Chapter 1: Meeting the Princes
Fawn’s P.o.V.
I couldn’t understand why my parents decided to take the ship instead of just f*****g flying. We are griffins! Great Goddess! This is just plain stupid! I felt Mystery stir deep within me in agreement. She longed to shift and to take flight. She longed to feel the wind under her wings.
Sighing, I look out over the blue-green water of the river we were floating along. It is beautiful here. I won’t deny that, but it just wasn’t home for me. I longed to return home to Ablaria, but I know that is unlikely to happen.
I look over at Fox as I contemplate my life. We would soon be reaching the small island known as Castle of the Kings. It was home to the ruling families of Clastan, Escana, Despye, Asmurg, and Vucron. It was also home to one thunder, one pride, one coven, one pack, and one skulk. One to represent each of their nations.
My parents were hoping for an alliance with these nations. Which is why we have spent three miserable days stuck on this dreadful boat. My brother and I have nowhere to go to escape our parents. We have traveled a long way for this alliance, though, and I hated that they were using me as a negotiating piece. Like I am meat. A piece of meat. They are basically selling me to these princes. Whatever, I guess…Not like I have any choice in this.
I mean it isn’t like Ablaria even needs this alliance at all. We don’t have a need for the medications and doctors of Escana. We don’t have any need of the money of Clastan. We could use the gems from Clastan, I guess. We don’t need the food of Asmurg. Honestly, it would barely even satisfy any griffin from what my father says. The clothes of Vucron are nothing that any griffin would wear. Again, this is according to my father. And we have no need for the military power of Despye.
All of this we manage to have on our own. We handle it between three convocations. Well, I guess it is four, but the fourth convocation is just where our warriors live after they complete training. The Valley Convocation is where my family rules from. We handle the money and clothes for our people. The Southern Mountain Convocation lives in the grasslands of Ablaria. They handle the food, medications, and doctors. The Northern Mountain Convocation lives in the magma mountains of Ablaria. They handle military power, military training, armor, and weapons. The Warrior Convocation resides near there at the base of the volcano.
So obviously, we have no need for this alliance, but they do need us. These shifters can’t stand on their own like griffins. They need us for weapons and armor. They need more military support and training. More food and money are needed. Better medications and doctors are needed. They need us, or at least this is what my father is claiming. So, my father decided that if the princes agreed to mate and mark me as their chosen mate and queen, then he would support them in every way. Sadly, these dumb princes agreed to his terms.
I mean, who the f**k doesn’t want their fated mate instead? I have even heard whispers that these princes have found their fated mates, but for some stupid reason they rejected them on the spot. Like what the hell!?! Who just rejects their mate? Idiots! Dumb princes that’s who! All I wanted in this world was my mate. Someone who would love me and only me.
As my ranting thought process continued to go nowhere, I opened my thoughts up more to Mystery. I wanted, no I needed, her thoughts on this as well. So, I quickly thought everything back out with her listening in this time before opening a full link with her. What are your thoughts on this, Mystery? Your opinion matters too.
My thoughts? My thoughts you ask for! Well, I will tell you! Ablaria doesn’t need nor want this alliance. I have heard other griffins speaking about their human’s opinions. No one thinks this is worth our time. Our father and possibly even our mother have to have a hidden agenda. And these princes? They are incredibly stupid shifters if you ask me. They are unworthy of us! Rejecting their mates for no reason? Disgusting! Let’s find our mate and fast. That way we can escape this fate. I don’t want to mate these princes and I will never accept them as my mates. Now, leave me alone to sulk. Go bother our brother with these thoughts!
I let out an aggravated sigh due to Mystery. Why did I even bother? I should have known that this would be how she would react. Suddenly, I felt something, or someone nudge me softly. I looked to my right and saw that Fox had slid closer to me and was looking at me with raised eyebrows. Asking me a silent question. I sigh as I stare at him. He is my identical twin. My best friend. My only friend. We have been inseparable our whole lives. That is until now. Now, Fox will have to handle our parents and the griffin ways on his own.
