Page 6 of Their Promise

Busted! She did have a thing for my brother. I knew it!

“He’s much like your father,” Mom said and shook her head. “Completely ignoring women, which I hope means he has a fated mate out there somewhere.”

Maya’s scowl turned into a frown of sadness. Oh, boy. She liked him even more than the last time we’d discussed him. Interesting.

“So, what time does the party start tonight? Will I have time for a shower?” I asked to change the subject.

“We’re going to finish eating here and then head home so you can shower and change,” Mom answered.

Tim brought out our food, and we ate the delicious chicken pasta and got one more drink before saying bye to Great Aunt Leona and Great Uncle Silverowl, and teleporting back home.

I hurried upstairs to shower, but the envelope I’d forgotten about last night caught my attention again. Walking over to it, I examined the black envelope with no return address listed. Opening it, I pulled out a card, my eyes widening at the letter’s contents.

Dear, Princess Liliana Rubyserpent of the Hybrids.

Although communications have been sparse as there seems to be an issue with our phones, the upcoming date has necessitated that we correspond by letter. Our sworn promise is now at the time of enactment. I hopeyou remember the promise, but if you have forgotten, we promised that if both sides are unmated upon your twenty-fifth birthday, we shall become mates. Although the promise was made when we were younger, it is still binding and as such, we will return to enact said promise. See you at the party, Princess.

Your friends,

Kayden, Trey, & Mason

Dropping the letter like it was on fire, my heart beat so wildly that I could hear it in my skull. My breathing became ragged and I slid to my knees, the darkness swirling within me quickly. My hair cast rainbows around the room forcing me to close my eyes against the brightness.

Yes, we had made a promise when we were kids, but that was it, a promise between kids! They couldn’t seriously think that I would follow through with that silly promise now. Especially not after what had happened between us!

“We have to leave in thirty minutes!” Mom shouted from downstairs. “Hurry up, Lily!”

Taking a deep breath, I thought about it logically. They were all grown adults, warriors who fought and killed demons to protect the world, and had lived away from their parents since they were eighteen. They had been jokers when we were younger, playing jokes on each other and me often.

This was probably just a joke. Their way of getting one more over me. It had to be a prank. If I brought it up, they’d likely laugh in my face and ask how I could possibly have thought they were serious.

Shaking my head, I hurried to shower and change for the party. It took me right up until Branson stomped up the stairs to get me to finish. Throwing my door open, I said, “I’m ready!”

He scowled at my glowing hair. “You okay?”

I nodded. “Just rushed.”

He stepped to the side and let me out, scowling at the obvious lie, but not saying anything, thankfully.

Chapter

Three

The royals threw the grandest parties ever and I loved every second of it. My grandparents and great grandparents took turns stealing me for hugs and discussions, all making me promise to visit soon now that I was back.

My dads took turns dancing with me and it wasn’t long before my grandfathers did as well. I loved dancing with them, spinning around the room with the practiced classical dances they’d spent years teaching me as I grew up. Although I was a princess and taught all the etiquette expected of a princess, I was not expected to take over as queen. Something which I was extremely grateful for. However, I would do my part to help my clan and my brother when he ultimately became king.

My aunts, uncles, and their children bombarded me, but my brother rescued me, pulling me away and growling about how he was the last one to get to see me.

“Thank you,” I breathed as I hugged him, safely out on a back patio in the cold night air.

“Don’t thank me yet,” he whispered and looked over my shoulder. “Just remember, I’m your only sibling and you’d bereally sad if I was dead, so you can’t kill me.” He kissed my cheek and ran back inside to the party.

Scowling, I wondered what the heck that had been about. He wasn’t normally so shifty or weird.

“Good evening, Princess,” a deep, gravelly voice said behind me.

I froze in place, my heart, however, tripled in speed. No, it wasn’t my birthday. Why was he here?

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