The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Read Free

in the first place.
    But what did it matter now? Callum was leaving. It would be years before he returned, and by then he would have forgotten all about her. His lips would have kissed hundreds of pretty girls and hers would fade into the distant memories of his mind.
    Dazed, she stumbled out of the shed, her fingers lingering over her lips. From somewhere in the garden her mother called out to her. Dinner. Yes. It was dinner time. She needed to get inside and get cleaned up. If she could just get her lips to stop tingling… “I am coming, Mother,” she called out, shaking her head to try and clear her thoughts. Her eyes remained distant as she approached the Queen, an almost wistful sigh escaping her lips, disappointed to find Cadell and Callum already gone.
    “There you are, dear. I was beginning to think you had gotten lost in there,” Leyna smiled, clasping Aiva’s hand in her own. “Come,” she stated calmly, guiding Aiva toward the doors leading into the palace. “We have kept the others waiting long enough. I fear Faustine will surely have a lecture for us both this evening if we do not get inside and eat quickly.”
    Aiva laughed quietly at the thought, trying to force the image of Callum out of her head. There were other things to worry about right now. She was the eldest princess of the Levadis line. When she was of age, there would be plenty of men vying for her hand. Yet with the warmth of his mouth lingering on hers, Callum was the only man she could picture. Why did he have to do that? To make everything so complicated when he knew he was leaving. It was cruel. And she had no means of speaking with him again before he departed. All she could hope for was that he would write, keep in touch and come back for her before they sent him off to fight the dreadful pirates. If anything happened to him… No. She couldn’t think about it. He would return. She refused to accept any other possibility. It was easier to focus on the present and pretend that nothing had happened. Her family would be gathering for dinner. A perfect opportunity to distract herself from the memory of Callum’s kiss. She was starving – and she couldn’t wait to tell her family about her first victory

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    Chapter One
    Aiva made her way through the halls of the palace, her arm linked with that of another young woman, their heads tilted in toward one another. They whispered as they passed by a group of young men, giggling to notice the boys watching them. She was used to such a reaction these days, her matured figure more noticeable to the men at court now that she had been accepted into society as a woman. The girl at her side possessed a more youthful appearance, her long brown hair hanging straight down her back, tiny braids woven into its length, adorned with shimmering silver beads interspersed throughout. Her soft amber eyes glowed brilliantly against her fair skin, brightening her petite features.
    “This is going to be exciting,” the girl said in a hushed tone, following Aiva’s lead down the long corridor, quickly finding their way toward the private wings of the Tanispan palace. “My father’s men have prepared a joust in honor of the occasion, and I hear he and the King might duel, for the entertainment of the crowd.”
    “I am sure my mother is less than pleased with the thought,” Aiva chuckled, stepping through the large arching door into her chambers. She liked to enjoy her peace and quiet before large events. Once she set foot in the hall again there would not be a moment of silence from the other courtiers. As the heir to the throne, Aiva was required to put on a good show for them all. She would be the image of perfection. But it would take some time for her to feel ready to play the part.
    Today was no exception. It was the largest celebration of the year, held in honor of her mother and father, as well as General Cadell, for their victory over the Ven’shal forces. It had been forty-eight years to the day