Red, orange, and yellow filled the horizon, and birds chattered excitedly as they greeted the slow approach of night. Glancing back at the hotel behind me, I sighed. This wasn’t how I wanted to spend my last night in Leukós. It wasn’t different from any other weekend; every Friday and Saturday I had to be at some formal function. But this was my last night, I wanted to be home, eating homemade cookies with Chef, going through my bags to make sure I’d packed everything, and spending quality time with my critters.

  I had mixed feelings about going to the Trigon Academy in Equipoise. Leukós, the realm I grew up in, was a tropical paradise, even our winters were warm. Equipoise on the other hand had four distinct seasons varying between frozen winters and warm summers. Cold winters meant snow and many sensational new outfits I could wear, including fluffy boots and knitwear. I had to admit I was nervous about the ‘other realmers’ who were rumored to be cold, ruthless, and untrustworthy. There was also the fact that I was leaving a wonderful father and my rescued animals behind. One person I did not mind leaving behind was my mother, my own personal nightmare.

  I heard footsteps at the top of the stairs coming from the hotel and whirled my head around to see if it was someone sent to call me back to the black-tie event I was attending, but through the last few rays of sun that hindered my sight, I saw a pair of sneakers and relaxed, turning back to the beautiful hotel gardens. I felt something cold against my leg and jerked away. Next to my feet, sat an ocean-blue foxlike creature with large ears, its three tails flaring out behind it and the tip of its tails and ears white. It turned its little head and my heart melted at the sight of those big sparkling eyes.

  A gravelly voice broke the silence. “I’m sorry, she typically avoids people.”

  A few feet away stood a young man with short, dark blonde hair. He was tanned, had cosmic blue eyes, characteristic of a wind fae, and a shy, one-sided smile.

  I returned the smile and knelt next to the cute creature. “I don’t mind, I love animals.” I started scratching its soft coat. “I’ve never seen a creature like this.”

  “She’s a sable fox,” he said, walking closer. “Her name is Meo.”

  “Meo, hey girl.”

  He knelt next to her, the faint scent of vanilla and cedar drifting to my nose.

  My heart skipped a beat as my eyes met his for a moment. I blushed, turning my full attention to Meo. Shy? Me, Oriel Aurora Donahue, who didn’t have a shy bone in her body? “Where does she come from?”

  He shifted uncomfortably. “She’s from Tenebrous.”

  I blinked. “Tenebrous?”

  “Yeah, it is a long story.” He cleared his throat. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t seem like the kind of girl that likes animals.”

  My lips twitched into a smile. “Yeah, I’m one of those books with way too much glitter and fluff on its cover, but on the inside, there is just a bunch of plain pages.”

  He chuckled and started rubbing Meo too. “Plain pages maybe, but if you love animals the content is sure to be good.”

  “I hope so.”

  I glanced up into his blue eyes and found him smiling at me. Distracted, my fingers wandered down Meo’s back and bumped into his hand. Our hands were barely touching but the effect was huge. I could hardly breathe.

  Footsteps at the top of the stairs broke the spell.

  “Where is that girl?” The unmistakable shrill voice of my mother carried from the shadows. Her curly blonde hair, pale face, and bloodred lips made their appearance. She put her hand irritably on her hip.

  I stood straight and pulled on my dress.

  When her eyes adjusted to the sun, she glared at me. “Can’t you for once be where you supposed to be?” Her eyes narrowed more when she looked at the man standing behind me.

  I turned towards him. “I have to go; it was nice meeting you and Meo.” I wanted to ask his name, but the tapping of my mother’s foot against the floor tiles distracted me. A quick glance in her direction and then back at the mysterious stranger.

  He gave another shy smile. “It was nice meeting you too.”

  Disappointed that I had to leave, I turned to my mother and made my way up the stairs.

  My mother’s nose wrinkled, and she pulled at my dress. “Who was that?”

  “I don’t know, he had a fox for a pet. She was cute.”

  “Go and wash your hands and make sure you don’t smell like a filthy animal. There are important people here tonight that we need to impress.”

  I turned to walk to the door, but she grabbed my arm.

  “Oh, and dear, I told you our reputation is all we have, don’t go throwing it away by talking to fae like that.”

  I narrowed my eyes, “Fae like that at least have a heart.”

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  She lifted her hand in the air ready to hit me, I closed my eyes waiting for the blow, but nothing came. “Useless girl. Be grateful I can’t send you back to the hall with a red cheek. But you’ll get what’s coming to you when we are back home.”

  She stomped away. I opened my eyes, took a deep breath, and made my way to the washroom.

  Back in the hall, I put on my socialite smile and, with perfect grace, joined my mother and father’s side, pretending to be the happiest girl in the whole of Leukós. We dined and danced before ending up in smaller groups talking.

  “I love your dress Oriel,” a short girl with curly blonde hair squeaked.

  “Thank you.” I swayed my butt side to side to show off the flowy purple fabric of the A-line, off-shoulder dress with a ruffle split front.

  “Where did you buy it? At FaeFabulous?” Another girl asked

  The girl with curly blonde hair clicked her tongue. “Oriel is a Donahue, she doesn’t buy her dresses in shops, she gets them made by the best designers in Leukós. Right, Oriel?”

