Origin of Angels: Elemental Legacy Book 1 (4 page)

The glare Travis shot me was my only warning to his outburst. “I will not bond with that woman!”

Ainessa shot to her feet. “You see? Giving Elementals freedom to make such choices is not in the greater good. We are growing weak while our enemy prospers.”

My eyes narrowed until the woman’s too-beautiful face was all I could see. “How would you know, princess?”

Ainessa remained silent, feigning ignorance. When I continued to scrutinize her, she caved, the pitch of her voice indicating her unease. “Okay! I sent a small team to spy on them. Someone needed to.”

I had figured Zach’s sister would be a problem, but I refused to make the woman my enemy
— unless there was no other choice. I glanced at Zach for help, who sat near me on the dais next to Faine, his newly acquired bondmate who happened to be the very first Elemental come back from the great beyond. Every time I looked at Zack, a tinge of regret slipped into my heart. Of all the lords beside Heath, Zach had been the one I’d loved most. I waited for the day when my feelings would change, when I would no longer cringe at the sight of Zach and Faine together.

All of a sudden, I wished Heath were here, but I’d sent him into the mortal realm to check on the Order. If I’d known Ainessa had already done the job, I wouldn’t have bothered. Zach gave me a small nod,
then turned his attention to his sister. I expected him to lambast her, but all he asked was, “What did you learn?”

Ainessa took the opportunity to come forward, gaining better access to the crowd. Her delicate features glowed with triumph, as if she’d just won the biggest battle of her life. I’d just have to see about that. “The Or-der compounds have been abandoned,” she said. “In fact, no Order activity can be detected easily. It wasn’t until I hired Gibbit that I learned about the new facilities.”

My heart squeezed at the mention of the little troll. Gibbit had been my unconventional friend, even when I’d thought he had ulterior motives. He’d warned me not to go to the island, but I didn’t listen. He’d also warned me about the dangers of court, but I ignored his efforts. I’d tried to talk to him, to tell him I was sorry for not trusting him, but he hadn’t been counted among those who wanted to stay in Faeresia.

“Is he here?” I
asked, my voice breathy.

Ainessa swiveled to give me a haughty once over. “I’m afraid he’s returned to the mortal realm. He doesn’t feel comfortable around certain people.”

It was a blow meant to disarm, but I just smiled. “Very well, please continue.”

Ainessa gave a nod, swishing her elaborate crimson skirt behind her. The effect was dramatic, if nothing else. Everyone in the crowd looked on with interest, and so did I. If I could remove my ego from the equation, I could learn how to act in front of the fae by watching Ainessa. To my dismay, the royals didn’t seem too happy about my relaxed leading style. I had been warned by Lysanne, my Ignisian friend, and a few others that there was dissention in the ranks.

It had only been a few months fae time since I took office. I couldn’t understand why they expected so much from me, but if I didn’t do something soon to make a strong impression, the fae would elect another leader. Perhaps it was for the best, but I hadn’t been afforded the opportunity to do the things that meant the most to me. I wanted to see the people happy and settled. I wanted to see children in the fae realm, but so many things needed to happen before such an option could ever be considered.

Ainessa’s face wasn’t in my view, but her shoulders were thrown back and her head held high. She had a regal quality I doubted I’d ever achieve, even if I had hundreds of years to practice. When Ainessa spoke, her voice commanded, booming through
out the space. “My brothers ... sisters, we need to act if we are to gain the Elementals we need. As we speak, Valen conceals more fortresses. Gibbit spoke of slightly under a hundred new locations all over the mortal world. Who knows how many others are out there Gibbit could not discern? I asked him to locate Elemental families, and he informed me we’ve already lost ten of the fifty branches.” Ainessa paused for obvious emphasis. “If we wait even one more day, it could be too late. I recommend we capture the Elementals and bring them here.”

Gasps erupted around the room. Zach pinched the bridge of his nose. “How, dear sister, do you recommend we accomplish such a mass exodus? You’re not only talking about the Elementals of age, you include their mothers, who have already been banished from this world, not to mention the Order fathers, who have deep connections to human society.”

