ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 1: POSSESSED BY LORD MAGE

Noelle stood at the entrance of one of the most impressive dinning rooms she had ever seen. Indeed it was created for a king and like the king he was, Tyran sat at the front seat with the members of his Court having brunch while discussing about the next court meeting he was hosting for the five realms in the upcoming days. He announced it to her early that morning but she doubted he expected her to show up because, yet again, they had an argument. When she entered the room, all conversation died and everyone turned to her.

Tyran looked stunned for a moment and his eyes glazed with hunger and possession. She didn’t know why but she decided to wear what he chose for that morning; a traditional black royal gown. She tried to convince herself that she wore it because he asked nicely and it was out of duty and it was expected of her but the truth was that she wanted to see approval in his face. It was better than just emotionless eyes staring at her.

Quietly, she walked towards him and sat on the chair to his left side.

“You should have warned that when you said a brunch with Court, you meant all twenty of them!” She murmured to Tyran.

“I didn’t expect you to show up since the argument.” Tyran turned to her and frowned. “Never tie your hair back in my presence.”

He reached over and removed the ribbon that held her plaited mane then ran his fingers through her hair and caressed it out of the plait.

To everyone else, it must have looked affectionate and maybe loving but Noelle felt the swell of possession when she didn’t fight him. She swore to herself that she would never do what she did to him a century ago. Whatever arguments they had, they were going to settle them behind closed doors.

The coppery curls cascaded down her shoulders and Tyran stared at them as if in a trance. She never liked her hair color. She called it strawberry blonde but it wasn’t. She was in between the copper and the strawberry blonde, a color undefined yet very striking.

“Welcome back, my queen.” A small female voice disturbed the moment she and Tyran were stuck in.

Noelle turned to the pale skinned, black haired and blue eyed female. She had very beautiful noble features but Noelle was very certain she must have been from the elusive population of the mischievous forest nymphs. Tyran had Nymphs in his Court!

“Thank you—uh--”

The female giggled shyly. “Talia, my queen.”

Noelle smiled and nodded at the female as a plate of food was placed in front of her. “I didn’t mean to disturb your conversation so please continue. Just pretend that I’m not here.”

Laughter rang around the room as if she just cracked a very intelligent joke. Her face flushed red as she turned to Tyran and amusement sparkled in his eyes as he looked back at her.

“I don’t think it is easy to ignore the queen of the Realm of Spells, your highness.” A bulky brown haired male grinned at her. “Especially since we haven’t laid our eyes on her for over a century.”

Again, someone had to remind her of her stupidity back then! Fuck it. She was always going to be remembered as the queen who fled on her Union announcement. It was strange how no one was condemning her after what she did. Not to mention, there was no hostility since her blood uncle was terrorizing their villages--

“So, why did you return, my queen?” A red haired woman quirked her eyebrow in a challenge at her. “Are you here to try a peace talk between the Mage and the Fae?”

Okay, maybe she concluded too early. So, there was hostility then. Yikes!

“Ethinia.” Tyran drawled in warning at the female but she continued as if she didn’t hear him.

“Your uncle has slaughtered hundreds of innocent villagers like cattle. Then he sent their heads to the capital. Can you imagine just how everyone felt when they saw the heads? Some of them saw their relatives and others their children--”

“Ethinia, that’s enough.” Tyran barked.

“I had no idea this was happening.” Noelle said in a small voice that she didn’t recognize.

“Of course you didn’t, my queen.” There was so much sarcasm in her voice that Noelle flinched as its sharp edge pierced into her heart. Ethinia was upset and she had every right to. Noelle started a chain reaction of events that took a very gruesome turn. If she could take back that last century, she would. Oh how she wanted to turn back time.

“....like the queen you were then all this wouldn’t have happened.” Ethinia was still talking and Noelle couldn’t hear her anymore. She couldn’t breathe.

When she looked up, she saw accusing red eyes looking at her from all directions. Everyone had disappeared from the room and darkness consumed it. Crooked talons pointed at her for all the killing and suffering that went on in the enchanted world. Voices became louder and louder as they chanted their blame on her.

“This is all your fault!” “Why did you have to return!” “You should have stayed in the human world like the coward you are!” “We don’t need you here!” “Go away!” “Go away!” “Go away!”

It got louder until Noelle pressed her hands over her ears and screamed.

