deliver a message to my father. I assume you have revealed the truth to the rest of the men?" I questioned, raising one eyebrow. "I have told them everything your highness." "Good, I'm rescinding the order to murder the King and Prince. It seems someone has already murdered the King for us." My voice caught for a moment, "It seems my brother's murder was a setup. The fire king was murdered in the same manner with the evidence pointing to the Earth kingdom." Xaviar stood in stunned silence. The rest of my men snapped their heads up in attention, listening intently to what I was saying. They were waiting to hear any code in my words that would betray the ones I actually spoke. "The Earth and Air kingdoms have reported similar murders" I stated, allowing the realization of a deeper plot to wash over my men. "The Prince is arranging a summit for the four kingdoms. Xaviar, I need you to take word to my father, the summit is happening in two weeks." "Your highness, don't you think your father would be more accepting if you told him yourself?" Xaviar questioned. I sighed. This next part wasn't going to go over well. "The Prince has decided that I am to remain here and wait for my father". My men growled in response, but I held a hand up to silence them. "He is willing to release all of you and provide accommodations so that you may guard and protect me so long as you do not make an attempt on his life. With the murders in four kingdoms, I believe that we need to set aside our issues until we uncover and end whatever is happening right now." I could see the resigned acceptance in my men. They didn't trust the Prince any more than I did, but I knew they wouldn't risk their ability to protect me while I was kept in the Fire kingdom. I nodded to the guard who had escorted to the dungeon, letting him know it was safe to release my men. "Xaviar," I said as the guard unlocked the cell door, "I know you would prefer to stay, but I think you're the only one that can convey the urgency of this summit to my father in my stead. As soon as you have eaten, I need you to leave for our kingdom." Xaviar nodded curtly. He was not happy at being ordered away. He had been like a brother to me my entire life, our bond only surpassed by the bond I had with my twin, but he knew that his status as my intended match would hold more weight with my father than a message from anyone else. Fire guards I hadn't noticed before emerged from the shadows to lead my men to wherever the Prince had arranged for them to stay. Xaviar hesitated, looking me over as if to satisfy himself of my wellbeing before following the rest of the men in silence. I looked at the guard that hadescorted me, waiting for him to lead the way back to the suite I had been inthe previous night. Xaviar I had thought Miriam was a ghost when she appeared at the cell. Only the reaction of the other men to her voice had assured me that she was in fact really there. What she had told us was alarming, but it didn't erase the anger I felt at the Fire Prince holding her hostage. I wanted nothing more than to rip him limb from limb. I angrily shoved my weapons and the supplies one of the Fire guards had given me into their proper place on the saddle. I knew Miriam thought of me as a brother. She thought we both had our flings with others and would continue to do so until we were forced to be matched. She didn't realize that the agreement was one sided. I had been in love with her since childhood. I knew she couldn't love me the same way, but my heart had nearly burst with joy when my father told me of the arrangement with the king. I would have to run the horse they had given me hard. I wanted to deliver her message to the King as quickly as I could and return to her. The thought of leaving her here as his captive, even with our other men to protect her, was eating at me. She hadn't seemed overly bothered by the fact that she was being held captive and I didn't know if her captivity or response to it bothered me worse. It had taken us five days moving as a group among refugees, if I rode fast enough, I could get her message to the King in three. There was no reason to hide my identity now that I was carrying items and riding a horse obviously from the Fire castle. Goddess let the king listen and leave right away. I need to get back to Miriam's side. I thought in silent prayer before pushing my horse to move faster.