Chapter 2: The Fate of the Sisters

Chapter 21

Nikolai2

“Are you ready yet?”3

The voice was familiar and that surprised me. For this mission, I expected someone dispensable, not someone as valuable to the council as the man in front of me—or as opinionated.4

I forced a breath of a chuckle out and stepped out of the black tinted BMW I arrived in. “Sykris Dhelvarian,” I said. Even I could hear my voice was strained. “I trust you have been well.”5

Sykris’ laughter was like a bark from a wolf. “There’s no need to lie to me, Nikolai. We both know you’d rather work with your mother over me any day.”6

He was right, but I wasn’t going to acknowledge it. The less he knew about my opinions, the better. After all, he was the only one with enough authority to even threaten my right to the throne. So I smiled instead, flashing him the sharp canines that revealed my royal blood. “Either way, I would want to finish this as quickly as possible. Let’s go.”7

The music coming from the house in front of us was loud and reverberating. Bass pounded against the walls and I felt it in my veins, thrumming in my arms and legs. Focusing on that feeling, I closed my eyes and reached out with my senses.8

I could feel twenty people inside the house and even more outside in the backyard. I could almost see their bodies swaying and grinding to the music blasting from the stereo system, their temperatures rising from alcohol and excitement. Next, I looked for the feel of each person, the touch of their energy. The vast majority of the crowd reeked of the same human filth as the last, but there were three spirits inside that radiated what I was looking for.9

“Two are in the backyard,” I told Sykris, keeping up with his quick pace towards the fence. “One more is inside.”10

It was easy to walk into the backyard without being noticed. There were so many people back there that two just blended into the background. Sykris and I split immediately; if we needed each other, we would know. 11

I followed the terracotta pathway, winding around the side of the house to a large round table surrounded by boys and girls, all in their teens. While the scene was one I recognized, I knew that in my land this kind of activity would be watched with by the strict eyes of our elders—Sykris one of them. I couldn’t keep the smirk off my face once when I realized he was probably appalled by the short miniskirts and bare midriffs of these girls, the way they dressed like the working girls of our home. Personally, I kind of enjoyed the freedom these teenagers shared—what I would give to be able to have fun without responsibility and decorum hounding in my skull.12

I knew Sykris went inside, so I studied the crowd at the table, listening to drunken flirtations and inebriated antics. To me, it seemed the men weren’t interested in showing the ladies a good time, but impressing them with the longest keg stand or biggest beer bong. Here, women were wooed by the amount of liquor a man can hold rather than the chemistry between them. Interesting.13

Internally, I sighed. Externally, I plastered a smile on my face that mimicked the intoxicated grins of my peers. 14

That was when I heard a laugh that stopped my steady pace. It was loud enough to stretch the distance, but had a ring that reminded me of the rolling hills of the forest outside my home. Soft and vibrant, healthy and alive.15

And the eyes that met mine across the yard were exactly the same color.16

Deep endless emerald green, lined by makeup. We were probably fifteen feet away but I could see these small details anyway—and I wondered if she knew I was staring.17

I looked away quickly, back towards the house. Standing by the glass door was Amanda O’Roark. I wiggled my fingers at her in greetings, but she only glared back at me.18

When I looked back, the girl with the green eyes was staring at me still. Her pale lips were turned slightly at the corners, bringing out the dimples of her cheeks. And that was when I noticed that the green-eyed brunette I stared at radiated the magic I was searching for. This was her.19

Before I knew it, I walked towards Amanda and grabbed her arm. “Why didn’t you tell us you found her?” I demanded.20

Defiance, anger, and pride all flashed across Amanda’s features at once. I could see her struggle to smooth her pale face into serenity and calm. “Oh, darling brother, I didn’t expect to see you here,” she crooned.21

“Mother was getting worried about you.” Lowering my head towards hers, I spoke quietly so we would not be overheard. “When did you find her?”22

Amanda smiled sweetly. “When did Mother banish me here?”23

“She didn’t banish you,” I begin to tell her. “You needed to—”24

“Kassie!” Amanda interrupted, looking above my shoulder. “I’d like you to meet my—” she glances at me sideways “—cousin.”25

I turned and there she was. The top of her head reached my chin but she looked up at me and held out her hand. “Kassandra,” she said, and I heard the music in her voice again.26

“Nikolai,” I said, and when our hands touched, time seemed to stop.27

Something hit the bottom of my stomach and my skin seemed to warm and I couldn’t look away from those damn green eyes—28

“Nik,” Amanda continues, breaking me out of my trance, “is here visiting.”29

I realized I was still holding Kassandra’s hand and dropped it, fighting the urge to blush. I’m acting like a fool.30

Kassandra ran a hand through her chestnut hair, looking between the two of us. “Well,” she said finally, seeming uncertain. “Would you like a beer, Nikolai?”31

I accepted. The girl led me over to the keg and I stared at her the entire time. We all knew she existed—it was written in all the prophecies, all the legends. We all knew that her day would come and just as quickly it would end.32

But something about the feel of her energy, the bounce in her walk, the way she turned and smiled at me crookedly made me dread my role in that day.33