A thunderous bang on her side jerked her back to the dining room. She opened her eyes and all those red eyes and talons disappeared. Everyone around the table looked at her with concern except for Ethinia who looked down at her food. No one was accusing her. Everyone looked....afraid.

Then she turned to Tyran and understood why. Tyran’s body was pulsing with hot white energy. His eyes glowed like night lamps and his face was pulled into a mask of fury. He gritted his teeth and a long warning growl reverberated in the room. The ceramic plates and glass ware rattled at the sound and the room was stunned into silence.

“I said enough!” Tyran barked. “I will not have any member of my Court insult my queen. If you have issues with her, you deal with me. She is your rightful queen, my mate and if you can’t accept that then you don’t belong here. Everyone should show her the same respect as you have showed me because when I’m not around, she’s in charge of this fortress as well as the Realm of Spells. Understand!”

No one dared to answer but Noelle was pretty sure the message was clear. She was dazed by the way Tyran protected her fiercely. She never expected him to do such a thing after everything she did to him.

“Ethinia!” He called to the young Noble.

“My King.” Ethinia got up and inclined her head to Tyran. She kept her gaze down but Noelle could see how scared she was.

What was Tyran going to do to her? Noelle felt her heart jerk hard in her ribs. She too was scared for the female.

“Insulting your queen in public like the way you did is punishable by death.” Tyran stated.

Noelle gasped and turned to Tyran. “Tyran--”

“I could have you beheaded for this.”

“But you will not!” Noelle shot up from her seat and stared at Tyran. “I will not have you punish her for something that is true. I did make mistakes in the past. I accept what I did and any condemnation that will be thrown at me because it is true! I will not stand here and have you kill someone for expressing what they feel!”

Ethinia turned her stunned eyes to Noelle. Noelle could tell that the female didn’t expect her to stand up for her.

“Noelle, I don’t want you to interfere in this matter.” Tyran turned to her, his eyes dark and stormy.

“I will interfere if it means someone is going to lose their head because of me. I am already carrying enough blame and guilt on my shoulders and an act like this is bound to break my back, Tyran.” She blinked away her angry tears.

“Noelle.” Tyran drawled but Noelle raised her chin stubbornly.

“I’ll take care of this, my way.” She stated and waited for Tyran to get used to the idea.

She watched as his eyes flashed back and forth between white hot energy and silver as he tried to leash his fury and finally, he straightened his backbone and settled back in his seat without a word.

“Thank you.” Noelle murmured but she was so close to say ‘that’s a good boy’. She turned to Noble Ethinia who still hung her head down and in a authoritative voice she said, “Come with me.”

With her head high and her back straight, Noelle walked out of the dining room with Noble Ethinia right behind her.

It was unfortunate she didn’t turn around and see the intense approval and amusement that was shining in Tyran’s eyes.

Noelle’s shoes knocked quietly on the marbled floor as she made her way through the hallway. Ethinia was right behind her with her head still hanging low. Her fear was substance and could be tasted in the air. Noelle wondered what was going on through the red haired Mage’s head. And what punishment best fitted someone who expressed their feelings? Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this. She had seen the way her father dealt with traitors. Though her father was most kindhearted male she had ever known, in front of his subjects he had to be cold and hard so that they respected him. He made decisions that were sometimes harsh and she complained but now she understood what he went through. He held the balance of life or death in his hands. Thousands of people looked up to him and he was just one male.

Noelle turned slightly and glanced at the Noble on her side. Her amber colored dress whispered against her body as she walked quickly to try and keep up with her. She was very beautiful with emerald colored doe eyes and a full red mouth. She had a sprinkle of freckles on her nose and cheeks that Noelle envied. Her round face perfectly fitted her proud shoulders even though they now sagged with the weight of her actions towards her queen.

She looked a bit younger than Noelle. She was one of the nobles of the Realm of Spells. The Realm had twenty districts of which each were represented by an influential noble family personally appointed by the king. They were representatives of their districts and met directly with the king whenever the need arose. She knew Tyran was going to hold court for the five Realms but due to the incident with High Lady Lyrah, a lot of things had to be postponed until she got better including her own Union ceremony.

One score for team Noelle!

“What district are you from?” Noelle eventually broke the silence.

Ethinia raised her head and stared at Noelle for moment. “Hiras, my queen.”

