18

NINETEEN

Ember

Before me, Willow stands holding the door to The king’s study wide open. Except, I stand frozen in fear and remembrance of the way his father hurt him in the last memory dive.

“I…” hesitating, I choke on my words and fail to make eye contact with Will and Artie.

Willow lets go of the door and Artie barely catches it,  trading places and waiting for us to enter. Will approaches me and slowly lifts a hand to brush a small strand of pink curls behind my ear. “What’s wrong, my mate?”

I can’t say the words out loud but I stare up into his eyes as I feel the warmth of our bond slide over me.

At the same time, I’m triggered by the way he claims me as his mate without my permission or consent. It’s driving me crazy that these moons have us both under a spell of infatuation and lust. I can’t control my thoughts or feelings lately.

I saw what happened here.

What do you mean? Willow cups my cheek and speaks into my mind.

I know what your father did, how he hurt you. I know that you tried to help me with Brooks but you were shut down, aggressively.

He freezes with his hand tangled in my hair and I watch as his lips part as he processes my words. And then, he continues brushing his hand through the strands of my hair.

“No harm will ever come to you. I will always protect you. Whether you accept my bond or not, I will always be here for you.”

His words pour over me with the same warmth that comes from our connection. The presence of our awaiting bond vibrates in my chest as I drink in the meaning of his promise.

I struggle to form words and respond, but before I can, he catches my gaze again and speaks into my mind one last time.

It’s okay. I know.

I lose control over my composure and a single tear falls down my cheek as my chest tightens. He knows I can’t love him back. That I may never have room for him in my life or heart, and he’s still committed to loving and protecting me from afar. If that’s not enough for me to crawl into bed and cry myself to sleep, I don’t know what more I can handle.

And the night has just begun. Stars help me.

Willow holds my cheek as he maintains my burning stare and brushes away my tears.

“Okay, let’s do this.” I exhale and collect myself. Closing off my empathy, I reach into my chest where the void of magic exists and build a wall around my power of empathy. The emotions await me when I turn my powers back on. I’ll deal with that mess of feelings later.

“They will adore you, you have nothing to fear.”  Willow reassures me with so much sincerity in that kind, crooked smile of his.

I laugh and step around him, walking through the door that Artie still holds open and yell over my shoulder, “Oh, I know they will.”

I barely hear Artie laugh as I enter the room and find four of Will’s family members before me. This is the collective Lunar Throne that rules over our lands. They are beautiful, truly. His sister sprawls along the sofa like she owns this office. Will’s two brothers sit on the floor as they watch the fire burning along the far wall. In addition to Will’s siblings, his mother occupies the sofa opposite them.

She’s one of the most beautiful faeries I’ve ever seen. She’s practically glowing. Her caramel hair lays in voluminous waves around her shoulders, and she’s adorned in a golden and cream tulle gown, blank of all decoration and lace. She’s a symbol of modern design and elegance. I think I’m obsessed with her.

I remember Will saying I get to share their seamstress. I actually am bouncing with excitement just thinking of it.

“Good evening, Mother. Roserra, Aspen and Sage. I’m honored to introduce you to my mate, Miss Ember Amethyst.” Willow said by way of greeting and introduction for us. I’m not used to seeing his court manners. They’re quite charming and sexy.

They all turn their heads to face us in the doorway at the same time. Willow’s hand slides to the small of my back and brings a reassuring presence in its company.

I don’t even remember what happened, I just saw a rush of limbs and smiles as they pulled me into a massive group hug. “Agh– I can’t breathe.” I cough out as they crush me in this unexpected embrace. I hear willow chuckling somewhere close by.

Letting me go, they step back and begin hammering me with questions so fast that I can barely keep up.

“You’re a monochrome faerie!” Roserra exclaims with joy. “We’re going to be best friends.”

“Well, yes I–”

“Whoa, you’re tiny for the fighter our brother describes you as. He said you sprinted away from him, and he barely caught up to you with his fat ass.” Sage, the youngest brother states while shining a shit eating grin at Willow There’s curiosity and wonder in his eyes as he looks me over.

I laugh along with everyone else, charmed by Sage’s humor.

I must be the first mate of their siblings to be chosen, considering I don’t see any of their partners here. I can understand their excitement.

“I mean I’m not that small–”

Aspen pats Will on the arm and gives him an approving look, and a wiggle of his eyebrows.

“Children, please. Don’t crowd her. It’s a pleasure to meet you dear. We can’t wait to learn everything about you and welcome you into our family.” The Queen says to her kids while giving me a reassuring smile.

