ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 1: POSSESSED BY LORD MAGE

The Queen was standing with Claus on one side and High Lady Oriel on the other. The shy High Lady Oriel had her eyes cast down but Claus had his gazing straight at Tyran. Tyran had a fishy feeling there was something going on between the Queen and her second in command. The relationship they had was more than what they cared to show in public. Claus was very much protective of the Queen to the point that it felt as if he was protective over his mate. Tyran had never had a reason to interfere in such arrangements in anyone’s relationship for that matter. It didn’t concern him and he had his own problems to deal with but the fact that Claus looked like he was about to bite his head off every time they gazed at each other was enough for him to want to shout to the world that he felt nothing for Queen Seranis and that he was very happy having his mate, Noelle, beside him.

The merman was forever sparking daggers at him.

“Lord Mage.” Queen Seranis smiled and moved forward, clasping both Tyran’s hands with hers.

Tyran would have moved away but he didn’t want to embarrass the mermaid queen so he remained in place, discomfort running up and down his skin because of the bond. From a side glance, he could see the slight frown marring Noelle’s face and the irritated glare Claus was giving him. “I wanted to thank you for the hospitality that you have shown us. I know we never saw eye to eye but I think the conference has enlightened us to believe that the Mage are not to be blamed for what is happening.”

Tyran hummed lightly. “I want to ask you for a favor.”

“Anything.” Queen Seranis grinned broadly and Noelle shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. Tyran tightened his hold on her hand. He knew her just too well and she wanted to bolt at that moment, leave him to face this overbearing mermaid on his own and later scream at him for it.

“Many of my people are mated to merpeople and a lot of them have been forced out of the Realm of Water. I would like them to return and be with their mates. I don’t want them to feel like outcasts and I believe you have the ability to address this issue with your people.”

Queen Seranis gave a nod. “Of course. That will be the first thing I do the moment I return to my Realm. I bid you all farewell.” Finally she turned her attention to Noelle. “Queen Noelle, you take care of yourself. Hope to see you visit my realm in the future.”

Tyran could almost see the not-in-your-life-fish-queen reply shimmering in Noelle’s mind so he quickly replied for her. “It would be in our thoughts.”

Noelle turned to him and quirked her eyebrow at him then turned to Queen Seranis and forced a smile. “I wish you a safe journey back home.”

“Thank you. Farewell.” She entered the large white car that was waiting for her together with Oriel and Claus and they drove off.

“It will be in our thoughts?” Noelle growled at him. “I never want to see that female again just as much as you don’t want to see Florian. If you want to go to see her, you go on you own but be sure that I won’t let you!”

Tyran felt a grin itching in the corners of his lips. He loved it when Noelle got jealous because he loved calming her down the best way he knew. There was no way he was going anywhere without her beside him unless it was going to a battlefield. “I won’t go.”

Noelle heaved a sighed and calmed down then pursed her lips and without a word cuddled into his arms. “Oh, Tyran. I don’t know what goes over me when I see other females flaunt themselves on you. I want to break something or scream and shutter all the windows!”

“That’s exactly how I feel when I see you with other males.” He raked his hands deep in her coppery locks. They were soft and silky and smelled of summer and storm. “And I felt that way from the first time I laid my eyes on you.”

“I was terrified of you that first time.” She looked up at him. “I was terrified that there would be nothing between us other than duty. I’ve always wanted to have a happy ending like that of my parents. It’s not everyone who has the luck of uniting with their mate. Some never even find them in this lifetime. We are the lucky ones.”

Tyran didn’t know what to say. The love he saw shining in Noelle’s eyes left him speechless. He framed her face with his palms and kissed her softly. “I am lucky to have find you.” he assured her. “And never doubt my love for you. I might have had a harem back then but today, I’ll pass that opportunity a million times over just to be with you.”

Noelle grinned up at him and stood on her tip toes and placed a kiss on his nose. “I love you.”

“And I you.” He chuckled when her wings buzzed excitedly behind her.

By dusk, all the royals were gone and Drake and Ruvin had already prepared the courtyard ready for Olena’s execution. Noelle was surprised by this because Tyran didn’t mention it to her but she didn’t want to press on because she knew he was doing what he had to do. Noelle wanted to feel remorse for the young dragon. She tried to justify what had prompted the girl to do what she did. Maybe the grief she felt for being tossed out from her home made her do it. Maybe Kruk’s pack got to her and did something to her to make her soul fill with so much hatred. But no matter how much Noelle tried to excuse the young female’s actions, they all resulted in that very moment in that courtyard. She betrayed both the Dragons and the Mage. She attempted to kill a king’s commanders and she swore to continue the way she was. She was smiling at the face of her fate, not quivering away from it.

Her execution was beheading. Noelle had never seen someone getting beheaded even back in the Realm of Light. When she learned of it, bile filled up her mouth to the point of nausea. She wanted to escape to somewhere safe and as far away as possible from what was to happen but as the Mage Queen she was obligated to stand beside her king and witness this horrendous sentence.

Though the courtyard was filled up with the helpers and warriors and also some of the residents of Agore, it was eerily quite as everyone waited for Olena to be brought forward.

