Chapter 2 CH

Elise, Age 16

As they strolled arm in arm down the walkway, Elise said to her elder sister, "You don't seem at all disappointed, if you don't mind my saying."

Elise's observation caused Eden to slant his lips downward. She touched a nerve. Even if she hadn't intended to irritate Eden about the King of Burghard, it was her specialty.

How is it possible to contest Fate? Eden answered.

"Oh, well done on being elusive. You are proficient at this game.

Eden groaned, "It's not a game.

Elise's lips were pursed. "I am aware that it is not."

They strolled into the forest around their house. To prevent the kids from getting lost in the woods, several large walking pathways had been established long ago.

The inhabitants of Gwydion loved being outside. Since they were elementals, they were drawn to the world's natural order.

To be surrounded by so much vegetation was comforting. It was the reason Eden and Elise went outside after a particularly demanding day for their family.

Eden eventually said, "I-I am loathe to admit I am relieved."

"Why? You have every right to express your emotions.

To Nora, it barely seems fair.

Elise pondered Eden's remarks. Kellan, the King of Burghard, was in Eden today. Eden's whole life had been spent in a lifelong engagement. Their father encouraged the engaged couple to get to know one other now that she was eighteen.

This afternoon, the Wolf King and his Second, Foley, came. When Fate decided to get involved, they had just about finished the introductions.

When Kellan smelled his destined mate in their house-and it wasn't Eden-everyone was completely surprised. It was a wolf guy. All bets were off, and the betrothal to Eden was broken, as soon as their younger sister Nora was detected by his beast, who recognized her as his.

The problem was that Nora was considerably too young-only fourteen years old-to be married. She was a sickly young girl as well. However, they were challenges that could be surmounted.

Most likely, Elise mused to herself.

In time, Nora would mature. She would hopefully discover a method to be healthy as well. Elise decided to have faith. After all, Nora belonged to the wolf by predetermined fate.

She patted Eden's hand. You merely say that because Nora is young and seems to be so vulnerable, I said.

She is vulnerable.

"Physically. No, not emotionally. We all seem to forget from time to time.

"Perhaps. But what still annoys me is the physical. Elise will live in the Northland with the wolves. What if she is troubled? She scarcely has the strength to fight a wolf.

You are right.

Eden took a second look. The question "I'm right?"

Elise guffawed. No one said such words out of her lips very often.

"It's clear. Particularly when compared to a wolf, Nora is little. She is readily vulnerable to danger.

Elise omitted mentioning the harm Nora's soul had suffered on the day of her birth. It was not the right moment to bring up their mother's death or the fact that Nora did not possess the same magical abilities as the other elementals in the Kingdom of Gwydion.

Then, Elise, why are you so tolerant of this?

"Simple. It's destiny.

Eden groaned.

"I mean it. Fate. Destiny. Goddess up there. Whatever powers of the world produce mates, miracles like the capacity to transform into an animal, the power to manipulate nature, enchant others, or... wait, what precisely do demons do? Compulsion? It closely resembles hypnotizing. Don't you believe?

The eyes of Eden rolled. Only Elise could simplify difficult mental abilities to such an extent.

Elise disregarded her sibling.

It's irrelevant, she continued. "There are forces at work that we cannot fully comprehend. I find it hard to think that two creatures who were meant to be together wouldn't get along. or are indeed ideal partners. Why would they otherwise be destined?

Eden saw Elise with a fresh sense of admiration. She had always believed her sister to be an unrequited romantic. Elise could have had a little pragmatism after all.

It's hard for me to believe I'm about to say this, but you make sense, Elise.

Of course, I'm logical. You just won't pay attention to me.

They both laughed as they continued their lengthy stroll, as they often did after supper. Nora, who preferred to avoid going into the forest and unintentionally attracting energy to herself, seldom, if ever, joined them. That cost everything around her since that was how she fixed her soul.

Elise yawned after a while, and Eden turned them back in the direction of the mansion. They left the walkway and entered the beautiful meadow that surrounded their house while keeping their arms clasped.

Elise anticipated what more the future would hold since she felt as if some aspect of the cosmos had been made right today.

* * *

The lush grass at the edge of the woodland wriggled under Elise's bare toes. The summer moon's illumination produced odd purple and blue rays that pierced the trees.

These were the vivid, sparkling hues of her fantasies. The background of every nocturnal dream she could recall had been the forest and the moonlight since the death of her mother.

At the edge of the clearing next to her house, this place was a constant stop for her. It was an area she was acquainted with and often went to when awake with Eden and Nora. They played together like sisters in the meadow. She often experienced echoes of their laughing in her dreams.

Elise had no idea why the location was so unique or why she was attached to it as she slept. Over the years, she had attempted to float back to her home or along the edge. She repeatedly ended up in the same place after an effort.

She tested the conditions by wriggling her fingers. She once again felt the enchantment lingering in the air. She had learned to respect and pay attention to the elements since she was a small child.

