Ascension (Unbound Prophecy Book 1) Read online

  They made love for what seemed like hours until it finally ended with a sheer moment of ecstasy for both, their chests rising and falling with each other. His hands tangled within her hair and he kissed her neck, raising himself up to look at her. When she finally found the strength, she propped herself up on her hands, the muscles in her arms quivering from the exertion, beads of sweat running down her breasts. His hand came up to brush them away then caressed her cheek. Violissa moved her face into that caress and closed her eyes as he silently watched her. When she opened them again, he was looking back at her, and she found this time that although the urge to throw herself at him again remained, it was easier to meet his eyes.

  “Some dream,” he said to her.

  “Mmmm, yes, it is,” she answered, smiling slyly at him. He pulled her face to his again and kissed her. She melted, readily giving over to the need that was mounting within her again.

  Violissa woke with a start, sitting up as she did. Looking around, she saw she was in her room, no indication that she’d ever left. She was panting heavily and soaked in sweat. Long ringlets of hair stuck to her face, neck, and chest. She was naked, her gown off and balled up at the bottom of the bed. She collapsed back onto her pillow, then momentarily pondered why she was no longer wearing her nightgown, before drifting back to sleep with the solace that it had all been a dream, a very realistic one, but a dream nonetheless.

  “Are you alright, Princess?” Cayden asked the next morning as she entered the dining room. Breakfast had been laid out over an hour ago but a few of the Council remained, discussing issues of the realm or whatever it was they discussed when they were all together. Violissa rarely paid attention to it.

  “I’m fine, Cayden, why do you ask?”

  “You appear to have quite a flush to your cheeks this morning. I can check you out to make sure you’re not coming down with anything.”

  Violissa placed a hand to her cheek and felt the heat coming from it. She knew better than to think the flush was anything but a result of last night’s dream, but she wasn’t about to share that with Cayden or anyone else in the room for that matter. All eyes were on her now, awaiting her answer.

  “I’ll be fine, Cayden. I didn’t sleep very well last night. I’m sure it’s just a result of that.” She caught Daneele’s eyebrow lift in her periphery but ignored it. Walking over to the bowl of fruit on the side bar, she chose a few pieces then sat across from Daneele.

  “Well, if it continues, my Lady,” Cayden responded, “let me know.”

  “Thank you for your concern, Cayden, I’ll be fine.”

  He rose and gave her a bow, nodded toward Daneele and the others, then left the room.

  “Didn’t sleep well last night?” Daneele asked. She’d been hoping he’d leave it alone, but that was not Daneele’s way; he always had to push her.

  “Bad dreams,” she stated bluntly. “What’s on the agenda today?” she asked, hoping to change the subject. “Not going to torment me with anymore ascension preparation, are you?”

  The Council had been running her through practice after practice of the rituals involved with her coming ascension to the throne. Frankly, she was quite tired of it all and longed to escape even for a few hours.

  Daneele laughed. “No, I know how much you hate formality.”

  She smiled, he was right; she had always shunned the formality of her role. She was a free spirit and did not like the confines of the throne. Any time she could, she would shun the formal aspects and make them suit her own needs. The only time she truly did anything following any type of traditional role was during the gathering of the Masters. Although Cirillia and Tenebron encompassed most of their world, there were a few small territories that chose to retain their independence. These lands allied with the realms based on their common beliefs. The leaders of these territories were known as Masters of their lands out of respect for their authority. While the Masters and their people retained their autonomy, they respected the power of the Light and Dark and understood that their independence could easily be taken by those powers. Masters had no power, they were chosen by the kings or in Violissa’s case, the queen, to rule their territory. They had their own laws and ceremonies but each fell within the guise of their allied realm. Violissa met with the Masters of Cirillia’s allies to discuss concerns in their lands and to reinforce her power so they would be reminded of her true role in the realm. It had been the Council’s idea that she take on this responsibility a few hundred years ago. She retained the formality of the throne, the crown, the pure white silk cape, all to uphold their image and respect for her rule. This was the only time she followed the Council’s recommendations without question and the only time she involved herself in formal duties. The alliance of these Masters had stood for tens of thousands of years and so was extremely important to maintain.

  “However,” Daneele said, interrupting her thoughts, “you will be busy for the next few days. The people in the village of Rhann have sent word that there is a sickness spreading through the village. They require healing and since I thought you’d enjoy getting away from the castle, you’ll be coming with us.”

  “I will gladly go. You know being out with the people is the part of the job I enjoy.”

  “I know, that’s why I mentioned it. We’ll be leaving when the light hits its midday peak.” With that he rose and, nodding to her, left the room.

