Authors: L.P. Dover
“My hand is alright, Cali. It was just a scratch. I’m d
oing perfect
,
if you must know
,
because
I knew I was going to win. Those other warriors have nothing on me.”
He laughed as he said
it
and I know our guests are amused at what we’re doing. They all know about the connecting of minds when a
g
uardian
is chosen.
“You are such an arrogant ass.”
I joke, and he just smiles and lifts his chin
haughtily
.
“Yes
,
I am, and now you get to put up with me not only in the flesh, but in your mind
,
too. Maybe I can find out all your little dirty secrets in there.”
He tapped my temple while saying
it
.
I swat his arm playfully.
“Don’t you dare go snooping
in my head because I can do the same to
you
.
What kind of secrets do you hold, Merrick? I might be tempted to find out.”
He holds his hands up in mock defeat.
“
O
K
, I give up. A guy’s got to try.”
He
look
s
a little nervous
because of
my playful threat. I really don’t want to hurt him if he does have feelings for me. He’s
a
gorgeous
guy
and a wonderful friend, but I really don’t harbor any other feelings for him other than friendship.
Our hands have stopped bleeding and are
m
ending nicely. The cuts aren’t deep so the heal time is pretty fast. The ritual is
finally over. One of our healers
br
ings
a wet towel to help clean our palms. After our hands our clean I walk back to take m
y seat beside my father and
Merrick takes his place by my side. I notice everyone smiling as I look across the crowd, but once I reach Prince Ryder’s gaze my smile falters. His pained expression grips my heart
and
for reasons I have yet to know.
Chapter 7
Ryder
The fighting was intense. The warriors
’
fighting style
s
w
ere
very similar to ours
.
Their
moves are more graceful, ours are more rigid and precise. I still think I am a better fighter than any of
them
and I
would
have
definitely
won.
Princess Calista took a quick glance at me when she walked down to meet her
g
uardian
, but I kept my expression blank when actually my heart was thundering. I didn’t want to see her bonded to another man, especially when that man can enter her mind and feel her emotions. There’s no other closer bond a person can have other than marriage.
I could see the shock on Princess Calista’s face when she first heard her
g
uardian
speaking to her in her mind. I have never been so jealous over anything in my life. I don’t know where
th
e
jealousy is coming from, but it’s a very strong feeling. They playfully laugh at each other while silently conversing and all I want to do is shove my sword in my gut to put me out of my misery. Or better yet, shove it up her
g
uardian’s
ass. Now that would make me feel a lot better.
The
p
rincess
takes her seat by her father while the servants are moving away all the extra chairs and bringing in the food. The band starts to play a cheery melody to get the guests in brighter spirits. Not everyone enjoys watching the fights, including Princess Calista.
Kalen elbows me in the arm.
“Ryder, I’m going to go check out the food and meet some chicks. There are some pretty fine females here. You want to come with?” Kalen asks.
“No man, you go ahead. I’m going to take a look around,” I respond.
Not believing a word I’ve said, Kalen jokes, “Yeah, I bet. Taking a look around the
p
rincess
is more like it.”
I smack him upside the head and push him in the direction of the food.
Laughing
,
I say, “Do me a favor, Kalen, and stay out of trouble.”
He looks at me with a mock exaggerated expression
.
“Who me
?
I
n
trouble
?
N
ever
.”
He laughs and walks off toward the refreshments.
Still laughing about my brother I turn to Warren as I see him starting to
leave.
“Where are you going off to?”
“I’ll be around,” was all he said and took off.
That was fine with me. I don’t want him near me when I meet the
p
rincess
if he’s going to be a dick. I watch the
p
rincess
make her rounds. She
talk
s
to the
k
ing
and
q
ueen
of the elves
for a while, and they share many laughs and embraces. I can tell they are close. She sees me watching her and she smiles. Her face looks so angelic when she smiles. Her
g
uardian
notices the interaction and gives me a scowl. I return the gesture in kind with the flip of a finger. She continues to make her rounds through the council and her other guests. I notice Warren in the far corner talking to the head of the Summer
Court
council. It’s the same guy that Princess Calista obviously doesn’t like. I wonder what they’re talking about. I need to make a point to ask him about
it
later. King Oberon catches my attention and calls me over. Princess Calista is with
the
two friends that she walked in with at the beginning of the ceremony. They all three turn to look at me and it is obvious the
p
rincess
is talking about me. Good, I can’t wait to hear how her voice sounds when she says my name. I would love to meet her, but how can I do that without her
g
uardian
trailing along after her
?
