I entered the throne room and approached the King, bowing at the foot of the stairs leading up to the royal seats. Surprisingly, my brother and the Queen were not present. “Were you successful in your mission, son?” he asked. “I was sire, they are waiting on the other side of the door.” I answered him. He nodded at one of his guards, who left the room in a rush. What was going on? I thought as my father spoke again. “Are you sure they are the sisters from the prophecy and not some wenches that have tricked you?” he accused. “The Goblins believe they are, and to be honest, they have the abilities that the prophecy speaks of.” He nodded as he stroked his long black beard in thought, his blue eyes sparkling as ideas formulated in his grotesque mind. His hair had random braids in the front and fell loose in the back. “What abilities have they shown you?” He finally asked. “They have each demonstrated their abilities to some extent, control of fire, water, air and earth was witness
“You’re a fucken Prince?” Ari asked in disbelief, as we exited the throne room. “Why didn’t you tell us?” I asked, confused. It really didn’t make a difference if he was royalty or not. “The prince likes you.” Ela teased me when I frowned. “Princes come with a lot of baggage.” Karm commented. He shrugged, “People tend to find out who I am and treat me differently and I didn’t want you to.” “He wanted you to like him for who he is, not what he is.” Ela smiled. “We are not that shallow.” I noted as he nodded and kept walking. I looked around at the splendor, everything was made of marble. The walls and columns were white marble, and the floors were black marble, everything was cleaned to perfection, we followed him down a long hallway that was open to the courtyard, even the courtyard cobblestones were black marble stark against the greenery and flowers that lined the walkways and entrances. As beautiful as this place was, I missed the forest, everything here was a little too or
When I opened the door, a pillow hit me in the face, “You were outside not even five minutes ago and, in that time, you found something to have a pillow fight over?” I asked, surprised. Sunama shrugged, “We got bored.” “You should be getting ready for practice.” I scolded. “Party pooper.” Huricana giggled. “Well, let’s go down to the courtyard to practice, then.” Ari announced as she got up, grabbing her weapons and walked to the door, head held high like she wasn’t just in the middle of an epic pillow fight. My sisters and I grabbed our stuff and followed, but in the few minutes we were gone the courtyard had filled with people. “We can’t practice here. It is too busy.” I pointed out. “Well, duh.” Gia retorted smartly. “Hmm.” a voice said behind me, causing me to jump. I spun around to face him. A tall, muscular man with short brown hair and green eyes was standing with another man who looked like him, but his hair was longer and his green eyes a slightly lighter green. “Who
Where the hell did they go, I had gone back to their room to let them know when supper would be ready and no one was there. The two guards I had sent were nowhere to be found as well. Could they have left the castle grounds? I headed back to the courtyard to check one last time. I saw Bram walking with four of the sisters. “I have been looking for you guys. Where have you been?” I asked Bram, “Where are Ward and Akasha?” “I’m here, you just can’t see me.” Akasha spoke as I looked towards where her voice was coming from. “Why are you invisible?” “Correction, Spirit form. Not invisible, they are vastly different.” “And how is that?” “Well, for one, if a person has the ability to see ghosts, they can see me, where if I were invisible, no one could see me.” She pointed out. “That’s beside the point we were out training and…” “You left the castle grounds?” I asked angrily. “Yes… now let me finish, please.” She paused, then continued, “We were training, and Colonel Delano showed up
Once we were back in our room, I quickly showered and changed into clean clothes, luckily someone had brought my sisters and I fresh clothes, as the ones we were in were in dire need of a wash. I put on the silk light blue dress and brushed my hair, braiding it to keep it out of my face. Ari had showered as well and was sitting on the couch in the small living room, pouting. “What’s up with you?” I asked, sitting next to her as she moved so I could braid her hair as well. “It’s so unfair, how can you have yet more abilities?” she scolded. I shrugged, “It was an ability I already had just never mastered. I mean, I still haven’t I have had no control over it.” “Join the club.” She grumbled, playing with the sleeve of her blood red dress. Gia walked into the room while towel drying her hair. “Maybe it is a defence mechanism and when you feel threatened, your subconscious takes over putting you in your spirit form. The goblins surrounded us the first time it happened, and the second
Frustrated, I leaned back against the couch, Tyr’s hand still on my back. Closing my eyes, my head pounded, and my vision still had yet to return. It had not taken this long before. Maybe it was because the two visions were so close together. “Here you go.” I heard Ezryn say after a door had opened and closed. Seconds later, a cloth with ice in it was placed on my forehead. “If he is not a full Goblin, then what is he?” Gia asked. “Don’t know, but he can control elements, so he’d have to be part dragon shifter or part pixie. I am leaning more toward pixie as it would explain why he started attacking them first, wanting to take over, then again that is just a guess.” I replied, doing my best to ignore my headache. “I remember a rumor at the pixie court before the king and queen were killed.” Ela shared. “What rumor?” I asked her telepathically. “It was just a rumor.” Karm replied coldly before turning to Ela, “We were sworn to keep it a secret.” “No, we were told to take it to ou
