Chapter Five

Missy kept an eye on Rehalla. It was weird. She had never been this nervous. Maybe it was because of Tannic? Unlikely. She seemed to be giving him pointers all the time. He was being encouraged at every turn, and Rehalla seemed to talk easily to him, but there were no signs of infatuation. It looked like they were becoming friends.

"Missy, where is your friend?" Cassian asked politely. There was a dark elf standing next to him with a curious expression on his face.

"She's around here somewhere. Why?"

"Prince Aken was interested in speaking with her."

"Oh, she's not in the mood to talk tonight. She just came to keep me company."

The dark man smiled. "But you have your male companion."

"That is new. My friend and I have been friends since I was in training. Right now, she knows me just as well as my sister does."

Tannic brought her a glass of lemonade, and she nodded. "Thank you."

"You are welcome. So, what is the topic of conversation."

"My friend. They want to know where she is." Missy gave him a warning through their link.

He nodded.

Prince Aken asked smoothly, "What was the woman's name again?"

Missy looked at him and did a quick analysis. "If she didn't tell you, then you don't need to know."

He blinked and leaned back. "Interesting."

Tannic moved to Missy's side. "You know better than to ask a mage's name."

"Ah, she's a mage. I thought she was a cute elf." He nodded. "If she is a mage, she has nothing to fear from me. I don't dabble with mages."

Cassian looked at him in surprise. "I thought you thought—"

"It doesn't matter what I thought. A mage-trained elf is of no use to me."

Missy felt the power surge as Rehalla left. She had been listening in on their conversation.

Missy looked at Prince Aken. "You hurt her feelings. Apologize."

Missy transported the djinnborn elf to where Rehalla was hiding. He needed to reject her to her face, where she could burn him to ash. It was only fair.

* * * *

Rehalla wrapped her arms around herself as she stood on the cliff edge. She would have to return to the party if only to swap out her dress. She had gotten three possible assignments in the time she had been with Missy, but her friend was more important than organized slaughter.

She felt the soft thud behind her and turned her head. "Hello, Prettyeyes. Sorry. My friend takes offense on my behalf easily."

"So, you didn't do it?"

"No. She's an archmage with a portal speciality. If I had done it, you would have been burned to ash, but you aren't worried. You have no use for a mage-trained elf." She focused on the moon hanging over the sea. It calmed her like nothing else.

"I am seeking my mate. A master mage doesn't qualify."

"Got it. You have made that clear."

She pulled her phone out. Send him back.

Did he apologize?

No.

Let me know when he apologizes.

"She needs you to apologize, or she won't transport you back."

"I apologize for speaking my mind."

"Close enough."

He apologized.

Great. Do you want to come back?

Soon. I am feeling a bit emotional.

Okay. Back he comes.

There was a sound of air collapsing, and the blue elf was gone. Rehalla was back to being herself and decided that it was how she needed to present herself. Ten minutes later, she had made up her mind.

Her skin glowed with the colours of a milky opal, and she transported herself back to the ladies' room and walked back into the party. Missy waved at her, and Rehalla walked through the room full of men who turned and stared at her as she passed. There was nothing like being oneself to turn heads.

* * * *

Aken stared at the stunning creature who just walked through the engagement party. "Who is that?"

Rennaulk said, "That is the elf at the governor's ball. I told you about her. Rehalla, I think."

"She's sitting with Cassian's sister-in-law." He had a sick feeling in his gut.

"Right. She's the friend who calms the archmage down."

With everyone seated, Cassian and Athena took to the dance floor and swayed to soft and romantic music. When the dance concluded, they kissed, and everyone was invited to the dance floor.

Aken got to his feet and was heading for the table with the glowing woman, but a troll beat him to it. The woman was graceful and seductive in his arms, and all Aken could do was watch.

The laughter that her throat emitted turned heads, and she spun and moved lightly against the troll.

When the song ended, the troll walked her back to her table, right past him. She didn't even look at him. She thanked her companion, returned to her seat, and then a vampire was next to her, chatting her up.

Aken was stunned. She glowed with attention. Rennaulk had said the same. The woman he had met at the governor's ball had glowed with unrivalled power. A glamour had not occurred to him, which was foolish as he wore one all the time.

Cassian came up to him. "Well, you look besotted."

"Is that the archmage's friend?"

"She is. Soul blade wearer and master of dark fire. Executioner of the mage guild." Cassian smiled. "Many interesting women surround my fiancé."

"Yes. I see that."

"Would you like a formal introduction?"

Aken looked at him. "I have already botched the informal one, so perhaps a formal one would help."

Cassian frowned. "How botched?"

"She overheard me saying I had no use for a woman like her. And then I confirmed it with an apology."

The dragon paused. "Why?"

Aken understood the question. "Because I had been told that my mate glowed and burned, and she was doing neither at that time."

She had coiled the heavy waves of her hair up on her head, and the vampire was leaning in. She smiled and stroked his cheek.

Aken felt a sad rage taking place as she rose and went to dance with the vampire.

Cassian was still staring at him. "But why would you do that? It isn't like you to be blunt to the point of cruelty."

Tylos walked up with his mate and said, "He's in rut. He's going a little mindless. She's in heat, so he's easily confused. She doesn't match what she smells like. I figured that out during the fitting. Of course, she won't let him near her now, and she has enough energy to back it up. Not to mention, her best friend can teleport him around the globe in pieces."

Sevval asked, "Is that what happened to us? The rut/heat thing?"

Tylos pulled his mate in tight. "Yes, love."

"Oh, damn. I am amazed he's on his feet. I was blinded, and the only thing I saw was you."

Aken growled in frustration at Sevval and she pushed her omega behind her in response, blades suddenly in her hands. "Don't you fucking growl near my mate."

