Llyano Read online

  Running a hand down his face, Llyano signed, knowing that his councillors must be somewhere gloating at the added stress they had forced upon him. It annoyed him to no end that he could not even pass the task of the mating ball onto someone else. They had already ensured that he would take an active part in it as they would not budge until he gave his word.

  He also knew that they required this of him because they knew how much he disliked planning any sort of event as well as having too many people in his personal and private space. Leaving the planning all up to his aide, he was well aware that the council was counting on the tediousness of it all to force him into choosing a mate whom he’d require this permanently of. With his resolve not to give in to them, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure it all.

  Llyano threw a black cape over his shoulder, fastening the clasp around his neck and tossing the hood over his head, disguising himself so he was not recognisable unless he pulled back the cloth from over his head and exposed his face. He mounted his steed and nudged the beast into a gallop, riding away from the castle, protected by the darkness of the night.

  He rode on for hours, knowing his destination, watchful of his surroundings to ensure no one was following him. With his wind energy whipping around him and his stead, the journey which would have been much longer for every other Fae was much shorter for him as he rode the wind diligently. All he needed was a few hours away and to continue the research he had been doing, to try to make some sort of progress as the very wisp of nature led and guided him.

  When he finally reached his destination, he sat on his stead, staring at the entrance of the cave that had both fascinated him and drew him in like a moth to the flame. A feeling of contentment settled over him and an eagerness he felt every time he visited this place no one but him knew of. There were indeed several entrances to this cave from all corners of the Fae world, but this entrance was his personally as no one but himself came here that he knew of. This mountain, where the cave was located deep inside, was home to winter fairies. It was a deeply guarded secret, and only royal families of the Wind and Earth Kingdom were aware of.

  It had not always so, but the fear of extinction made the fairies wary, only to reveal themselves to the select few they deemed worthy. Of the entire Wind Kingdom, Llyano was the only one aware of this. Of the Earth Kingdom, he was not sure how many of the royal family knew of this secret, but one thing he knew for certain was that it was not all members of the royal family who knew of them. The ancestors of old before the new laws came into place long, long ago, several centuries ago, had hunted them for what they could do, and it was a lesson they never took lightly for the perseverance of their species.

  Being in this place depicted so much history, especially considering the selfishness of the ancestors of the Fae. Thus, it became the reason the irreversible law of each royal touring the four kingdoms soon after their hundredth celebration day was made. In those days, people conquered the world and took over, anything that would ensure they gained more power even to the detriment of others was done. The fairies didn’t mind. After all, why should they? If the people wanted to destroy each other, that was their choice.

  At least, that was their opinion until men who sort to use them discovered their identity and began hunting them down to drain them of their powers. The winter fairies began to run and go into hiding. For several more centuries, they were left alone but their numbers were dwindling. The world was soon dying because of the imbalance of powers and not enough energy to sustain it. The fairies then banded together and placed a curse on the Faes.

  The Faes were multiplying faster than the fairies, and with the imbalance and their dying world to deal with, the fairies banded together and began attacking those who were detrimental to the safety of the world, draining them of all the powers they’d acquired, including theirs until they were left with just enough to live and not die. They released those energies back into the elements—earth, water, fire, and wind.

  The Fairies could not keep that much energy for themselves because it would kill them, and their sole role was keeping balance throughout the world. They were more or less like watchers until they had no choice but to intervene. Before they released the power and energy back to the elements though, a few volunteered to do what needed to be done. They came together, combined all the energies and weaved a spell to create and enforce the mating call and all its consequences. Because the spell was too powerful, those who volunteered to cast it did so with their lives, dispersing the energies to their natural elements. Those who survived, went to each kingdom and threatened to take the last of their energies, which the Faes knew would kill them unless they agreed to send every royal born Fae on a mandatory tour of the other kingdoms. Everyone could imagine which choice the Faes chose, knowing that the fairies would make good on their threats. After several centuries passed, people forgot why and how the law came into place and just followed through with it because logic showed them the effect when they went against those two laws.

  The history was drawn into a cave on these mountains. Most likely it imprinted on them when all this was happening, and the magic of this place kept away anyone who would use the knowledge for evil and self-gain rather than for the good of all.

  Jumping down from his steed, Llyano led it to the entrance of the cave and secured the animal there before walking inside, unaware that he was walking straight to his destiny.

  He took a winding route as familiar to him as the back of his hand, what with the numerous occasions he’d found himself on this road. It wasn’t long before finally, he arrived at the most important room in the cave. The room was bathed in blue light, lit by crystals hanging from the extremely tall ceiling. Statues of fairies glowed blue, the light from which the cave was bathed in.

  The statues made of crystal, which emitted all colors, hung by itself at the center of the room in a circle, supported by nothing but the great magic which had wrought them into existence. Their hands outstretched above their head and joined together in an overlapping beauty. The statues were not still, but moved, rolling in a circle without breaking their form and position.