I sat up in bed grabbing my head in pain as another vision took over, my vision faltering before I am back in the room with King Churd and Colonel Delano, they tied me to a chair in front of them as they talked to each other. “She will tell us how to open the gate to the human realm.” King Churd told his colonel. The human realm? I don’t even know where the key is for it; I knew it was a person, but I didn’t know which person. My sisters and I were supposed to protect the key, only no one ever said where to find it. They seemed to argue about something, listening to their words as they turned on me. “Maybe she is the key.” King Churd shared, staring daggers at me. “She isn’t the key. She is the protector.” Prince Rehan interrupted as he walked down the stairs towards me, stopping in front of me, he kneeled down and looked at me, “And you are going to tell me where it is.” He smiled. “Over my dead body.” I spat at him as he moved his hand towards my face, his goblin claws lengtheni
I looked down at the beautiful woman asleep in my arms; I had every intention of putting her down to let her rest, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave her. She started moving around again in her sleep, her towel slipping down, revealing her back as she turned in my arms. I noticed intricate designs shaping into wings which filled her back. What looked like diamonds were embedded in her skin, making the details of her wings stand out, grey and white swirls filled in the wings, hypnotizing me. I brushed the hair off her shoulder and looked at the stars that lined the top half of her shoulder leading up onto her neck. They had the same diamonds in them, but they also had other colored gems as well. I covered her back when she shivered, pulling her closer to me. Ari walked into the room and crossed her arms over her chest, “wake her up.” She demanded. “Why?” I asked, confused. “We have to fight Taoen tomorrow. She needs to train, and she still needs to tell us about this blasted visi
I headed to the wall and climbed up Huricana’s makeshift ladder, hoping to speak to the army and convince them that I could protect them and their families. I looked down at the faces of the soldiers; they were yelling and arguing amongst themselves but soon quieted when they saw me. The ground was dry again, improving the conditions of their imprisonment. The men were quiet, I cleared my throat and spoke, “I want to let you out of this cage, but first I need to know who my brother was working with and why you would choose to betray me?” I yelled down at them. One man stepped forward and bowed, “We can’t say, Prince Tyr.” “I will help you protect your families from the enemy, I swear it.” “You can’t swear anything, Prince Uda is the future King.” Another man yelled in response. “If you do not cooperate with me, I will not release you from here.” I tried to reach into the men’s minds and find out what they knew, but came up with nothing. They were all focused on the safety of the
While the camp was being cleaned up, I made sure my brother’s restraints were secure before heading over and climbing up the wall looking down at the men inside. They looked uneasy; I tried reading their minds, but mostly just got their emotions. Feelings of regret, fear, and hatred but not for me, for my brother, and worry for their families consumed me. They didn’t seem to be worried about the conditions they found themselves in at all. “Can you get Huricana please?” I asked one of my guards when I noticed the men inside the wall were standing in a foot of muddy water. The guard nodded and walked away. Why would my brother try to kill me? He was already named future King. I was furious that this betrayal had happened, mostly because I didn’t see it coming. I dropped a bag of my brother's provisions down to them and a few canteens of water. I couldn’t be angry with them because they were only trying to protect their loved ones, anyone in their position would do the same. I climbe
“Bram…. Ward.” Ezryn yelled. They looked up from their respective fights and looked at us as they blocked their attackers. "What?" Bram yelled. “We need you to watch over these two.” Ezryn shared, motioning to Prince Uda and his guard. Ward and Bram finished their battles quickly and worked their way towards us, knocking soldiers out of the way and blocking stray blades. Once they were guarding the asshole prince, I turned and told Ezryn my plan. Once that was done, I went to help Tyr with the men that had surrounded him. I made myself invisible again and walked through the crowd, knocking the men unconscious, I could feel my energy fading using too much of my abilities. I would have to be careful not to use anymore, controlling the dark spirits drained more than I thought it had. Once I was beside Tyr, I helped him defeat the surrounding group; they cut him up and he was bloody but still standing. "Are you okay?" I asked him. He blocked an oncoming sword and nodded. I thought t
Tyr had barely blocked the blow from the man that had attacked him. I rushed to help him, but he had already knocked out the attacker. Men surrounded us, none of them were the ones loyal to Tyr. I drew my weapon facing the enemies in front of me while Tyr faced the ones behind me. I looked around at the chaos that had erupted around us in disbelief. Karm and Ela frowned as they stood beside me, I sent them the energy they needed to help me fight them off. Loyal soldiers looked confused as their comrades turned their blades on them, barely blocking the blows. Most of Tyr’s soldiers were falling to the ground, injured, before they could comprehend what was happening. Gia and Ari made their way to the injured men, blocking blows with their swords and dodging attacks when they were able to. When Gia knelt beside the first man to help them, Ari positioned herself between them and the battle, watching her back. Men continued to attack them, but Ari could keep them at bay with her fire.