Around the age of five, when she had fully mastered power management, she had become more open in her dreams, enabling her magics to enter her dream world.

The elements talked even when you were asleep. When she was awake, she only heard murmurs about who or what they were, but in her dreams, they were there. Always.

She had at this point realized that her nighttime habits weren't typical. She kept being drawn here by something other than her willpower. Every time she slept asleep, a power drew her here.

She has sometimes been accompanied. Elise disliked recalling those specific evenings from her youth. She was still aware of the phantom cold brought on by the evil demon's magic.

She looked to the left as she heard a sound. Twenty yards away, a wolf stood and regarded her. She wasn't taken aback. Her mind was conjuring up pictures of the familiar since she had just met a wolf today.

Elise's jaw opened wide as she recalled the day their younger sister, Nora, stormed into the room and abruptly grabbed the spotlight-or in this instance, the wolf.

Finding the one being the Universe made expressly for you had a romantic quality, particularly if you belonged to a race without mate destiny.

Elise had felt the faintest tinge of envy, but she swiftly suppressed it. Their poor father had been distraught, and if he believed Elise was unhappy, it would only make matters worse for him.

She turned her head after hearing a branch break to her right. A vampire's mesmerizing stare met hers. He had a flame in his outstretched hand and was as tall as the trees.

It was further evidence that she was in a dream. In reality, vampires did not exist in this size or with the ability to use fire. Eden, her sister, could. Her biggest strength was that.

Across the meadow, the elements were vibrating, changing, and moving on their own.

Elise saw right once that this dream would not be like the others. She made a conscious effort to concentrate and memorize everything. She would not disregard what magic had to say.

Elise could see the shape of an old man up ahead. What had to be Theron, the temple priest of Sanctus Femina, was framed by long, unkempt hair. He had already entered her fantasies. He slowly brought his finger to his lips in an attempt to silence the speaker.

Behind the priest, a shadow emerged. It grew larger as it boldly approached her, clearly displaying the shape of a warrior.

She could see the reflected gleam off black hair through the dim light. It was so black that it nearly seemed blue. Stretched skin over muscles that are in good shape. His body was not concealed by the clothing he was wearing.

He had been just how she had recalled. Or at least a bit less incensed.

His face was bathed in moonlight, exposing obsidian eyes. When his eyes widened completely and concealed what she knew to be golden irises, she didn't like it. Elise had only ever seen eyes that were bleeding black. It had already been enough once.

She was taken aback when his unusually deep voice, "Hello, poppet," stroked across her skin like silk.

Not Poppet is my name. Elise is here.

As brazen as ever, I note.

"You-remember me?" I said. She stumbled, shocked that he knew who she was. On her physique, a lot had changed since she was six.

She hadn't seen him in her dream world in over ten years. Even then, the interaction had only been fleeting.

I asked myself, "How could I forget?"

She blushed because of the passion she couldn't place in his words. "I guess you'd be aware of your surroundings. They are constant around here. There is never any change.

Kellan disregarded her misunderstanding of what he had said. While he was speaking, he saw that a wolf and a vampire were nearby.

Your dream is it, a tiny one. You could probably do anything here.

She sneered, "One would suppose.

Kellan turned his steady gaze back to the woman, closely observing her. It was an elemental girl. Although she was a teenager now, there was no doubt that she was the same woman who had called him that evening ten years before.

The same long auburn hair was now styled in casual braids. Fate would never let him forget the weird look in her eyes.

One eye was a tint of green reminiscent of the Westland's springtime fields. It was the hue of the Gwydion-dwelling elementals.

The second eye had a hue he had never seen other than on a monster. The same amber color as his own, with gold and russet specks. Even she had darker skin than other elementals had. Like a demon's, bronzed. such as his.

He may have assumed the woman was a she-demon if not for her one green eye and the hue of her silken hair. Male and female Sundari had just two color options for their hair. White or black. Never a different variant.

Her auburn long hair was remarkable. Her strange eyes are interesting. But what is presently tying him up is the pull of his soul toward hers.

His status was a vision that he purposefully avoided by declining to look for her. Many nights he'd had the want to check on her, but he'd resisted the urge, believing his steel will would hold.

How quickly he had forgotten her strong display. She had successfully prevented a renegade demon from entering this area as a little child. Even when she was asleep, her defenses and magic had been astounding.

It was no accident that he had failed to stop her from dragging him back into her fantasy. He questioned if she had assistance when he felt the elderly man's presence behind him.

He halted inches from the translucent forcefield dividing the forest from the little meadow and questioned, "What am I doing here?"

You inform me.

"I'm not the one calling people out in the dead of night," she said.

"I did not do such a thing."

Are you certain about that?

Eden's chest fluctuated in size. Sweat beads trickled out of her pores. His voice was like magic in and of itself; it pressed against her and encircled her in warmth.

She shouted, "Stop doing that.

