ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 1: POSSESSED BY LORD MAGE

Tyran’s eyes snapped open at the first swell of energy. It was subtle but it was there. His eyes scanned around the darkened room as he tried to pinpoint the source. It was somewhere in the gardens. He felt it swell and seek for something. He couldn’t tell if it was evil or not but it was definitely foreign. Tyran shifted to the side and felt Noelle snuggle closer to him. Her warm body was flushed against his, her hair teasing his face and shoulder and her soft breath rippling against his chest. She tucked one hand around his waist and one under her chin. He tucked a hair lock behind her ear and stared down at her almost innocent pixie face. She tempted him with everything that she was. She tempted him with her silky soft hair and skin. She tempted him with her luscious curves and her delicious mouth. She tempted him with her fiery temper and stubborn streak. She was sweet temptation at its purest form and he didn’t want to get away.

Tyran groaned when that warmth was savagely ripped away from him as he rolled off the bed and padded to his wardrobe. He pulled on his leather pants and went out to the balcony. He didn’t need a weapon. He was lethal all by himself.

The night was still. The sky was sparkling with millions of brightly shining stars. The air was filled with the scent of night blooms and something...dark and exotic. He narrowed his eyes as he tried to find what disturbed him in his sleep. Nothing was out of place.

The gardens were as beautiful as ever. The benches were empty so there was no spell-binder practicing spells in the middle of the night. The trees also went to sleep, folding their leaves in and their branches up. An owl sat on one tree branches hunting for food with his bright yellow eyes scanning the grass for mice that skipped their curfew.

Tyran placed his hands on the stone balustrade and concentrated on the narrow pond that ran across the gardens, a mimicry of the Persian influence gardens. The water was rippling lazily yet there was a shadow dancing in it, a reflection of some sort moving towards the fortress. He groaned lightly as he figured out what it could be.

With one swift move, he jumped onto the balustrade and leaped over it effortlessly. He landed on the stone paving right next to a big oak tree in a loud thud. His ears tuned to the sounds of the night since he could no longer trust his eyes. There was a swishing sound to his left. It sounded like silk rubbing against skin. He heard a gentle thump of a boot and the song of a dagger being unsheathed from it’s handle. A cruel smile appeared on his face as his body stance took to that of a warrior.

A soft breeze raised the hairs on his neck and Tyran quickly created double blades from the white hot energy that surged from his body. He twisted around his legs in a dance of death and crossed his blades against the massive bodied, bronze tanned and skin tattooed Jinn in front of him. He saw a quick flash of teeth as the Jinn smiled and evaporated behind a screen of smoke.

Tyran listened to the swishing again and this time he was to his right. Tyran stepped hypnotically to the side and turned the blades towards the Jinn.

The energy blades came in contact with air as the Jinn evaporated again.

“I see you’ve become quiet slow, Lord Mage.” A dark magic of a voice taunted as a blade nicked Tyran on his left shoulder. “Is it because of old age?”

Tyran hissed softly as the familiar and exotic voice filtered to him. “Rhol.”

Immediately, the air in front of him began to shimmer as the massive body of the Jinn King of became substance. He was as large as Tyran with massive bare shoulders, the muscle clad torso and lean hips that were wrapped in black lynak material that loosely fitted the strong legs. The lynak fabric was a rare material that was a soft as silk but a tough as diamond. It was a material the Jinn loved because its properties allowed it to stay intact when they pulled the disappearing act.

King Rhol stood like a night menace, his charcoal black eyes burning and his royal tattoos solidifying, hissing and slithering around his shoulders and chest like giant, angry snakes. His hair was plaited on his temples and the long, black and glossy mane curled several times around his neck before it was tossed over one shoulder and hung down his back to his waist. Talk about Samson and Delilah, Tyran thought to himself. The Jinn’s hair was never cut short. Tyran didn’t know the reason behind it but he noticed how fierce the Jinn warriors with longer hair were.

King Rhol had a brutally handsome face. He could be considered beautiful by others but Tyran knew how feral the king really was. He was as ancient as him and he had seen the king in the battlefield. He had to admit that he would have been a worthy adversary in a battlefield but Tyran did not want to find himself on the wrong side with him. It made him wonder what the Jinn King was doing so far from home.

“Tyran.” He gritted his teeth as he twisted his Arabian style dagger in his hands. The red and black jewels on its hilt glittered in the night like dragon scales in the sun. They were mesmerizing.

“To what do I owe this visit at such an inconvenient time?” Tyran also gripped his energy blades tighter.

Rhol snarled. “You dare come into my Realm and spy on me? You bring your petty warriors into my land and sit to think that I would not find out?”

Tyran felt cold sweat slither down his back. “What have you done to my warriors?”

“I should have slaughtered them like the trespassers they are!” Rhol growled as he charged.

Tyran quickly raised up the two blades and blocked the dagger. Rhol used his empty hand and punched Tyran on the kidney. Crippling pain surged through his body as he twisted the blades and dragged them on Rhol’s left shoulder. The Jinn jumped away and looked down at the gushing wound. He turned to Tyran and gave him an all-teeth smile. It took a whole lot more than that to get that mother-fucker begging, Tyran knew.

