Crown of Embers Read online

  He had to give her credit. Helena was a masterful fighter, using her size and speed to easily duck and weave around him. His years of experience were all that kept her from easily defeating him.

  Von wiped sweat from his brow. “Tired yet?”

  “You wish!” Helena took two running steps toward him, launching herself in the air so that her legs wrapped around his neck. Helena rotated in the air, her legs’ hold on him causing him to twist and flip with her in the air before pulling him to the ground. She landed on both feet. Von was not so lucky.

  The crowd went crazy as Von landed hard on his back, the air flying out of him in a loud whoosh. He was momentarily stunned and not entirely sure how he ended up in the dirt. Helena was still standing, looking down at him with her hands resting on her hips.

  “Don’t look so proud of yourself,” he grit out, reaching out a hand and grasping her around the ankle. One firm tug was all it took to pull her down beside him. She landed on her ass with an undignified grunt.

  Von laughed, easing himself up into a sitting position. “Truce?” he asked.

  Helena gave him a considering look, the competitive part of her wanting to continue until he admitted that she’d beat him. She took a deep breath. “I suppose it wouldn’t look very good if we showed up to the banquet completely covered in bruises. It probably wouldn’t hurt to stop while there are still places that have not yet started to swell.”

  His chuckle was cut off by a groan as he got to his feet. “Mother’s tits!”

  Helena laughed. He may never admit that she’d won, but the damage she’d caused was more than enough for her ego.

  “I’m glad I’m not the only one that sees stars after a sparring match with our Kiri,” Ronan boomed, slapping Von hard on the shoulder.

  Von grunted, giving Ronan a baleful look. “No need to look so giddy.”

  Ronan shrugged. “Can’t help it brother. The last couple of months I was the one ass to ground. It’s a nice change to still be standing at the end of practice.”

  Helena giggled causing both men to scowl at her. “If I recall correctly, it was only the last couple of weeks of practice when I was able to knock you on your ass consistently.”

  “Now’s not the time to be cute, Mira. My pride is wounded enough as it is. No one has defeated me in hand-to-hand combat in ages.” Von groaned again as he discovered a new bruise.

  “Perhaps you should start training with Serena and Nial,” Ronan said. “It never hurts to cover the basics.”

  Helena laughed harder when Von lashed out, striking Ronan hard enough that he stumbled. “Well played,” she said, giving Von a soft kiss on the cheek.

  He brushed a stray piece of hair away from her forehead and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “It is worth every ache to see you smiling at me like that again.”

  The look in his eyes seared through her, but they moved apart as the rest of the Circle joined them.

  Nial stepped over to his brother. “I can’t lie; it gives me great joy to see I’m not the only Holbrooke that can be bested by a woman.”

  Serena elbowed him sharply in the ribs. “Nial and I would be more than glad to put you through your paces,” Serena teased, grinning at Von’s dark look before adding to Helena in a softer voice, “nice job.”

  Helena returned the smile. “It was a close one.”

  “As it should be,” Kragen said, holding up his fist for her to bump with her own.

  Helena touched her fist to his and raised a brow asking, “How do you figure?”

  Effie made a dismissive sound, answering for him, “The Mate is supposed to be a perfect match for the Vessel. It would hardly do for either of them to be weaker than the other.”

  “Well when you put it that way,” Helena said.

  The others chuckled, happy to have things feeling normal again.

  “I guess that’s all the time we have for practice today.”

  Following Ronan’s gaze, Helena watched Timmins approach their group.

  “Seems you are right,” she said to Ronan with a sigh.

  “Did you really want to continue rolling around in the dirt?” Darrin asked.

  She gave him a cheeky smile, before looking at Von. “With the right incentive, rolling around in the dirt can be quite a bit of fun.”

  “Aye.” Von grinned, his eyes going silver.

  Darrin made a puking sound. “I’m sorry I even said anything.”

