Daughter of a Monarch (9 page)

She kisses my cheek. “Your room is ready. Helen got it all ready for you. If we had known you were coming, you wouldn’t have had to sleep on the couch last night.”

“Thank you, but I don’t mind. I just appreciate you giving me a place to stay.”

“Anything for my granddaughter.”

I try to smile, but instead, I burst into tears. I feel her loving arms wrap around me. I sob against her shoulder.

“Why me! I didn’t ask for this!” I yell.

She rubs my back soothingly. “No one ever asks for trouble. I admit, your father and mother were wrong for not being careful. It was enough for the two worlds to accept their love for one another, but bringing a child into the mix was never wise.”

“I can’t go back there! I can’t be linked to them. I can’t let anything happen to them.” I’m talking so fast that I’m not sure if she understands me.

“You need to rest, Dear. I can call the healers, and they can bring something to help you rest.”

I wipe my eyes. “Healers?”

“Yes. They are Fae that have the gift of medicine and healing.”

I nod. “I’m going to take a bath.”

She smiles. “I’ll let you know when they get here. Oh and let your Uncle contact your parents.”

I want to talk to them.
I need Mom’s comforting voice, and I need Dad to yell at me for leaving. But I know she’s right. I’m not in the right state of mind to talk to them. I’d lose it.

I stare out my window from the comfort of my bed. There was a light tap on the door.

“Come in,” I say numbly.

“Did Princess Aislin stand me up?”

I sit up and cut my eyes at Isaac. “How can it count as standing you up if I declined the dinner offer?”

He has a mug in his hand. He hands it to me and sits on the edge of my bed. “Stop denying it. You know you wanted to be there, A.”

“What’s this?” I ask as I smell the liquid. “It smells bitter and spicy.”

“The healers brought it for you. It will help you rest. Nice way to change the subject.”

“I’m just avoiding a pointless conversation. I’m not really in the mood, Isaac.” I take a sip, and my lips pucker. “Do I have to drink it all?”

“Sadly, yes.” He laughs.

I plug my nose and take a big drink.

I look at him funny. “You called me, A.”

“Yeah, so?”

“How’d you know people call me that?”

He shrugs. “I didn’t. I just liked the sound of it, and it’s easier than saying Aislin. Your parents gave you a ridiculously hard name.”

I take another drink and watch him over the rim of my cup. There’s a rebellious edge to his appearance that’s intoxicating. He’s everything my dad would disapprove of, and does, making him even more desirable. His green eyes hold onto mine, and I wish they wouldn’t.

“We’re staring at each other,” I say as I set my cup down, looking away from him.

I remember my dad telling me to stay away from Isaac. But what was the point? Isaac knows exactly who I am. There’s nothing to hide with him. And even though he knows everything about me, he still comes around. I appreciate that.

He smiles. “It’s hard not to stare at you.”

I feel my cheeks redden. “You shouldn’t say things like that, Isaac.”

“Give me one good reason why not.”

“Because. I’m not safe to be around. I could be here one day and gone the next. Things are really screwed up right now.”

“I said give me a
good
reason. It’s going to take a lot more than that to keep me away, A.”

My heart jumps. I can’t respond. I’m an emotional basket case right now. Damn him for saying something like that! Tears fill my eyes.

“I don’t know what they are going to do with me, Isaac. You’d be smart not to get involved with me.”

“Too late, A.”

I WAKE UP
and cover my head with my blanket to block the sun. I concentrate on closing the blinds and groan when the curtains fling across the room.

I once had more control than this. I don’t understand how one day I can be in control, and then the next my abilities decide to abandon me and do their own damn thing.

I get out of bed and stretch out my hand, hovering over the curtain. I bite my bottom lip as I concentrate on moving it carefully back to the window. I just about have it placed perfectly when the door opens, causing me to lose concentration. It falls to the floor with a dramatic thud.

“Training with Cohen and Harim will help, Aislin.”

I love how my grandmother’s voice comforts me almost instantly. Even though I have just met her, I feel like I’ve known her forever.

“Have you or Harim spoken with my parents?” I place the curtain back in its place by hand.