Tyran’s kidney hammered against his skin as if his heart had moved down.

“I had to. I had no idea who Ron teamed up with. I had to make sure you were still trust worthy.”

Rhol threw his head back and barked out a laugh. “Trustworthy! You are the one who started this war. We wanted nothing to do with it. If Ron had shown his face in Karah, I would have beheaded, skinned him and made his skin a mat for my feet. That traitor is not welcomed in the Realm of the Dark.”

“Are you saying that for the Ghouls too? Last time I checked the Ghouls were still attacking your villages and the livestock.” Tyran watched as the great Jinn King circled him.

He was ready for another attack. Rhol was very predictable. He had a violent temper that reminded Tyran of furious volcanoes of the Phoenix city of Akarl. It was this temper that made the ruthless king clumsy.

“I can handle the Ghouls!” Rhol burst as he swung his dagger straight to Tyran’s face.

Tryan moved slightly to the right and the blade whooshed a breath away from his cheek. He locked the King Jinn’s wrist in his tight grip and twisted it. Rhol retained the grasp of his dagger and stepped forward, locking one of his legs around Tryan’s knee. With just one jerk from him and Tyran would find himself sprawled onto the ground.

“It’s high time someone did something about them. This world would be much better without them. They are a nuisance, a fly in everyone’s soup. With their numbers dwindling, in five years or so, they would perish for good.” Rhol hissed.

Though the Ghouls indeed were a nuisance, Tyran didn’t believe in eradicating them. “It’s not your call.”

“But it is yours to put surveillance on my ass in my own Realm?” Rhol’s dark eyebrow arched up.

“It was for the safety of my Realm.” Tyran argued gritting his teeth.

Muscles strained and bulged in their arms as both males tried to untangle themselves from the body lock. Leather creaked against Tyran’s thighs while lynak stretched against Rhol’s.

King Rhol’s tattoos hissed at Tyran, infuriated by the action he did. They solidified and jumped from his skin making snappy and threatening moves towards Tyran but they never actually made contact with his skin.

Tyran heard that the Jinn tattoos reflected the truest emotion and were poisonous. They were a living entity on the Jinn’s skin. The patterns varied from tribe to tribe and the Royal tattoos were supposed to be a violet color yet Rhol’s alternated between black and violet depending on his mood. The blackness of King Rhol’s tattoos told Tyran the male was in a foul mood.

“What about the safety of my Realm?” King Rhol asked. “As an ancient, you should remember the oaths we took when we rid this world of the Dark Energy or has it been too long for you to recall? The three Kings and two Queens of the five Realms of the enchanted world swore to keep the peace between our realms in order to stop the Dark Energy from tainting this world again. I kept that oath and I will keep it as long as no one gives me reason to retaliate. If you anger me, Tyran, I will fight you to the end and so will my son and my grandson and the entire Siranian royal bloodline!”

Tyran heard the quick footsteps coming from the back entrance. His warriors were coming to defend the fortress. He didn’t want any of them involved in what was happening so he quickly weaved an enchantment and a magnetic field formed around him and Rhol. No one else could enter it.

He let go of King Rhol’s hand and stepped back. “I do not want to fight you, Rhol. I never did. I took that oath too but I don’t expect you to reprimand me for the actions I took after my villages were attacked. Any male in my position would have done the same.”

Rhol’s mouth quirked into a slow smile. “And you handled it like a diplomat. My style would have been much more effective though...” he drawled pensively.

Tyran knew what Rhol meant. He would have returned the favor to the Fae by slaughtering the entire Royal family at that—no questions asked.

“My king!” Drake came charging out, his violet eyes glowing eerie in the night. His skin rippled with ruby red scales as he braced himself for the change.

“It’s okay, Drake. No harm has been done here.” Tyran stopped him without shifting his eyes from King Rhol.

“But my King--”

“Stand back, Drake.” Tyran warned him.

Rhol turned to the dragon and flashed him a toothy smile. “You should listen to your king, boy. We are just catching up on latest gossip the enchanted world has to offer.”

Drake growled at Rhol and Rhol returned the favor with brutal force that the leaves rattled in their branches. In alarm, Drake and the other warriors took a step back.

“Take your leave, Rhol. This conversation is over.” Tyran stated to the King Jinn.

“Make sure by sunrise, your little pests of warriors have left my Realm.” Rhol snarled.

“Done.” Tyran answered quietly as the pure energy blades disintegrated in his hands.

Rhol grunted lightly and sheathed his dagger. The smile on his face was wicked and calculating. He was about to add something when suddenly his head snapped up and turned towards the Fortress. His nostrils twitched and the black tattoos slithering on his arms and torso took a violet shade.

Tyran followed Rhol’s line of sight and right there on one of the sleeping quarters balconies, a small fragile silver haired Mage stood clutching her hands against her chest as if trying to hold her heart in place.

Tyran’s heart stuttered when he saw his weak sister looking down at them. She looked worn out and frail that even a soft breeze could sweep her away. Her eyes were large and sparkling as she watched them. She looked puzzled and almost afraid.