  The others laughed, Effie taking Darrin’s hand in hers with a shy smile. His expression changed, softening as he looked down at her.

  Timmins made a small sound, pulling their attention back to him. “The first of the delegates has arrived,” he informed them.

  That was all it took for Helena’s smile to fall and the easy comradery of the morning to fade. It was time for her to be Kiri once more.

  Chapter Five

  Everywhere she looked there was an exquisite exhibition of magic with each Branch represented in stunning detail. Massive hearths set in each of the walls were blazing with Fire of every color. The flickering flames were coordinated throughout the room to add to the overall atmosphere. Toward the front, where guests were greeting each other, the flames were the brightest. As you moved back into the room, the flames turned deep violet and flanked a dance floor that was currently empty.

  Spheres of swirling lights were floating throughout the room, shifting colors to match the nearest hearth. Also drifting throughout the room were trays of various delicacies that never went empty. Soft strains of music pulsed throughout the hall, but the swell of voices nearly drowned it out as people laughed and chatted happily.

  Those details alone were stunning, coming together to create an atmosphere of festivity that was absolutely unparalleled, but even they paled in comparison to the true centerpiece of the room.

  The back wall was gone, replaced by a massive waterfall surrounded by lush plants and flowers. It stretched high above the natural ceiling, which had been made to appear like the night sky. At its base was a deep pool, illuminated by both the blue flames from the nearby hearths as well as submerged balls of light. A few guests splashed in the pool, surrounded by a transparent rainbow mist caused by the churning water. Simply put, the hall had been transformed into an oasis.

  Helena let out a small gasp of pleasure, unable to remain unaffected by the beauty before her. It was lavish, a complete study in excess, but it was also a celebration of the power that flowed through each of the Chosen. For that reason, it was glorious.

  Feeling the weight of thousands of eyes focused on her, Helena began to fidget, suddenly self-conscious. Before she could try and duck out of sight, the hall erupted into loud cheers of welcome.

  Alina had been right, as usual. The hour spent dressing and primping had not only been worth it, but necessary. Tonight, Alina insisted that the Kiri needed to exude power. To that end, she had selected a dress of deep aubergine, the dark purple color a perfect contrast for her eyes. The bodice was snug from shoulders to hips before flaring out and falling in waves to the floor. It was the only color she wore.

  Every other sparkling detail served to emphasis the purity of her power. The stitching was a metallic silver that glittered where it was caught by the light. Alina had curled her hair and then pinned it up using small stones that created a similar effect. Not to be outdone, her Kiri pendant seemed to radiate its own inner light, twinkling where it rested just above her breasts. To further enhance the effect and tie everything together, Alina had dusted her skin with a sparkling gold powder. From head to toe, Helena was aglow.

  Still uncomfortable under the weight of such scrutiny, Helena forced herself to smile and prayed that it didn’t look like a grimace. With another roar of approval, the Chosen began to celebrate in earnest. The party could officially begin now that their Kiri had arrived.

  Von’s quiet chuckle had her eyeing him. “You look radiant, Mira. Nothing to worry about on that front.”

  Helena smirked; apparently her prayer had b
een rerouted from the Mother and sent through the bond. Either way, the reassurance was welcome. “You look alright, too.”

  His only response to her teasing words was a sardonic lift of his brow. Helena tried to bite back her grin but failed miserably.

  Von looked absolutely sinful. He’d been dressed to matched, his formal pants and coat a fitted black material doing nothing to disguise the bulk of his muscles. His shirt was the same deep purple as her dress, with the top-most button undone in a classic act of defiance.

  He’d also allowed Alina’s brother Aemond, Von’s personal valet, to talk him into a shave and haircut. The difference was astonishing. The thick black locks that had hung in loose waves past his shoulders had been chopped so that the ends now barely touched his neck. It was still long enough for pieces to fall down into his eyes, but Aemond had styled it in a way that kept it back. The sharp angles of his nose and jaw were more defined without the thick strands of hair obscuring them. His gray eyes appeared bigger and more luminous. Even his lips seemed fuller. He still had the savage aura of a man forged in battle, but where he had once been nothing but warrior, he was now clearly royalty. Helena had had trouble keeping her eyes, and hands, off him ever since.

