Page 1 of Lyric of Wind

1

Kellen

“You haveto come down at some point,” Alistair, Kellen’s best friend and second-in-command, called to him from where they raced their steeds on the wind. As Air Fae, they commanded the skies, and Alicorns were their chariots of choice. Winged unicorns, both fierce and loyal, the Alicorns loved nothing more than to stretch their wings in a good race.

“Make me,” Kellen challenged, urging his beast on. He laughed as the Alicorn dove, catching the wind, dipping among the clouds. Kellen’s heart soared, as he was always at his most free when he was riding the wind, and not stuck in the royal court dealing with the minutiae of day-to-day royal duties that his father insisted he handle.

Even though he’d stepped into power as leader of the Air Fae over a year ago, his father, Devlin, acted as thoughhe’dbeen the one chosen for the role instead of Kellen. Once Kellen had been instated, Devlin had shouldered his way into almost every meeting and decision that had been thrust upon Kellen, acting as though he had the right to make choices in matters that didn’t pertain to him. They’d gone many a round about it, and yet,still, his father refused to listen to Kellen’s requests that he stay out of Royal Fae business.

His father’s actions were causing ripples of distrust through the Air Fae, and many were starting to question the choice of Kellen as ruler. Now, Devlin’s latest campaign–for Kellen to claim his fated mate—had sent Kellen to the skies to escape.

His fated mate.

Like he didn’t have bigger things to worry about?

Kellen was beginning to chafe at the responsibilities that came with being a leader. Each day ended with a headache from one problem or another, and Kellen was starting to believe that maybe the people were right. Maybe he wasn’t suited to being their ruler. His father certainly seemed to think so.

And now his father called for him to find his fated mate. It was like Devlin just wanted to heap one more problem on top of his already growing pile of issues to deal with. Was the man trying to test his limits?

Or was he just jealous?

Kellen’s thoughts froze when Alistair cried out, blood blooming on his chest, and tumbled from the back of his steed. Kellen dove, urging his Alicorn on, and still he wasn’t sure he’d make it before Alistair hit the ground. He didn’t chance looking over his shoulder at what had dared enter their sacred space and attack. If he broke his focus for even half a second, Alistair would be gone.

As the ground screamed toward them, Kellen closed his eyes and pulled at his magick, whispering an incantation that he prayed would save his friend in time. The clouds grew thicker, obscuring his view, and Kellen’s stomach twisted as he lost sight of Alistair.

It had been stupid, really, to race into the night, working off his frustrations in the quiet darkness. Alistair, seeing his distress, had reluctantly joined Kellen for a race through the clouds, knowing he’d needed the release. And now, Kellen’s decision might cost his friend his life.

Kellen cleared the clouds and issued a sharp command to his Alicorn as they neared the ground at an unsafe speed. The Alicorn, already pulling up, followed Kellen’s direction instantly, and Kellen paused for two seconds to assess the situation before slipping his hand from the Alicorn’s bridle.

Alistair’s body lay on a street corner that was blessedly quiet at this time of night. A woman crouched over him, a guitar on her back and an open case on the pavement next to her. Reaching his hand in the air, Kellen flicked a bubble of protection around the three of them, hiding this scene from the outside world, and dropped from the Alicorn to run to where Alistair lay slumped on the ground.

“Don't touch him,” Kellen commanded, his voice sharp, and the woman turned, fear in her stormy grey eyes. Fear was quickly replaced by anger, and she straightened, brandishing her fists.

“I was just seeing if I could help him.”

Kellen was too focused on his friend to pay much attention to the woman and her attempt to appear threatening with her tiny fists. He stepped forward, and paused when the woman did as well. What was she doing? Couldn’t she see his friend was dying?

“Stay back.”

To Kellen’s shock, he stepped back a foot. Confusion clouded his thoughts. Whowasthis woman? And how did she have the power to push him back with her voice? They stood and studied each other for a moment, precious seconds ticking by as Alistair 's life drained from him.

“Who are you?” the woman demanded.

“I don't have time for your questions. My friend isdying.” Kellen brushed past, not caring if he angered her or whatever magick she carried. As he bent to Alistair, his friend dissolved into a liquid puddle of purple blood, and the breath left Kellen’s body.He can’t be. Alistair was gone. His best mate, hisbrother, had left this realm. Anger filled him as he straightened and whirled on the woman who had cost him precious seconds with his friend.

“What in the hell just happened?” The woman sprang back, shock on her face, her eyes wide. To an outsider, a man falling from the sky and dissolving into a puddle of liquid purple blood would be more than enough to send someone screaming for the hills. Yet this woman didn't run. Even though fear was plastered across her pretty face, she stood her ground.Strange.

Kellen’s royal training kicked in, and he turned to assess the neighborhood around them. Though they stood on what was normally a relatively busy street corner in Galway, there were no cars driving past at this time. What was this woman doing out here at this hour? Kellen glanced down at the guitar case open on the ground with a smattering of coins inside and back to the guitar hanging from the woman’s shoulder. A minstrel, he realized. She must play for her coin. Based on his assessment, the scene was secure, except for this woman—the sole witness. Which meant he’d need to bring her with him if he had any hope of keeping this quiet. Reaching out, Kellen grabbed her arm. “You'll have to come with me.”

“Like hell I will.”

Her swift punch to his face snapped his head back.The hell?Whowasthis woman?

He held his fist up to his nose, dabbing at the dripping blood, and narrowed his eyes to where the woman stood in a fighting stance.

“That was unnecessary,” Kellen said, deeply annoyed with her.

“Step back.” The woman held a proper defensive position, protecting her face and her body with her fists, rocking lightly back and forth on her feet as though she was ready to spring again. Kellen noticed that she didn't turn to run though. Instead, she faced the threat, which apparently was him, head-on. Her courage was admirable even if it was an annoyance.

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