Noelle could still hear the distrust from the young woman’s voice. Ethinia strongly believed that her queen was the reason there was a war. At times Noelle also believed the same thing because if she did get married and lived happily-never-after with Tyran all those years back, Ron would not have had a reason to build hate for the Mage among the Fae and her father would still be well. “What are you?”

Noelle stopped abruptly and turned straight to her. Ethinia had to bounce back to stop herself from bumping into her.

“Mage of Truth, queen. I started my training last month.” Pride glittered in her eyes as she spoke.

“Aren’t a little too young to be a court member?” Noelle frowned slightly. If she started training recently it only meant she had just hit puberty. Puberty in the Enchanted World was different from the human puberty. Here, beasts shed their humanoid characters that they were born with to become beasts, Mage discovered their affinities and so on. To become as good as the warriors or Tyran took centuries to master. She didn’t exactly know how old Tyran was and she was sure he lost count too but he was one of the ancients of the enchanted world and that was the reason why he could harness so much power! She couldn’t understand how someone would give this girl such responsibility.

“I’m a Noble daughter, my queen. I represent my brother, Lionel...” Her eyes darkened as she swallowed hard and blinked several times. “He was on the front line when Lord Mage attacked your Realm, my queen. He is recovering from his wounds.”

Noelle felt scorching pain engulfing her heart until she wanted to cry. “So, this is the reason you hate me--”

“I don’t hate you, my queen!” Ethinia gasped hard and stepped back. “I swear to you, I don’t hate you at all. I’m just—just--”

“Angry at why I’m here, alive and well while the innocent paid for something I caused?” Noelle talked more to herself than to the girl. She would have felt the same way.

Ethinia blinked away tears and let out an agonizing “Yes!” before the bout of tears overtook her. “My brother is the most honorable male I know. He is always ready to serve when needed. The king never announced for the able bodied to join him for the attack. He had enough warriors to do that but my brother, a member of court yet a warrior at heart asked to join the king on his quest.” Her cries grew louder as she remembered what happened. “Lord Mage refused but Lionel, as stubborn as always got a voting from the king’s warriors and he too went to war.

“I heard the news from father when I came back from a night with friends. They brought him back a few days later and—and--” Ethinia swallowed hard. “He couldn’t even see me! Lionel lost his sight in that attack!”

Noelle was stunned when the girl broke down and cried her heart out. She didn’t know what to do. She was frozen and as the helpers came out to help the girl, that was when she remembered how to move.

The helpers helped her to her feet and turned to Noelle.

“Go on with your work, I’ll take care of this.” She told them quietly.

The helpers bowed and went off.

Noelled filled the space between her and Ethinia. She placed her hand on the girl’s quivering shoulder and lightly squeezed. “I am truly sorry for your brother. I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t!” She wasn’t accusing anymore. “You weren’t here. How could you know about what was happening when you weren’t here? How could my mother know that her son lost his sight and would never again be fit to represent the district if she isn’t here?”

Noelle’s eyes widened. “Your mother abandoned you? She wasn’t your father’s true mate?”

Ethinia nodded. “She abandoned us when we were very young.”

Noelle didn’t know what else to do. She had no words to express what she felt for Ethinia. She simply embraced her.

Ethinia stiffened for a moment but Noelle didn’t let her go until she softened in her arms.

“It’s not your fault.” Noelle whispered. “She did it out of her own accord—just like my uncle. Other people’s actions should not be our fault, okay?”

Ethinia wiped away her tears and nodded. “Yes, my queen.”

Noelle drew back and cleared her throat as she straightened the front of her gown. “Should we continue or do you need some time to recollect yourself?”

“I’m alright.” Ethinia said softly.

“Good.” Noelle turned around and continued to walk. “So, what do you and your friends like to do in town?”

“My queen?” Ethinia asked in surprise.

“You know, do you like movies, maybe shopping?”

Ethinia couldn’t help but smile a little but that was enough for Noelle. Her heart eased when she finally earned trust from this lost girl.

“Well....”

“The warriors from the Realm of the Dark are back, my king.” Drake announced to Tyran after the awkward brunch he had with his Court members. “All fifteen of them.”

“Good. What about the court meeting for the five Realms?” He turned to the overly relaxed Ruvin who lazily draped himself on one of Tyran’s leather sofas in his office then to Zach who was juggling fireballs of different colors on his Silan thread carpet! Dafuq!

The Lycan shrugged. “Let’s just say they are very eager to get the opportunity of rubbing shit all over your face. They simply can’t wait.”

