Elissa is pale and the normal sparkle is missing from her eyes. I think that she has had quite enough revelations for one day, so I stand decisively and hold out a hand to her.

"I am going to escort Elissa back to her room." My tone leaves no room for disagreement and father simply nods.

I tuck her hand in the crook of my arm and we walk in silence. Once at her door, I cannot possibly leave her alone, so take a seat on the chaise and pull her onto my lap. She snuggles against my chest, fitting so well within my arms. Still she does not speak, but I am happy just to be there for her.

After a while, she gazes up at me and finally breaks her silence. "I have so many questions, Aren. Who are my parents? