Page 24

Lucian

Past

When my family, along with a group of Leonines and members of other clans went down to Medicia to attend a ball, I wasn’t sure how Kerainne would receive me.

She was so oddly surprised that as my wife she’d be living with me in Luminista.

Why would she not want to live in a world that was not only the most perfect, but was also the true home of our kind?

I spent many long months puzzling over the question and could not comprehend her baffling display of distaste.

She’d seemed so happy during her long visit, seemed to have at last understood what the lands of Jagwolfe clan and her own ancestral Leonine territory had to offer.

The only things I could think of were that she still felt a duty to the Earth folk she was so insistent on helping and likely continued to feel an attachment to her sister. Though surely Nikkita would move to Shellandria when she married that faelin sorcerer and Keeper of the Prophecy.

But when we arrived in Medicia and entered the palace in our evening wear, I overheard many of the other guests laughing and gossiping about Delgarias being refused Nik’s hand in marriage.

“Queen Natalya told The Keeper of the Prophecy that the faelin sorcerer is simply not powerful enough to be a worthy consort to a luminite princess,” one woman whispered behind her fan.

“I’d heard that too,” her friend whispered back.

“But I disagree. Not only has he earned the rank of a high sorcerer, he is Keeper of the Prophecy and a royal in his own right. But her majesty is right in her concern that Princess Nikkita will outlive him. Yes, the faelin are long-lived. But a thousand years is still too short compared to ours. She reminded her daughter that she’s been alive for three-thousand years, and Dowager Queen Silvara for five.

Lord Delgarias is already older than the princess. That only gives them mere centuries.”

“That shouldn’t matter!” I burst out, not caring about my rudeness in barging in on their conversation. “If the two share a true-bond and everything Princess Kerainne has told me implies that they do, then why not let them wed and have those centuries together?”

That was when it hit me. Maybe I was suffering from the same mindset as Queen Natalya and these other luminites.

Maybe it was wrong of me to be immediately thinking of Keraine’s and my long-term future.

If I was able to believe that her sister and the faelin sorcerer should have the right to enjoy what years they could have together, then I should be able to enjoy my time with Kerainne on any terms. And maybe if I could help Delgarias and Nikkita find a way to be together, Kerainne may be more receptive to marrying me.

But first, I’d have to ask her if our courtship was still official.

I turned my back on the gossipmongers to search for my beloved, then froze as a hush fell over the crowd.

Nikkita descended the staircase to the dining hall garbed in a bronze gown of lei silk that left little to the imagination.

Delgarias wore a pale blue tunic made of mythra, another prized Shellandrian fabric with a darker vest embroidered with tiny beads that couldn’t match the shine of his long black and translucent faelin hair, which he wore loose.

The guests’ whispers grew louder, but Delgarias didn’t seem to notice as he stared at Princess Nikkita with open adoration as she seated herself beside him at the long table.

More whispers echoed around me, but the words were lost when I saw her.

Kerainne Leonine descended the stairs in a similar gown of lei silk, but in emerald green to match her eyes.

I expected her to sit beside her sister, but instead she moved one seat over and gestured for me to take that seat, a shy smile curving her lips. My heart sang in triumph at the peace offering.

“There is much I wish to say to you,” Kerainne whispered. “Including many apologies.”

“And I as well.”

I didn’t notice the dishes served for the meal.

I was too overjoyed to be in her presence again.

Kerainne spoke with me as if she hadn’t abruptly left me only minutes after accepting my courtship.

Part of me wanted to pretend as well, but from the strained lines at the corners of her peridot eyes, we both knew that we’d have to face this latest hurdle.

I tried to remember my manners and also converse with Nikkita, Delgarias, and others seated nearby, but mostly I spoke with Kerainne. And when we left the table for the ballroom, I took her in my arms for a dance, not caring what anyone thought.

Kerainne looked up at me with “I want to apologize for leaving Luminista so quickly last time we saw each other.” She took a deep breath and her cheeks reddened.

“The shock of such a huge life change was too much for me and I needed time to think about it, but I was childish in how I handled that. I should have pulled you away from the matriarchs so we could have talked like reasonable beings.”

My heart warmed at her sincere words. “While your departure wounded me, it may have been for the best. I needed time to think, to understand why you’re so against residing in our home realm with me. I still don’t understand completely. But that doesn’t matter for now.”

“Why not?” She blinked up at me with those beautiful green eyes. “It’s pretty important to me.”

“Would it be rude if we left the party to talk privately?”

“Yes,” Kerainne grinned with that unabashed mischief that I loved so much. “But I wouldn’t hesitate to go with you right now anyway. Except for the fact that we need to be here and visibly supporting Nik and Del.”

“We?” I loved the word coming from her lips, but it didn’t sound like her motivation was romantic.

She nodded. “As a prince from the home realm, as you call it, you command a lot of influence here. You could use that influence by letting everyone see how much you respect the Keeper of the Prophecy.” Her nose scrunched up and she shook her head.

“I’m sorry, I’m doing it again. I should have asked if you wish to do this. ”

“I’d be glad to,” I told her, and meant it.

“Before you and Nikkita came down for the banquet I reprimanded a pair of women for gossiping about Delgarias’s suit being rejected.