“Oh well… It’s a pleasure too. Thank you for inviting me.” I say, unsure how to word myself and act right now. His mother has so much grace about her that I feel overwhelmed in her presence. I’ve never been around royalty and Willow is pretty laid back compared to what I was expecting.

“Of course! We’re so happy to finally be meeting you. As the mate of Willow Bryton you’ll be entitled to every court held event moving forward, as well as host your own occasions when you’re provided an estate on palace grounds.”

“Wow, that seems like a little much. Right?” I sheepishly ask while glancing up into Willow’s eyes. He’s studying me closely with a face of adoration and pride. I don’t know what he’s thinking right now because I think this is going utterly terrible. Is his family not aware of my stance on the bond? I haven’t even accepted the bond yet, and they’re already setting plans for us?

This feels like too much. I’m getting dizzy and my chest feels like there’s a troll sitting on it. I should be able to have a choice in this. The moons can’t control everything.

You will always have a choice. Remember what I told you in the hallway.

Willow! Get out of my head. I roll my eyes at him while his family stares at us. We probably look so crazy right now, just having a staring contest in front of everyone.

You’re projecting, little dragon. Breathe. Calm and collect your thoughts. It’s all going to work out.

His hand tightens on the small of my back and reluctantly, I do as he says. Letting out a large breath in the air and feeling lighter with the exhale, I turn to face his family again. “I haven’t accepted the bond yet, but it is a pleasure to be here in your company. I look forward to the rest of the evening.”

Well done, little dragon.

I huff and step away from Willow, following his mother and sister back to the sitting area of the office. I struggle to get my dress around the coffee table but eventually, yet ungracefully succeed at collapsing on the sofa.

It’s still so strange there’s no decorations in this room. The stark white walls are empty of all collections and books besides a few small random trinkets. The desk barely has any items on it either. A few papers, a clock and calendar. The ceiling is the same from the memory dive, dancing with stars and moons against a black and silver backdrop.

I glance up from where my hands are folded in my lap and find Willow and his brothers watching me intently.

“Can you all find something else to do other than stare at me like I’m star sent?”  I complain.

Willow slowly smirks and crosses his arms, rooting himself in his stance. “Am I not allowed to admire my mate?”

“I’m not your mate, yet.” I clarify and narrow my glare at him. I almost couldn’t hear over the ringing in my ears, when his mother gasped and his siblings held back bursts of laughter.

That earns me a sideways grin from Willow and it cracks something hard in my chest. Fuck this man for messing with my head and his sexy smile that I can barely resist.

Everytime he cracks that smile at me, my insides twist and heat with a fire so bright it has to be from his neon blue flames. Fierce, Electric, Hot.

You’re projecting again. You should probably find ways to let out all this pent up aggression. Maybe with me? Back in my room?

That set me off. I level a glare and stand up so quickly his mother reaches for her heart and tries to calm her breathing. Not even attempting to be gracious, I quickly gather my skirts and stomp my way over to Willow.

“What is wrong dear? Goodness, please have a seat.” The queen requests. Except I blatantly ignore her while my only focus is putting Will back in his own head.

“Get. Out. Of. My. Head.” I ground out through my teeth.

“Wait, You guys have already accessed eachother’s minds? That doesn’t make sense. I thought you weren’t wanting to accept the bond, Miss Ember?” Aspen curiously states.

I turn to face his brother Aspen and have the balls to lie to myself and everyone else, “I’m not.”

I thought I would feel better if  I kept telling myself this isn’t meant to be. But, the stars are continually showing me my perfect equal in every way. I think he might be my destiny and I’m curious as to what makes our bond so important to the cosmos. I just can’t admit it out loud to anyone yet because that means this is real. I’m scared it will all fade away if I give in to these feelings.

“That’s very curious. The moons and stars must have something very special planned for this bond if they’re already blessing you with such gifts.” Aspen observed me cautiously.

“I wouldn’t really call hearing each other’s every thought a blessing.” I cross my arms and roll my eyes.

“Yeah, well you don’t exactly try to block our connection either, little dragon.” Will teased and it created butterflies in my stomach. He’s still annoying me though. Why is he intoxicating even when he’s calling me out on my bullshit?

Aspen clicks his tongue and looks between me and his brother, contemplating something. Before I can counter the prince, the guard from before steps through the door to the study. He counts heads and ensures the entire royal family is present and then next thing I know we’re being escorted to the ball through the halls of the royal palace.

The walls are stark white but finely adorned with ornate swirls and constellations. There’s depictions of the 3 moons and their cycles, as well as vines and flowers that grow from the ceilings in silvers and golds.

