Ascension (Unbound Prophecy Book 1) Read online

  When King Drostan had agreed to begin meeting the Lightbearer Council, he and his Council accepted the premise of the glade as their neutral meeting grounds. Daneele had first invited the Dark King and his Council here when he’d discovered that the king’s future son, Sinow, would be the chosen Dark one of the prophecy. How he had come to discover that fact, no one really knew nor did anyone ever ask as he was the Keeper of Prophecy. Violissa had questioned him about his knowledge, but she’d received nothing but a look of stubborn hostility from him as if she should not have dared ask him such a question. She never brought it up again, but one day she knew she’d broach the subject once again with him.

  As they were making their way toward the meeting table, Violissa felt the air stir from somewhere behind her. She knew instantly without needing to turn around that the prince had arrived. This is going to be harder than I imagined, she thought as her skin began to tingle and her chest grew tight.

  “Ah, son, so glad you could make it,” she heard the king say. She had to suck in her core to keep from losing her balance as her head grew light.

  “Father, my apologies for the delay.” The voice was deep but sweet to her ears. It stirred her blood. “She’s here, isn’t she,” he said as a statement rather than a question.

  Violissa took a breath and turned around to face him as her Council parted behind her. As she looked up into those deep black-brown eyes, her breath caught in her throat. She swore her heart stopped. It should have been the mere look of him that caused the reaction, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t just the physical attraction that hit her but an instinctual one that came from deep within her. She struggled to keep from gaping at him. He was tall with a tight build, the fitted black shirt he wore defining the muscles beneath. His face was chiseled but not so much that it lost all its softness. His coal black hair had a slight wave to it, and she momentarily imagined running her hands through its thickness. It was short but still long enough for her to accomplish such a task. A few strands fell loose along the left side of his forehead, just brushing the skin. He had the stance of a king, of someone who knew the true extent of his power but without the cockiness one would expect. His eyes were captivating. They were a deep brown on the cusp of black, the pupil barely discernible. No reflection of light or herself to be found in them. She felt as if they could see straight into her soul, as if she were being pulled by some force into their endless well of darkness.

  She didn’t know how long they stood staring at each other, but it seemed an eternity to her. The voice in her head was shouting for her to look away, to defy this irrational feeling that had taken over her. Her body, however, seemed to have a mind of its own. Somewhere she registered the rip of skin in her palms as her nails dug into them, but it didn’t sway her. She felt entranced, felt herself slowly begin to move toward him and was only slightly aware that he seemed to be stepping toward her as well. It was then that a sharp crack broke her trance, causing her eyes to reluctantly break from his. She felt the whoosh of air enter her chest as she realized she’d been holding her breath the whole time.

  “Tynan, what is the meaning of this?” the king bellowed. It was only then that her awareness of her surroundings returned. She blushed at that thought of being observed at such a moment of weakness. Thank goodness for the clumsy antics of the prince’s brother, Tynan. He’d somehow managed to divide the meeting table down its center. She hadn’t realized he’d had that much power; it was a known fact that he didn’t. Tynan was a random fluke that couldn’t be explained. He was the second son of a king, an unexpected break in a history where only one son was ever produced regardless of how many times the king might try. There was never more than one son born to the throne in either realm, yet here he stood defying all reality and interrupting this powerfully intense moment. The king looked like he wanted to skin him alive at the very least.

  Violissa took a step back and moved toward the table, trying to keep her step steady as her whole body still trembled.

  “I became a little bored with the staring contest, Father, so I thought I’d try out a new spell,” Tynan explained.

  Violissa could tell by the look the king gave him that if Tynan had not been immortal, he would have killed him at that moment no matter that he was his son. Instead, he hit him with a blast of power that sent Tynan flying into the nearest tree, shaking it at its roots.