His pupils shrank. "I'm not harming you in any way,"

It's you. Your voice is... it's. She was unable to finish. It was too humiliating to describe what his timber was doing to her.

Although Kellan couldn't see the blush under her olive complexion, he was certain that it existed. Early indications of the status bond were present. Even though she was only a little kid, he had understood from the minute he had first seen her what she was to him.

He should make an effort to avoid using his magic in his intonations. When they talked, demons naturally released strength. It affected Elise more than was reasonable given that she was an elemental and also his partner.

Fate, particularly about the demons, was not at all subtly indicating matehood. No, a demon knew when he saw his status-his genuine partner. She may not be aware of it, but when his magic touched her, she would feel something.

He could feel the little tug now that she was getting close to maturity. Fortunately, the young witch wasn't old enough to force either of them into a mating frenzy.

Her habit of including him in her fantasies was risky. He wasn't sure whether it would matter while he dreams walked or how strong the attraction would be when their bodies weren't touching. If this was any indicator, if she got just a little older, it would be an issue.

If the situation was different, he would send an army to her father's door in a few years and demand her hand. Nothing-not even the Goddess-could separate him from her.

Sadly, he was unable to enjoy that privilege. It was beginning to seem as if he would never. He had a troubled history, and now he had problems in the present. He could not afford to be optimistic about the future.

He was barely managing the disaster that was engulfing the Sundari Kingdom. His greatest worry was that the catastrophe would transcend the boundaries of the Southland and engulf the whole Imperium.

The impact of his severe actions was negligible. The chaos had at least stopped at the Corak Peninsula. Except for the rogues that sometimes pop up or those who manage to get past the wall.

He had resorted to building a prison colony on Sundari's southernmost point. The isthmus was sealed off from the rest of the kingdom by a barrier he had constructed.

Eons ago, spells were cast on the cliffs around Corak to fortify the region against invasion. To access the property, no one could get past the invisible barrier. Additionally, this meant that no one could cross the land to get to the lake.

He was at a loss for where to put all the demons since so many of them were going insane. With each passing day, he was uncovering more outlaws, and his life had turned into a series of conflicts as he fought to keep the peace. He either killed or transported the outlaws he hunted throughout the day to Corak.

For an elemental, life in the Southland was too hazardous. Even if it was just a dream, the girl should have forgotten she had never met him. Despite his demon soul's protests, Kellan managed to quiet it.

She approached him and said, "What's wrong?" She saw how sharply his long, thick eyelashes separated the form of his eyes. Women would feel envious.

"Nothing. Why do you inquire? He had been fighting his inner devil and hadn't even blinked.

"Your pupils were narrowed. Typically, they are so large that I cannot see the amber color of your eyes. The last time I saw you was at them. I believe it's because you become angry quickly.

What else, please tell me, am I if not angry over being brought here? Against my volition, I may add.

"Sad? You're at least dissatisfied. Whatever it may be, you're crying. It's not your greatest appearance.

His mouth twitched. She was very bright for a girl her age. If they talked at all, women seldom did so casually in his company.

All demons, but particularly she-demons, had a sixth instinct for other people's emotions. Their abilities were derived from mental energy. Even though many around him were aware of his mood, they avoided confronting him about it. Kellan was in charge.

Little Elise, who was almost unknown, had been able to accomplish it with only a glance and had no trouble stating it.

You're a perceptive little thing, aren't you?

"Yes."

Kellan laughed and considered continuing the discussion. She had me spellbound. Her bright intelligence was evident to him. A very hazardous thing was a seductive mind. Demons placed cerebral aptitude above everything else, even physical attractiveness. He may not be able to resist the temptation presented by the fact that she held both.

His nostrils flared when they were this close, only a few feet apart. He was still able to detect her fragrance despite the barrier. She had the scent of a rose in the desert at midnight.

Why is he here? Kellan needed to ensure that she wouldn't phone him when she was asleep once again. When she reached adulthood, he would think about finding her if he managed to put an end to the uprising in Sundari.

If not, he didn't want to consider the consequences of him and his group going rogue. He needed to make it extremely obvious to Elise that she should avoid him.

In a dangerous game, fate brought them together. Even if it meant losing his mind, Kellan would never put his partner in jeopardy. She didn't deserve to get involved in his battles.

Carefully pay attention, Elise. Please don't call me again. There is no way for you to win this game.

Which game? She scrunched up her brows in annoyance at his constant assumption that she was somehow to blame for his appearance.

He snipped, "The one you're playing and don't even know it."

Kellan made a U-turn and advanced into the woods. Theron's kaleidoscope eyes, which were swirling with violet and silver tones, prevented Elise from calling out to him as he slid back into view.

He indicated the wolf, who had moved over to stand close to Nora. The vampire follows. At his side was Eden. All four of them were fixated on the demon's backward retreat.

Theron once again made a muting motion, his eyes sparkling with magic. He said, "Status," in her head.

The pieces clicked into place and Elise smiled.