I finally reach King Oberon and he greets me
.
“Welcome, Prince Ryder, I trust your journey from the Winter Court was good. How are things there?”
I bow my head to show respect and reply, “Yes,
Y
our
H
ighness, our trip from the Winter Court was great. I love travelling through the Mystical Forest. Things in the Winter Court are going as well as can be expected. My father, as you know, is in Endelyn with the
dwarves
discussing the issues of the Black Forest. We’ve had several of our fae go missing the past couple of weeks. It’s actually been happening for many years now, like it’s been happening here
,
if I’m not mistaken. Have your people discovered anything yet?”
“No, they have not, and I hope we discover something soon.” King
Oberon takes on a weary expression, but then shakes out of it and tries to lighten the mood.
“
I hate your father couldn’t make it here today. He always knew how to h
ave a good time,” the king says humorously. That makes me laugh so the king continues
.
“But the
q
ueens
are a different story, aren’t they?” King Oberon visibly shudders
at remembering some of the tense moments from before b
etween my mother and Queen Ta
tiana.
The Queen hears him say
it
and she gives him a playful scowl.
“Oberon, stop talking nonsense, I am not that bad,”
the
q
ueen
says while walking by. He winks at me and shakes his head.
“I’ll
just
let her keep
thinking that for now,” he says
,
laughing. “Thank you for coming to the ceremony. I’m afraid our council meeting will be postponed f
or tomorrow, if you don’t mind
,
because t
his party is probably going to last a while. Do you mind delaying your departure until tomorrow evening? You are more than welcome to stay here in the guest wing of the house.”
It’s
the best news I heard all night. Now I h
ave more time to be around the
p
rincess
without having to have a reason.
Keeping the excitement out of my voice, I say, “Your
H
ighness
,
I would be happy to stay here and there’s no inconvenience.
I don’t mind the meeting being
postponed, but m
y brother has accompanied me as well as one of my closest friends.”
King Oberon waves me off like
it
’s
not a bother
.
“Your guests are more than welcome to stay as well. Your guards can stay in the warrior housing on our property.
” He looks around like he’s trying to find someone and then he points to a guy with bright red hair.
“
I want you to meet my son, Drake. He’s the leader of our army and a skilled fighter.”
I see Drake across the room and there’s no way
he could be
miss
ed
because of his
glowing red hair.
“I’ve heard of his skills.
Being a dragon must have its advantages,” I say.
I me
et Drake and he is
an interesting character. I could tell he was sizing me up
the whole time
, and I
have to admit I
was doing the same to him. His show of testosterone was actually kind of amusing to me. He departed to
tend
to other things
and I was left alone with the
k
ing
again.
“
My daughter asked about you,” the king says. I can sense a hint of humor in his statement and I wonder what
it
’s
all about. It
got my attention and I almost smile, but decide against it.
I say
flatly
, “Really? What did she say?”
“She asked who you were.
She knew you were from the Winter Court, but didn’t know who you were so
I told her. Calista has never shown an interest in anyone so I was shocked that
she asked about you. Do you have any idea why she would have an interest in you?”
H
e
asks curiously.
I shrug my shoulders and look like I have no clue. I do have an idea and I share the same interest in her, but I am not going to tell him that.
“No, I have no idea why she would be interested in me,” I say.
King Oberon points behind me
with a sparkle in his eyes
and says, “Well, here she comes, Prince Ry
der. You can finally meet my sunshine.”
My heart picks up speed and I turn to see her walking toward me and her father. Our eyes lock and I can see the curiosity eating away at her. She stands beside her father and kisses his cheek.
At last I hear her voice as she speaks, “I have made my rounds
,
F
ather
. I believe it might be time for some dancing.”
Her voice
is
soft, but strong.
It is a
very feminine voice, but laced with a hint of stubbornness.
As s
he says “dancing”
she
look
s
straight at me. Her exotic green eyes
have
gold specks
and
are so tantalizing. I
feel like I
could get lost in the sea of
them
. If she wants to dance, I c
an show her how we move in the Winter C
ourt.
King Oberon cuts in and places his hand on my shoulder
.
“Calista, I would like to introduc
e you to Prince Ryder of the Winter Court
. He i
s the leader of their
army and son of King Madoc and Queen Mab.”