Kiss the Sky

20

Kira dropped to a curtsy, while the men beside her bowed. “Your majesties.”

My parents looked suitably confused at being introduced to commoners, but managed to nod at them in return, though my father couldn’t hide the pinch of his forehead. “I think it’s time you told us where you’ve been all this time,” he said.

Under his stony eyes I found I couldn’t lie, and I couldn’t come up with a good excuse. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

“What do you mean, can’t?” the King said.

My mother’s eyes widened. “Were you captured? Held against your will? Truly, you can tell us anything. We’ll love you no matter what.”

“No, I left the Air Realm of my own free will.” Gods, this was harder than I’d expected. I wracked my brain for a way to explain without telling them the whole truth. “I needed to get away from the palace and find my place in the world.

“But why didn’t you tell us?” the Queen asked. “We were so worried.”

“Because you would have tried to stop me, or would have sent guards with me. This was something I needed to do alone, but I’m sorry I made you worry. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

My father’s frown deepened. “Does this have anything to do with your engagement to Brin?”

I cleared my throat. “Yes, in a way. I’m sorry, but I can’t marry Brin anymore.”

“Why ever not?” my mother asked.

I took Kira’s hand in mine. “Because I’ve given my heart to another, and my future is with her.”

Now I’d truly shocked them. For a moment they were both speechless, and then my mother pressed a hand to her chest and asked the others, “Would you mind giving us a moment to speak to our son alone?”

“Yes, of course,” Kira said, as she met my eyes with a frown. I doubted she wanted to be here anyway after everything that had happened in the last few hours. I couldn’t count on the other men to back me up either. I had to face my parents alone.

A servant whisked Kira and her other mates away, and as soon as they were gone my mother asked, “You wish to marry that…commoner?”

I bowed my head. “I do.”

“No,” my father said. “I forbid it.”

My heart sank, but my resolve strengthened. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to be with Kira whether you like it or not.”

He shook his head. “Son, you barely know this woman. Where is she even from? And who were those other three men?”

“It’s complicated—”

“How do you know she doesn’t only want you because you’re a prince?” the Queen asked.

I raked a hand through my hair, frustrated with this questioning. Couldn’t they trust that I wouldn’t be with someone like that? “She didn’t know I was a prince at first. She doesn’t care about my money or status at all.”

“I find that hard to believe,” the King said. He sat in one of the patio chairs and gestured for me to do the same. “Tell us everything about her, along with a detailed account of your travels over the last few weeks.”

I sank into the chair with a sigh. I could already tell was going to be a long night.

15

Kira

W

hile Auric spoke in private with his parents, we were taken to another small sitting room where supper was brought to us. I tried not to devour all of it within seconds, and I noticed my mates were eating just as quickly. None of us had eaten since we’d been on the boat in the morning, and for days we’d been living off of old bread and fish, plus whatever else Calla and her mates had left for us on the boat. It was a nice change to have someone else cook for us, and the food was exquisite—chicken roasted in a crisp lemon sauce with peppers and onions in oil and garlic, plus fresh bread, soft cheese, and olives. It was said the cuisine in the Air Realm was the best in the world, and tonight I thought that might be true.

The men kept stealing glances at me as we ate and asked numerous times if I was okay, but all I could do was nod. I simply couldn’t find the energy to speak about what had happened in the last few hours with Auric. I needed some time alone to go over my thoughts and emotions before making a decision about what we would do next.

After we finished eating I was shown to my room, and I was so physically and emotionally exhausted I wanted nothing more than to collapse onto the bed and pass out. But when I stepped inside, the room was so beautiful it made me hesitate to touch anything. The room was done in sky blue and soft cream, making me feel like I was outside under an endless sky. In the center stood a huge four-poster bed, much larger and fancier than anything I’d slept in before, with more pillows than I'd seen in my life. Truly, how could anyone need that many pillows? I could construct an entire new bed out of them.

Large windows on either side of the bed looked out at the ocean from behind some soft curtains, and there was also a small sitting area, dresser, and wardrobe. All of it was so beautiful and luxurious that it only served as a reminder that I didn't belong here...or with Auric. Meeting his parents and Brin had made that clear. I’d immediately seen the disdain in his parents’ eyes when Auric announced he wanted to be with me, and after meeting Brin, I understood why—she was what they wanted for their son, and I had to admit it made more sense for them to be together.

How could I have thought his being a prince didn't matter? We'd lived completely different lives. He'd grown up in a castle with servants waiting on him hand and foot. I'd been on the run for years, taking whatever jobs I could to earn money. Auric should be with someone who understood this life, not me.