  “Take him home,” the king ordered, turning to one of his Council, “and see to it that he stays there. The boy needs a wet nurse, at his age,” he muttered as he turned to Violissa. “Well then, Princess, I don’t believe you’ve been formally introduced to my son, Sinow…”

  “I believe we’ve just introduced ourselves, isn’t that right, Vi?” Sinow replied for her, interrupting his father.

  “It’s Violissa,” she corrected, her eyes remaining fixed on the broken table in front of her, “and yes, I believe we have.” She moved her hand and with a quiet stir, the table returned to its former shape. “Now, I believe business is usually discussed here and let me be completely frank,” she said, glancing quickly at Sinow, careful not to let their eyes lock, “talk of a union or prophecies shall not be amongst the business discussed here today.” She heard the collective sigh from her Council and the confused gasp from his, but she heard nothing from the prince.

  The king began to speak when she saw Sinow’s hand come up to stop him.

  “She is feisty, Father, there’s no doubt to that.”

  She could feel the weight of his stare as she drew the strength to meet his eyes once again. She fought with all her power not to fall under the spell of the prophecy and lose control again. As she did so, he continued, “But that’s a trait I find immensely attractive along with many others that I see before me.”

  Violissa had to bite her lip to hold herself back and replied coolly, “Since seeing is the only thing you’ll be doing with my traits, I hope it’s a worthy consolation.” She couldn’t help but briefly smile when she was saying it and felt relieved when she noticed the corner of his lip holding back his return smile. She drew her eyes away, a feat she had doubted even she would have the power to do, and turned confidently back to the table. As she began moving toward a seat, she turned back, addressing them all.

  “We did have other business to discuss, did we not? Because I’d hate to think you were wasting my valuable time as well as that of the prince’s if we did not.”

  She heard Sinow chuckle then clear his throat briefly as his father shot him a cold look.

  “This certainly has been worth my time, Vi.” She cringed at the nickname as he continued, “But I venture to guess you and I are the only things on today’s agenda. Since discussion of our imminent union is presently off the table, I suggest we let our Councils leave us so we may discover something you might find more appealing to discuss. Unless, that is, you have pressing matters back home to which you would rather attend?”

  Violissa felt like stomping her feet and screaming, something she was currently doing inside her head. This was so much harder than she thought it would be. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Daneele stifle a laugh. Her Council were now scattered away from her, purposely avoiding her glare and uncomfortably shifting their postures. They were men after all, men who’d taken that vow of celibacy for a life dedicated to her. What did they know about the intricate relationships between men and women? Not that this was or would become anything close to resembling a relationship. She did, however, have to work with the prince on matters of the realm as well as the treaty, so she would have to learn to make eye contact with him without having the wind knocked out of her each time. She was certain as well that at some point she would be faced with the fact that the two of them would have to unite and then she’d have no choice but to look him in the eye.

  She thought about the question he’d posed. He had her cornered. She didn’t want to be alone with him for fear that she’d lose her resolve, but she could
n’t risk offending him or his father. The treaty was unstable as it was, and no matter what she wanted to think, it heavily relied on their eventual nuptials. She had to agree to stay whether she wanted to or not; she’d simply have to work something out to avoid close contact with him.

  “I don’t know what other matters you had in mind to discuss, Prince Sinow, but I will oblige you.” She heard her Council release a collective sigh of relief except for Brom, always the one to worry.

  “Princess,” he said, concerned, “I have to object. I don’t think this is such a wise idea. Your safety…”

  “Safety?” Sinow interrupted, his eyes darkening slightly. “Do you really think I’d harm the princess, Brom? Seriously, you must know better.”

  “Yes, Brom, what are you implying?” King Drostan said, stepping forward.

  “I’m sure he meant no harm, your majesty,” Daneele said as he moved next to Brom. “We simply take the protection of our princess quite seriously, and leaving her without our guard so close to her ascension, outside of Cirillia makes some of us slightly uncomfortable.”

