Forever Fae

Chapter 6 - Calista

The fighting had started and the clanging sounds of the swords echoed throughout the Great Room, but that wasn't what piqued my interest. I took a quick look at the handsome guest with the piercing eyes and he seemed to be arguing with his friend. He had two males with him, both with black hair. The one on his right looked kind of evil with all of his dark attributes. The one on his left appeared playful and cute in a boyish kind of way; he resembled the handsome stranger so I'd take a bet that they were brothers. I wonder what they're arguing about.

I decided to think about that later and concentrate on the fight. Merrick was the strongest warrior out there, and he was amazing with his swift moves in sword combat. The other warriors competing were Conall, Gideon, Evan, Finn, and Ashur. They were all wonderful warriors, and I enjoyed talking to them all and watching them train.

At the moment, Merrick and Conall were battling it out, and Xylia was sitting in her chair biting her nails as she watched them. Being best friends, I knew it had to be hard for Merrick and Conall fight each other. Conall was strong, but Merrick was fast. Merrick raised his sword and with no hesitation sliced it down through Conall's thigh. With a look of defeat, Conall fell to the ground. He swiftly got up and moved out of the way so he could be tended to by one of our healers. Xylia wasn't going to be happy.

My father leaned over to asked, "How are you enjoying the fight? I honestly think it'll be between Merrick and Ashur in the end."

I shrugged. "I think this is just a show of testosterone, if you ask me. Whoever came up with this must have had some serious issues with his manhood. It'd be much easier if I could just choose my own guardian and not put them all through this."

He sighed and grabbed my hand.

"Sunshine, you know this is tradition, and we have to uphold it. I wish there was another way, but there's not. Plus, the warriors need to prove they can take care of you."

He glanced at Merrick and looked back to me. "I think Merrick has his heart set on you, my dear. You both would make a fine match, but I couldn't help but notice you staring at the young man over there." He nodded in the stranger's direction and slowly began to smile.

I tensed and sat up straighter. "First of all, I was not staring, and second, why does everyone keep saying those things about Merrick? He hasn't said one word to me about his feelings or anything like that, so am I just blind on the matter?" Pausing, I bit my cheek and debated on if I should just ask the question I was dying to know the answer to.

Averting my gaze, I decided to suck it up and asked, "By the way, who is the young man sitting over there?" I held my breath, waiting for him to answer.

"Yes, you are blind, and I say the things I do about Merrick because it's true," my father relayed truthfully. He searched the room before he pointed to the stranger. "The young man you are referring to over there is Prince Ryder from the Winter Court."

Shocked, I turned my head to look at Prince Ryder. He sure did not look like a prince, more of a Greek god, if you asked me. My heart fluttered just looking at him and the way he stared at me made my body tighten in all the right places. It was like he was trying to devour my body with his seductive blue eyes. I could only imagine what else he could do to me.

He smirked at me like he knew what I was thinking and I quickly looked away, squirming in my chair.

My father looked at me, wrinkling his brow. "Calista, are you well?"

Breathless, I responded, "Yes, Father, I'm fine. It's just a little hot in here." And I wasn't lying about being hot. Watching Prince Ryder look at me the way he did sent the blood boiling throughout my body and it was definitely in a good way.