Rhol’s feet shifted as if he wanted to go to her but Tyran had already created another blade from energy and had it on the Jinn’s neck.

“Take. Your. Leave.” Tyran said between his teeth.

Rhol gave him a side glance then looked back at Lyrah. He fisted his hands on his side and inclined his head lightly towards Lyrah. ”Armina sunamurn; until next time.”

The Jinn’s body wavered and shimmered away. Tyran scanned the area and made sure the Jinn was really gone before he brought down the magnetic field and released the energy sword.

“Are you alright?” Drake asked his face dark with anger and concern.

“I’m fine. I want you to take your warriors around the fortress and make sure everything is in order.” He turned to his sister and shimmered to her balcony.

“What are you doing out of bed, sister mine?” And before she could protest, Tyran scooped her off the floor and led her back into her bed.

“There was so much energy in the air I knew something was wrong.” Then she chuckled lightly and turned to her brother. “And then I saw you and King Rhol measuring who had the largest--”

“Don’t even say it.” Tyran said softly knowing his sister’s twisted sense of humor. He placed a kiss on her cool forehead and tucked her back under the blankets. “Are you comfortable? Should I perform a healing session for you now?”

Lyrah patted his hand lightly. “I’ll be fine. My wounds are healing quite well, thank you. Why would you send warriors to watch over the Jinn king, brother mine? The only other male I know to be as honorable as you is him. Why would you want to jeopardize the peace between the two Realms?”

“I don’t know who to trust, sister mine.” Tyran admitted reluctantly. He would never have told anyone else of his doubts but he knew his sister could see all the way into his soul. She knew his vulnerabilities and she accepted him.

“The Realm of Water and the Realm of the Fae are the only Realms that are against you. The Dragon Queen has aligned with you and has already mobilized her army to aid you when the need arises. The Jinn King didn’t mention of his alignment but I know he would never go against you.” Lyrah assured her brother.

Tyran frowned. “You sound so sure of yourself as if you know him. I didn’t like the way he looked at you. That is reason enough not to trust him.”

Lyrah turned her dark eyes to the quilt covering her and traced the patterns around it. “Rohl is an intimidating male and sometimes gets carried away--”

“That was not what I saw when he looked at you. It was as if he—he owned you.”

Lyrah laughed nervously. “Owned me! That is ridiculous. No male can own me and you know that.”

Tyran frowned even harder. “Lyrah--”

“You should not worry much about me. I can take care of myself. Besides, I’m healing better and soon enough I will be able to help Noelle around while to you are too busy.”

Tyran, brushed a silvery lock of hair from Lyrah’s face and sighed. “Your color is returning and your eyes are no longer that dreadful faded color.”

Lyrah laughed. “You have a way with words, brother mine. It’s no wonder Noelle is head-over-heels in love with you.”

Tyran couldn’t help but smile. At the mention of her name had his heart flip in his ribs. He thought he had a strategy from the beginning. He wanted to bring her back to their world, claim her fully as his own and teach her what happened when she disobeyed him again.

All that sounded very good in his head but the moment she stepped back in his life, they jumped from one chaotic event to the other. He was introduced to emotions that he never thought he would ever feel. They frustrated him because not only did they make him confused but also vulnerable. If it were an enemy that came to his fortress that night, he was sure that the damage would have been intense.

He was just one male and he had to take care of everyone. It wasn’t a problem back then because the relations he had with his people were not as personal. But now he had a queen who talked down at him like a child, had him angry in one moment and aroused in the next, went around singing to feral pureblood beasts not to mention refusing to submit to him like a good little mate.

It was hilarious how she managed to slip in and out of trouble and cause him a few more grey hairs in just one day!

“You should take your queen to her Realm so that her mind settles down before the Union ceremony. She worries about the fate of the Fae. If you do this for her, she might trust you more and give herself to your care.” Lyrah stated.

“She told you this?” Tyran frowned.

“She didn’t need to. I could feel her sadness.” Lyrah replied.

“No.” Tyran straightened his body. “I’ll not let her travel to any place until this war is over. I will not endanger her life.”

“Then travel with her. Make it known to her that you are willing to support her in any way possible.”

Tyran shook his head again. “I can’t leave the Realm while that madman is running around looking for another chance to attack. Until Ron is brought to justice, no one is leaving this City.”

“Tyran--”

“It’s final!” Tyran gritted his teeth. No, he was not going to let someone else get hurt. Only warriors were allowed to travel out of the city and maybe the helpers but his queen, his court members and his High Lady were not going anywhere.

Lyrah sighed heavily and closed her eyes. “I used to think you were stubborn before Noelle came back into your life but I guess I was wrong. Not only are you ten times more stubborn now but possessive as well!”

“I will protect what I mine at any cost.” Tyran managed to pass between his gritted teeth.

“Be careful, you might lose it in the process.” She turned her head away from him to show Tyran that she was done talking. “Good night, brother mine.”

Tyran heaved a sigh and placed a kiss on Lyrah’s cool cheek. Without another word, he shimmered out of her room into his own.