“How can you be tired? You slept all day?” Sunama asked Akasha, as she walked towards us with a pot full of water. “She needs to sleep to fight the infection, leave her alone.” Gia scolded her as she dumped cut up vegetables and herbs into the pot Sunama had handed her. “We should eat and have an early night, tomorrow might not be so calm.” Huricana pointed out as she looked up at the sky. “I agree we were supposed t have run into the Drow already, but the camp's location wasn’t where the scouts said it would be.” I shared. “We will have to take turns on night shift and make sure the Drow didn’t find out about our plans and decide to plan a night attack.” Akasha shared. When the soup Gia had made was done, she handed everyone a bowl. It was a simple vegetable soup, but it was delicious. After everyone had eaten, we retired to our tents, aside from the ones who opted to take the first shift. Akasha headed into the tent to sleep while I sat outside with Mohan and Ezryn, taking firs
Everything hurt, the movement from the horse made my healing wounds stretch uncomfortably and I felt exhausted. “Akasha, wake up.” I heard Tyr’s deep voice in my ear. I looked up at him as he touched my forehead. “What’s up?” “You have a fever; we are going to make camp for the night.” “We have been riding all day?” I asked, alarmed that I had slept so long. He nodded, yeah, The Drow have moved their camp further, our scouts had been mistaken.” “Okay, we will find them tomorrow.” “Akasha?” Gia asked, looking at me, “let me take a look at your wounds.” I shook my head, “I’m fine. They’ll heal. I just need sleep.” Gia looked at me, her face turning red, “Sometimes you are an idiot, if you have a fever, it could be infected. Let me look at it.” “Says the one who gave me one of them.” I snapped at her irritably. “Let her look at them.” Ela stated as she looked at me, worried. “By Accident.” She retorted, upset. “Please.” I looked at her, feeling bad for snapping, and nodded, “
We had spent most of the night entangled in each other before she drifted to sleep. She said I had not hurt her, but I knew her wounds were still sore, so did my best not to aggravate them. I watched as Akasha slept in my arms, wanting to protect her from the Drow and the mission we would leave on in a few hours, I cursed my father for his order and sending my useless brother Uda with us. He had never even held a sword; he would be nothing but a distraction and another person to protect while we dealt with the Drow. Was he hoping I would be so distracted protecting Prince Uda that Akasha would be left vulnerable and be killed? The thought made me feel sick. I would protect her, no matter what. I pulled her closer to me and traced the outline of the wings on her back; the diamonds hypnotizing me as I studied them; she was so smart and so beautiful. I couldn’t wait to make her mine forever. Eventually, I drifted to sleep as well, only morning came too soon. Knocking at my door woke
“Where are we going?” I asked again as we headed down the hallway. “You’ll see.” He smiled. “He is a man on a mission.” Ela laughed as her and Karm followed behind. “Maybe we should leave them be for the night.” Karm suggested. “Why?” He gave her a look, and she giggled. “You will be safe with him; we will see you tomorrow, Akasha.” “See you tomorrow.” I replied as they vanished. “Ela and Karm left?” Tyr stated more, then asked. “Yeah, they will be back tomorrow.” He led me through parts of the castle I hadn’t seen yet, stopping in front of a big wooden door. The guards outside opened the door and let us in. The room was incredible, there was a large canopy bed in the center across from an enormous fireplace. Off to the side was a sitting area with a couch, chair, and tables. Bookshelves lined the walls, along with a large dresser. Smiling, Tyr opened a large walk-in closet and entered it. Walking out with towels, he headed across the room to another door and opened it to a
“We should have a meeting with your sisters and my men.” I told Akasha as the door to the throne room closed behind us. “Yeah, we need to strategize before your brother gets involved. No offense, but he doesn’t seem like the type to be trained in battle.” “He’s not, my father is sending him for appearances. He wants the kingdom to see him as the future King and respect him. If they see him go to battle and come back alive, it will help him gain favor from the people. My father knows he is not their first choice for a successor.” “I know, because he is not a logical choice.” Akasha frowned. We saw Bram and Ward guarding the sister's suite doors when we turned the corner. “Prince Tyr, Akasha, it’s good to see you.” Ward smiled when we approached. Akasha smiled and looked at Bram. "How are you feeling?” “All healed.” He smiled. “Why do you look so angry?” Ward asked me. “I need you to gather my men. We need to have a meeting, Get Frey, Ezryn and Mohan and meet us back here.” I to