Tyran hummed lightly. It was expected.

“The lot of them are converging as we speak.” Zach wiggled his eyebrows with a wicked smile on his face.

“You haven’t told them about your queen, have you?” Ruvin quirked an eyebrow.

Tyran shook his head. “No.”

Ruvin duplicated Zach’s evil smile. “I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they discover the Fae princess has sided with you.”

“She hasn’t—ah, for fuck’s sake Zach!” He watched as the fireballs hovered very close to the carpet. “If you so much as char a single Silan thread on this carpet, I’ll have Drake’s dragon rip off both of your hands!”

Zach chuckled as he extinguished the fireballs and settled beside Ruvin. “Drake doesn’t need a reason to fuck me up, he’ll do it just for the fun of it.”

Drake snapped his teeth together and his eyes flashed. “It’s not me you should worry about when it comes to that, its the Fire queen when she discovers you ruined a royal Silan carpet.”

“The Fae princess hasn’t sided with me.” Tyran took the conversation back on track. “It could be dangerous to have her at the meeting.”

“She might not have sided with you but she’ll never betray you. The guilt she feels for all of this happening and her not knowing of it drives her to think she owes you as much.”

Tyran frowned at his second in command. “And how do you come to know so much about her?”

Drake shrugged. “I’m very good at observing and reading people. You should try it.”

Tyran gritted his teeth. He knew his queen well enough! He knew what made her scream with pleasure and what made her quiver. He knew what turned her eyes into molten amber and where to touch her to get a reaction. He knew every curve, every shadow, every mole on her body. That was what mattered! “If you can read people then I guess you can read my thoughts of you right now, can’t you?”

As if on cue both Ruvin and Zach flipped Drake.

Drake hummed lightly and said. “Anyway, my suggestion still stands. If you want to avoid another heated confrontation with your queen, let her attend the meeting.”

Tyran thought about it. Drake was right. Noelle attending or not attending the meeting had two outcomes and they all rivaled at the level of damage control that would be needed afterwards; if he allowed her to come, she would and she might not like what everyone else thought about him and the war and might end up upsetting a lot of people: damage control eighty to ninety percent depending on variables such as abusive language, threats, physical assault--

Tyran refused to continue to think along that line any longer and turned to his second option; if he refused for her to attend, she might decide to attend anyway and we go back to consequences in option one.

If she does not attend then that would be hell on earth for him afterwards because he definitely knew there would be abusive language, threats and finally physical assault from her which made damage control way above one hundred percent. For all he knew, he was going to need an army!

“In the meantime, Storm woke up today and told me something rather disturbing.” Drake snapped Tyran back from the mindfuck. “It was Dragons that attacked the convoy from the Great Hall.”

Tyran’s eyes narrowed maliciously. Could it be that Kruk’s pack of goons still existed. He destroyed Kruk up in the Dragon Mountains thanks to a hint from his own son, Drake! They were both there when Kruk’s body disintegrated after he lost his heart. “Is he sure?”

Drake’s eyes darkened. “Yes. It seems my father’s legacy still lives on.”

You pathetic weakling! You dare choose that bitch and her petty magician over me? You are no son of mine! My bloodline is the strongest and the purest bloodline in the entire Realm. We were meant to rule, not to follow. You being against me shows me perfectly that you are not of my blood. You are weak and for that you’ll die along with your queen bitch and your magician savior!

Those were the last words Tyran heard from Kruk before the dragon tried to strike them. He smelled of hatred and was stunned by the betrayal of his only son. He was crazed and they had no choice but kill him.

“If it were dragons that attacked the High Lady then we need to express this to Malenna, the Dragon queen in private.” Tyran commanded. “I will not have anyone mention any of this at the meeting. I will not have the Dragons and the Phoenix incriminated.”

Drake and the others nodded.

“Any news from Jax?” All of a sudden Tyran was tired from all the problems that were arising.

Zach scratched the back of his head. “Not yet but if Jax is hunting for this spy, it’s only a matter of time until we get him. Jax is the best male for that job. That fish can smell betrayal from a mile away!”

“He already has a suspect.” Ruvin added darkly. “He would never have done this unless he already knew of someone.”

Tyran nodded. Jax was his personal hound. He was very precise with what he did and never pursued something if he knew it was a dead end. “I hope he comes through by the evening. I don’t want the court members and the leaders of the four Realms to be attacked on their way here.”

His commanders nodded.