The Chosen Soul by Heather Killough-Walden Page B

furrowed. What had she done? What was
    going on?
    She turned her attention back to the man beside her. The man’s confident and cruel
    smile had disappeared, to be replaced by a look of genuine wonder. He quickly
    recovered, however, and once again, she was captured in that azure gaze. This time, she
    felt that she could not have looked away, if she had wanted to, and she was glad to be
    sitting down, her legs having gone numb.
    “I… I apologize. I’m afraid I don’t know who you are.”
    More soft chatter filled the corners of the room.
    His smile was back, and made Raven’s insides melt. “I am Prince Astriel, of the
    Lords and Ladies. Might I ask for your name, my lady?”
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    The Chosen Soul
    Raven’s eyes widened. It was the Prince, the one Summer had cautioned them about.
    She would look at his ears, just to see whether or not they were pointed, as Summer said
    they would be, if she could find the strength to once again break eye contact with him.
    That warning intuition inside of her returned full-force, and her body tensed in her
    chair. Something told her not to answer him, but the irresistible pull of his powerful gaze insisted otherwise.
    She cleared her throat. “My name is Raven. This is my brother, Loki. We are new to
    Trimontium, otherwise we would have…” She suddenly couldn't remember what she had
    wanted to say.
    The man chuckled low in his throat and goose-bumps raised across the flesh of
    Raven’s exposed arms.
    “It is indeed a pleasure, Raven. If you are new to our city, then you must need a
    guide. Perhaps you would allow me to escort you on a tour?”
    That prickle of danger that had been steadily growing in Raven’s gut suddenly came
    thrumming to the forefront, pulsing in time with her rapid heartbeat. Somehow, she
    simply knew that going anywhere for any reason with the Prince of the Elves was a very
    bad idea. But the full weight of his penetrating gaze was beginning to make her dizzy.
    She could also sense the guard’s eyes upon her, along with every patron in the tavern.
    She tried to blink and found that she couldn’t. The Prince’s presence was
    intoxicating, mesmerizing. She felt heavy, somewhat weak.
    She wanted to say ‘no’.
    And then, she realized that in fact she wanted to say ‘yes’. What had she been
    thinking? How could she possibly be afraid of such a man? He would not harm her.
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    Heather Killough-Walden
    She smiled, and Astriel’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
    “Of course. I would be honored if you would show me your city.”
    He offered her his gloved hand, and she took it without hesitation. She stood, and
    beneath the weight of her brother’s mortified gape, she moved with the Prince toward his
    guards, who had been waiting, silently, just inside the doorway.
    “No!”
    Raven stopped in her tracks, momentarily disoriented. Who was that? Who was
    yelling? He sounded familiar.
    “Raven, he’s bewitched you! Let her go!”
    The Prince’s grip on her hand tightened slightly. She blinked, her brow furrowed.
    She turned around and the prince stepped before her, blocking her view. He then, himself,
    turned to face whoever it was that had called out to her.
    “She has made her decision. Her well-being no longer concerns you.” Astriel’s tone
    was cool and calm, his inflection careful and precise. Something in the sound of his voice
    gave Raven a chill, and it raced up her spine, clearing her vision.
    “Get away from her. I know you enchanted her. Raven would never do something so
    stupid unless under a spell.”
    She could almost remember now – it danced on the edges of her recollection. A kind,
    gentle man, with strawberry blonde hair, someone she loved dearly…
    “Loki, please sit . Just let her go!”
    Another voice, vaguely familiar, whispering to Loki, begging him not to interfere.
    “Listen to her, Loki. She is much wiser than her father gives her credit for.”
    There was silence then, and a thick tension filled the