His waiting and anticipation had ended with her disrespect and disregard.
King Reidan stared out the window, watching the sky turn from pitch black to a warm orange in the east. He cursed himself for ever expecting anything from Mortana. In the short time he had known the woman, he had already known that she was rebellious, full of her own desires and whims, and he hadn't expected that she would actually come. But the thought of her refusing his request made his heart break.
Had it been such a ridiculous request to stop and see him? He hadn't drug her back to the castle when he found her in the middle of the street like he had wanted to. He was trying to be patient and kind. But here he was, alone, her unfulfilled promise lingering in the air.
He walked away from the window, pacing back and forth in his bed chamber. The whole place was cold and rigid, a far cry from the warmth of her presence. Everything was painted in shades of blue, the walls adorned with intricate tapestries, and the fire burning quietly in the corner.
Reidan sighed; his mind was filled with thoughts of her. He remembered what it felt like to have her so close, feeling the warmth radiating from her body. He recalled the urge he had to kiss her, but he held back, not wanting to scare her away. His kingdom would be doomed if she rejected him and his efforts to break the spell upon them all.
Sitting down in a chair by the fireplace, its warmth comforting him on this cold night, he thought of how she had looked at him, her eyes filled with confusion and fear as he stood in her room. But despite it all, he knew there was something between them and a spark that could not be denied.
He knew he could not keep his secret much longer, not when his kingdom depended on it.
Reidan had been up all night, his thoughts a tangled ball of unease. He changed his clothes and made his way downstairs to his study. Opening the door, the scent of vanilla and chocolate wafted up to him. There, on the mahogany table, he was surprised to find a plate of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies that hadn't been there before.
He smiled and picked one up, savoring the sweet flavor. These had to be from her. It appeared that he wasn't the only one who struggled to sleep after their encounter in the night. This small gesture filled him with hope; maybe there was still a chance for them after all.
Reidan's mind raced as he finished the last cookie from the plate. He had to make a decision, and he had to do it quickly. He couldn't keep waiting; he needed to know if she was going to accept him or not. With a deep breath, he pushed himself up from his chair and walked out of the study.
He headed straight upstairs, hoping that maybe she was still awake. After knocking several times to no response, he opened the door cautiously and scanned the dark room but found it empty. His heart sank at the realization that she wasn't there.
Confused and frustrated, Reidan tried to think of where else she could be. He walked around the castle looking for her but saw no sign of her.
Determined to find her, Reidan rushed outside into the crisp morning air and began wandering around the island. The sun shone in front of him, peeking over the edge of the island as if they were guiding him in his search for her. He kept walking through the city until he reached the edge of the floating island and looked down into the abyss below.
Reidan's heart thundered in his chest as he watched a small figure disappear into nothingness below him; it was her!
Every bone in his body screamed for him to act fast. A surge of raw magic coursed through his body as he desperately conjured a wind to part the clouds beneath her, and with a split second of clarity managed to catch her before the darkness swallowed her up.
Carefully he urged her body to rise, cradled in his magic until she was once again on the island. Catching his breath, Reidan lowered her onto solid ground with one last gust of wind magic.
He caught a glimpse of her face, her eyes were closed and her body was limp, as if she was sleeping. Crouching down, he brushed her hair out of her face and whispered to her, but she didn't stir. He then tried shaking her but that didn't work either.
“Mortana.”
She couldn't hear him.
He cupped her face, taking in every detail of her features. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and her hair flowed freely around her shoulders. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
How did she fall off the island?
The terror inside him spread. Would the islands have chosen a queen who would reject them? Were the islands themselves rejecting her? How could the island have let her fall? If she was really who he was supposed to be with it shouldn't have been possible. A fae with some sort of air magic was always chosen to be queen and they couldn't die from a fall. Did she not have any?
Unable to wake her, Reidan gently lifted her up in his arms and started walking back to the castle, his mind swirling with questions about Mortana. He couldn't help but wonder if she was really the queen the islands had chosen or if something else sinister was at play.
As he walked, a small memory floated back to him - Mortana had told him that she had been brought to the island by a dragon. A cold fear suddenly filled his heart as he realized that something was wrong. He just didn't know what. With a renewed energy, he quickened his pace and soon arrived at the castle gates.
He strode purposefully through the halls, his footsteps echoing against the walls. Reaching the top of the stairs, he entered her room and placed her carefully on her bed. She lay limp, her breathing slow and steady. He then stepped back and tilted his head, admiring her peaceful slumber.
Who was she?
He was startled as a dark glowing light filled the room, her body making the air around him flicker with a magical aura.
He knelt beside her and watched as her eyes fluttered open, a glint of purple shone in them. The light shining around her body was growing brighter by the second.
What was happening?
“Who are you?” She asked. Her voice was different, deeper and more powerful.
“I'm… I'm your king.”
“My king?” She repeated, her voice growing in volume. “What do you mean?”
“Mortana, it's me, Reidan.”
The look on her face suddenly changed, the confusion and fear replaced by a look of anger.
“I am not Mortana and I have no king.”
Reidan jumped back. Her voice was wrong and those eyes were not Mortana's eyes. He was now more confused than before.
Who was she then?
The glowing aura around her body suddenly burst into a bright purple flame, the air around them crackling with magic.
Reidan was forced back into the wall of the room and the ground beneath them began to shake.
The flame around her body grew to an impossible height, the purple magic around her intensifying. The flame spread outwards, engulfing the room so that she was standing in the center of it, an island of purple fire.