Focusing on the bond that we share, I pulled on our link and shared my thoughts. I included the conversation I had with Mystery as well. What are your thoughts, Foxie Boy?
I think that Mystery is right. This situation and those princes are completely stupid, but I do have a more important question for you. What do YOU think, Little Sister?
And that right there is why he is my best friend and my only friend. He is the only one that will ever ask me how I feel about something. No one else ever cares enough about me to ask. Only he does. In the end it feels like only he cares about me.
What do I think? I think that these princes are far too stupid to be the next rulers. I think that if they can’t respect the fated mate bond, how are they ever going to respect me or the chosen mate bond? I think these princes are just desperate. Desperate for what? More power. Better rank in our world. Approval from their families and our parents. I think that they will never give me what I desire most from my mate. What I desire most in this world. Acceptance. Love. Validation. But what I want even more from my mate is for him to see me as his equal. One prince will never see me as his equal. Five princes never will. I think I am praying that my mate just happens to turn up so that I am not trapped and forced into this mating. I think that I don’t want to leave you on your own, but that I won’t have any choice at the end of this. I think that I don’t want to endure any more of the griffin culture, but I also don’t want you to endure it on your own either. Basically, I guess I am confused. I am scared. I don’t want this, Fox.
I know, Fawn, but don’t share this with anyone else. There isn’t a choice for you or me in this. So, we need to keep this just between you and me. Mystery and Maximus can know, but no one else. There is no point. Plus, our parents will blow a gasket if they know that this is how we feel.
I know all of that, Fox. I just wish that I had a say in this. I wish that WE had a say in our futures.
So do I, Little Sister. I am losing my best friend. I am losing my only friend and ally in Ablaria. All I have ever had were you, Mystery, and Maximus. Soon I will only have Maximus left when we are forced to leave you behind at the Castle of the Kings. I wish that I could change this, but I don’t have the power and strength to defeat father. Even together we wouldn’t be able to defeat him. Which means that his word is law, and he has decided that this will happen no matter what we want or think.
Fox sighs before he looks away from me. But I didn’t miss seeing the heartbreak in his eyes. The sadness in them. I quickly looked away and back out over the water to give him time to compose himself. All I feel right now is defeat. Fox can’t do anything to help me, and time is running out for me to help myself. But what can I do? But in the distance, I can already see the Castle of the Kings.
That means that soon my freedom will be gone forever. Soon my chance at true love would crumble into dust. Soon my best friend would vanish from my life. Soon my only friend left would be my griffin, Mystery.
Avalon’s P.o.V.
The balcony outside the throne room overlooked the shipyard. I am currently standing on it with my best friends. We were excited to finally meet a real live griffin. We were excited to meet a princess. And get this it was a griffin princess!
A month ago, when my parents were contacted with this opportunity, we jumped at the chance. A week later we had found our mates, so we rejected them on the spot. The females have kept coming around to try to get us to take it back and have s*x with them, but there is only one female for us now. Even if we aren’t thrilled about it.
My vampire spirit, Jackal, has barely spoken to me since we rejected our mate. He is pissed at me. But I can still feel his excitement over meeting a griffin princess. He understands why we rejected our mate and even agreed with it, but he is still hurting and mad at me. At least our friends are in the same boat as us.
Finally, I see their ship dock in the shipyard. Fifty warriors disembark the ship. Even from here I can see that these are seasoned and lethal warriors. Then, I watch as four other people disembark the ship. My eyes went straight to the female that is obviously the princess. And even from this distance, I can tell that she is breathtakingly beautiful.
Archer’s P.o.V.
In the throne room, all of our parents sit on their thrones. We had all come inside and are now standing behind our parents and off to the side slightly. Finally, a guard comes in and speaks in a loud voice, “Your Majesties, I would like to present King Sebastian, Queen Cindy, Prince Fox, and Princess Fawn of Ablaria.”
Immediately, the doors were thrown open to reveal a tall male figure. And he comes gracefully into the room. Light brown skin. Short black hair that is starting to show silver highlights. Hard and hostile blue-gray eyes. He radiates power and demands respect with each step he takes. King Sebastion.