“Yes. At first they wouldn’t even let me speak, but then after they listened to me, they said they were willing to give us time before coming to get you. I had to assure them that you wouldn’t be harmed.”

I scoff. “You can’t promise that.”

“I know, but I did. Your mother trusts me.”

“And my dad?”

“Your mother is dealing with him”

I sit on the edge of my bed and put my head in my hands. “When do I start training?”

“In an hour after you eat.” I notice a ring dangling from the chain around her neck. She pulls it off and comes over to me. “Hold out your hand.”

I open my palm to her.

“This is your Fae ring.”

A bright light illuminates from it when it touches my skin. “I’m confused.”

“It will help balance your Fae abilities. I hope.”

“This little thing will help my erratic abilities that have a mind of their own? Yeah, right!”

She laughs. “It should. It was made specifically for you. Wear it on your left ring finger.”

I put it on and gasp when it glows an amber color. “Is that normal?” It stops glowing almost immediately and returns to its normal silver finish.

“It accepted you.”

“So weird,” I mumble as I stare at it.

She kisses my head and walks to the door. “Get ready and come down for breakfast.”

I hold my hand in front of my face, gazing curiously at the silver that’s supposed to absorb my Fae magic. Maybe.

“All right, you odd powerful ring thing. Please work.”

I don’t like the way Aunt Stella is staring at me. And it doesn’t help that Gregory is sitting next to her. What is he even doing here anyway? Their presence is making breakfast a giant suck-fest. Grandmother could have at least warned me they’d be here.

Uncle Harim ruffles my hair as he takes a seat beside me. “Morning, Trouble Maker.”

I smirk as I take a bite of my toast. “I hear you’re training me.”

“And Cohen.”

“This ought to be interesting.”

I hear Helen laugh from the kitchen. “I remember your mother training. Oh how I would have paid to have it recorded.” She chuckles some more.

“I spoke with the rest of the Regime and calmed the rumors going around Gaia. I’m hoping to come to an agreement that will be beneficial for us all. No blood.” Gregory takes a drink of his coffee and smiles at me.

“What the hell? Now you’re being nice?”

Harim kicks my foot from underneath the table. I kick him back and stick my tongue out at him.

“I’m being very kind, Aislin. And only because your aunt is my wife, and she’s asked me to do what I can to help you. Unlike Terre, Gaia follows rules, and I’ve already broken at least five very strict rules with you.”

Of course the douchebag had to add something in there about my world. “When can I see my parents?”

“I haven’t figured that part out yet. Right now the best thing we can do is continue to keep you hidden. And, in the meantime, teach you control.”

I laugh coldly. “Or watch me fail, so you can kill me.”

“Have more faith in yourself. I’m sure you have your Versipellis abilities under control. The key is to learn to balance them with your Fae abilities. Or at least that’s what we think will fix your problem. Right now, the two are mixing like fire and gasoline.”

I roll my eyes. “You seem to know a lot about a half-breed, despite the fact that one has never existed until me.”

“Watch it, Aislin. He doesn’t have to help you,” Stella says in a warning tone.

She’s right, but it doesn’t change the fact that the man sitting across from me was adamant about wanting me dead last night. Even though he agreed to give me a chance, I still don’t like him.

“Sorry, not sorry,” I mumble through my teeth. “Just like Gregory is trying to learn to trust me, I am learning to trust him too.”

Harim snickers. “Just like her mom.”

I look at my grandmother who hasn’t said a word. The mention of Mom makes her eyes sadden. She smiles at me when she catches me looking at her. I smile back then finish eating.

I FALL TO
my knees to catch my breath. Sweat pours from my forehead, and blood stains my clothes and body. I grit my teeth through the pain.

I pound my fist on the ground as I let out my frustration, which causes the ground to shake beneath me. I scream at the top of my lungs.

“This is hopeless!” I look at Cohen and Harim who are steadying themselves against threes.

“Are you channeling magic to your ring?” Cohen asks, trying to catch his breath. “It will take the pressure off yourself and store it there. It may not look like much, but that bad boy can hold a lot.”