The Shadow Prince (9 page)

I surprised myself when I stepped forward. “Please have mercy on them, King Taron.”

His eyebrows rose. “Mercy? They are responsible for all the death you see before you. How can you ask this of me?”

“My mother is the reason we are all here, and now, she is dead.” A vision of her body collapsing to the ground flashed in my head. I wasn't sure what I was feeling. All I sensed was emptiness, as if I'd been gutted. There was nothing left inside me. “Hasn't there been enough death for one day?”

Taron glared at me, his expression pained. Without words, I sensed his sympathy for my situation. “I am indebted to you for the enormous sacrifice you made to save my daughter. For that reason alone, I will show mercy on your siblings.” He turned his attention to them. “You are hereby exiled from Avalon. You will live out your final days in the mortal world.”

He wasn't giving them much mercy. Forcing them out of Avalon meant they would no longer be protected by the veil. They would both be dead in a matter of weeks. During the process their bodies and their power would weaken. The rapid changes would be excruciating. “This is your mercy?” Valac interjected. “We'd be better off if you killed us now.”

“Remove them from my sight,” Taron ordered, waving his arm. Jarrod, his lead knight, took hold of their shackles, pulling them toward one of the doors.

Then it hit me: Taron was sending them back to the mortal world where Kalin would be for another year. They were angry about Mother's death along with their own exile. A cold shiver ran down my spine as the door shut behind them. Taron didn’t know Valac the way I did. As angry as he was, I have no idea what he might do. No, I couldn’t let this happen. “Your Majesty, I wouldn’t trust them in the mortal world. There’s a good chance they might seek revenge.”

He glared at the exit door, his eyes in small slits. “They will begin to weaken the moment they set foot in the mortal world. Soon, they will be helpless. They’re no danger to anyone.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. After everything he witnessed, he still didn’t see the danger. Was it because the courts had been at peace for so long? Did he really believe no one else would break the laws of the decrees? Tension built in my shoulders. “How can you be so sure of that?”

Taron crossed his arms. He was irritated, I was questioning his decisions. “There will be additional knights around her home and also with her when she leaves. I have complete faith in her safety.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. It was clear he wouldn’t be talked out of his decision. He believed in his knights. But I saw first-hand how easily Kalin was able to slip away when I watched her at school. I could have easily killed her if I hadn’t come to my senses.

“The fire court cannot go without leadership. As unsavory as the current circumstances are, we must proceed with the coronation,” King Taron announced.

“No!” I said, my voice so stern I hardly recognized it. I couldn’t accept the crown. That would mean staying in Avalon. Valac would have plenty of time to devise a plan and rally other fire elementals to his cause. If Taron refused to see the danger, I wouldn’t stand by and watch it happen. He healed me when I was brought to his castle. I wasn’t a member of his court, or under his protection, so he could have let me die if he wanted to. I owe him my life. Even if it meant walking away from the throne, I would not allow my family to seek revenge against the air court.

I have to go back to the mortal world and protect Kalin.

“No?” Liana repeated, eyes widened with surprise.

She would never understand my decision. But, I was indebted to Taron. I had to keep his only daughter safe and prevent a war between the courts. Even though she would never see it, I was being a better king to them by protecting Kalin than I would if I counted on her knights to keep her safe. “I can't accept the crown.”

“After everything, you'd abandon your own kin?” Liana asked.

I couldn't tell her my true reason. There were surviving fire elementals in chains who could hear every word of our conversation. If I gave them the impression Kalin was vulnerable, they might get word to others loyal to my mother. I wouldn't give them motivation to go after her. As much as it would break me I had to say, “I am no longer part of the fire court.”

Fire ignited in her hands, racing up her arms. The hounds cowered at her side. “Not part of our court?” she asked, venom in her voice. “You're nothing but a deserter. You don't deserve the crown.”

