ONE YEAR LATER
Rennick inspected the bow and quiver full of arrows appreciatively. “And you’re sure she’ll like it?” he asked Ora.
Ora’s father, Tully, had been the king’s advisor for years, and since she and Rennick were the same age—the exact same age—her father brought her to the palace almost every day. They’d known each other for almost seven years, and wherever Finn and Rennick went, Ora followed.
Finn crossed his arms, looking skeptical. “I told you to do something else. You don’t know if she likes to hunt.”
Ora mirrored his stance and threw her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “And I said it’s exactly something she’d want. What do you know about girls?”
Finn stared her down in a battle of wills. “My sister hates it.” “Not all girls are the same, Finnigan,” she sneered.
Rennick ignored them both. They were always at each other’s throats for one reason or another.
Two weeks prior, Ora had confronted him because she’d overheard her parents discussing Rennick finding his mate. As the king’s advisor, Tully knew Rennick’s mate lived in another kingdom and wouldn’t move to the Mountain Kingdom until he took the throne, but that was it.
Thankfully, Tully didn’t know Amelia’s real name or which kingdom she lived in. Rennick’s father told most of his advisors Amelia’s name was Orissa, and that her family insisted on staying in their fae kingdom until Rennick took the throne.
Had it been up to Rennick, they wouldn’t know anything, but his father explained that he had to tell them something. It was unusual for an heir’s
mate to not be found within the first few months of their thirteenth birthday, and the council had had questions.
The knowledge that information about his mate, even false knowledge, had been easily overheard stoked a familiar rage within him. His father spoke with Tully on the matter, but if it happened again, Rennick would handle it himself.
When Ora asked him about “Orissa”, he’d sworn her to secrecy and threatened to cut out her tongue if she dared utter a word. He’d never so much as raised his voice to her, nor had he ever been a violent person, but something in him had changed following the death of his mother.
Ora had agreed to his terms, and when he told her the fabricated story of finding his mate, Ora’s eyes flashed with something he couldn’t name.
“Orissa is close to Ora,” she’d said lightly. “Are you sure you heard correctly? It can’t be a coincidence that our birthdays are on the same day.”
He’d furrowed his brow, confused at her statement. “I’d never mistake the name of my mate, and there are several girls in the kingdom who share our birthday.”
She never mentioned it again. Instead, she smiled brightly and said she knew just the thing a fifteen-year-old girl would love. Which led them to this moment, inspecting the new hunting gear commissioned specifically for Amelia.
“Stop fighting,” he told his two friends. “I need to find a way to wrap this.”
Ora looked pleased with herself and gave Finn a smug smile. “She’s going to love it.”
“I’ll tell my mother they’re for Ora’s birthday and have her wrap them,” Finn offered reluctantly.
Rennick smiled. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”
 |
Reminiscent of the night of his thirteenth birthday, Rennick watched the seconds tick away on the clock. Only one minute left until he turned fifteen and received his mark.
When royal fae turned fifteen, they bonded to an animal companion for life—their familiar. Magic marked them with a tattoo of their familiar’s
species. A short time later, usually a few days, their familiar arrived and the bond completed. Along with enhanced magic and mate bonds, familiars were exclusive to royal fae.
Individuals with a familiar bond had the ability to see and hear through them and mentally communicate with them. The familiars couldn’t say anything back, but their bonded could sense their thoughts. Familiars also assisted in battles should the need arise, and Rennick wanted something fierce, like his father’s snow leopard.
Rennick hissed as his skin burned from the left side of his chest all the way up the side of his neck. It took his breath away.
“The pain will be over soon.” His father’s voice was calm, but it didn’t make his chest hurt any less. “Breathe through it, son.”
Rennick closed his eyes and grabbed the arms of his chair, refusing to double over from the pain. It felt like someone held a hot iron to his chest. As the pain subsided, his breathing slowed, and he opened his eyes.
Unable to contain himself, he jumped up and ran to his dressing room with his father close behind. He stood in front of the mirror and stared at the large tattoo adorning his chest in utter disbelief.
Etched in his skin was the side profile of an owl in flight. Its large wings stretched over Rennick’s collarbone and up the side of his neck, and its rounded head with large eyes covered the front of his shoulder. The rest of the owl’s body covered the entirety of his left pectoral.
He turned back to his father, his fury building. Everything the gods blessed him with came with a bitter twist. First his mate, and now this. That familiar darkness crept into his soul, and he itched to carve the image out of skin. “A fucking owl?”
He’d wanted something that could instill fear in his enemies or protect his mate when he wasn’t around. A wulfer or even a serpent, would have been better than a bird the size of a breadbox.
His father chuckled. “Do not be disappointed with what the gods have blessed you with. They know exactly what you need.”
Rennick scoffed. “Do they think I need a bag of birdseed? Because that’s about the only thing I’ll gain from this.” He motioned to the marking on his chest. “What is an owl going to do? Peck someone to death?”
His father took measured steps toward him. “Serpents,” his father replied. “Rats. Other birds. Fish.”
Rennick furrowed his brow and turned back to the mirror to examine his mark again. “What are you talking about?”
“You said bird seed.” His father stopped behind him. “But owls eat other animals. They are fierce predators.” Their gazes collided in the mirror. “They swallow their food whole, and when someone threatens what is theirs, they attack without question.” His father smirked. “Seems perfect to me.”
FIFTEENTH BIRTHDAY
Letter #16
Happy Birthday, Kitten
I commissioned you a special bow and a quiver full of arrows this year. I didn’t really know if you liked hunting or not, but Ora said all girls do (even though my mother didn’t) and I chose not to argue.
When we’re together, we can go hunting as much as you’d like.
I got a big mark tattoo today. It’s an owl covering the left side of my chest. Between you and me, I wish I’d gotten something else, like a panther or wulfer wolf, but I’m stuck with this big-headed bird. I
hope you don’t hate it.
Eat some cake for me today. Your Friend,
Nick
P.S. I think about you a lot. I wonder what you look like or sound like or if you snore. And I wonder if you think about me too.