  “You’re staring again, darling,” he teased.

  “It’s not very polite of you to point it out. Not when you can feel my reaction to you and there’s nothing I can do about it.” Helena wasn’t entirely sure she kept the pout out of her mental voice.

  His eyes went molten. “They’ve all seen you, there’s no reason we can’t escape to a dark room somewhere and help you get more… comfortable.”

  Helena was sorely tempted. It felt like it had been ages since she’d lost herself in her Mate’s body. He saw the answer in her eyes and some of the heat left his own. Using his phantom fingers, he brushed a finger along her cheek and over her lips. “Later then.”

  “Definitely,” she agreed. Forcing herself to look away, she scanned the room again.

  Seeing her friends laughing and having a good time helped her relax. Even after all they had been through, they did not get bogged down by what was ahead of them and still knew how to make the most of the small moments of pleasure they were granted.

  Kragen and Ronan were talking animatedly beside one of the many bars, each man holding a sloshing mug of amber liquid. Not too far away, Serena and Nial sat, heads bowed toward one another as they shared a plate of food. Even from where she stood some distance away, Helena had no trouble noting the happy blush that stained her friend’s cheeks as she laughingly accepted a piece of food that Nial held up to her lips.

  Looking toward one of the many open doorways that led out to a balcony, Helena caught sight of Effie’s blonde curls. She was looking longingly at the dance floor, while Darrin stared longingly down at her. A small smile played on Helena’s lips as she watched the couple that still pretended nothing was between them. Seeing his chance, Darrin tenderly clasped her hand in his as he leaned down to press his lips against her fingers before gesturing toward the dance floor. With an excited squeal, Effie pulled him after her, their joint laughter lost in the dull roar of the crowd.

  Still smiling, she let her eyes wander some more until they eventually landed on Miranda, who looked stunning in a dress of crimson. The Keeper’s expression was solemn. Curious, Helena followed her gaze to where Miranda’s granddaughter spun in Darrin’s arms. Sensing her, Miranda caught her eye. The older woman smiled slightly, dipping her head in greeting, but her midnight eyes were unreadable. Before Helena could ponder further, Miranda turned and made her way deeper into the room.

  Deciding to let it go for now, Helena’s eyes finished their circuit of the hall. The only two of the Circle missing from the jubilant crowd were her Advisor and Master. They were in the Chambers awaiting the arrival of the last delegates. Timmins was going to summon her as soon as they arrived so that the real meeting could begin. But until then, there was no reason she and Von could not enjoy themselves as well.

  “I like the way you think,” he growled, close to her ear.

  “You just enjoy any opportunity that allows you to rub up against me,” Helena muttered dryly.

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  She grinned at him and pulled him toward the dance floor. The sea of bodies parted, granting them access to the now crowded space beside the waterfall. The music was fast and pulsing. All around them, partygoers turned into swirls of color as they danced in time to the music. Helena and Von joined in, bodies moving as one. Helena closed her eyes, focusing only on the music. There was no conscious thought, no intent, simply a fusion with the pulsating beat. The weight and sadness of the past few days began to fade with each twist of her body. It was a cleansing. The anger, frustration, and heartache were all washed away.

  Opening her eyes, Helena faltered slightly as she met Von’s burning gaze. He looked ravenous. She bit her bottom lip, feeling shy and overexposed. He reached for her, running his warm hands along the sides of her body until he grasped her hips and pulled her against him.

  She could feel him, warm and solid against her, completely attuned to his desire raging through their bond. It felt like there were words he wanted to say bubbling up within him, but all he managed to get out was a single drawn out word before he slammed his lips down on hers in front of everyone.