  “I assure you, Daneele, my intentions are quite honorable. I mean her no harm,” Sinow replied with what sounded like a defensive growl. “From what I understand, she seems quite capable of protecting herself. She will be your queen in a short while, will she not?”

  “I have no doubt but that she could certainly match your advances, if not best them, Prince Sinow,” Daneele said casually. Violissa looked to Sinow for a reaction, but if the comment bothered him, he didn’t let on.

  “I’ll be fine, gentlemen. Now if you will excuse us, apparently the prince has urgent matters that need to be discussed. You may go.” With that she gave a flick of her hand to signal that she wanted no more discussion. She may have been their junior by what, for most, was thousands of years, but she was still their ruler, and they knew when not to cross that line. With a bow, they all shifted back to Cirillia.

  Violissa turned to face Sinow, only then realizing the potentially devastating mistake she had just made. She’d left herself alone with not only Sinow but the entire Darkbearer Council as well as the king. This could definitely turn bad, she thought. She could take down the Council, and she was pretty sure she could take Sinow, but she hadn’t ascended to her full powers, so she doubted she could take all of them as well as the king if they seized the opportunity. Yes, this could definitely be ugly.

  Four

  Rulers didn’t come into their full powers until their ascension. It didn’t matter if they ruled Dark or Light, their power was substantially weaker until that time. Only when they achieved full power were they able to take the throne. At that time, the ruling king would step down as king, and his son would be crowned. In Violissa’s case, there was no one to step down, but she would still not be crowned until the day of her ascension. Sinow knew this, as did everyone standing before her, but he wasn’t about to go against her and those with him knew he’d protect her if they attempted anything. She had been his since his birth, and he had laid claim on her the moment their eyes met, if not well before. It would be interesting to test her powers as he’d heard she was already powerful enough to best her entire Council. If she were anywhere near as strong as he, it would be a difficult fight, but one that would not take place today.

  It was new to him, the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness he felt when their eyes met. He’d had no control over himself in that first moment. It was an unsettling feeling that he didn’t like. If he were the type of man who knew fear, he might call it that, but fear was something he’d never known and expected he would never face. He could only chalk it up as some sort of magic involving the prophecy. He had no doubt they were the two people about which it spoke. He’d never felt such an intense desire for something or someone as he did when he looked at her. She was certainly unlike any woman he’d ever seen. She had a unique beauty that was indescribable and something about her that demanded attention. Whether it was the long, thick mane of golden curls, worn down and loose unlike most women in Tenebron; the soft, supple red lips; or the gentle curves of her body outlined beneath her dress, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. And then there were the eyes, the eyes were hypnotizing. They were green and no one in their world had green eyes. There was talk the elves of olde had them, but they had become extinct in the last war. The green in Violissa’s eyes was the most vibrant he’d ever seen. It was a green that changed its hue with each emotion she felt. It was a subtle change, but he found it fascinating.

  Sinow turned to his father. “I’ll take it from here, Father. I do believe Vi and I need some time to talk.” He glanced at her as he said it. He could tell she’d been looking at him, yet she averted her eyes to the trees behind them when he looked at her. Obviously, she was having a hard time with the eye contact as well.

  “Very well, son. Gentlemen,” his father said to the Council, “let us return to Tenebron.” He gave a slight nod to Violissa. “Your majesty, it’s been quite a pleasure.”

  She gave a respectful nod back to him then walked away toward the tree line, a move Sinow found puzzling, but he assumed she was only giving them privacy.

  “Son, you know how important this union is. The power you’ll gain will be unprecedented…”

  “Yes, Father. Trust me, I understand. It’s not as if I haven’t heard it since before I could walk,” he replied.

  “Respect, son, it’s a word you apparently missed during your lessons. I may be your father, but I am still king until your time comes to reign. Until then, you will give me the respect I’m due and seek to get this union sanctified.” With that he shifted. The Council gave a bow to Sinow and shifted out as well.