A female is next to him. She hung off his arm with the aura of a queen. Tall. Light brown skin. Platinum blonde hair. Cold and lifeless steel gray eyes. She walked with the grace of a queen. She radiates power but it is much calmer and quieter than her mate. It is still clear though that she demands respect with each step. Queen Cindy.
Behind them walked the twins with their heads held high. They were identical except for their heights and their hairstyles. The male was tall, while the female was quite a bit shorter. Maybe at most 5’6” but honestly, I think she isn’t even that tall. Both have light brown skin. Both have platinum blonde hair. His is short and styled neatly. Hers is long and pulled into a beautiful fishtail braid. Both have two toned eyes. One blue-gray. One steel gray. Their eyes seem friendly, but distant and fearful. These are obviously the young royals. Prince Fox and Princess Fawn. Great Goddess, she is beautiful!
Carter’s P.o.V.
I can’t help but stare at the goddess standing before me. She is absolutely perfect and beautiful. Curvy with a little fat in all the right places. Plump ass. Big breasts. She is absolutely perfect.
Then there is her outfit. There is no way to describe it or her in it. The outfit left little to imagination, but it also left everything to imagination. It is form fitting, but still regal. Fitting for my future mate. The dress is a green B Darlin Juniors’ Ruched Bodycon dress. Her shoes were black high heels with a single strap around her ankles. She is absolutely stunning in this outfit.
My fox spirit, Atlas, is drooling all over my head over her. I mean not even five minutes ago; he wanted nothing to do with this female. Now, he was practically undressing her in my head. It was going to be a very long night.
Dean’s P.o.V.
I immediately step forward to speak. “Your Highness, my name is Prince Dean of Clastan. May I please be introduced to the beautiful female behind you?”
Thankfully, he nods and in a deep voice that rings with authority he says, “That is my daughter: Princess Fawn. Your chosen mate.”
I licked my lips as my eyes roamed up and down her body. She is stunning and beautiful. Her hips are wide. Perfect for bearing me and my friends’ children. She will be a wonderful mate and suddenly I don’t regret rejecting my mate. My dragon spirit, Thorn, no longer regrets it either. She is far too perfect and beautiful to let us regret it any longer.
I notice that the twins are glancing at each other quietly, before they finally step forward looking at their father. “Father, we don’t need this alliance. We don’t benefit from this alliance at all,” Prince Fox tentatively begins. I won’t lie, it hurts to hear that neither of them wants this. Suddenly, I want her to want this. I want her to want me and my friends.
“I want to mate when I find true love. I want my fated mate, Father. They didn’t even respect their fated mates or the mate bond enough to accept their mates. Griffins demand respect,” Princess Fawn tentatively finishes quietly.
I notice as both of them start to tremble. It is tremors of fear racking their bodies. Wait, fear? Why are they afraid. I quickly look towards their father and see unconcealed rage in his eyes as he stares at them. “SILENCE! I will deal with you two insolent cubs later. You will both do as you’re told to. And you will do so silently or be punished the griffin way.”
Seth’s P.o.V.
I hate the way he spoke to them. Honestly, it doesn’t sit right with me at all. Both of them seem terrified right now. Right then and there I decided that I must do everything I can to protect my chosen mate. My future mate. The future mother to my children. I will admit though that she is H-O-T. Hot. Like way out of my league hot. Hopefully she gives us a chance.
I step forward quickly. “Prince Fox. Princess Fawn. Will you both do me the honors of stepping out onto the balcony with me for a few moments?” All I need is a few minutes alone with them to determine if I am right or not.
“Perhaps after dinner. We would like to get settled into our rooms before dinner,” King Sebastian quickly said. “I assure that you followed my request that my twins share a room. Correct?”
“Of course,” my father, King James, said immediately. “The guards will show you to both rooms. Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Please take your time getting settled.”
With a quiet ‘thank you’ all four left the throne room. A sinking fear creeps its way through me. What is about to happen to my mate? This isn’t going to be good.
