Alyssa sighed when she saw the queues. She had arrived just a little after dawn with the others, but the lines were already enormously long. She had arrived a couple of days early to get her business taken care of and had hoped that the prince would find his mate on one of the earlier days and she would be spared this entire farce, but that hadn’t happened.
Still, it would do no good to take out her ill temper on the others, they had no more control over it than she did. So she had straightened her dress and joined the line, quietly giving the footman her name and gratefully accepting a steaming mug of tea. The sun hadn't yet had time to warm the courtyard and it was still cool around the edges. She knew that it would be quite warm later, but she hoped that they would be gone by the time that it got that warm.
She could imagine that the prince was getting quite irritated with the whole affair as well. She couldn't imagine what in the world had convinced the prince that this was a good idea in the first place. The whole affair had been rather shrouded in mystery, which was saying something for an event of this size. It made her curious, although not curious enough to be the prince's mate. She rather pitied the poor woman who ended up thrown into the middle of that situation.
Still, her parents had been happy for this chance for her. They all knew that her mate wasn't anyone local, but she had always been content the way she was. Unlike the other girls of the district who were excited about this. After all, even if their mate wasn't the prince, there was a chance that they could still meet him while they were out in the world. Alyssa had been kind and tried to not squash their dreams, but it was hard to look at all of it with any kind of starry-eyed enthusiasm.
However, when she had first declared that she was happy alone, her mother had always just swooped her up into a giant hug and declared her to be the most frighteningly practical creature that she knew. Her father had calmly declared that it was a good thing because there were no lads out there worthy of her anyway. Alyssa had always rolled her eyes at their antics, but it was true that they did make her feel very loved.
Since her parents had wanted her to see more of the world than their small wilderness, she had quietly gone along with it. And honestly, the trip hadn't been nearly as terrible as she had anticipated. She had gotten to fly and stretch her wings instead of being ground-bound. After all, it was only to be expected of a winged race that they wanted to fly, but she had heard about other courts with strange views on what was normal and what wasn't. And she had seen many interesting and diverse sights around the kingdom, had learned and seen so much already.
So she chose to view this whole debacle as a learning experience. Even this farce could be interesting. Although she was technically nobility as the daughter of a knight, the chances that she would've ever been presented at court were slim to none. And people had come from all across the kingdom, which meant that she got to see and meet people that she never would've before. There were possible connections and friendships to be made here.
X
Inside the throne room, Rowan was not any happier. This was the last day of the week-long search and he could tell that even his father was getting tired of this farce. He couldn't even accuse Rowan of not cooperating, because the mate bond was an instinctive thing and he would immediately know when he met his mate. There was no way to truly hide something like that happening. There had been no spark between any of them, although a few of them had caught his eye with their beauty. Angelina had often lounged on the dais beside him, making snarky comments about the hopefuls. He had ignored most of it, but a few of them had made him chuckle, although he did his best to keep his face impassive.
His father had been outraged when he'd seen the duchess on the platform beside him, but Rowan had reminded him grimly that it didn't matter if she was there or not, if his mate should arrive, he would know, and if she didn't, then he was free to court whomever he wanted according to their deal. So the king had seethed but reluctantly permitted it.
So here Rowan stood, for the seventh day in a row, being introduced to woman after woman and nothing. By all rights, he should've gone and hunted down his mate himself, but his duties simply would not permit him to. He was drawn from his musings as the next woman was introduced and he had to engage in yet another round of meaningless pleasantries. He couldn't wait for this day to be over.
X
Alyssa was reluctantly impressed. Despite the oddness of the thing, all of the women were being taken very well care of. There had been food and entertainment and plenty of places to sit and rest so that they didn't have to stand all day. Alyssa had made several acquaintances that showed the potential of blossoming into real friendships. However, when one of the musical groups launched into country dances, she couldn't help but whirl into them, tugging everyone into dancing as well. There was lots of giggling and laughter as most did not know the dances, but those that did helped those that didn't and it made that particular courtyard a merry place.
X
King Airell had taken a break, unable to quell his rising frustration with his sob. Although most would find Rowan utterly charming, he knew that Rowan was making a mockery of the entire thing. So he had walked away to allow his temper to cool, only a couple of his advisors and a few guards walking with him.
The sound of laughter and merry-making drew him and he walked in that direction. This whole mate hunt had been a kerfuffle from start to finish and as much as he wished for Rowan to find his mate, he was just as eager to get some peace and quiet again. All of the girls had been nervous and eager and some had been much too bold. All of the courtyards holding the ladies had been tense and quiet while they waited for their chance. So where were the high spirits coming from?
He reached a walkway that overlooked the courtyard in question and looked down. It was indeed one of the courtyards that held the women who had traveled to meet the prince, but this one was filled with laughter and merriment as the women danced to musicians that he had arranged for all of them. It was obvious that many of them were unfamiliar with the dances, but instead of condescension and polite sneers, they were coaxed along by the women who knew the dances. Several of the women weren't dancing, but standing on the sidelines, clapping and laughing as they talked to one another. It was by far one of the most peaceful and merry groups that he had seen.
He found himself thinking wistfully that he hoped that his son's mate was one of the women below. The palace hadn't seen such warmth and laughter in much too long. After watching for several minutes, he reluctantly turned and headed back to the throne room, although he quietly asked his advisor to get the names of the young ladies in that particular courtyard. If nothing else, in the notes that he was sending in thanks to all of the families, he could mention the joy that this particular group had brought to him.
X
It was mid-afternoon by the time that Alyssa's group was called. She was nearly convinced that they must be the last group and after this was over, they could all attend the feast that marked each night of this search. The women had been asked to form a line and she had found herself towards the back of the line, not that she minded. It gave her more time to examine the throne room. However, as they were lining up, she felt a sparkling sensation shoot through her and had to fight to keep her wings from flaring wide. It looked like her parents were right, her mate was somewhere in this room. Now that was something that she wasn't anticipating. Still, it was the male's job to find and claim.