Ainessa smiled, but there was resentment behind it. “Who said anything about the fathers? They are merely men, and there is no shortage of those in the human realm. I say we take the children and the mothers, leave the fathers. We can find men for the mothers, who would most likely be better than those left behind. The Order is vile. We would be liberating those who have long been oppressed.” Her gaze flicked to Travis. “At least it would be a step in the right direction.”

Clapping erupted from the females in attendance. A few lords joined in, but most looked on with turbulent expressions. I eased back in my seat, struggling to keep my temper bound. With only a few words, Ainessa had hijacked my meeting. I was all for sharing and voicing opinion, but when the woman made decisions which would affect the entire fae race without even asking what anyone else thought, well, that was too much.

Ainessa went on, addressing the crowd with her flamboyant flare. “You see, my people, we must take action. To wait would only put our race at risk. To delay could mean bondage for those who’ve chosen not to follow our dark brother.” She turned to stare at me. “Anyone who would stop this mission is against our people.”

I shot up, sending my chair clattering to the floor. Smiling closed lips at
my opponent, I hoped my expression didn’t show my desire to pound her in her face. “I understand the need for action, but rushing in without a true plan is a mistake. I should know. I’ve done it before and learned to make different choices. I hope you will take my experience …” I pointed to Luke and then to Zach. “And that of your brothers, who nearly lost all at your hand, I might add, because we rushed into a mission. Forgive me for not being willing to put our people in further danger.”

I STARED AT MY SISTER, FULLY impressed with how she’d handled herself. She was every bit the regal queen the fae needed. I studied the other woman who would make herself ruler. She was selfish, and there was no way the fae would fall for her antics. I frowned. It would be much better for me if they did follow Ainessa. At least then, I could begin my search. And if the whole goal was to bring back as many
Elementals as we could, maybe I’d find my mystery woman among them. She had to be somewhere close to Lambert.

Ainessa pinned me with her freaky green eyes. She held my gaze for a moment, her beautiful face as serious as I’d ever seen it. Was it
worry turning her pouty lips into a frown? No matter how stunning the fae was, I couldn’t bring myself to want her. Damn my conscience. My life would be so much easier if I could forget a different set of green eyes, soft and vulnerable and so full of life they sparkled. I needed to stop thinking about her. I needed to move on. It was the smart thing. Why then was the idea of any other female distasteful?

The fae princess glided closer. How could she walk without disturbing even a single hair on her head? I stood when she got nearer, ready to leave again. I didn’t like how my pulse spiked in her presence. I hated how my body reacted to her. I didn’t want her, but she had some kind of power over me. Ainessa stopped a few feet away. “What are your thoughts, young Travis? You, more than any person in this room, have the best idea of what the Order has planned and will do.”

I didn’t like being put on the spot. My neck heated, then the tips of my ears. I took a bored expression, offering the princess a smile confined to my lips, never my heart. “I agree with you.”

The room erupted with rumbling voices.
Rayla’s eyes widened in alarm followed by outright betrayal. A deep frown played at her mouth. I ignored her. The only thing I could focus on was getting back to the mortal realm. As far as I was concerned, I was as trapped here as I had ever been with the Order. What kind of sister held her brother hostage, anyway?

When Ainessa smirked before facing Rayla, I nearly felt guilty for what I’d done. Not quite, though. Sure, she’d be mad at me, but if it were up to her, I’d be here forever
— safe, maybe, but what else? What was the point in living a long time if I couldn’t enjoy it?

Ainessa didn’t waste any time in commanding the room again. She lifted her arms high into the air. “Now is the time for us to take control of our future. There has never been a more opportune moment, and there will likely never be another. What say you?”