  It amazed Llyano that whenever he came into this crystal cave, he was standing at the very center of their realm and not an inch out of place. Taking a moment, he cast his glance at the pictorial images imprinted into the walls, the intricacy and precision making the features of the image clear to see. A wall of history which few knew about, but the history, heartbreaking either way.

  The only drawback to visiting the cave was the time limit magically imposed on all who went there. Unless one wanted to turn into a wandering spirit, forever cursed to wander these caves with nary a chance of getting out, one did not remain here for long. The cave made one feel a sense of belonging and a desire to stay forever. However, it was part of the curse of the cave, to never allow history to repeat itself, or allow its secret to be explored until greed took over. Many a Fae who had found the caves had been lost when they tried to tamper with the history magically inscribed in here. From the moment the intent was sensed, those Faes lost their will to leave, their bodies, and became wandering spirits, their presence and everything they had done in the cave forever erased as it once more went back to its original appearance.

  Moving towards the hidden compartment he’d found for storing his ongoing work, on the cave, Llyano pulled out his equipment, and set it up on the floor as he began methodically going over his findings so far.

  Chapter Three

  Crinkling his neck, he sent his sense out to test out how long he’d been in the cave. Realizing that he was swiftly running out of time, he gathered all the material spread before him and returned it all to the hidden compartment. He gave the cave one last look to ensure that nothing was out of place before walking out of the room.

  He took the winding part out of the cave, his mind preoccupied by his thoughts, that had he not felt a tugging sensation, he would have completely bypassed the faint glowing light coming from far off to the side. Head turned, swiveling in that direction, Llyano forgot all about exiting the cave as he followed the light, curious to see what was causing the tugging sensation in him.

  He followed the light, taking a left, a right, another left, then another right, right again, then once more, then a left till he felt as though he was walking around in circles and being led nowhere and everywhere. Just when he was about to give up and get himself out of the caves, he came across the opening to a room and stood there, staring in surprise as he was reasonably sure no one had ever ventured this far before, nor had anyone else ever found this place.

  Moving cautiously, he stepped towards the golden ornate door and turned the knob, gently cracking the door open and peering inside. Seeing the empty sitting room, Llyano pushed open the door farther and stood in the doorway, simply admiring the sight before him. The room was bathed in a softly glowing gold color, sparsely but beautifully decorated. All in all, the room was enticing and enthralling all at once with its opulence and splendor.

  His gaze swept over the entire room, moving from the white couches arranged around a glass center table, which had intrinsic designs of the winter fairies done into it. A bookshelf filled with numerous books was to one side of the room, and the far-off side of the room situated the kitchenette. Everything was arranged in its proper place with nothing out of order, with gleaming surfaces meeting his gaze every direction he turned.

  “Who are you?” a lilting voice called from behind him.

  Spinning around, mostly from the shock of hearing someone else behind him, Llyano stared at the figure before him, his heart pounding loudly in his chest and his eyes widening at the figure that stood before him. He stared at the man, not uttering a single word. For the first time in his life, Llyano was utterly speechless as he drank in the sight of the stunning man before him. Never had he seen such perfection embodied into a person before.

  The man before him was dressed simply in dark pants and a white shirt, which did not at all distract from his looks. Never had Llyano seen anyone with markings such as the man had on his body. For lines in a swirl decorated the man’s cheek. Two straight lines curved from his nose over his forehead and into dark long hair. The same line appeared from under his bottom lip and trailed down his throat and into his shirt. The lines were also in a decorative swirl around the visible part of the man’s bicep and forearm, giving rise to the thought that they might encompass the man’s entire body.

  The lines were silver in color, appearing almost like light drifting out of the man’s body, which even though Llyano was sure was an impossibility, still looked so lifelike that it was hard to discard the notion.

  “Who are you?” the man demanded once more in his ever lilting voice. A voice which held no trace of anger and was so music-like, that Llyano felt himself relaxing under the soothing tone of it.

  Shaking himself from his trance, Llyano inclined his head in a slight bow. “Forgive my intrusion. I am King Llyano of the Wind Kingdom.”

  The man inclined his head, peering at him curiously. “Wind Fae you say. Hmm.”

  “And you are?”

  The man’s gaze swept over Llyano’s figure then returned back to the curious eyes staring at him and awaiting his answer. His gaze took on a faraway look until he focused back on Llyano before simply saying, “You should be leaving now if you do not wish to get lost to the magic of this place.”

  “What?” Llyano asked in confusion, until enlightenment lit his face and he started, having completely forgotten about his need to leave. “Oh! Of course. I had but forgotten for a moment. Thank you,” he said and moved around the man, about to set off before he stopped, turned back to the man, and cocked his head. “Should you not also be leaving?”

  “I am not so affected,” was the simple answer he got before the man turned on his heels and walked into the room, shutting it behind him and leaving behind an impression of dark glossy hair tied at the nape, and the tail swinging over the man’s ass.

