AN: Well that was embarrassing... Didn't know extra spaces didn't register when you published the stories... I have strategic "..."'s between my points of view now. Haha! ;) Hope it helps make the story easier to read... *slams head into desk*

...

Chapter 1

Tail flickering, Isolda watched with the other girls as the male Ice-Jins trained in the courtyard. Flurries of punches and kicks flashed before their eyes. The males were preparing for the more difficult challenge ahead of them. Isolda's twin brother, Alpin, was up first to fight, his opponent was to be one of the two sons of King Cold.

"It's an honor to fight one of the Prince's," Alpin had tried to console her once she'd learned the news, "They would never set me up against them if it was a waste of their time."

Smiling as reassuringly as she could, Isolda hadn't pointed out to her brother the real reason King Cold might have set up one of his sons against Alpin. Alpin had never understood the politics side of life as an Ice-Jin, just as much as Isolda didn't understand the fighting. Usually, that's the way it worked with males and females. Still, she'd hoped he'd have put together the fact that the Seiteki Festival fell on the same day as the fight. There was only one reason an Ice-Jin Prince would fight a common soldier on that day. It would be to earn the right to bed and wed any single female that the loser was responsible for. That was the essence of the Seiteki Festival.

"Is Alpin really going to fight a prince?" a young female standing next to Isolda asked.

Nodding and swallowing hard, the older Jin curled her tail around one of her legs nervously, "Yes, King Cold is going to announce it soon."

"Does that mean you'll become a princess?"

Huffing, Isolda rolled her eyes. A child had figured it out, but her own brother was oblivious. She found herself hoping not all male Ice-Jins were so thick-skulled.

"Fonn," another woman called the little one away from Isolda's side, "I'm sorry," the older one smiled, "She hasn't grown a brain-to-mouth filter yet," she gently pulled on the little one's tail. Squeaking, Fonn hid behind the woman's legs and under her tail, embarrassed.

"It's alright," Isolda waved a hand, "She's very observant."

The other female smiled knowingly, "Your brother does not see?"

Shaking her head, Isolda glanced back at the fighters as they stopped training and began to clear the yard. "He thinks it's some sort of honor."

Laughing, the woman nodded, "My father was the same way when it came time to fight Fonn's father." Isolda noted the calm, loving aura that came over the other woman at the thought of her mate.

"I..." Isolda bit her lip, afraid to admit something so personal to a stranger.

Eyes soft, the other woman came to stand next to Isolda, resting a hand gently on her shoulder, "The Seiteki Festival is always hard to go through at your age, but unfortunately, that's why we have it. Have faith that if you are not meant to be with the Prince, your brother will beat him."

Easier said than done. Now that the woman was so close, offering her comfort, Isolda couldn't help but blurt out what she was feeling, "I don't want to mate with a Prince. They are the cruelest and most arrogant males of our species!"

The woman's eyes twinkled, "True, it would take a strong woman to stand up to the task of being a suitable mate for such a warrior."

Isolda stiffened. If the woman was trying to question her ability to be a worthy mate...

"Of course, King Cold chose you himself," she said as trumpets blared to signal the beginning of the festival, "He must be sure that you're the perfect one for his son."

The thought hadn't occurred to Isolda that this was a big deal. She supposed it hadn't fully dawned on her until now that the King himself had chosen her from the other females. Now if she only knew why.

As if on cue, the King of the Jin's voice rang out over the arena, "Well done, my warriors. Now the real fights can begin! Alpin Segare Hitori, and my son, Cooler Sai Cold!"

"Cooler," Isolda found herself whispering the name in wonder. King Cold thought that she was worthy of his oldest son?

Out in the arena, Alpin was climbing the steps to the raised platform. His white tail wagged back and forth behind his powerfully muscled legs. Reaching the top, he stood tall and proud, every bit a warrior. At the other end of the platform, a head appeared.

Dark, bored eyes watched Isolda's twin as Cooler mounted the steps. The prince was a whole head taller than the younger Jin, and his long, muscular tail made Alpin's look like a wet noodle as it whipped to and fro. Isolda blushed as she caught herself staring at the Prince's stomach and arm muscles, daydreaming. Shaking herself, she found the reassuring hand of the other Jin woman was gone. Blinking, she turned to find her still there, but she had gathered Fonn up into her arms so the little one could see.

"Is that the prince?" the child sucked on a thumb, staring wide-eyed at Cooler, "He's scary."

Once again, Fonn's mother laughed, "Hush little one. All warriors look scary when they're about to fight." Her eyes connected with Isolda's and she winked, "When you're your age at least, Fonn."

Biting her lip again, Isolda turned her eyes back to the arena. Someday, Fonn would understand that for female Jins, watching a male fight was the next best thing to sex. Particularly if he was a Prince and was technically fighting for her. Feeling the blush creep over her snow white skin, she couldn't help having the thought that she should maybe root against her brother.