Her words burned a hole in my chest. After I was brutalized I didn’t think any of them were worth saving. But maybe what they needed was a strong leader. Right now, that person wasn’t me. I couldn’t give them what they need until the threat was gone. I had to protect my court from war, even if it meant I was a deserter in their eyes. “I abdicate my throne to Liana. With her in power the crown shall remain with the House of Djin.”

Taron leaned forward. “Rowan, are you sure this is what you want?”

I didn't see a choice. If my siblings attacked I would be there to stop them. I would do what I had to do to prevent a war. To protect Kalin. This was the only way. “Yes.”

As I headed toward the exit, Liana shouted, “You’ll never set foot in the fire territory again!”

If that was the sacrifice I had to make, I would accept it.

Ten months had passed since I walked out of Taron's throne room. I had managed to stay undetected in the shadows while I watched over Kalin. Occasionally I ran into a fire elemental who kept me up to date with our court activities. I hadn't seen my siblings since their exile, which was for the best. I had heard they died months ago, but I decided to remain in the mortal world. I wasn't ready to return to Avalon. I might never be. Even if I was, where would I go?

I had turned down Taron's offer to become one of his knights. I told him I planned to keep guard over Kalin. He assured me she was safe, but something in my heart told me she wasn't. Although he didn't believe she was in danger he didn't stop me. Part of me believed he wanted me to protect her, but he would never admit it. He was the last person I saw before I left Avalon.

In the mortal world, I'd become a solitary—an elemental not associated with any of the courts. Rejecting my court should have meant losing my connection with the fire element, but I was still considered part of the ruling family. That meant some of my power remained. I could still summon the fire element, but the level of power I used to have was lessened. I needed to stay strong in other ways to combat this weakness. When I wasn't tailing Kalin I spent my time weapons training. I worked with swords, knives, and throwing stars. Anything I could get my hands on.

The extra time in the mortal world did have one advantage. Aging another year had gotten rid of all my baby fat. My shoulders had widened and my muscles had mass. Thanks to the daily sword training, my body had morphed; I had become a lethal weapon.

During the long periods of loneliness my thoughts often returned to Marcus. He hadn’t resurfaced. I feared our friendship was over for good. I assumed he'd been assigned to another high-ranking elemental. I was sickened when I imagined him in that position, but I had made the right decision. Although I was sure Marcus wasn't happy, he would agree Kalin needed saving to prevent a war between the courts.

The elements must always stay in balance.

When I returned from my evening training sessions I was surprised to see activity in Kalin's house. All the lights were on. At least ten air elementals moved in and out of the house in a hurry. When I saw two of them heading into the forest I followed. After about two miles, they approached an area cloaked by a glamour. Soon after, Jarrod stepped out of a portal, handing them royal robes. After some conversation he returned through the pathway.

I thought about how much time had passed since I left Avalon. Kalin must have been approaching her birthday. It was time for her to return to her father. Relief spilled over my shoulders. Taron's daughter would return to him unharmed and I could finally let go of my fear of war. It felt like a victory on so many levels. As the guards returned to Kalin's house I followed far enough behind not to be seen.

I was looking forward to seeing the Princess one last time before—

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash in the distance. My eyes roamed the area, trying to locate the tiny blimp. The trees were so thick they blocked most of the moonlight. It was almost impossible to see anything far away. Just as I started to head in the direction of the light I heard a pained scream.

I whirled around.

The two air knights were being attacked: one was engulfed in flames, the other trying to fight two fire elementals at once. I ran full speed toward them releasing my sword from its sheath. As I got closer I recognized the female fire elemental—Malin. I had heard she was appointed the leader of Liana’s personal guard. Why did Liana send them to attack? There hasn’t been a quarrel between their courts since I’d been here.

I threw a baseball size ball of fire at the back of the male fire elemental. It wouldn't hurt him, but it would draw his attention away. When he turned around, the air knight used his wind magic to suffocate him by sucking the air out of his lungs. Malin saw what was happening and slid a knife across his neck. A river of blood ran down his shirt as he collapsed onto the ground.

