Page 12 of Trial By Fire

“I was trying to explain—”

“You were trying to explain what?” I lean in closer, giving her shoulder a nudge with mine. I was about to ask why she didn’t finish what she was about to say, when my eyes follow hers. The crowd parts automatically as three men stop just a few feet away from the staircase. I look from them to my mom, and I can see the tears forming in her eyes, but she quickly brings her emotions under control. What am I missing here?

“Mom?” She doesn’t answer, her eyes are trained on the men in front of us. The first man in the front is dressed in an all-black suit, with one hand in his pocket, he screams dominance and control, but his steps are measured, as if he is not sure if he should approach. His bright red hair is cut short, and his skin is as pale as Dravyn’s. I wonder if he hasn’t seen the sun in a while himself.Or he could be a Vampire?I think to myself as I take in every detail of this perfect specimen. He even has freckles peppering his nose. He’s tall, but not as tall as the beast of a man standing on his left. The big guy’s red suit is barely hanging on to all the muscles they are trying to conceal. He looks like a Viking, with Celtic tattoos covering every inch of his bald scalp. His long black beard is nicely groomed with silver rings clasped at the ends that make a chiming sound when he moves his head. He’s looking at my mom like he wants to run to her, but the man on his right holds out his arm, stopping his approach. When he is sure the massive man is under control, the guy on the right brushes off his modern pinstripe tuxedo. His bright blue eyes are locked on my mom’s, and as I take a quick look her way, I wonder for a second if she’s even taken a breath yet. The man on the right adjusts his black rimmed glasses, his blond hair is perfectly swept to the side as he stands there, like he hasn’t got a care in the world. I’m not buying that at all. His body is saying one thing, but the eyes never lie. He is just as eager as the big guy to come to her. Is he worried she will turn them away?

“Why are they here?” my mom says quickly. She takes a deep breath and tries to contain her emotions, but I can tell their presence has thrown her completely. I want to know why.

“Who are they, Mom?” I ask as she searches the room. I am almost one hundred percent sure she is looking for the King. We continue to face the front. If anyone was to look at us now, it’d appear we are having a polite conversation about the weather, not about the three hot specimens only a few feet away, who are silently pining for my mom.

“I walked away from them thirty years ago, Delia. I made a decision without discussing it with any of them. I left, and they had no idea what happened to me. I can only assume that my father has summoned them here to reunite with me,” her voice shakes as she speaks, her head slightly lowered so she can speak to me and no one else. There is a sadness in her voice that makes my heart break for her. She left them to save me.

“Before you say anything, Cordelia. I made the right decision. I believe this with my whole heart. You are important. Me raising you was the greatest honor I could ever receive. You are my greatest gift, and I love you.” She raises her head and looks out at the men again. “I would do it again without question,” she says the last part as if she meant for them to hear her, and by the raised eyebrows and angry scowls coming her way, I think they did.

“Who are they?” I ask again. It’s one of those questions I am sure I know the answer to, but I need to hear it from her.

“My mates. The men I love and the men I left behind. Pax, Lorian, and Gray.” She smiles then, lost in her own memories, when suddenly the large, gilded doors to the Grand Ballroom slowly open. The music from the orchestra's soft melody floats around us invitingly as people begin to move inside.

“There are my beautiful girls,” King Maddox’s voice booms around the atrium as he approaches us with several attendees scurrying behind him. His gold robes have a mind of their own as they float up behind him, blocking out the view of the people trying to keep up. Honestly, it is almost comical, it’s like the robes are meant to keep them at bay on purpose. His bright smile is infectious as he approaches the bottom of the steps and takes our hands in his.

“Cordelia, your mates will make their way to you shortly. You will enter last with them. Is that okay?” he asks as if he’s worried I might put up a fuss about it. I couldn’t care less. He lost me at the mention of my mates.

“You know I don’t really know what I’m doing, right? I just want to sit and eat. The last dinner didn’t go so well, I missed all the delicious food.” I laugh as Maddox winces at the memory of crazy-ass Vivyn and her nonsense.

“I promise you an amazing night. I have a lot to make up for.” He winks and turns his attention to his daughter, who hasn’t said a word. I can feel her anger flowing off her in waves.

“Twyla, I—”

“Why father? I needed more time here tonight. Haven’t I given enough? Will my choices continue to be taken away from me?” I feel like I was ten years old all over again as I stare at the two of them. I almost expect her to tell me to run along and go play. This is definitely a conversation I don’t really want to be privy to.