  “Let the games begin,” he whispered as he walked toward Violissa. She was now kneeling on the ground, looking over a small patch of flowers toward the back of the meeting grounds. “This is going to be fun.”

  Sinow walked up behind Violissa as she knelt over the grass, seemingly focused on the ground below her. He took a moment to take her in. She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Any preconceived notion he’d had of what she would look like paled in comparison to her true appearance. Her tresses had slipped forward, obscuring part of her profile, but he could still see the soft nose and cheekbones, the full lips that called to him to be kissed. He shook his head, scolding himself for thinking so foolishly. He needed to focus, so he glanced down to determine what held her interest. At first, he thought she was picking flowers, an odd thing to do considering the circumstance but quickly realized that the flowers were rising to her outstretched palm. Before her what appeared to be hundreds of purple flowers had popped up from the long grass. He watched in amazement as their stems lengthened and petals filled out. Looking around him at the glade, it dawned on him that there had been no other flowers in this field, only grass. She’d created them with the same ease as he created fire. He had to catch his breath as the reality of her true abilities dawned on him.

  “I see you’ll be one to surprise me at every turn,” he said, standing next to her. “I must admit the ability to make plants grow was not on our list of your talents.”

  He knelt across from her, not wanting to get too close to her for fear he’d lose control and take her where she knelt. As desirable as it sounded, he knew the repercussions would be painful for all involved and didn’t want to risk her wrath. He breathed in as he took in her beauty at a closer level. She smelled incredible, like lilacs. The smell should have irritated him but instead it only amplified his desire for her. He watched as her golden curls floated on the breeze. He’d never seen anyone with hair like hers; it was like looking at the morning sunrise. The softness of her skin radiated, and there was a slight pink to her cheeks that added to the allure. He was captivated with her, and he hated how easily he’d been drawn to her. He waited for her to lift her head so he could see once more those emerald eyes she was trying so hard to keep from meeting his. Si
now’s chest pounded being so close to her, and he had to dig into the ground to keep from leaning forward to touch her.

  “Any other talents I should know about or will you be saving them for later, maybe our first night together?”

  She stiffened, the first movement she’d made since he’d knelt. Must have struck a nerve, he thought. He watched her closely as she took a deep breath, her chest moving up and down slowly.

  “I doubt there are any talents of mine that you’ll be seeing in your bedroom, Sinow, or did I not make myself clear enough.” Her tone was sharp; yes, she definitely had spirit. She stood without looking at him; instead, she glanced toward the sky. Dark clouds moved in and a clap of thunder shattered the silence. She turned and met his gaze briefly, challenging him. Her eyes became a rich green, the color of the forest behind them. He inhaled sharply as the wind was knocked out of him once again.

  Regaining his composure, he retorted, “Impressive, that’s one I haven’t seen. For the time being, let us leave the rain out of the forecast, although I’d bet you look fantastically sexy rain soaked.” He really was impressed but didn’t want her to know. This kind of power was unprecedented. No one had control over the elements. He couldn’t think of anyone who ever had, except for the Elvin. What was her connection to them when it was clear she was not of their kind? She’d been created by magic, not born of a woman’s womb. She was an anomaly, perhaps an explanation as to her unique features and talents.

  The clouds cleared once again as she walked toward the table. She turned to face him. “Look I need to make something clear,” she said, barely meeting his eyes, “I know they’ve told you there will be a union and that this whole prophecy thing rests on that happening.” She stopped, finally looking him dead in the eyes. He could see the quiver of her bottom lip and sensed the brief stopping of her heart as she inhaled sharply. It was the same reaction she’d had that first time their eyes had met. His equivalent of the experience was the powerful pounding of his heart, the sound of the blood rushing through, and tightness in his chest like nothing he’d ever before experienced. It was like having the wind knocked out of him repeatedly. The intense need to grab her by the hair and kiss those succulent lips was overwhelming; it took all his power to avoid moving.