Dammit.

Sometime during the struggle the air knight on fire had stopped screaming. It appeared he was already dead. While the male fire elemental caught his breath, Malin came at me. I had almost reached them when she shot a stream of fire in my direction, missing me by only inches. As she pulled out a sword I went straight for her. Our weapons clashed, screeching.

“Why did Liana send you, Malin?” I demanded.

I pushed into her, forcing her back a foot or two. We circled each other. “What do we have here?” Malin asked. “If it isn't the deserter of our court.”

As we moved, I realized her partner had disappeared. A twig broke, and in one quick motion, I reversed my grip on the blade and plunged it behind me. There was a gasp, then silence. I found her friend. I pulled my sword out, letting him fall to the ground.

Malin had already put a good distance between us when I asked, “I'm only going to ask you one more time. Why did Liana send you?” My voice sounded more like a growl.

She surprised me by throwing an iron spear. It hit me in my side, burning my skin instantly. I fell to my knees, and when I looked up, she was gone. As I pulled the spear out with my bare hand the skin on my palm charred. My mind raced wondering why they had attacked out of nowhere when it had been peaceful for more than a year.

The blood in my veins turned cold. “Kalin!”

Keep reading for a sneak peek of

Book One:
Mortal Enchantment

I wonder if I can get pizza in Avalon?

My life was about to change in every conceivable way and I was thinking about my menu options. I rolled my eyes. It was time to get serious. Today was the big day. My last day in the mortal world for who knows how long. But most importantly, the last time I would see my mother. No matter how many times I begged, she refused to come with me. She insisted my dad needed time alone with me. Father/daughter bonding type stuff.

But that was the deal they made even before I was born. I got to spend my childhood with my mother, then once I turned sixteen I'd move to Avalon to be with my father—the elemental king of the air court.

As far as my friends were concerned I was moving to Paris. I bragged about how I'd be living in the most romantic city in the world, surrounded by cute European guys with sexy French accents. My throat tightened up each time they told me how jealous they were. They had no idea how miserable I felt lying to them. Or how I envied their freedom.

But, it wasn't all bad.

Moving to Avalon meant I could get to know my father. We had gotten close through his visits into my dreams, but it wasn't the same as actually having him in my physical life. Plus, and this was a big plus, I'd be a princess in the air court where Dad planned to teach me to control the air element and weather magic.

A knock on my bedroom door startled me out of my thoughts.

Mom stepped inside. Most days she wore lounge t-shirts and relaxed pants, but today, she had on a canary yellow sweater and skinny jeans. Sometimes I forgot how beautiful she is. Because of our red wavy hair and fair complexion, many people had mistaken us for sisters. I swear, the woman never aged. I watched as her green eyes roamed the room. “Kalin, you haven't packed a thing.”

Dad told me he would send additional knights to retrieve whatever I wanted, but what was the point? I doubted my collection of
Pez
dispensers or assorted sets of cartoon pajamas would be acceptable possessions of an elemental princess. “I wasn't sure what to bring. I mean, it's not like we've done much traveling.”

I regretted the words as soon as they came out. Judging by her face, I'd say they stung a little. It wasn't her fault we'd stayed in one place. Mom was always worried that I might be in danger. I never understood why, especially since we had always lived with my father's knights surrounding our house and following me everywhere I went. Knights who were annoying, never giving me any privacy.

“Are you nervous?” she asked.

“No.” I was scared out of my mind. I didn't know what to expect. Besides my father and his knights, I had never met another elemental. I worried if they would like me or if I would make any friends. Also, I wondered what it would be like to date an elemental. Did elementals date? These were questions I didn't feel comfortable asking my dad.

I couldn't ask my mom either. These last few weeks had been tough on her. She had known I would be leaving, but it was hard for her to let me go. It was hard for me too. I had never spent a day of my life without her. I wish I could understand why she wouldn't come with me. Anytime I asked about her relationship with my father she found a way to change the subject.