Forces Collide by Jamie Wilson (ap literature book list txt) 📖

Princess of Nuban, I promise to love you ans look after you as long as we're together. Will you honour me, by becoming my mate?" He looked up through his cobalt blue eyes as he spoke, eyes gentle and patient.

For a minute I quickly threw up an impenetrable shield around my mind. I needed to think, without his gift penetrating me. This was a big choice to make; after all, it would hurt him a lot if I said no. Was he the one for me?

I knew the answer to that question. How to say it was another question entirely. Finally I made a decision. Leaving the barrier up in my mind, I said quietly, "Drannor, you know I feel that way as well. You know my answer, love."

He smiled and then stood up. "We better tell Zelphar about this."

Oh no, thats going to be hard, I thought, horror struck at the idea.

"Don't worry he already knows this is coming for him one day or another," Drannor soothed me.

"I still dont think this is a good idea," I muttered. I then lost control of my own thoughts as he kissed me lightly. "Fine, lets go to my father." I smiled a little. I guess its best to tell him now.

So we walked back to my home, and I was pleased to see that Bjart was crouched below the tree, talking to my wyvern.

Gaelira turned her carnelian eyes on me as soon as I got closer. "You look rather flustered, Gem," she said, appraisingly.

"Soon you'll know why. Father's about to get a bit of a shock," I replied.

Drannor's hand shifted to around my waist, and though I usually flinched habitually, this time I did not. I suppose I must have recently gotten used to him doing that.

Soon we were heading up the stairs, and I opened the front door. "Dad, are you there?"

"I'm in the study, honey," my father called. There was something similar to fright in his voice, which alarmed me.

"What's he frightened of?" I asked Drannor in an undertone.

Drannor concentrated, and then growled under his breath. "They have some nerve coming here."

"What?"

"A bloodsucker, things just got awkward for me. I think I'll wait out here while you deal with them, else things could get ugly. There are actually four of them in there. Your father's trying to keep them entertained until you get in there." He sighed. "He can't give them entrance into Nuban himself. That authority is not his to give anymore."

"Are my friends in there?" I was slightly surprised by what he had just told me.

"Yes, they are scared stiff of the vampires. Zelphar's defending them right now," Drannor spoke after a moment's silence.

I quickened my pace and hurried t the room my father said he was in now.


Chapter 10

As I reached the study's closed door, I squared my shoulders and paused, to quiet my breath.

Then I strode in, very aware that they would be alert to the scent of my blood. Hopefully they would not all react in the same fashion as the female I'd encountered once before.

I smiled as I entered and looked around. Zelphar and the children were together, sitting near the end of the embroidery, in front o the last image on it. The four vampires were on foot, watching my father. They turned unhurriedly to face me as my scent evidently hit them. My father looked up as I entered.

"Atar Zelphar," I said courteously. What had been one reason for looking for him had become another. Even so, once this was sorted, I'd tell him of the old reason.

"Ah, my daughter, I'm relieved you're here," Zelphar said, standing up and giving me a hug.

"I already know what is going on, thanks to Drannor," I informed him.

My eyes then moved to linger on the four vampires in the room, simply studying them. It astonished me that their eyes were a grassy green, unlike the blood red ones I'd earlier seen.

"Father, Drannor, could you please let me talk to them alone?" I asked. Drannor had come in, contrary to his own words.

My father nodded and led my frightened friends from the room. Drannor's eyes widened possibly fear in them.

Drannor, go, I'll be fine," I said. His eyes turned gloomy, but he followed my father away. I knew he'd be listening in.

Listen to my thoughts if you must, I thought. I saw his head shift as if to nod as he made to shut the door. But don't interfere unless I call you with my mind. He nodded as he shut the door.

I then turned my attention fully to the vampires near me. I smiled at them as I moved across the room, past them to one of the chairs. "Please, have a seat," I said in a friendly voice.

I took the seat my father had been in, it was mine after all. The vampires did so, but only after the red haired male did. That made me realize that he was the leader of the group.

Greetings, Princess," The red haired male said.

"The same to you," I replied. His voice was beautiful, it rang like a bell.

"We did not expect a friendly greeting from you. Only because we can see the marks another of our kind left on your arm," the red haired vampire said. He then introduced his family. The blond female was Sylvia his mate, Jakaen was the blond male and the mate of the black haired female, Luala.