But why would me expressing respect for the Keeper of the Prophecy mean anything?

The Prophecy hasn’t been relevant to Luminista in an epoch as far as I know. ”

“As far as you know,” she echoed with emphasis.

“You have me there.” I admitted. And who knew? Maybe Luminista would play a role in major future events again. “Besides, I’m happy to show approval for your sister’s match. Have you told your parents about our courtship? Are we still courting?”

“I’d like us to be.” Her words eased the tension in my chest at first. “But that would depend on many factors that I’m not certain you’d be willing to agree to. And I wouldn’t blame you if you refused.”

I wanted to discuss those factors immediately, but the song ended and some human and luminite children tugged on Kerainne’s skirts, begging for her to dance with them.

Wondering what our children would look like brought a lump to my throat. Shaking my head, I joined Nikkita and Delgarias, who were leaning against the wall, sipping wine and pointedly ignoring the whispers and pointed stares.

I wanted to offer words of support, but the faelin high sorcerer’s stance and power made me feel like my contributions would be pithy. So instead, I directed their focus elsewhere and praised Kerainne. “Someday, that woman will be the best mother to have ever existed.”

“She will,” Nik agreed. “But I hope to enjoy having her as a sister for a while longer.”

I raised an eyebrow in mock disapproval and teased her. “Are you thinking because your mating has been delayed that hers should be too?”

“I’m not that selfish.” Nik’s affronted tone shifted to one of mild amusement. “Well, perhaps I am, though not out of spite. I merely want her to myself. Any child of hers will become her entire world.”

“And her husband won’t?” I remembered Kerainne’s bond with children and knew she spoke the truth.

“Of course not.” Nik grinned at Delgarias before turning back to me. “Mates are able, and often need time to be apart, but with children, it’s different. Especially with Kerainne, since she has a bond with them.”

Her words brought that strange lump back to my throat. If Kerainne and I did have a child together, I vowed that they would become my world as well.

As if reading my mind, Kerainne met my gaze and smiled as she handed the children off to their parents and headed towards me for another dance.

“Thank the fates,” Lucretia said behind me. “It looks like that willful girl has come to her senses.”

I ground my teeth. “Auntie, dearest? Would you do me the utmost of favors and keep your distance from Kerainne and me for the remainder of your visit? And please pass on my request to my mother as well?”

Lucretia gasped and looked up at me with wounded eyes. “Why?”

“Because, every time Kerainne and I are happy together, you two always seem to say or do something to ruin it.”

After doing our utmost to display our approval of Delgarias’s and Nikkita’s courtship, Kerainne and I slipped away and flew to the cliffs where we’d had our first kiss.

When we landed, I took her hands in mine. “Now will you tell me what I must do to continue courting you?”

She rose up on her toes and gave me a mischievous smile that nearly rendered me distracted with thoughts of kissing her.

“I have a feeling that you can guess. First, tell me why you feel the urge to apologize to me even though I was the one who was the one who first wounded you?”

I squeezed her hands and regarded her solemnly.

“I took it for granted that you’d want to live in the home realm.

It’s the best and safest world.” As her nose scrunched up in disagreement, I continued.

“But I now know that Aisthanesthai is home to you. If you agree to continue our courtship, I will insist to the Luminista matriarchs that we will spend equal time in Medicia and even on Earth, if you insist on continuing these rescue missions. All I ask is that you never run off on me again without telling me.”

“You could have followed me.” She’d stepped closer, until our bodies nearly touched. “Often, I wanted you to.”

Unable to resist, my hands slid from hers and caressed her wrists and upper arms. “We both needed time to think.”

“You always touch me like I’m something fragile,” she whispered. “Like you fear I will break.”

“Luminites can’t fear,” I countered, so intoxicated with her presence. “Now, what are your conditions for this courtship?”

Her hands splayed across my velvet doublet, I could feel her heat against my heart.

“You were correct in surmising that I want a compromise in where we’ll live.

Furthermore, I don’t want the matriarchs interfering with our relationship.

I cannot abide it. And I want you to learn more about Medicia’s laws and governance because if we wed, you will rule by my side.

And,” she looped her arms around my neck and pressed her warm body against mine before whispering in my ear.

“We must find out if our magic coalesces when we mate, as we are both now mages. Nik and Del have their own little hideaway, we should find one for ourselves. Tonight.”

Arousal burned through my being, so hot and intense that I could barely maintain my grasp on reason. “I cannot. Not yet.”

“Why not?” Her full lower lip pouted, taunting me to taste her. “It’s important. And I want you.”

“I want you too,” I groaned in agony. “Fates, you make me burn. But I know if… when we join, you’ll become part of me and I’m frightened of what it would be like to lose you after that.”

“But luminites can’t fear.” Her teasing tone was half-hearted this time.

“Well, it’s something as close to fear as is possible for me,” I confessed. “And I don’t like it.”

“Then when will we…”

I silenced her with a kiss. “When my willpower crumbles. And that had a cracked foundation the moment I laid eyes on you.”

I’d honestly expected to be able to hold strong and resist the act that would bind myself to her for eternity for at least a few years.

My resolve shattered in a week.