  I smiled widely. “Of course.”

  “Good night, Oriel, I hope you enjoy Trigon,” a gruff voice said behind me.

  I turned around and found an old classmate standing behind me. “Aww thank you.” I hugged him. “I’ll miss everyone here.”

  “We’ll miss you too,” he said and waved at the girls behind me. Then he walked off with a swagger. I turned back to the girls so I could pretend to be interested in their riveting conversation.

  “I’ve heard he is dating the model who was on the Glitter Fae magazine cover.”

  “Please, he doesn’t date, he has a new girl every time I see him.”

  “You know him well, Oriel, is he seeing her or not?”

  I cocked my head. “Who are we talking about?”

  “Zyron.”

  I sighed. Zyron D’Arco, a handsome young man that could make most woman’s knees buckle, about 7 years older than me, midnight blue hair, and most importantly, the son of the richest and most powerful fae in Leukós.

  Three pairs of eyes watched me intensely, and I raised an eyebrow in response. “I have no idea.”

  “Come on, Oriel, you’re family friends are you not?”

  “No, he is closer in age to my sister, Elva. They usually hang out. And,” I snorted, “we don’t really get along.”

  That was the absolute truth, just last week we had a huge fight. We went to the Lake for Elva’s birthday and Zyron took over. He invited a bunch of random fae and even convinced some girls to have a wet t-shirt competition. I clenched my fists at the memory. He ruined my sister’s day. Not to mention, after my sister blew out the candles on her birthday cake, Zyron, in front of everyone, told her he hoped that was the closest she got to the cake because she couldn’t afford to gain any more weight. That was the moment I lost it, threw the cake in his face, and pushed him off the pier. As punishment, I had to carry his bags when we went hiking the next day. Mother’s orders. He made sure not to pack lightly. Hateful man.

  One of the girls pointed behind me. “Oriel, I think your mother is looking for you.”

  I turned my head to see my mother waving sweetly at me, I returned the smile and walked over to her. She led me out the hall to a private meeting room, dropping the pretense the moment she closed the door. I was expecting another spat, but instead, she smiled at me, which made me even more nervous.

  “What’s wrong, mother?”

  “Nothing dear, the negotiations with Mr. D’Arco have been finalized.”

  “So, Elva and Zyron will marry?” I asked, pained. I knew my sister wouldn’t be happy with that selfish, womanizing asshole. Since my family was in a bit of a financial crisis, and my sister would be taking over the family business, she put herself and her happiness on the line. I cringed at the thought of her having to spend her life married to him.

  “No, but he is willing to marry and settle down five years from now when you return from Trigon.”

  “When I return from Trigon?”

  “He doesn’t want to marry your sister; he wants to marry you.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “There is no way, he doesn’t even like me, we don’t even get along.”

  My mother’s face turned stern, sucking with it every inch of warmth from my body, as though a shard of ice had struck my faintly beating heart.

  “No, mother, you can’t make me marry him, please?” I begged, tears threatening to escape.

  “I can, and I will. You know I hold the futures of everyone you love in my hands, so do as I say.” A sly smile curled around her mouth, as she tapped her hand on my cheek. “I’ll give you a few minutes, pull yourself together, Zyron wants to speak to you.” She turned and walked towards the door, pausing, and adding over her shoulder. “Heaven knows why he decided to marry you, but look at it this way Oriel, for the first time in your life, you can feel like you’ve done something right.” With a dark chuckle, she disappeared.

  I sank into a nearby chair, taking deep breaths, trying to calm my thunderous heart. Thoughts rushed through my mind; this must be a mistake, it can’t be happening, he’ll realize it as soon as he steps through the door, he’ll have to.

  Someone approached and the door opened. I stood and straightened my dress. Zyron walked through the door with his larger-than-life presence, midnight blue hair, and ice-cold, emotionless eyes.

  “Oriel.”

  “Zyron.”

  His eyes roamed over my body as he walked towards me, stopping only inches away. “No insults today?”

  “Well, I can’t really insult my future husband now, can I?”

  He chuckled as his fingers started tracing up the slit on my thigh, his eyes never leaving mine.

  “Why?” I whispered.

  “I have my reasons.”

  I couldn’t take it anymore and broke eye contact, trying to step backward, but he put his hand around my middle and held me in place.

  “Don’t.” He leaned in and kissed me, my body stiffening. Grunting, he pulled me closer. “Oriel, I own you now, stop fighting it.”

  “The ring isn’t on my finger yet, asshole,” I growled, anger boiling up in me.

  “There she is.” He looked happy, like he had been waiting for me to lose it. “I do own you. You know the only reason you're still going to Trigon is because I decided you should go. Don’t make me change my mind.”

  “So, does that mean we’re officially engaged?”

  “No, not yet. I don’t need any complications now; we go on as we would have before the arrangement. We’ll meet every six months when you come home for breaks. And when you come back from Trigon, we will get engaged and married. At least, that’s the plan for now. I could always change my mind.”

  That, at least was a little comfort. I had some time.

  Zyron looked at his watch. “I have to go; I still have a few things to take care of tonight. I’ll be in touch.” He leaned in to kiss me again. I stood motionless, not willing to give into his kiss, not that it stopped him. He turned and held his arm out for me to take, leading me back to the party.