  Intrigued by the man and his answer, Llyano immediately wanted to follow after him and hear his explanation, but time was running against him, the indicator being the sudden but gradual pull he began experiencing to stay and remain in these caves forever. Unwilling and unable to chance being lost forever, Llyano began running, and no sooner had he arrived at the first junction of directions did he began feeling lost in the maze of the caves. With each road he took and no end in sight, and with the feeling of time running out and desperation clinging to him, he wished with all his might for a safe journey back to the entrance of the cave where his steed was tied. Over and over again, as he kept running, yet feeling as though he was not going anywhere, he kept wishing, desperately, frantically.

  Suddenly, everything slowed down, and a blinding light filled the place, forcing him to close his eyes. The next thing he knew, he was standing right in front of his steed. Supporting his weight with his hands on his knees, Llyano let out a relieved sigh, panting in earnest, heart still pounding, but with the relief of marginally escaping the magic of the caves. For a while there, though, he had thought he would be unable to leave, and thoughts of his kingdom and his people flittered into his mind.

  Once he had regained a semblance of control over his breathing, Llyano walked over to his steed and patted the animal, untied it, then swung atop it. He gave one last look at the entrance of the cave and an image of the dark hair man drifted into his thoughts until he swung the steed around and began galloping back to his castle with thoughts of the intriguing man on his mind.

  Llyano flew through the ride back to his castle, his focus elsewhere, but his powers propelling him forward on the wind. The entire journey felt surreal to him and flew by so quickly, then when he regained his senses, it was with a jolt, startled back into the present by his stable master’s inquiry.

  “Your Majesty, the council awaits your presence in your study,” Alfie, the stable master repeated once he finally had Llyano’s full attention.

  Llyano nodded his acknowledgement to the stable master, jumped down from his steed and began pulling off his gloves, one finger at a time as he marched into his castle to find out what the council wanted this time around.

  Putting the events of the last few hours at the back of his mind, Llyano ascended the steps of the tree castle, which were also made of the tree, and protruded from the very enormous tree, which housed his castle and court. The royal castle was totally and utterly magnificent, and the tree which housed it was no ordinary tree in both appearance and importance, for it looked different from any other found in the entire realm.

  The tree was truly unique, the widest and tallest of all, blessed by Mother Nature herself, and the flowers which grew on it could never be found anywhere else in the realm. Stairs made from the tree’s branches with greeneries growing all over and around it protruded from the magnificent tree and led to the entrance of the impressive castle. The branches that made up the stairs were no ordinary ones, for they were just wide and elongated enough for a person to climb on. The base of the tree was surrounded by finely grown flowers and greenery, and the castle never failed to take away the breath of anyone who saw it.

  Llyano took the stairs leading to the castle two at a time, up the winding staircase until he reached the entrance, then proceeded to walk through the open oak double doors. Sparing the guards who were lined along the entrance and hall a glance, he continued on his way, heading straight for his study where he knew he’d find the councilmembers who were determined to rule his life for him. Not that they had any chance in hell of succeeding.

  Chapter Four

  Llyano walked into his study, calling out to his aide, who was ever ready to attend him. “Have some refreshment brought for us and send on the dressmaker once we are done in here.”

  “Yes, Sire,” Icham responded, and left to carry out the instructions given him.

  Moving brusquely, Llyano addressed the room. “What seems to be the issue, gentlemen?” Throwing the words over his shoulder, he quickly settled himself into his seat behind the table and turned to fully face them, giving them his complete attention.

  “The edict this morning about inviting every eligible Fae to the month-long mating match.”

  “What about it?” Llyano asked, his face showing not an ounce of emotion at the raised topic, even though he was well aware of why they’d brought it up.

  “We do not think it wise, Your Majesty.”

  “And why is that?”

  “We think to better rule together with your spouse, you need high born Fae who knows the intricacies of court politics and can prove an asset to the crown.”

  “Instead of a liability you mean?” Llyano scoffed. “I appreciate your candor to see me wed. It seems I have been very lenient for you all to think you can keep pushing me without earning my displeasure. I will say this only once, so hear me, councilors, and hear me well. You will not decide my mate for me. I will mate whomever I please and you would do well to accept whomever I am mated to, or you will find I am not so generous a king to let such a slur pass. Do you understand me?” Llyano asked, leaning forward towards them, his tone leaving no room for disagreement. His aura projected a foreboding presence.

  Visibly shaken from the barely subtle threat, the councilors swallowed hard, seeming to realize that they had crossed a boundary and placed themselves in a vulnerable position.

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” they chorused.

  Llyano kept his silence as he kept staring them down, glancing from one councilor to the other to ensure that they felt the full measure of his displeasure, and they understood that any further protest in this regard would not end well for them. He had allowed them too much leeway, but he was also not a figurehead king. He had power and will to back up his threats, which he seldom made. However, the councilors were smart enough to know that he was extremely slow to anger, but once his ire was stirred, they’d better clear out from his view and keep any from him lest he turn his displeasure and retribution on them.