I smiled at each in turn, and then said, "Well, you know who I am. Why did you come here to my lands?" I was curious about this; I had to say whether they had to leave or could stay.

"We came here, because others did," Sylvia answered.

"I know they are not like my family, many years have past since any of us dared attack a human or elf," Barrain said.

"We are no threat to the people here," Jakaen added.

Hang on a moment, if they do not hunt us, then what do they hunt? I wondered.

Luala snickered. "You wonder about our diet?"

My eyes flashed to hers as I was startled by her question. "How did you know what I was thinking?"

I have a particular gif-"

"Oh, I know the gift of which you speak, my mate has the same gift," I told her.

"Well then, that is a surprise. I had no idea that anyone else, human, elf, or our kind had it as well," Luala trilled, surprised. "As for our diet, we hunt only animals. Its enough to keep us satisfied."

"I suppose I could allow your family to stay, but only here in the city. Also I must discourage you from hunting any wyverns in this forest," I warned.

"Why would that be?" Sylvia inquired.

"The wyverns here are bonded to certain elves around us. I would be one of them. To kill a wyvern, would kill an elf. This is why I say you cannot hunt them," I explained calmly.

"We will not hunt them, ever," Barrain promised.


Chapter 11

A little while later, Drannor came back into the tree so we could talk to my father about what we'd earlier decided.

My father did seem wary when he came over to us. I heard Drannor laugh under his breath at something. Apparently my father had thought something funny to Drannor's mind.

"La stella lusin ni fin gia du lye engame, Zelphar Nightstar," Drannor said, smiling.

"Father, we have something to tell you. Please, be open minded about it," I said, smiling nervously.

My father smiled, looking at Drannor somewhat worriedly.

"I may use my gift, but unless it is necessary, I won't react to your thoughts," Drannor reassured him.

My father relaxed a good deal now. "What do you want to tell me, kids?"

"Zelphar, I know I went about this wrong. However since Gem has already said yes to me, I knew it was best to tell you," Drannor said confidently.

My father’s eyes now turned to look at me. One of his eyebrows rose curiously.

"We're getting married, dad," I stammered.

"You're sure Drannor's the one for you, Gem? Wasn't there anyone else that you might have chosen?" My fathers voice sounded a little stunned.

Quickly I started to focus my mind searching both my past and future for anyone else. Haemir had won me briefly for a year, but that was before I met Drannor. Five other years had past and Drannor had been with me for all of them. I had then spent fifteen miserable years in Adurna, among the humans. There was no one in my past that compared to Drannor.

Now I turned my mind to the future. It flashed in an instant, to a new vision, of my wedding. Where before I could not figure out who I had chosen, Drannor’s face was clear at the other end of the aisle.

"No dad, there is no one else in the rest of eternity," I said confidently. "Drannor is the only one I see in my future in that particular role."

"What about Haemir?"

"No dad, he has no chance right now. I know you'd have preferred him, but I don't. He's only a half elf. Drannor is the only one I really want."

"You're only thirty one, not even an adult yet," my father protested.

"We cannot afford to wait until I am an adult to finish this war, father. Marcos could strike at any time, and I might miss his decision to. I want to attack him before he has that chance," I replied. "Sooner the better for that I believe."

"You're right sweetheart. I'm just surprised that you're choosing to do this so early in your life, that’s all," Zelphar told us.


Chapter 12

The next morning when I woke up, I saw Gaelira looking in at me through the window.

"What is it, Gaelira?" I asked, moving over to the window.

"I have something for you," she said, then she flew up a little higher so she could pass me something with one of her shorter front legs.

"I found it in my mother's cave," she said. "Bjart told me to give it to you, so it could hatch. The grey and purple one is my own."

"Thanks Gaelira," I murmured, "but you didn't have to give me your first egg."

"I want you to win this war," she replied simply.

***

Later that day all the elves who wanted to have a chance at getting a wyvern to hatch gathered. Drannor was one of the elves in the queue though a fair way back, behind Collin. I had wished him luck, before going to stand with the other Uruohtars. I stood a little way in front of them though, two of the vampires on either side of me. They had wanted some way of proving they were trustworthy, so I had asked them to do this. Drannor disapproved a lot.

I'd brought out both of the eggs, and was more than ready to have someone new to train myself. Gaelira moved to crouch behind me, defensively. She was the only one allowed close to me other than Barrain and Jakaen.

"Elves and humans