lips pressed tightly together to hide her smile. A simple look from her companion sent the fire giants scurrying for cover.
"My quarters are—"
"On the eleventh level."
He wasn't guessing, making her narrow her eyes at him. "Have you been spying on me?"
"Studying a likely candidate. I am sure you would have done the same." Tynir checked the lift and when he was sure they would be the only occupants, he escorted her in.
She fought the urge to whistle while they waited for her floor to be announced. It was a sign of nerves and she acknowledged it. Her parents always stressed self-awareness and to be standing next to a man who bore all the hallmarks of her promised mate definitely struck a number of chords inside her, not all unpleasant ones either.
Her rooms were the same sparsely decorated ones that she had left that morning. "Please, be seated. I have to tell my parents where I am going."
He looked around her common area and took a seat on the couch. "I will be waiting."
Chapter Two
Fen punched in the transmission code and packed a selection of gowns and tunics while she waited.
"Greetings, Lady Fehniel. Blessings of the day upon you."
She slid into the chair at her desk and smiled at Von, her family's servant since before she was born. "Greetings, Von. Blessings of the day to you as well. Is my mother or father available?"
"Your father has a moment. He is passing judgement today, so it will have to be brief." Von nodded and crossed the room in the vid screen.
Fen waited and her father soon slid into view. "Hello, Father."
"Greetings, daughter. How are you this day?" His blond hair was only lightly silvered at the edges, his jaw firm and a small fanning of lines ran from the corners of his lids, his royal blue eyes looked straight into hers.
"I am well and I have some news."
"What news would make you look so nervous, Fen?" He leaned back and took up the pose that she remembered from childhood, all open and approachable.
"I believe that I have met my destined mate."
His eyes widened slightly, but he nodded. "That would explain the request for your hand I just received via Lord Thosnas of Jotunheim for his grandson, Tynir."
She whistled and leaned back. "They work quickly."
"What are your thoughts on the matter?" He sat back and she could see Von fidgeting in the background.
"I am about to go and see his home. He feels…right to me, if that makes any sense."
"Well, let me know. I am currently in favour of the union, but if you don't wish him to be yours, I will refuse it."
That got her attention. "Why are you in favour of it?"
"You have never called to tell me that you are going away with a
man before. He has to be exceptional if you are willing to accompany him to the planet below. I may not be a fan of his presumption in inviting you before I made my ruling, but I will not argue with the sparkle in your eyes."
The eyes he referred to were mirrors of his own. She may have her mother's dark hair, but her father's gaze blazed with intensity from her whenever she made eye contact. It was enough to frighten potential suitors off with a simple look.
"Sparkle?"
"The same gleam that your mother had when she seduced me into crafting your brother."
"Dad, ick. I know the story, no need for a recap."
"Take care and call me if you require anything, including an armed force to extract you." He went from jovial to serious in one sentence.
"I will. Have a good day, Father. Rule well."
"Be safe, Fen. Keep your legs closed." His wink made her gasp and Von's strike with a scroll hit him in the back of the head as he disconnected the unit.
Fen sat back and started laughing. She had basically gotten her father's blessing to jump the giant. This was going to be an interesting trip to the surface.
She was still smiling when she
"My quarters are—"
"On the eleventh level."
He wasn't guessing, making her narrow her eyes at him. "Have you been spying on me?"
"Studying a likely candidate. I am sure you would have done the same." Tynir checked the lift and when he was sure they would be the only occupants, he escorted her in.
She fought the urge to whistle while they waited for her floor to be announced. It was a sign of nerves and she acknowledged it. Her parents always stressed self-awareness and to be standing next to a man who bore all the hallmarks of her promised mate definitely struck a number of chords inside her, not all unpleasant ones either.
Her rooms were the same sparsely decorated ones that she had left that morning. "Please, be seated. I have to tell my parents where I am going."
He looked around her common area and took a seat on the couch. "I will be waiting."
Chapter Two
Fen punched in the transmission code and packed a selection of gowns and tunics while she waited.
"Greetings, Lady Fehniel. Blessings of the day upon you."
She slid into the chair at her desk and smiled at Von, her family's servant since before she was born. "Greetings, Von. Blessings of the day to you as well. Is my mother or father available?"
"Your father has a moment. He is passing judgement today, so it will have to be brief." Von nodded and crossed the room in the vid screen.
Fen waited and her father soon slid into view. "Hello, Father."
"Greetings, daughter. How are you this day?" His blond hair was only lightly silvered at the edges, his jaw firm and a small fanning of lines ran from the corners of his lids, his royal blue eyes looked straight into hers.
"I am well and I have some news."
"What news would make you look so nervous, Fen?" He leaned back and took up the pose that she remembered from childhood, all open and approachable.
"I believe that I have met my destined mate."
His eyes widened slightly, but he nodded. "That would explain the request for your hand I just received via Lord Thosnas of Jotunheim for his grandson, Tynir."
She whistled and leaned back. "They work quickly."
"What are your thoughts on the matter?" He sat back and she could see Von fidgeting in the background.
"I am about to go and see his home. He feels…right to me, if that makes any sense."
"Well, let me know. I am currently in favour of the union, but if you don't wish him to be yours, I will refuse it."
That got her attention. "Why are you in favour of it?"
"You have never called to tell me that you are going away with a
man before. He has to be exceptional if you are willing to accompany him to the planet below. I may not be a fan of his presumption in inviting you before I made my ruling, but I will not argue with the sparkle in your eyes."
The eyes he referred to were mirrors of his own. She may have her mother's dark hair, but her father's gaze blazed with intensity from her whenever she made eye contact. It was enough to frighten potential suitors off with a simple look.
"Sparkle?"
"The same gleam that your mother had when she seduced me into crafting your brother."
"Dad, ick. I know the story, no need for a recap."
"Take care and call me if you require anything, including an armed force to extract you." He went from jovial to serious in one sentence.
"I will. Have a good day, Father. Rule well."
"Be safe, Fen. Keep your legs closed." His wink made her gasp and Von's strike with a scroll hit him in the back of the head as he disconnected the unit.
Fen sat back and started laughing. She had basically gotten her father's blessing to jump the giant. This was going to be an interesting trip to the surface.
She was still smiling when she
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