A couple of girls had noticed her uneasiness, but she laughed it away, saying that she just wanted to stretch her wings and was used to flying every day. They all nodded sympathetically and added that they did as well. Still, she couldn't help glancing around discreetly to see if she could see if any males caught her eye.
X
Rowan had been growing increasingly weary as the day went on, having to keep a tighter and tighter rein on his temper. The duchess's remarks had become downright cruel, something that he was not, even when he was frustrated, so he had sent her off to join the other nobles in attendance. He let out a sigh of relief when the final group was called, energy filling him suddenly. It was as if tension had suddenly sparked through him, all of his nerves coming to life and telling him to pay attention. He thought that it might be the fact that he was finally at the end of the women.
Although he had kept a stoic facade over the days, he was surprised to find himself hurting lightly. He had always scoffed at the idea of a mate, but that didn't mean that somewhere buried deeply inside of him wasn't the dream that all male Kitala's had of finding their other half, the one made just for him. He had been through the entire kingdom, this was the last group of girls. He should be fairly dancing and singing, his freedom was so close, but he had found his mood growing increasingly dark as the week wore on and there was no spark, nothing.
This group was much more pleasant than some of the other groups had been. There were actually quiet, pleasant conversations as they waited in line to meet him. The women who were introduced were gracious, some were bashful and shy, others outgoing and friendly, but all of them were polite and warm, which was a welcome relief. However, with every woman he met, the knot of nerves in his stomach grew tighter and his skin tingled and burned like it was on fire.
Finally, he could ignore it no more. His mate was here, in the room. He just had to have patience and she would come to him. He immediately forgot about the duchess and his father's schemes, all he knew was that his other half was close and his blood was singing for her, for his mate. That was the exact moment that the duchess chose to rejoin him on the dais, but he ignored her utterly, as if she wasn't even there. She was surely only there to make another snide observation anyway.
Instead, he carefully examined the line of women. There weren't many, maybe two dozen that he had not been introduced to yet. But none of them stood out to him, all of their postures relaxed, none of the tension or flared wings that went along with the feeling of a mate bond potential. That left him with the possibility that it might be a weak mate bond, but the surging of his blood and stinging of his skin told him otherwise. His other half was strong, he had no doubt of it, and their bond would reflect the fact.
Tamping down his impatience, he greeted the next woman, hoping for the spark, but nothing. Same with the next woman and the one after that. Soon, there were only a half dozen women left and his skin felt like it was on fire, literally. He carefully studied the next woman coming up. She had on a pale purple dress that was simple yet breathtakingly elegant. She moved smoothly, almost as if she was dancing, her reddish-brown hair falling in loose waves down her back. Her wings appeared to be almost like a sparrow's wings, brown and tucked tightly against her back. Most stunning of all were her turquoise eyes, filled with warmth and laughter.
She curtsied and the herald announced, "Lady Alyssa of Anaria."
He reached his hand out to assist her to rise. As soon as their hands touched, it was like starlight shimmered through him, setting every nerve in his body alight. There might have been noise, but everything in the world faded until it was only him and her. He breathed, "It's you."
Her eyes widened impossibly wide and she breathed back, "I can't be."
He nodded firmly, clasping her hand between both of his, "You are the one that my soul cries out for, you are my true mate. I have found you at last, Alyssa of Anaria. May I see your wings?"
That was the only request he could make, a chance for courtship, a chance to prove that this bond between them was real, was worth pursuing. She had every right to refuse him, a thought which utterly terrified him and filled him with rage at the same time. Who was this woman, to have such power over him? He had never wanted this, never needed this, but suddenly he craved it with every breath that he drew. Even if she said no, he knew that he would never return to the duchess, or anyone else. He mentally cursed his father but outwardly remained silent and impassive, not wanting to scare her away.
With a deep breath, she nodded firmly, her mind made up. She slowly curved one wing around so he could see the back and it was indeed very sparrow-like. He nodded his acknowledgment of her coloring there. Then she slowly flared out her wings to their full span so he could see the inside. Her wings were dazzling, large and magnificent, yet somehow also feminine and dainty. He had expected the inside to match the outside. But the inside feathers were a beautiful combination of teal, aqua, and turquoise, like a turquoise sea on a playfully breezy day.
His breath caught in his throat and all he could do was stare. Then slowly, ever so slowly, he flared out his wings as well. His wings were large, rust and bronze with hints of gold along the edges of his feathers. He preened slightly when he saw her fingers twitch as if she wanted to reach out and run her fingers over them. And while he would welcome such an action on her part, that was too intimate an action to display in front of everyone
He said softly, "Your wings are magnificent, I have never seen their like. Will you allow me to court you, Alyssa of Anaria, the chance to win the other half of my soul?"
She blinked, hooding her eyes as she struggled to draw a deep breath, and then slowly looked at him. Her voice was so, so soft that he barely caught her words, "I would like that, Your Highness, for my soul also cries out for you. I had not thought to meet my mate on this day, but I must admit, I am drawn to you like no other."
The increasing clamor drowned out anything else that she might've had to say and he was abruptly pulled back to the reality of the situation. Glancing around, he saw that all eyes were fixed on them. She sighed but offered him a wry smile. He took her hand again, groaning silently at the pleasant heat that coursed through him at her touch, and gently pulled her up onto the dais beside him, turning her to face the audience.
Pitching his voice just right, he called out, "I have found this day my true mate, Alyssa of Anaria. May all see her and rejoice, for I have found the other half of my heart and she has agreed to courtship."
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