Fates Entwined: Halven Rising

Keen might be a soldier, but he’d grown up in the Old Kingdom court. Old Kingdom rarely held soirees and social gatherings the way New Kingdom did, but he was still expected to know how to dance. Despite his skills on the dance floor, he nearly stumbled at Illa’s words. “My bride? Were we promised without my knowledge?”

Illa smiled at Portia, who was watching them from afar. “Of course not. Your new queen wishes the union. We are of royal blood and full Fae, unlike the current ruler of Old Kingdom.”

Derek. Portia wanted to take control of Old Kingdom from Niall’s son, the Halven. And it seemed this alliance would make her quest easier.

Keen had known there had to be more to his bargain with Portia. She’d been too eager to allow him to stay and care for Reese. She’d ordered his fealty, and it seemed she wished to control his personal alliances as well.

He glanced down. Illa was a beautiful woman with light brown hair and dark blue eyes, and a flawless oval face. She didn’t possess a dimpled chin, golden hair, and a full, obstinate mouth that told him what he could do with his orders.

Any Fae would wish for an alliance with Illa, given her beauty and lineage. She was calm and obliging. She didn’t take Keen too seriously, which was to her credit. But he felt nothing romantic for her. She did not set his blood on fire. That the small Halven did was most vexing, and something he refused to give in to. He’d not make the mistake his weaker brethren had by succumbing to the allure of a pretty human face. Keen was considered one of the strongest soldiers in any of the realms. He was the last of his family line, and he would not disgrace himself or his name with a human or Halven dalliance.

He looked over at Reese and found her gaze on the woman in his arms, a frown on her face.

Despite Keen’s decision never to be with Reese, her unhappiness had a most unsettling effect on his temperament. He didn’t like to see her upset. “I will speak to Portia,” Keen said. “There is no need for us to marry if neither of us wishes it.”

“You may try, but my father sent me.”

Keen studied her. “Does he know…?” He must not give away too much.

“That the Halven held captive wears his emblem? Yes, he knows.”

Keen let out a deep sigh. Portia and Illa’s father, Hakon Radnor, must already be negotiating for Reese if Illa was here speaking of marriage. But what was the ultimate goal?

An alliance between Keen and Illa would smooth the way for Portia to gain power in Old Kingdom, though Keen didn’t know how much power he could possibly wield after having been gone so long. Portia handing over Reese into Radnor’s care must be the price she was willing to pay in order to gain the union between Illa and Keen.

Surely Reese’s own father would not hurt her? He seemed devoted to Illa, and he’d been more forgiving of his Halven son, Marlon, than any human or Fae could have expected him to be.

Keen glanced at Reese again—and halted in the middle of the dance floor. Four men surrounded her. She was smiling, but that was no reassurance. The men were circling her like the predators they were.

“Where are you going?” Illa called from behind as Keen stormed across the ballroom.

“This old thing?” he heard Reese say as he approached. “Oh, it’s just something the palace ladies put together for me.” She whirled in a circle and her gown billowed out, showing off her flawless figure.

The guards and courtiers leered at the glimpse of Reese’s legs, then caught sight of Keen. They slowly moved away from her. Probably due to the lethal look he leveled at them.

Taking in the expressions on her admirers’ faces, Reese turned around. “Is there a problem?” she asked Keen.

He stared at the backs of the retreating cads. “You will remain at my side from now on.”

“Excuse me?” she said. “Pretty sure I’m safe in a ballroom with my guards surrounding me, including you. Or is it the other men who worry you? They’re very friendly. This party was just getting fun.”

Keen grabbed her hand to drag her back to her bedroom, when Illa, whom he hadn’t noticed following him, spoke up.

“Keen,” she said in her gentle voice. “Will you introduce me to my sister?”

Illa smiled at Reese as Keen said, “This is Illa Radnor, your half-sister.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you. Please excuse my fiancé’s behavior. He’s being unpardonably rude.”

Reese’s jaw dropped. Her gaze landed on Keen with the force of a tumbling boulder. “Fiancé?”

“Well.” Illa blushed. “Soon to be. Isn’t that so, Keen?”

“No.”

Illa shook her head. “You may speak to my father, but there is no way around it.”

Reese hadn’t tried to pull out of Keen’s grip, so he began to drag her away again. “We shall see.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Portia sweeping across the room, her expression stiff with anger.

“What is the meaning of this?” She glared at Keen’s hand clasped around Reese’s.

He slowly let go of the girl and pulled his shoulders back. “It isn’t safe for Halven among our kind. There is no reason for her to be here tonight.”

“Oh, but there is. I wish everyone in the palace to witness your declaration to me. In fact, I see no reason to wait any longer.” She turned and clapped her hands. “Begin the ceremony,” she called.

The ballroom was crowded—dozens of conversations going on at once, music floating out—but at the queen’s order, the music stopped and the room went silent.

Reese stood beside Keen, staring at the ground, which concerned Keen more than the angry look she’d leveled at him moments ago.

Servants entered the grand ballroom and rolled out a narrow red carpet with golden embroidered vines climbing the edges. The crowd parted down the middle, giving them space.

Portia strode the carpet and swept her gown forward to sit upon the massive gilt chair at the head of the room. Marlon slithered up and stood beside her.

Portia flicked her fingers for Keen to approach.

He hesitated. Catching Ulric’s eye several feet away, Keen tilted his chin up, signaling for the guard.

Ulric walked over.

“Stay with her,” Keen said, and Ulric nodded, moving closer to Reese.

“Wait.” Reese grabbed Keen’s arm, pulling him aside. She swallowed, her breaths shaky. “Don’t do it. Her emotions—the queen’s—they’re a storm. So much anger. I can’t explain it, but no one has emotions like hers.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You can’t trust the queen.”

“Of course I can’t. But what is this about her emotions?”

Reese shook her head. “They said I would have powers. I don’t know if this is a part of it. If it’s a precursor, or just something weird among Halven and Fae, but…I can tell what someone’s feeling. Except for you; I’ve never been able to tell what you’re feeling. That’s why I wasn’t sure if it was a magical ability or something else.” She glanced at the dais. “But with Portia, there’s no question. I know her emotions like I know my own.”

Keen stared at her. “It is not a Fae or Halven thing. There is no such intrinsic ability, but I’ve heard of others possessing this power. We call them empaths.” He let out a deep breath. “It makes sense—your not being able to read my emotions. I’ve never been able to read what you’re thinking either.”

She shook her head quickly, as if to clear it. “What are you talking about?”

He glanced at Portia, who spoke quietly into Marlon’s ear as he leaned toward her. “There is no time. We’ll discuss it later.”

Reese rubbed her temples. “Look, all I know is that you can’t bind yourself to that woman. She’s evil.”

Keen had known this moment would come. That he’d officially pledge himself to Portia in front of noblemen and kingdom—and he no more wished for it than Reese did. Once he pledged himself, he could not betray Portia—without dying. But tonight’s oath was a formality. The deal had already been struck inside the queen’s chambers days ago.

He touched Reese’s shoulder. “It is the only way.”

“The only way to what?” she called as he walked off.

To keep you safe.