...

Annoyed, Cooler waited for the bell to announce the start of the fight. His father had explained to him that Alpin needed to be beaten in order for his sister, Isolda, to become Cooler's mate. Lip curling at the thought of a mate, especially one as common as a soldier's sister, Cooler had still obeyed his father and resigned himself to the thought that at least he'd have something to warm his bed whenever he wanted.

Finally, the bell rang and Cooler laughed to himself at Alpin's slow and obvious attack. Dodging, he slammed his fist into his opponents stomach only to connect with air when Alpin kicked it into high gear the last second and dodged behind him. Sending a kick to Cooler's head, the young Jin managed to graze his cheek with the claws on his feet before Cooler slapped his leg away. Tail lashing out at the boy, Cooler connected with his chest, but it was only enough to knock Alpin back a hundred feet or so.

Growling, Cooler decided he'd had enough. This ignorant soldier and his common sister weren't worth his time. If all he had to do was beat this brat, then he would. Gathering power, the Prince sent a ball of energy twice the size of himself at the boy. Grinning smugly, Alpin made to dodge it, but Cooler sped around the ball and grabbed him by the throat. Holding him in front of the blast, Cooler laughed as the boy squirmed, staring wide-eyed at the Prince.

"What the," he gasped, "You'll get hit too!"

"Yes," Cooler smiled, "But it will hurt you much more."

The energy ball hit them and it was hard to tell which was louder, Alpin's scream or Cooler's laugh.

...

Hands over her mouth, Isolda watched helplessly as the energy engulfed her brother and his opponent. The light from the following explosion was blinding and she had to cover her head with her arms as pieces of debris rained down. Raising her eyes, she saw Cooler floating in midair without a scratch, her brother hanging limply from the Prince's hand.

"Alpin!" she screamed and before any of the females around her could stop her, she'd launched herself off the ground and towards the two warriors. Halting a few feet away from the Prince and hovering.

Staring at her indifferently, Cooler drawled, "You must be Isolda."

"Please, let my brother go," she said, responding to his glare with pleading eyes.

Spitting to the side, Cooler dropped Alpin to the ground, crossing his arms and watching her approach cautiously. "I can't believe my father wants to mix our blood with yours," he growled once she reached her brother's side.

Hesitating, Isolda felt her hands clench into fists and her tail go stone still. She hadn't asked to be chosen to be the mate of this arrogant bastard. If he had a problem, he should have taken it up with his father. Most importantly, she did not consider her blood inferior to his in any way.

"I suppose you'll be just as big of a disappointment as your brother was in the ring," the Prince lowered himself to the ground, "You're both cowards, I don't see how you can be expected to bear decent children."

A barrier released in her head and before Isolda realized it, her reflexes moved her of their own accord. Slamming her body into Cooler's, she managed to take him by surprise and knock him off balance. Falling to the ground, the Prince roared and was after her. Flying up, Isolda felt her heart beating fiercely with exertion but mostly with fear. She knew Cooler was right behind her, and the air was thinning. Soon she would have to change direction and hope she could somehow escape him.

A strong hand clamped around her ankle and yanked her downward. Gasping, she looked down to find Cooler holding her in place. Quivering, she hated the smile that her fear produced on his face.

"Come now, Isolda," he pulled her down so she was face-to-face with him, "Is that any way to treat your new mate?"

Dragging her by the wrist, Cooler managed to bring Isolda back down to the platform in the arena. King Cold was waiting there for them, a now conscious Alpin sulking next to him.

"Spirited young thing," the King chuckled.

"Indeed," Cooler released Isolda, shoving the plain white Jin towards the ground.

"Cooler," the King warned.

Sighing, Cooler crossed his arms over his chest and looked on in contempt, "Look at them father, they're pathetic excuses for Jin."

"Shut up," the command came from below, Isolda was glaring up at him again.

"Don't tell me what to do, female," Cooler growled, "You and your brother are a waste of air. I don't care what you have to say to me."

"You arrogant, self-absorbed, son of a bitch!" she screamed up at him, her pale cheeks burning red.

Loosening his arms, Cooler silently floated down to the ground to stand before her. His face was emotionless, but anger raged through his brain. Who did this little albino think she was? He was the eldest son of King Cold, feared by every warrior in the Ice-Jin army, and here she was, screaming at him. If he was going to put up with her as a mate, she was obviously going to need some training.

"You belong to me now, Isolda," he kept his voice neutral, bored sounding, "I hope you'll soon learn what that means. It will be easier for both of us."

Swallowing hard, she continued glaring at him, "You haven't claimed me, Prince," she said the title like it was a foul word.

A cruel smile slid across Cooler's face. This girl was going to be fun. Glancing up to his father, Cooler raised his voice so that all the Ice-Jins assembled could hear his request, "Father, my King, I ask to claim this female as my reward for defeating her brother."