Read Raife: An Aquadomina Novel Online
Authors: Stormy McKnight
Raife: An Aquadomina Novel (18 page)
An Aquadomina Novel, (Book Two)
Coming Winter 2015
The Welcome Celebration in Kingdom One, also known as Aquarian, was in
full swing. There were delegates from all Four Kingdoms in attendance,
including from her own home city of Wildehurst. Why they called themselves
“Kingdoms” when in reality they were just large cities Adina wasn’t quite sure.
All she knew was that with the arrival of delegates from Wildehurst, “he” would
be here soon. The King and his council had already started to mingle with the
others from Terragale, also known as Kingdom Two. Norhurst, also known as
Kingdom Three and Aquarian, Kingdom One.
Smoothing her hands nervously down the sides of her dress, she tried not
to panic. What would she do when she saw him again? It had been seven suns
since the night of The Gathering in Wildehaven. Sighing heavily she moved
toward an alcove at the back to get a better view of the entrance. She had met
Sophie or as her official title dictated, “The Chosen” that night in Wildehurst.
King Marias had attempted to get Sophie mated to one of the males of Wildehurst
by tricking her into the Gathering pools but it had backfired. The Chosen had
been found by her Chosen Consort, Raife and Adina…well, she had been found by
the Crown Prince, Meric. Which had been in no one’s plan. She certainly hadn’t
wanted to be plucked from the pool. Meric hadn’t meant to grab her; he was
aiming for The Chosen. Finally, because of their deceit Sophie had almost left
Wildehaven and abandoned peace talks. It was a good thing for the people of
Wildehaven that she really was as good-natured and forgiving as the rumors had
said.
Turning briefly to look over the grounds of Aquarian Adina’s brow
furrowed. This city really was exciting and thriving which was in sharp
contrast to the backward state of Wildehurst. She knew that The Chosen was
working on making things better for that Kingdom and it couldn’t happen soon
enough in her opinion.
“Would you care to dance?” Adina started when she heard a voice behind her.
Turning toward the dance floor, she saw a rather distinguished looking male
standing just before her alcove, his hand held out questioningly.
“I’m sorry—” She began, and before she could finish he sighed.
“Is it because I’m hopelessly out of style?” He moved to stand next to
her, but not invading her personal space. “All of the ladies of Aquarian have
such high standards. I fear I am out of favor with them and none will dance
with me.” His voice was teasing and she looked him over. He was tall with handsome
features and dark hair. When she looked closer, she saw that there were faint
strands of auburn flashing in the depths. His eyes were a brilliant blue,
though most Aquadomians had blue eyes. It was in their genetics she supposed.
She had always wondered at the anomaly that had given her dark grey eyes.
“I am not from Aquarian, so find your dress rather dashing.” She moved
around to pretend to be examining him from all angles. “Your suit is of an
excellent cut. Your boots are of the finest materials…all in all I would say
you make a very fine figure.” She had worked her way back to the front of him.
“My thanks for the kind words.” He smiled at her, “I must warn you, I am
a recently freed Deviant. I was falsely accused of course, but I feel it best
to get that right out in the open.”
“Well now I am truly shocked.” Adina put her hand against her chest in
faux panic, “To be in the company of a scoundrel ex-Deviant is truly
horrifying.” Adina knew that there had been a power struggle between The
Chosen, The Three and others in high positions of power. In the end, The Chosen
had prevailed and there were new councils in place in all four Kingdoms. In
addition, new adjudicators were looking into all of the previously accused
Deviants to find those truly guilty. Those that had been falsely charged were
being freed. That this man had been a Deviant was surprising, given his
obviously highborn upbringing and gentile manners.
The male next to her burst out laughing. “I fear the sharks will start
circling if you don’t agree to dance with me.” He held out his hand again, “You
are far too beautiful to be standing alone in this alcove.”
Adina had been having fun flirting and figured dancing was a great idea.
“I would love to dance.” She put her hand in his and was suddenly glad she had
lost the argument with Sophie over borrowing one of her outfits. This dark
indigo state dress with black corset went well with her tan complexion and
black hair. Adina had wanted to avoid the whole party, but her new friend had
insisted that she attend. Sophie was going to announce Raife as her Chosen
Consort, and then surprise everyone with a wedding. Her own of course, and she
dared anyone to try to stop her from making it official. Adina laughed at the
thought of anyone foolish enough to try to stand in The Chosen’s way.
“May I ask what you find amusing?” The male was holding her at a
respectful distance, moving her around the dance floor to the music.
“I was just laughing at the idea of anyone foolish enough to try to stop
The Chosen from getting her way.” Adina looked up.
His mouth twitched with humor, “I have met her a few times myself.” His
eyes were positively alight with laughter
She had to know. “You must tell
me
what is so funny.”
Pulling her a bit closer he whispered in her ear, “Can you keep a
secret?”