  “Mine.”

  Everything faded except for him. Weaving her fingers through his feather-soft hair, she tugged at the strands as she kissed him with all of the pent-up passion that had been pushed aside given the recent turn of events.

  They were completely unaware of everything around them, until a sudden roar of water and thousands of small explosions caused them to step apart. Hearts pounding and eyes wide they glanced around. Small gasps of amazement met their ears as colorful bursts of light bloomed across the sky. Von snickered, already realizing what had happened. Helena blushed fiercely, and muttered a fervent curse as understanding dawned. Once again, her power had responded to the intensity of her emotions. At least this time her guests remained unscathed.

  In response to the added intensity of the rushing water, the rainbow mist pressed in, growing thicker. Helena lifted bemused eyes back to Von, expecting to find his silvery gaze shining with amusement. Instead she was shocked to see Von looking stricken. His skin had gone pale and his eyes were wide with terror, the black of his pupils almost entirely swallowing up the gray.

  Not wanting to draw attention, she shouted down the bond, “Von!”

  He didn’t respond.

  Helena reached out a trembling hand, firmly grasping him about the arm and slightly digging her fingers in. “Mate!” she shouted again, using her power and his title to reinforce the call.

  That grabbed his attention. Von blinked rapidly and took a deep gasping breath, as if he had been drowning and just finally caught a breath of air. Helena studied him with no small amount of concern. “What just happened?”

  Von looked at her, embarrassment and shame causing his cheeks to pinken. He glanced at the people around them before interlacing his fingers with hers and pulling her to a more secluded spot against one of the walls.

  “I got lost,” he said, his voice sounding strained even along the bond. It cost him, deeply, to admit it.

  “Lost?”

  “In the mist.”

  And suddenly she understood. Months of hellish hallucinations still had their claws in him. Her hand tightened around his, squeezing hard to remind him that he was safe. “What can I do?”

  He shook his head, smiling wryly. “Nothing, Mira. No need to worry.”

  She gave him a look; it was far too late for that. Anything that caused him to react that way pretty much ensured she was going to worry.

  Von pressed a swift kiss to her lips, effectively ending the conversation. He didn’t want to talk about it. Not here, not now, and possibly not ever. She let out a frustrated sigh, but before she could press the issue, a flash of color caught her attention. Turnin
g slightly, she noticed Timmins standing in the main entryway staring at her. Following her gaze, Von noted the appearance of her Advisor. “Looks like it’s time for the real party to start.”

  Helena frowned, brows furrowing as she replied, “You and I have very different definitions about what constitutes a party.”

  Von’s deep laugh eased a little of the tightness in her chest.

  “Let’s get this over with,” she huffed.

  A lone man pressed the heavy door open and moved into the darkness of the room. His footsteps were silent. After years spent staying out of view, he’d perfected the art of moving without making a sound.

  He’d also learned to never assume silence was an indication of solitude. Out of habit, he glanced around to verify that he was, in fact, alone. Confident that he was, he made his way to the corner and pulled a sheet from the mirror it had concealed. Dust filled the air as the sheet fell to the floor. His eyes blurred and the need to sneeze was overwhelming, but he resisted any reaction. For his Queen, there was nothing he couldn’t endure.

  Remaining unseen by the Circle for years required a willingness to reside in darkness; to live and walk amongst those long forgotten by the glittering excess of the Palace dwellers. All in all, this room was a notable upgrade from his usual residence.

  “You’re late.”

  Eyes wide, he found himself staring into the cool blue gaze of his Queen. He dropped to his knees, bowing his head as he knelt before the swirling figure in the mirror. “Apologies, my Queen.”

  “I will not tolerate mistakes, not even from you.”

  He remained silent, knowing from experience that was the only correct response.

  “Have they arrived?”

  “Yes, my Queen. The impostor has already left the party to meet with them. The Keeper hid her exit by calling everyone to the stage to listen to her lies.”