A/N: Sorry for the looooonnngg AWOL. But here's chapter 6!
Chapter 6 : Unwelcomed
Celeste slammed the book shut as she heaved out a heavy sigh. It was a boring day. Aelin and Rowan had to fly somewhere to do their royal duties and left her to do whatever she wanted.
She was thinking about what she would do for the remainder of the day when the hulking masses of marble pillars that jutted out from the ground outside the city wall caught her attention. She remembered how it peeked her curiosity the day they arrived and decided to go and take a look at what it was all about.
The princess was about to portal out when she thought better of it. She changed her clothes into something more Erilea-appropriate and went to the stables.
"Good Afternoon," she greeted the stable boy who turned red the moment he realised who approached, "would it be alright for me to borrow a horse? I'd like to go out and explore the city."
"O-of course, your Highness. I'll prepare a horse for you right away." The stable boy ran away and disappeared deeper into the huge stable.
It happened fast. One moment Celeste was just looking at the boy's retreating back and the next second, she was doing a somersault and directing a ball of light to whatever suddenly appeared behind her.
She landed on her feet only to have her hands drawn to her back, "You missed." Fenrys held her hands together tightly as his breath tickled her ear. The princess rolled her eyes feeling relieved it wasn't someone who meant harm.
She tried to ignore the tingling sensation she felt with Fenrys being too near for her comfort. "What do you want?"
He let go of her hands and she didn't waste a second to put distance between them before facing him. "You. But seeing as you won't have that, I'll settle for accompanying you on your little adventure instead."
Celeste raised a brow at the towering Fae before her, "You mean guarding me?"
Fenrys smirked, "With the way you move during trainings? You don't need it. I just simply want to be in your glorious presence."
Celeste walked towards the approaching stable boy who had a tall beautiful white horse behind him and took the reigns from him, nodding her thanks. She hiked up the saddle and faced Fenrys.
"I don't want your company." The princess reigned in the horse and galloped out the stables.
Fenrys watched the Princess' retreating back and smiled softly, "Well too bad I want yours." He ran towards a shadow and disappeared.
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It was nearing noon and Fenrys was still following her wherever she went. The bastard didn't even try to hide himself. Celeste thought to herself as she glanced at the tall figure standing on the roof at the opposite side of the street.
She figured it was better like that seeing as she tried to blend in with the people and having one of the queen's Fae brutes wouldn't have been discreet. Although his constant presence was starting to get through her.
"What brings a lovely lady like yourself here in Terrasen?"
She turned towards the man to her right who's been watching her for quite some time as she browsed through the assortment of jewellery in front of her. She gave him a small smile, "Just passing through."
The man looked about a few years older than her with jet black hair and stormy gray eyes. He was handsome but there was something about him that made Celeste put up her guard.
"I heard the queen has a visitor from a faraway land. A beauty beyond anyone's ever seen. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that do you?"
She caught his eyes and he winked.
She smiled the practiced smile she always used that had men falling to her feet, "I do not. I'm actually quite lost. Would you mind tagging along with me?"
"Not at all if it is a lady like yourself." The man stepped closer to her, close enough to feel his breath in her ear as he whispered, "It's nice to see you again, sunshine."
She muffled her laugh, "What are you doing here, Alonso?"
"I couldn't stay away from you too lo-"
Alonso was pushed away so hard that he flew a few feet back and to the ground. "Stay the fuck away from my mate." Fenrys snarled as he pushed Celeste behind his back.
The man stood up brushing off the dirt from the impact and looked at the Fae. He raised an eyebrow nonchalantly and said, "And you are?"
"This lady's mate."
Celeste rolled her eyes as he stepped around Fenrys to get in between the two. Considering that size of these two males, she wouldn't want them to start fighting and destroying everything in sight. "Why don't we head back to the castle? I'd hate for you two to continue this scene here in front of the people."
She gestured towards the growing crowd that surrounded them as the people realised who the Fae male was in their midst. The princess tried to block Fenrys' view of Alonso but seeing as they were both towering over her, she settled for grabbing Alonso's arm and pulling him towards the general direction of the castle.
Once they were somewhere with less people, Celeste pulled the man in a small alley and created a portal to the castle, "In you go." She said with a smile.
The man shook his head smiling, "I'll never get used to this." And he stepped in.
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Fenrys was pissed.
Who the fuck was that dipshit? How does he know Celeste? Why the fuck is he so comfortable with her to flirt with her in public?
Fenrys threw the doors open to the council room.
Aelin and Rowan whipped their heads toward him, "What's gotten you so worked up?" Aelin asked
"There are people. In the kingdom. Everywhere."
Aelin shot a look at Rowan to confirm if he, too, found this funny, "Yes. There are people in the kingdom. As it should be. I'd be worried if there weren't."
He slammed his fist on the table, "People who smell different. They aren't human."
"Ah yes. That must be them." Rowan uttered.
"Them? What do you mean them?"
"We-" There was a knock on the door followed by a muffled laugh.
"Your Majesty, it's the princess and a visitor." The guard outside announced. Aelin stood up and faced the two new arrivals.
As soon as the visitor stepped in, Aelin and Rowan immediately understood what Fenrys was talking about. The scent was different. It seemed familiar but stronger. It smelled a lot like that other part of Princess Celeste that they couldn't pin a name to.
"Your Highnesses." Rowan bowed
"Highnesses?"
"Fenrys, this is Crown Prince Alonso La Nuít of Majika." Aelin introduced, her voice dropping on a few select words. Obviously, trying to tell him to get his shit together and calm down.
Fenrys has heard of Majika before. It is one of the most ancient kingdoms in this world. He's been to Majika, even tried to bring it down by the order of Maeve but failed —the only time the cadre failed to obliterate an army.
Majika, throughout time, only grew stronger. With the royal family's immense power that even Maeve felt that it was too much and ordered them to assassinate every last member of the royal family. The crown prince stood still, his gaze unwavering as he met Fenrys' eyes seeming to order him to back down.
"Also, betrothed to the most beautiful woman, the princess of Equirra." Alonso smiled as he looked at Celeste proudly.
Fenrys held in his breath.
Betrothed?