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Part One
Deception, Fate, and Flames of Rage
Chapter One
Flora Avias
55 years earlier
Iskipped across thesmooth marble stones through my sister’s private garden like a sprite being carried on a breeze, my heart feeling lighter than the wispy clouds overhead, though it had grown thrice in size just this past week. I had found my fated mates, two handsome dukes, and I was in love.
I spied my sister taking tea by her fishpond, a backdrop of crimson, thorny roses behind her. Two fire mages stood as still as statues beside the bushes, their red cloaks blending in with the flowers. Ever the serious queen, my sister was dressed in her court attire, a flowing crimson gown with a silver embroidered bodice and stomacher that appeared so stiff and tight, I wondered how my twin was able to breathe.
My sister’s mage, Selig, sat with her, an equally serious expression carved into his thin face, his long, black beard curling around his teacup before cascading into his lap. I inwardly laughed, knowing my sister was probably mortified by her disheveled mage. No doubt there were curly hairs embedded in the silk tablecloth and floating in her tea. Selig shed like a mangy mongrel.
I waved to my sister when she looked up, shielding her eyes against the midmorning sun with a silk fan. “Mal!”
Her eyes widened, and so did her smile. “Flora!” She pushed back her chair with stiff arms, her gown restricting her movements.
I picked up my skirts and ran to her, ignoring Selig’s snicker of disapproval when I flung myself into Malvolia’s arms, laughing as we kissed and hugged.
Malvolia pulled back, clutching my shoulders. Though we were identical twins, it felt as if I was looking at a stranger. She’d caved to court pressure and donned their strange fashions. She wore her chestnut hair in austere braids on the sides of her head like coiled snakes, barely visible through the black veil that was secured by her ruby and diamond tiara, the same one I remembered our mother wearing before the Dark Tide had taken her from us. My sister’s face had been painted chalky white and then stained with red rouge high up on her cheekbones. Her brows had been plucked so thin, they were nothing more than slashes of ink. She reminded me of the porcelain dolls we played with as children.
She dug her nails into my shoulders, desperation reflecting in her eyes. “Is it true?”
I swallowed back a knot of apprehension as the heat from her fingers seeped into my skin, reminding me her fire was far more lethal than the strongest fire mage. “It is.”
Her lips twisted ever so slightly as she looked over my shoulder. “Where are they?”
“They’re staying in my chambers,” I said, heat flushing my face when her jaw dropped. “Should I summon them?”
“No. Not yet.” She cleared her throat, giving her mage an expectant look.
Selig returned her stare with a blank expression before recognition finally dawned in his eyes. “If you would excuse me, Your Highnesses.” He stood and stiffly bowed, his useless wings rustling beneath his robes. As a half-human half-Fae, he’d been born with magic and black, feathered wings, just like all Ravini Fae males, though his wings dangled like two limp flags. “I must attend to court matters.”
I laughed when food crumbs fell from his beard.
But then he gave me a long, dark look. When I felt the whisper-soft brush of invisible fingers across my mind, I threw my mental shields up and matched his look with one of my own.Try it,I projected to him,knowing he could hear my thought,and I’ll knee your balls so hard, you’ll be pissing blood for a week.
Selig coughed and sputtered, then stepped back. “Forgive me, Your Grace.” He bowed to me. “I meant no harm.”
I snarled at him, flashing my teeth like I was a Lupine Fae.
“That will be enough, Selig,” my sister scolded the mage, trails of black magic swirling from her fingertips. “And from now on, you will stay out of my sister’s head, or you will answer to me.”
His eyes widened as he made an awkward bow. “Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed to me. “My apologies.”
I didn’t reward him with an answer as I turned up my nose. I’d never trusted the mage, especially not after his uncle had murdered our family and half the court, but whenever I’d tried to warn my sister, she would remind me that he’d helped us overcome his uncle during the Dark Tide. She’d also say I kept even worse company with Selig’s brother, Thorin. Though some part of me suspected she was right. I’d befriended him at an early age, mostly out of pity. I’d been the only royal, or Fae for that matter, who’d ever been kind to him. I felt sorry for the mind spinner when the entire court shrank back at the sight of him and covered their faces in those ridiculous veils.
Once Selig had left us, Mal motioned for me to sit. I sat in Selig’s seat, an uncomfortable chair made of iron lattice that dug into my rear. Warmth flooded my chest when I remembered just this morning Derrick’s fingers digging into my rear as well, only his touch gave me pleasure and had been far more intimate. He and Marius were such skilled lovers. They put Fachi’s mediocre lovemaking to shame. Plus, they were Ravini Fae, just like me.
Fachnan was a Sidhe Fae. Sidhe males were wingless, as many were dragon riders. Not Fachnan, though. He’d never formed a bond with a dragon, and I often wondered if it was because Fachi was too much of a spoiled, petulant prince for any dragon to take him seriously. His pale hair and eyes didn’t appeal to me as much as the dark features of Ravini males, plus those powerful wings inspired several new sexual positions. Since Ravini females were born without wings, I’d always been jealous of Ravini males, but now I had two sets of strong wings to fly me wherever and however I wanted.
I’d met Marius and Derrick after my sister had sent me on an ambassador mission to the eastern shore. I had gone only to discuss trade, for their land was rich with minerals and other resources. I hadn’t meant to fall in love, but fate had other ideas. I’d felt the bond the moment Marius had helped me from the carriage, his touch burning through the fine silk of my glove. My mates and I had been too distracted to discuss trade, but it didn’t matter now. My sister couldn’t have more loyal allies. They’d even agreed to take the Avias name, so long as I married them.
“Would you like some tea and cakes?” Malvolia asked, motioning to the steaming teapot and the delicate little cakes with yellow flowers laid out in perfect symmetry on a tiered tray.
I frowned at the curly beard hairs on the tablecloth in front of me. They looked like pubes. “No, thanks.” I placed a hand across my abdomen. “We had a late breakfast.” I bit my lip as I recalled why we had eaten so late. My mates had found something else to feast on all morning—me.