Suddenly Tyran took Noelle’s hand into his warm one and kissed her on her knuckles. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. No one will judge you because you are my queen.”

“No, I have to do this.” She breathed in and exhaled softly. “I need to be here to witness this.”

“Alright.”

Noelle could hear the doubt in Tyran’s voice but he didn’t command her to leave. He hadn’t commanded in such a long time. It was good progress between them.

“Proceed!” He barked out and suddenly Olena was ushered into the courtyard with Drake on one side and Ruvin on the other. It was unbelievable that that beautiful courtyard had morphed to an execution stand in just a day.

Right in the middle of it was a wooden stage with a black-masked-ton of a male with a sword that glimmered in the dim lights awaiting the taste of blood on its blade. Just below the stage were Storm and Jax standing wearing their commanders attires and looking like assassins in the dark. Zach stood beside Tyran with a hood over his head and he stood with the four High Mage who healed Tyran; Galea, Byron, Tron and Vincent. Between the Mage was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Her face was serene, almost porcelain-doll like. She had long pale hair, large pools of blue eyes and her skin was like ivory. She wore long cream robes embroided with gold and black and had the seer eye (a aquamarine gem stone tied on the forehead by a gold chain). She must have been the high priestess.

Noelle recognized the garments she wore from the one back at the Realm of light.

Lyrah took position on Tyran’s left side and she too had the same ashen face as hers.

When they arrived at the foot of the stage, Drake ushered her up the stage and made her kneel in front of Tyran and Noelle.

Noelle gasped out loud when the she saw the loathing and disgust in Olena’s eyes. Drake read out her crimes in front of everyone and she pleaded guilty to each one. Noelle could see how much this pained Drake. He was a strong male but he also had a heart and taking the life of a female dragon was very difficult for him but he had no choice.

“Let this be a warning to anyone who so thinks that they can get away with betrayal and treason in my Realm.” Tyran announced darkly. “And for those followers of the True King, if you are in the crowd amongst us, this is just the beginning.”

Everyone grunted in agreement.

“Any last words?” Drake turned to Olena.

Olena looked up and a strange light entered her eyes. “I have no last wish except to tell you that you’ve already lost. Soon enough you’ll be begging for your lives once he who is the rightful king to the throne of enchanted world rises once more to claim his land. No dawn shall come for the wicked, nor shall you receive salvation for your treachery. And while you are all passed for judgment just as the way you pass judgment on me for my beliefs this evening, I’ll await your arrival in the afterlife. Long live the True King of the enchanted world!”

The words spread in the courtyard with cold dread that squeezed itself in the warm corners of everyone’s souls. Noelle shivered as Olena’s dark gaze settled upon hers once more. How did Tyran get mixed up with such an evil female? And she shared his bed at one time! Noelle couldn’t even beginning to contemplate on their previous relationship.

She felt an assuring squeeze from Tyran’s hand and finally Olena was stretched on the marble and wood knoll. The sever was fast and clean. All Noelle heard was the whooshing sound of the blade cutting through air and finally the dull thumping sound of the head lolling into the bucket.

Tyran abruptly stood up taking her hand and that of Lyrah then stalked out of the courtyard. By the time he finally stopped, both females were trying to catch their breaths.

“Are you alright?” he asked them with so much concern in his eyes.

“We’ll survive.” Noelle answered shortly.

“There goes my appetite for the evening. Thanks a lot, brother mine.” Lyrah scolded.

Tyran eyed her a moment then said. “It’s not a negotiation, you will eat this evening.”

Lyrah rolled her eyes and turned to leave. “Don’t start with that commanding voice on me. I’ll see you later.”

“Has your appetite evaporated too?” Tyran’s eyebrows arch warily.

Noelle knew how much Tyran was carrying in his shoulders and she didn’t want to add anymore burden so she swallowed down the bitter bile in her throat and shook her head. “I’d like to have my meal up in our quarters if you don’t mind.”

Tyran smiled slowly. “I’ll join you.”

“Yes please.” she touched his arms.

“Give me a few minutes.” He assured her then kissed her softly on her lips and walked off.

Noelle made her way towards their chambers.

There was a scream in the courtyard and Tyran could hear the commotion as people scattered away. He frowned and rushed towards it to see what happened. Drake and Ruvin were crouched around what looked like a bloodied body of a warrior. Tyran’s blood went cold. He could hear the rasping of the warrior as he fought for breath and knew he would not survive.

“What the fuck happened!” Tyran barked already having white energy pulsing in his arms in case the enemy was close by.

“Tyran?” He heard the distressed call of his queen and turned to her.

“Don’t come out. Stay inside the fortress!” he barked at her, feeling guilty when he saw her face pale down but she didn’t move.

“He was one of the escorts of the royal convoys, my king.” Drake answered gravelly.

“Which one?” Tyran’s eyes widened in terror.

The warrior spat out blood and his eyes turned to Tyran’s. “Queen—Queen Seranis...is...dead.”

Tyran felt as if his entire world had come to a halt. His blood ran cold in his veins and his heart burst hard in his chest. It couldn’t be...it just couldn’t.