Reidan tried to get up, to move out of the way, but a wave of magic washed over him. It pinned him to the wall, his arms stretched outwards and his body pressed flat against the stone. He tried to call out to her, but the magic in him had taken away his voice and any movement.
A small golden orb suddenly materialized above her and started splitting apart into a thousand tiny balls that rained down upon her. Some of the golden orbs disappeared as soon as it touched her skin. Others bounced off of her, landing at her feet and then popping into small wisps of smoke.
Reidan grabbed her hand, “Mortana, what is happening to you?”
“What is happening to me?” She snapped, yanking her hand from his. “I'm saving my daughter.”
There was another golden glow before her body was engulfed in a pillar of light. He shielded his eyes, not wanting to look directly at it.
The flames disappeared when she did, sucking all heat from the room with it. The air grew cold, icy, Reidan could feel his breath form a fog in front of his lips.
“Come back!” He screamed.
A bone-chilling laugh echoed through the room. Reidan turned to see a shadowy figure lurking in the corner; darkness seeming to warp around it.
“Foolish mortal,” it rumbled. “Did you really think you could lay claim to my daughter?”
Reidan's blood turned to ice even as fury rose within him. “What have you done with her?” he demanded.
The being drifted forward, shadows clinging to its skeletal frame. “I am her father, Death.” His fathomless eyes bored into Reidan's. “And you will not have her.”
Reidan met that chilling gaze unflinchingly. “I don't care who you are,” he gritted out.
Death's bony hands shot out, grasping Reidan by the throat in an icy grip. “Relinquish your claim,” he hissed, “or suffer unimaginable agony!”
“I didn’t claim her, my kingdom did. But even if it didn’t, I would fight for her anyway.”
The grip on his throat tightened as Death growled.
Reidan clawed fruitlessly. Darkness edged his vision, but he stubbornly clung to consciousness. There was still a chance...
With his remaining strength, he called out, “Mortana! I...” Reidan faltered. What could he say to call her back?
Frantic, he sifted through his jumbled thoughts. How she always tried to see the good in everything, even when being difficult. Her small delighted smile whenever she bit into one of her own creations. The way she could read his moods so easily. He realized then that what lay between them, though new and uncertain, was real. And it was worth fighting for.
“I need you, Mortana!” he croaked out. “I don't fully understand this bond between us, but I know I want to find out. You challenge me, surprise me.” He gasped for air. “Just please, come back. We'll face whatever comes next together.”
A tension filled the room, like the stillness before a lightning strike. Then violet flames erupted between Reidan and the Guardian, coalescing into Mortana's familiar form. Her gaze locked with Reidan's, fiery and determined.
“Let him go,” she commanded. Death could only stare as she hurried to Reidan's side and ripped his hand away from Reidan’s throat.
Reidan sagged against her in relief. Before he could say more, Death bellowed, “Daughter, stop this madness! He is unworthy of you.”
Mortana stood tall, undaunted by her father's rage. “I decide what my fate will be. The islands called me here for a reason.” She softened as she turned back to Reidan. “And though it surprised me, I don't regret where it led.”
A guttural howl of frustration shook the castle. But as Death wrestled with his anger, understanding seemed to dawn at last.
“So be it,” he rasped reluctantly. “You may live out his mortal lifespan here. But as soon as the islands claim another for their king and queen, I expect you to return to your place as my heir.” With that ominous warning, he faded back into shadow.
Reidan took Mortana's hands, relief washing over him. “Thank you for coming back,” he said gruffly.
Mortana gave a small smile. “Of course.”
A moment passed before Reidan spoke again. “So...Death's daughter.”
Mortana laughed softly. “Yes, well, I don't exactly advertise my lineage.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “But I suppose we should discuss everything openly now.”
Reidan nodded. “I just have one question - if the island claimed you, why didn't you tell me?”
Mortana bit her lip. “I was going to. But I'll admit...I was afraid. You weren't exactly welcoming a lot of the time. I was worried you would be upset that it meant you were stuck with me.”
Reidan flushed. She wasn't wrong.
“I'm sorry for how I acted,” he said sincerely. “It's no excuse, but I had been alone for so long. I'd forgotten how to connect.”
He brushed a stray hair from her face. “But I want that with you now. No more secrets.”
Mortana leaned into his touch. “No more secrets,” she agreed.
She tilted her head up, eyes meeting his. Reidan felt himself falling into their depths.
Slowly, giving her time to pull away, he lowered his mouth to hers. Their lips brushed tentatively at first, both a little hesitant and unsure.
Mortana melted into him, and the kiss deepened instantly. Reidan wrapped his arms around her, hand tangling in her hair, as she clung to him desperately. Sparks seemed to shoot through his veins everywhere their bodies touched.
He had never felt anything like this - a kiss that seared through to his very soul. Reidan poured every ounce of his longing, his relief at having her back, his hopes for the future into it. Mortana matched his intensity, kissing him with rising passion.
A gust of wind swirled around them, but Reidan was too lost in Mortana to notice. The power of their bond rippled out in a shockwave of light and magic.
When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, Reidan rested his forehead against hers. “That was...”
“Magic,” Mortana finished, eyes glowing. She glanced over his shoulder and gasped. “Reidan, look!”
He turned to see a small crowd of people in the doorway, castle staff gathered and smiling. “The curse has lifted!” Reidan exclaimed.
Mortana laughed joyously. “You’re no longer alone.”
Reidan stroked her cheek reverently, his blood singing with joy and magic. “I haven’t been since the moment that dragon dropped you and your cake in my kingdom.”
Leaning in, he captured her lips once more. Mortana eagerly returned the kiss. No matter what came next, they would face it together.