  She was alone again. It would be good to get out of the castle. She hadn’t been able to leave for a while with all the preparations for the ascension. The Council often went to the villages to heal illnesses. Healing was one of the many abilities of the Lightbearers, one cherished since it enabled them to keep their people healthy in most cases. For those who were too close to death, they could only provide solace. Their powers were vast but limited in that respect. Once the Fates claimed a soul, there was no amount of magic that could save it. To her knowledge, she and the Council were the only ones with this ability. It was coveted and was often a bone of contention with the Darkbearers who thought as part of the treaty their people should be healed as well. It wasn’t a bad suggestion; it was merely an impossible one. The boundary could not be crossed outside of the meeting grounds without the magic of both Light and Dark. Even with his faith in the prophecy, King Drostan would not even entertain the idea of allowing a Lightbearer in his realm. Instead they accepted potions and herbs that were known in Cirillia to have healing powers. The Lightbearers shared these as well as all their knowledge of the internal workings of the body, which came as a byproduct of their healing, willingly so that the Darkbearers would be better equipped to help their people in times of sickness. Even with all that, Violissa still suspected that some of them thought her Council were purposely not sharing their healing abilities, but it was a long-buried argument that she wasn’t about to bring back up. She imagined there would be enough contention to be dealt with regarding the prophecy over the upcoming years. No need to add fuel to the fire.

  Violissa spent the next few days in the village of Rhann with her people. They were able to stop the illness on the first day, but she enjoyed being out among her people so that when they asked her to stay, she obliged. She had no other pressing matters to concern her and the only two Council who had come with her were Daneele and Anwell, so she sent both home informing them that she’d return soon. She knew when they reported back that some of the elder Council would be upset at her decision, but she didn’t care and knew Daneele would step up in her defense, as was usually the case. They would grumble but would have no choice but to consent as she was soon to be their queen. All of them knew, though not all understood, that her people were her passion. She loved being among them and free from the confines of the castle.

  She looked around at the villagers. They were a beautiful people, with auburn hair and bright blue eyes that sparkled in the sunlight. Other than those similar traits, she marveled at how each was so different from
the other in size, shape, personality. She found their lives fascinating and fragile. So short, only a few hundred years for most, yet lived with such a passion that no life went wasted. Her people enjoyed every day the Fates gave them. What truly made her proud though was who they were at heart. Kind was such a subtle word to describe them. Cirillians were welcoming, loving, and open to others and each other. They worked hard and, no doubt, had their own trials, but you wouldn’t know it to meet one. And it wasn’t simply having her there that caused them to act this way. She often disguised herself and walked through the towns and villages to observe. Time and time again she found everything they did was with an open heart and good intention. It was one of the reasons they’d faired so poorly in past wars with the Tenebrons. They were easily taken advantage of, vulnerable in defenses without the Council or, in the past, the king. The Darkbearers wrote it off as weakness but she saw it as strength. There was no fighting, no turmoil among her people, life for them was smooth, uncomplicated. She saw their lives as worth living. Did the Dark Prince see the same thing when he looked at his people? She didn’t know, but as the small child playing in front of her stopped and smiled up at her with those sky-blue eyes, she really didn’t think so.

  Upon her return from the village, the better part of the next few weeks was spent with more preparation for her ascension. A fitting for her gown, although why she couldn’t just use magic to create one herself was beyond her. Arrangements for visiting the Masters and repeated practices of the ascension ceremony filled the remainder of her days. Sometimes she would sneak out to spend time in the closest town, pretending she was someone else for a short while, someone on whose shoulders the fate of those around her did not fall. Other times she ran off to her own private spot in the forest for some quiet time. Many on the Council still hounded her about the union with Sinow, but she simply let them believe she was too busy with the ascension to be bothered about it. They presumed she would begin discussing it again after the ceremony but hoped they could pin her down before then.

  The dreams, however, were something from which she could not hide. They came night after night and in them she spent hours in the throes of passion yielding to Sinow over and over. Each night ended the same with the two of them succumbing to the pleasure at once, collapsing onto each other, weakened to the core. With that she would awaken, sweat soaked and quaking, her nightgown a ball on the floor or at the foot of the bed.

  She couldn’t grasp the reason behind their return each night, but she suspected her subconscious was giving an outlet to the instinctual need she’d had for him since that first day. She couldn’t get him out of her mind. It did nothing but aggravate her to find herself so utterly out of control about something, especially him. What really maddened her was the fact that she was looking forward to bedtime more and more; it was almost addictive. She put on a brave face, though, no one suspecting anything different from what she’d always told them; there would be no union and if there were one, it would be when she was ready.

  No one suspected her sleepless nights were anything more than pre-ascension jitters. No one, that was, except Daneele. He knew too well her feelings and thoughts. He questioned her daily on the circles under her eyes, the constant flush of her cheeks, the bad dreams she blamed. She’d gotten to the point where she tried to avoid him, which had been working quite well, that was until today.

  As she rushed down the hall to scrounge the leftovers from breakfast, which she knew were now being removed, she slammed straight into Daneele. He’d been standing in the doorway to the dining room waiting for her.

  “Oversleep again, Violissa? Honestly, you know any of us can clear your bad dreams up if you’d let us.”

  “No, Daneele, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” She tried to sneak past him, but he continued.