The floors are a white and gray marble that have veins of silver and gold that flows over each tile like a river. It’s truly stunning, paired with black framed windows that meet in arches at the top of every wall. They overlook each district of the capital city.

How did I get here? I never thought I’d be attending a ball at the royal palace, let alone as the honored guest of Prince Willow.

The guard is leading the way while Artie patrols the back of our party. Willow and I are just before Artie, and I forget he’s even there when Will reaches his hand over to mine and traces small circles in the center of my palm. He sends a parade of sensations through my body as he connects with mine in one of the simplest of ways.

I’m beginning to believe that my body was made for him. It yearns for his attention, it celebrates with his touch, and misses him in his absence. I’m way in over my head here. What was I thinking that I’d be able to resist him tonight? I’m such a fool.

So, I decided to be curious, as always.

I intertwined my fingers with his. Instantly a current of warmth and tingles dances up my arm like a shower of stars as our palms collide and we feel a form of connection we’ve never had before. My hand fits perfectly in his. I didn’t know hand holding could be so intimate?

What am I supposed to do when we dance together tonight?

I don’t know if I can handle this. I’m too focused on Will right now to concentrate. I can’t let my team down. Brooks is the most important subject tonight and Will needs to remember that. I take a deep breath and try to center myself as we continue our path to the ballroom.

I decide to whisper to him, “I want to speak with your father in regards to Brooks.”

His hand tightens around mine, not enough to hurt me but enough to tell me this isn’t the time to address this.

What? I ask in confusion.

Little dragon, if what you’re saying is true, then you saw how my father reacted last time. He is vile and the most selfish being I’ve ever met. The only reason we’re doing this is because we require his blessing to move forward with the bond.

That’s ridiculous. Why does he have to bless our bond? No one has control over this connection besides me, you and the moons. And he wouldn’t dare harm me in front of the court tonight, right?

Willow turned his gaze to me and when I caught his eyes, I realized there was pleading in them.

I’m sorry. I don’t know what my father is truly capable of. He’s kept us locked in this castle all our lives and his court dealings are always kept private.

Willow, I have to find Brooks. This situation is horrific and we cannot let this go. More families are at risk and these incidents have gone on too long.

Is this why you came here tonight? Did you come here to use me, little dragon?

He loosened his hand from mine and let it fall. I immediately miss his warmth and touch. I want to lie to him and tell him no, but the bond is heating in my chest like a fire and making it so hard to get the words out.

It’s as if I can’t lie to him. Is that part of this mate bond?

Yes, and no. I’m sorry, but I needed to gain access to a meeting with the king and I also… I can’t lie to you. The moons make it nearly impossible and I needed to spend more time with you before I decided what to do about this.  I signal between our bodies and he gets the point.

We walk in silence for a few steps and then Willow grabs my hand and places it on his forearm as he escorts me to the winter solstice ball with the rest of his family.

We will solve this together, I promise. He reassures me.

Together. I think I can settle for that. We can solve this together, and maybe Will can become the inside link to his father. That’s what we’ve truly been needing for the success of the Ascension. We desperately need someone that is close to the king and willing to feed us information from the inside. There’s so much we don’t know about his operations due to his hands off approach to ruling.

King Bryton, aka Asshat, has been absent for nearly all of his rule. He’s kept his family inside. He allows the cities to run rampid with malice and murder. Why is he choosing now to open the gates to the people and bring us all together again? These are the questions we need answers to. What is the king plotting?

Based on the way he treats his own family and staff, I can expect chaos to unleash soon enough.

He is a vile man.

Willow could be the person we needed. Maybe our fates are truly blessed by the moons? Or that’s what I tell myself to excuse the fact I’m rapidly falling in love with him.

This could work.

I hope this works because I need it to. If I’m going to allow Willow fully into my heart, to accept this bond fully and believe in the moons choice for me, then I need him to work with the Ascension. It’s my proudest accomplishment so far and it’s the most important thing to me. All I dream for is for Faerelle to find its salvation and freedom, to free us from the disease and Decay of our lands. Forever.

We deserve to live in peace. I think we’ve at least earned that as a species. The fae have fought long enough.

Finally, we approach the grand ballroom’s royal entrance. We’ll be descending the staircase on either side of the expansive space, and then graciously escorted to the center of the room for our first dance.

Each royal family member is announced and next thing I know it’s our turn. I look up to Will for reassurance, and he tucks the stray piece of hair behind my ear.

“Are you ready?” he whispers.

“No, but we might as well get it over with.”

He chuckles and places my arm on his arm.

The ballroom falls silent for several moments before we hear someone announce, “And Prince Willow Bryton with his moon bound mate, Miss Ember Amethyst.”