She pulled back a bit to say, “Of course.”
“Well then…” he moved to whisper in her ear again, “I tried to kidnap
her.”
Sophie laughed, “You didn’t?” Her shocked eyes flew to his. Their faces
were less than an inch apart, yet she didn’t feel uncomfortable.
“It was all a mistake, and she has forgiven me.” He insisted good
naturedly, “After all—”
“I am going to kill him.” A voice snarled menacingly to the right of
them.
“Honestly Meric, you can’t kill my brother. Who would stand with me at
the wedding?” Another voice said sardonically, “Rand how could you not stay out
of trouble for the rising of one sun?”
Adina tore her eyes off the male she had been dancing with to see that
Sophie, Raife, any number of guards and “he” had arrived.
“I don’t care if he is related to you—!” The looming form of the Crown
Prince of Wildehurst was moving forward.
“Here dance with your wife.” Before she could utter a word in protest,
Raife took her hand from Rand’s shoulder, put himself between Meric and she was
spun from her current partner, into steely arms.
Adina heard the shocked gasp of, “wife?” before Meric spun away from the
group. “I’m not his wife!” She denied, struggling in vain to get her hand free
from the grip that was holding hers. Not that he was hurting her. He was just
so damn strong. The palm pressed against the small of her back was holding her
much too close to his warm body for her peace of mind. Meric stood over six
foot tall and she was lucky to reach his shoulder with the top of her head. The
feeling of strength he radiated always made her feel small, and now was no
different.
“Why my dear.” Meric drawled lazily next to her ear, “You wound me.”
Adina felt the breath against her neck and it was as if he had kissed every
inch of her body with that one action. Every nerve was alive and tense, waiting
for what would come next. She knew what his touch could do and she had promised
herself she would try to avoid him because of her bodies traitorous reaction to
him.
This dance was bringing back all the memories of the night of The
Gathering that she was trying to forget. His golden body glistening in the
water from the pool. The strength in his arms as they held her against his
shoulder where he had carried her. The bunching of muscles in his back, legs
and butt as he had ran down the dock. When he had tossed her onto the bed in
his chamber, she had been spellbound. The bulging biceps and shoulder with that
sexy tribal tattoo had been exposed all these years in the vest. It was the
thickly muscled chest and abs that had been covered. That night she got to see
him in all his glory. From his golden blonde hair to his feet braced apart on
the floor. Not to mention the parts in between.
The chemistry was arcing between them and Adina renewed her efforts to
back away from Meric. “I need to go see if the wedding plans are on track with
Sophie.” She lied.
“The Chosen is surrounded by Raife’s family from Norhurst.” Meric was
looking over her shoulder and instead of moving in that direction, he pulled
her the other way. Out some doors onto a balcony overlooking the city. “She
doesn’t need you right now. I on the other hand need you very much.”
At the innuendo in Meric’s words, Adina’s eyes flew to his. “Meric.” She
recognized the look in his eyes from the night of the Gathering. “We both know
that what happened the other night was a mistake.”
“We both know that do we?” He was moving her toward the railing, his
large body blocking her in.
She kept talking as if he hadn’t interrupted, “I was only in the pool because
it was required of me as a certain aged female of Wildehurst. You were only in
the pool to try to catch The Chosen.”
“Your powers of reasoning are astounding my dear.” Her back hit the
railing and she was forced to stop backpedaling. Meric’s large chest pressed
into the front of her and Adina felt the heat of him through her dress, and to
her dismay, her body responded instantly to his nearness.
“Yes.” She swallowed hard, “Thank you.” Her hands came up to chest to try
to push him back, but ended up curving into the muscles she found instead. “As
I was saying.” Her voice went weak as Meric pressed a kiss to the inside of her
neck. ‘I think we are both victims of cir-circumstance.” He had flicked his
tongue against her skin and she was losing track of her thoughts with every
second they touched.
“Victims you say?” Meric asked. His hands followed the curve of her body
to land heavily on her hips. His lips were tracking the sensitive line between
her ear and shoulder.
“Yes. You don’t want to be mated to me.” She drew in another shaky breath
when he pulled her hips against his, “I certainly don’t want to be mated—”
“Adina?” Meric broke into her well-planned speech.
“Yes?” She peered up through passion lidded eyes.
“You think too much.” He drawled out then his lips captured hers. One
hand moved from holding her hip to brush along her lower back. His arm
encircled her waist to pull her even closer. The other hand moved into the hair
at the nape of her neck. She was effectively trapped against Meric’s body with
no way to pull back. Not that she was thinking of trying to move away. All she
wanted was a way to get closer. His lips were demanding against hers, his
tongue teasing and taunting her to respond. Their bodies were straining to get
closer, hips to hips and thanks to Meric’s holding her up, chest to chest.
Giving up the fight, she threw both arms around his neck and held on.