Introductions

Pivoting on my feet, I turned to face him. He stood taller than I, so I had to lift my head slightly to meet his gaze. Keeping my facial features expressionless, I began to try to read the situation. Yet when I met his eyes... I couldn't help looking away. He was openly taking in everything about me, and was not trying to hide that fact that he liked what he saw. How brash!

He's low chuckle earned him a quick sharp look from me. He's light green eyes seemed to have a constant iridescent glow to them, and sparkled with the mirth he felt at being the cause for my embarrassment. I could feel a slow blush creeping up my neck and face, but I would not allow it to prevent me from holding my ground. Though I felt exposed and embarrassed it was vital that I made sure he was not a threat to me, or my kingdom during his stay here.

"How particular," he breathed while studying me, this time I took the opportunity to do the same.

His low almost melodic voice sent a small shiver down my spine, and I had yet to determine whether I liked that or not. Looking up at him, I studied his facial features. He was almost as good at guarding them as I was, but his eyes gave him away. His pink rosy lips were pulled into a polite smile, and the small freckles that covered his high cheek bones and regal nose seemed to only highlight his iridescent eyes. He was of a lean build, and I felt that in a proper battle I may have stood a chance. He had combed his light sandy brown hair back for the occasion, but there were a few strands that fell forward and moved with each exhale and inhale. I found myself watching them dance between his breaths. Around his aura I could see that his curiosity was peaked, and while there was some concern with other regions of his personality I did not feel as though myself, or my kingdom was in immediate danger.

"Is there a reason that you decided it would be appropriate to give me a pounding headache for the rest of the day?" I questioned. He winced at the sharp accusing tone, "My apologizes Princess Alura, but I feared that I might miss the opportunity to speak with you. It seems as though you are heavily guarded at all times."

Taking a step forward, he brazenly lifted his hand to push a strand of my hair behind my ear. Leaning closer, he looked deep into my eyes without any sense of resentment or fear for their coloring while he softly whispered, "and I so wanted to meet you..." his breath hit my face sending another shiver down my spine.

"Alura!"

"Alura, where are you?"

I could hear my brothers Aaron and Asher's worried voices being carried on the wind. Turning, and removing myself from the bubble that Prince Sullivan created I searched for their silhouettes down the hill.

"I'm up here" I called. Regaining my composure, I went to face Sullivan and question him on what he meant...but he was gone.

...........................

"Alura, are you alright? I'm so sorry!" Elise frantically ran over to me and simultaneously looked me over for any injuries.

I chuckled, my brothers had already checked me over five times.

"I'm fine, really. Thank you for the concern. How are you? How did he get passed you..." my words trailed off as I saw the giant bruise forming on the side of her head.

"What a piece of green-eyed shit! Come on, let's get you to the infirmary." I started to drag her her there to be treated despite her protests. I can't believe that he knocked her out to get to me! All that bullshit about wanting to meet me...perhaps I overlooked his aura a little too quickly.

After Elise's injury was healed, and my headache lifted we went back to my room to prepare for the ball. I wished for nothing else but a nice hot bath and bed, but it was my responsibility as the heir to the hosting kingdom to attend the ball. This was the only time the entire year that every ruler and fae representative gathered together, and the ball was a sort of ice breaker into understanding intentions and forming a more personal relationship with others. My network is a little thin, and I've always preferred it that way. In that manor I can ensure that my circle is loyal and I avoid having to chose sides or burn bridges with others. In the human world they paint the fae as good and bad. There seems to be a clear understanding of what is good and what is not, and it may be because a portion of fae have to cross the door between our alternate realities to feed on them. While there is light and dark, that makes room for gray area. When your life span is thousands of years, everyone has done something to be forgiven and we all reside in that gray space. Nonetheless, some factions of fae feel that the bad blood between them isn't worth the work it takes to understand both sides. Instead, wars break out and they simply try to dominate over each other. During times of war, the great collaboration demands a temporary white flag between them.

Currently, there was the prospect of war on the horizon between the satyrs and the lycans. There is a long history between fae species, but these two kingdoms are quite powerful since they both have queens. A war between them would be thousands of fae lives lost, and a further divide between species. The lycan kingdom over the years have taken to protecting the pixies and trolls and they are citizens of the lycan kingdom. On the flip side, the satyr's citizens comprise of centaurs, and ogres. They are quite evenly matched, but with Princess Josephine taking an aither fae companion that may no longer be the case.

"Elise, I know that it might mean that I'm late, but I don't feel like I will be mentally equipped to handle tonight if I do not take a moment for myself today."

"I shall run the bath, M'lady." she spoke loudly, and then in our mind link "The queen wishes to speak to you."

Using our mind link I replied, "Ok, thank you for letting me know. I will visit with her shortly."

It was an advantage over all the listening ears and watching eyes that the light fae could communicate without forming words. However, it was a trait of ours that we preferred to keep to ourselves. Therefore, keeping up with formalities and verbalizing our thought was something that we needed to pay special attention to this weekend.