Niko stares calmly past my shoulder, but his hand is firmly placed on the blade at his hip.
In anticipation of who I’m about to face, I am reminded of how close I am to my majority birthdate. Reminds me that I’m essentially defenseless until my magic is fully at my disposal.
Don’t be afraid, Nissa. You’re safe.
Turning, I find an undeniably handsome male about my age. He has a squared jaw, with dark brown hair cut short up the sides, the longer top styled back. Fragments of tattoos peek out of the collar and cuffs of a plain, long-sleeved black shirt. His smoky gray eyes could freeze anyone in their tracks, and they are firmly locked in on me.
His gaze holds no warmth. The stranger takes me in from head to toe with a slow perusal that has Niko taking a step towards him. But my magic doesn’t seem to sense the overwhelming threat that Niko does. It’s there, humming again, but I feel no sense of warning tied to him. In fact, something about this male—and the way he is assessing me—intrigues me.
His eyes return to my face, his expression inscrutable as a heavy arm falls across my shoulder.
Caspien smirks at the male in front of me. “Aiden, I see you’ve met my betrothed.”
A chill moves down my spine. My muscles lock into place as the name is assigned to my new acquaintance. Aiden still hasn’t taken his eyes off of me.
Niko takes a step away, apparently satisfied with Caspien as my guard. Then my fingertips tingle with stronger magic, and I sense Cillian filling the space Niko vacated.
“Is that who this is?” Aiden quirks a brow at me, letting on nothing, but his gaze still feels like it’s searching for…whatexactly? He blatantly ignores all three of the heavily muscled males flanking all sides of me.
I do my best to remove the uncertainty from my voice and attempt to stand taller under Caspien’s heavy arm. “I’m Nissa.”
He gives a non-committal grunt before an older male steps out of the room we’re standing outside. “Aiden, why don’t we let the Daughter of Gaia come meet everyone at once so we can get this over with?”
There is a tense moment where no one moves. Aiden holds eye contact with me before he finally smirks and turns towards the room.
Shuffling inside, the older male makes his way to the head of the table, identifying himself as King Orin. I cut my eyes to Caspien when he quietly snorts at the title, but no one reacts.
Aiden makes his way to the chair to the right of the king, and I note the two individuals sitting across the aged wooden council table.
“Nissa, this is Enzo.” Aiden motions, and the other male stands.
I try not to stare as Enzo gives a slight bow in my direction, taking in a slow, deep breath through his nose. He is as tall as a Fae, but his skin is pale and his ears are rounded, not elongated and pointed.
When he gives me a slightly predatory smile, two sharp canines slip out. “I’m a vampire,” Enzo announces. “In case you haven’t met one of us before. And this is Hazel. She’s a witch.” He gestures to the delicate female seated in the chair next to him.
She is short with flawless dark skin. She exchanges a knowing look with Aiden that I can’t decipher, and then she turns a welcoming smile at me. If I hadn’t seen the look she gave the prince of this kingdom, I’d feel as if we were long lost friends, like she knows all my secrets and fears.
Instead, an unsettled feeling washes over me, like they have their own secrets.
We make our way to the empty seats at the council table. Caspien takes up a position at the other end from King Orin, his father’s position as ruler since Kiel isn’t here. I’m instructed to sit to Caspien’s right. I expect Cillian to take the empty chair across from me, but he moves to the open chair at my side. Unlike Caspien who seems as calm as ever, Cillian’s posture is rigid, his eyes narrowed on Aiden.
Aiden who hasn’t taken his eyes off of me except to share that look with the witch Hazel. She was more subtle about it, but they both look as if they’re trying to gaze into my soul and find the answer to some unasked question.
Enzo seems amused and keeps grinning at Aiden between glances at me and the others, waiting on someone to speak.
The king finally clears his throat, but before he can begin, Caspien addresses the room. “Orin.”
Aiden stiffens when Caspien doesn’t use his father’s title.
“It is important to me,” Caspien says slowly, “that you all meet and acknowledge Nissa, not only as my future bride but as the Goddess’s choice as queen.” He holds out a hand to me, the corner of his eyes crinkling as he looks at me with a benevolent smile.
The room goes deathly quiet.
I want to tell them that I will never be their queen. But I can’t do that yet. I need answers. Tension fills the space—and me—as I place my hand in Caspien’s and he takes his seat, leaving our hands intertwined on top of the table.
“Yes, Nissa, it is about time we meet you,” Aiden drawls as he leans back in his chair in calculated calm, his eyes sliding between my face and my hand as Caspien rubs his thumb up and down the top. He says nothing about Gaia’s will or me being queen.
Goosebumps break out across my skin, and heat rises to my cheeks. I’m not sure what game Caspien is playing with Aiden, but it feels juvenile. I would consider calling them both out if I weren’t distracted by Cillian’s cold-eyed stares at them both.