CHEERS FILLED THE SPACE, CLOYING AND violent. With the mood in the room, I had no choice but to comply with the wishes of my people, no matter how foolish. At first, when I called for silence, no one listened. For the second attempt, I put my whole effort in the command. All eyes fell on me. Not a single person made a sound. I sniffed. That was more like it. “Thank you,” I said. “Our first task will be to test Travis. Luke, Taylor, Jett, Zach, and ...” Since Heath was gone, I had to improvise. “Finn, please me
et us in the arena. Braiden ...” The man snapped to attention, an eager glint in his tawny eyes. “Would you mind gathering all the remaining lords? We’ll need several teams. At least twenty men in each.” Braiden nodded, then sped out of the hall. I liked a man who could follow orders.

I gave no heed to Ainessa as she passed, but the woman wouldn’t let me go so easily. Her taunting tone abraded my spine. “And what am I to do, your highness?”

A biting retort came to mind, but I refrained from blasting the woman. Instead I faked a smile. “Come with us if you want to, or you could see if any of the ladies would like to traverse the mortal realm. We could use a variety of soldiers for our mission.”

To my dismay, Ainessa followed me. I had hoped the offer of leadership would work the same on her as it had on Braiden. “Thank you for allowing me to come,” said Ainessa softly, as if she didn’t want the others to overhear.

Just when I was certain she was the evilest creature on the planet, Ainessa was sure to surprise. “You’re welcome,” I said, still wary. “You know, if you want Travis so badly, you’re going at it all wrong.”

When Ainessa stopped, I turned, wondering what was going on. Tears glistened in the woman’s eyes. If she faked it, I couldn’t tell. Instead of commenting further, she waited. Ainessa pressed her dainty fingers against her cheeks to wipe the moisture from her eyes. She looked up ahead, her expression growing distant. Finally, when she spoke, her voice was barely audible. “I seem to have a knack for doing the wrong thing. I’ve always been on the losing side of issues.” She cut her gaze to me, her expression open, vulnerable. I couldn’t help but think her emotional display was a game, no matter how sincere she seemed. “Being in control is important.”

I never expected such frank honesty from someone like Ainessa, let alone the woman responsible for every single hardship me and the lords recently faced. Although I couldn’t call Ainessa my friend, I did understand. “Me, too. I don’t think anyone likes being forced to do things.” I made every effort to soften my response. “Everyone deserves to choose for themselves.” At the last second, I added. “I’m glad you decided to stay.”

Ainessa’s lips quirked.
“I know you don’t like me.”

I couldn’t help my smirk. “I don’t think either one of us thinks we’ll end up being BFFs, but I want mostly the same things you do. I’m simply taking a different approach.”

Ainessa gave a delicate cough. Whether from annoyance or as a reflection of her thoughts, I couldn’t say. One thing was sure: it was a contemptuous sound. “What matters is the result, not how it is achieved.”

Here it was again. We couldn’t go more than a few seconds without clashing. “I disagree. The way to the goal is just as important as reaching it.”

Ainessa puffed out a laugh. “I’ve come to expect such simplistic yet wise statements from you. What I wonder is if you truly believe what you preach?”

The time for debate had passed. I had no desire to get into a philosophical chat with Ainessa
— ever. Since the woman didn’t seem to notice the others way off in the distance, I decided to give more than just a little hint. “So far, I guess ... hey, I don’t know about you, but I’d like to see what Travis can do. Maybe we should get into this another time.”

To my surprise, Ainessa’s expression fell. Giving a trite smile, she quickly recovered, but it was obvious she was truly worried. “Sure. Sorry for the distraction.”

Guilt sucked. I reached out to touch the woman’s hand. “No. I appreciate your opinions as much as anyone else’s. I don’t always agree with you, but I’m willing to listen any time. It’s just —”

“I understand,” cut in Ainessa. “You’re right. We need to catch up.” With that said, she used the advantage of her long legs to outdistance me. Even angry, she moved with the grace of a swan.

I sighed. As Ainessa had admitted about herself, I couldn’t seem to do anything right lately, either. Taking a deep breath, I hurried to reach the group before something important happened. When I caught up to her, as was becoming my new reality, I fought for the lead.