“Twyla. I know this is not what you want, but this is happening. They will walk you in. I cannot, and you very well know it. I am the King. I walk alone. If your mother was still with us, she would be by my side.” A sadness falls over his face, but he quickly masks it and continues. “They are your mates. They’ve suffered from the loss of their mate just like you have. Don’t be angry at me when you have a chance to repair your bonds. You have a second chance, that’s not given often. Think about what this alliance will mean for Celestia. It’s what we were working so hard to achieve before you were called away.” His eyes plead with her to understand his intentions, to forgive him for his actions, but it also leaves her with no room for negotiation of any kind. This was a King giving his daughter a command.

“Alliance?” I ask to break up the tension I can feel between them.

“They’re Mages. Twyla has a mate bond with three of the strongest Mages on their Council.” My eyes widen at King Maddox’s words as I look back at the men in question who, as if on cue, begin to walk this way.

“I will leave you to it then, Twyla. I know I have asked for too much from you. I have taken too much. I will never be able to give any of it back to you. All I can give you in return is Celestia. I thought I lost you. But the heavens have seen fit to give you back to me. To give you both back. You can begin again with your mates and your daughter.” He squeezes her hands, and I note his smile is sad, it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I hope you save a dance for me tonight, Cordelia.” He teases over his shoulder as he begins to walk away from us.

“Only if I can dance barefoot,” I reply. The thought of dancing on these leg breakers brings tears to my eyes.

“Deal!” he shouts back.

“Silva, I really hope you heard that. I’m going to need your help to get these shoes off immediately,” I whisper shout behind me.

“You’re impossible, Cordelia,” I hear her whisper behind me. I can feel her eyes bore into the back of my head, and I laugh. I laugh so hard I snort, garnering the attention of the last few stragglers walking into the ballroom. Yep, I’m not very queenly.

“See, you’re getting me, Silva. We are going to be great friends.”

CHAPTERNINE

GALE

Shaking off my inner asshole, I put a smile on my face as I follow the guys to the atrium outside the Grand Ballroom. King Maddox asked us to give the room and the outer perimeter a once over before we come to escort our girl to the ball. I can not only feel Torin’s relief, but I can see it by the way his shoulders relax, and hear the cracking sound as his jaw unclenches at the King’s suggestion. He has been extra vigilant, not wanting Cordelia out of our sight after she vanished on us the other day. I can’t blame him, I guess we are all on edge, hence me telling my inner bitch to sit the hell down and shut up for the sake of my mate. Dravyn used his magic, disappearing into the shadows, and checked the inside of the room while we scan the perimeter. With the King’s added security this place is locked down tight. There will be no way for anyone to get in or out.

Having Dravyn here gives us an advantage considering his magic is Fae connected. I’ve given him a hard time since he showed up, and I even feel shitty after hearing what happened to him. Talk about being dealt a crap hand in life. My parents were amazing, life inKaelumanever changed for me after the death of the queen. I didn’t grow up seeing Arcadia for the place it really was until I became Regent. I didn’t come with a trauma sheet ten miles long, so I don’t understand it the way Torin and Adrian would. My brothers had suffered enough in their lives, and after hearing Dravyn’s life story, I can see so had he. So, if they can accept him, then so can I. Cordelia deserves happiness. The fact she had to call me out about it this morning was the wake-up call I needed. I spent all of that time reminding Torin and Adrian to control their emotions and to leave their own baggage at the door, but there I was at the slightest change in our dynamic throwing a tantrum like a child. Yes, I don’t trust Dravyn completely, but I can see the love he has for her written all over his face. He’s spent more time with her than we have, he’s been with her longer, even if it was from the shadows. That realization alone made me jealous of him even more. So, yeah, my jealousy was developing horns and hooves. I felt I needed to kill him before he did something that would make Cordelia lose her love for me. That would be a fate worse than death. My Dragon clawed at my insides when she told me to get my shit together, so I am determined to do just that. I made her smile.That is my role in this relationship, we only have room for one asshole, and that is Adrian.The smile on my face forms easily at the thought. Lately, he’s been uncharacteristically nice, but finding your long-lost mate will do that to a man. As we approach the foyer, I can hear a loud laugh quickly followed by a snort and it shakes me from my thoughts. Cordelia.

“Did she just snort?” Dravyn asks from beside me. I hadn’t even realized he was there. I was so lost in my thoughts, and his steps are as silent as a ninja. I definitely need to stay alert when we are out and about like this.

“Yep, that was a snort,” I keep my reply short, but I do at least give him a smile. Baby steps.

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