  “It’s for that reason that I’m worried. Just enlighten me, share them with me so I can help.” He reached a hand toward her left temple but she ducked and moved into the dining room. As a child whenever she’d had a bad dream, Daneele would sooth the memory, sometimes remove it to calm her. It was one of his gifts, all he had to do was place his hand to your temple and the terror of it would be gone. If she hadn’t secretly enjoyed the dreams so much she might have accepted his offer, but for the fear that he would see what she’d dreamed.

  “Really, Daneele. I’m sure they’ll be much better if not gone after the ascension.” She grabbed a biscuit and some grapes then sat down.

  “You really are too stubborn for your own good,” he said, following her in. He stopped and stood behind the chair directly in front of her. “But I didn’t wait here this long just to lecture you. The prince has requested a meeting with you.”

  She choked and spit the grape from her mouth, feeling the crimson of her cheeks flare. Trying to recover, she replied, “Really, what could he want with us both so close to ascension. Have you alerted the other Council that we’ll be going?”

  “No, Violissa. He requested the meeting with you alone. He wants no Council.”

  “Well then tell him I’m too busy to …”

  “Violissa,” he interrupted, “you’ll be queen in a short while. You need to act like it. No more games. I told him you’d be there when the sun hits its high point.”

  “That’s not enough time,” she stated, knowing it was a useless battle as her words came out.

  “Then I suggest you get ready. One wouldn’t want him seeing one dressed in her morning clothes, now would one? Oh, and wipe your mouth, you’ve biscuit all over it.”

  She threw the remaining bread at him, but he’d shifted before it could hit him. It flopped with a dull thud on the floor where he’d been standing. She slammed her hand down on the table and screamed in frustration, the sound echoing through the quiet halls of the palace.

  Eight

  Sinow was waiting for her when she arrived. He breathed in the accompanying scent of lilacs and savored it. Then he took one look at her and knew.

  “Why, Vi, those dreams don’t seem to be showing well on you.”

  She looked up quickly at him, and the pinkish flush of her cheeks turned the color of a freshly picked rose.

  “Glad to see I’m not the only one with circles under the eyes. You’d think as exhausted as we felt at the end that we’d have our fill of beauty sleep.”

  She held his gaze as her mouth moved open, those perfect lips forming an “oh” as the words he’d spoken sank in. He’d noticed over the course of the last few weeks that they’d both been able to look each other in the eyes without completely crumbling on the spot. At least in the dreams they had; he saw now that it had carried over into reality. Oh, he still felt like the wind was knocked out of him and could count the number of seconds her heart stopped when her eyes met his, but it was now easier to keep those reactions at bay.

  “They were dreams,” she said softly, looking momentarily uncomfortable. It lasted only a moment then was replaced by that fierce spirit he’d seen the first time they met. The one he imagined drove the intensity of her sexual side, and boy did it. He licked his lips unconsciously as the memory of last night’s encounter flashed before him.

  “You set it all up, didn’t you? You knew you couldn’t have me in real life, so you decided to invade my dreams!” she said accusingly.

  “Now hold on there, Vi. First of all, I don’t possess the ability to manipulate one’s dreams. I would so love to though, imagine the fun you could have with that,” he said slyly then added, “No, wait, you don’t have to imagine, you’ve seen the impact first hand.” He laughed, a wickedly impish laugh, and then ducked as he realized she was flinging a ball of light at him.

  He held up his hands in surrender. “Vi, I didn’t have anything to do with it. Honestly, I don’t possess the power to do such a thing. I simply thought it was my own mind fulfilling the fantasies I was having of you during the day. You certainly do make it hard to concentrate on running a realm.
”

  Ignoring his last comment, she asked suspiciously, “If you didn’t know, then why would you even suspect it when you saw me just now? Those weren’t guesses about my sleepless appearance.”

  He was finding it difficult to keep talking. He wanted to take her so badly right now, just as he had night after night. She stood with her arms crossed, a move that didn’t help since it emphasized the swell of her breasts. The same breasts he had held and kissed the night before. He had to focus, for she was waiting for his reply and he didn’t know if he currently had the reaction time to dodge another flash of magic from her.

  “Sinow, I asked you a question. How did you know?”

  “I didn’t. I suspected a few nights ago, but when these appeared, I knew I needed confirmation.” He lifted his shirt to reveal the long scratch marks running down his side. He watched as she took a quick breath in as his shirt had lifted, biting her bottom lip in response. A small trickle of blood began to run down the lip until her tongue caught it. So, she was having trouble focusing as well.

  “I did that?” she asked quietly with a look of confusion setting in those emerald eyes.

  “I enjoy a little pain now and again, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t do this to myself. I don’t remember receiving them, so I must have been enjoying a pretty intense moment. I made sure they didn’t heal so I’d have proof when we met today. You see, even after the scratches I wasn’t totally convinced. It all seemed so real, but the Dream Realm has always been a myth. At least I thought it was, until those deep circles under your eyes, the ones matching mine, gave it away.”

  “But it was all a dream. No one has that power.”