Aken looked at the blades and then felt a prod in his back. A husky voice said, "Don't mess with her. She's pregnant."

Aken turned around and saw the dagger of the soul blade that had prodded him. She smelled wild. Florals, musk, citrus, and sex assailed his nostrils.

"Rehalla, I would like to talk to you." He spoke slowly. Saliva filled his mouth, and his body ached at the sight of her.

"Sure. What about?" She kept the dagger out.

"In private."

"You have no use for me, so why privacy?" She looked at him with a bland expression on her glowing features.

He looked at her, and the green pools of her eyes were calm and implacable. "Because I have made a mistake out of misguided reflex that I will pay for for the rest of my life if I don't take steps now."

Her nostrils flared, and she cocked her head. "What steps?"

"Abject grovelling. I can't afford to miss the opportunity to find my life partner because the rage in my blood would not allow civility."

She cocked her head. "Fine. Where would you like to grovel?"

Cassian blinked. "The gardens are private."

Aken nodded and bowed low, offering his hand to Rehalla. She looked at his blue hand and then back to his face. She set the blade back into her forearm and took his hand. He felt a lock of destiny click shut.

She looked at him calmly and spoke to Cassian. "Tell her where I went and that I went willingly. You don't know what will happen if she worries."

Cassian's eyes went wide. "Right. As soon as she leaves the dance floor."

"Probably wise." She nodded.

Aken pulled her slowly, and she walked next to him through the dancers. He switched the hand holding hers and wrapped a hand around her waist, shocked when the fabric crushed under his hand, indicating that her curves weren't just breast and hip.

She snorted. "Your hand started sweating."

"Not just my hand." He sighed. He led her out of the building and into the expansive grounds of Cassian's country home.

Rehalla looked at the trees and smiled.

He smiled in return and asked, "You like trees?"

"They are safe places. Safe spaces." She chuckled. "I have spent many years up in trees."

"Why?"

"Because they are a safe place. When work gets the best of me, I need to go somewhere safe."

"Why don't you go home?"

"I have burned my last three to the ground. I am not a safe person to be around."

"Controlling dark fire is difficult."

"You, too?"

"Yes. I would like to find out if your flame compliments mine."

"I haven't heard it speak before, let alone issue compliments to anyone." She smiled slightly.

"You are not a virgin?"

"No. I have needs and hate waiting."

He shuddered.

"So, why were you such a dick earlier?"

"I had been told my mate would have light and fire. You appeared to have neither."

"Can't judge a book by its cover."

"You also didn't smell like a mate. Now you do."

"Oh, right. My glamour works on the scent and appearance level."

"Interesting."

"So, why are you shopping?"

"Because the oracle told me that my mate would cross my path." He kept walking with one hand at her waist and another holding her hand, like a strange promenade.

"I would have crossed your path looking like this at the governor's party, but you sent Rennaulk instead."

He paused. "My mistake. I was asked to attend a local event. It was a fundraiser for the local children's hospital."

She glanced at him. "You are kidding."

"No. A local celebrity fell through at the last minute, so I had to stand in, representing my family."

"Large family?"

"Fairly sizable. Yours?"

"Immediate family is four and extended is about fifty. Sevval's bloodline has lots of kids. Tylos is going to be swimming in little ones."

Aken thought about children and chuckled. "It is an interesting mental image. He's going to have to adapt quickly."

"Sevval grew up in a huge family. They can help." She shrugged.

When they were finally out of sight of the party, he turned to her. "So, Rehalla, I would like to kiss you."

She stared up at him with her brilliant green eyes in her softly glowing face. "Why? You don't even know me."

"Chemically, I would like to see if we suit."

"How romantic." Her full lips twisted. "So, one try, and it's over?"

"If we don't match."

"Sure. I have kissed guys for stupider reasons."

To his surprise, she stepped toward him, pulled him down to her, and kissed him. His focus shattered at the taste of her.

* * * *

Rehalla had just wanted to kiss him and get it over with, but when she pressed her lips to his, his arms snapped around her and lifted her off her feet. She was holding his head, and working around his canines was difficulty during the kiss, but she managed. Aken threaded his hand through her hair and held her as he took over.

Her blood raced through her veins, and her skin tingled. She felt heat ripple through her when he growled softly. She pulled her head away, and his hands clenched. She was breathing heavily and trying to get herself together. Knowing that it would stop the reaction between them, she pulled her glamour around her. He lifted his head and leaned back. He let out an animalistic sound and leaned in to nuzzle her neck.

"Uh, what are you doing?"

She felt the scrape of his canines and yelped, snapped her knee up, and when he grunted and glared at her, she realized she might have needed to back away before striking. "What was that, Rehalla?"

"What was with the teeth, Aken?"

"Alphas mark their omegas."

"Who says?" She pushed against his shoulders. "And who says I am yours? It was just a kiss." Rehalla tried to ignore that her lips were throbbing, and her mouth was as well.

He blinked and let her put distance between them. When he set her on the ground, she stepped back.

Aken's chest was moving rapidly. He flexed his hands and said, "Perhaps you should return to the party before I do something we will both regret."

"Sounds like a good idea." She inclined her head, turned, and headed back to the house.

When she slipped into the ballroom, she smiled at the sight of Tannic and Missy among the dancers. They were moving in rhythm and looked like they were enjoying themselves.

Rehalla moved along the wall and slipped back into the house, going back to the changing room. She swapped back into her normal clothes and checked her messages. She had three possible assignments and activated one of them. If she didn't have a place to sleep, she may as well be on the job.

She transported back to the mage quarters and put on her work outfit. Black everything with a mask and hood. She headed out to kill her target, removing the being from the living world with no trace of ghost or spectre. She smiled when the job was done. It had been a very nice party.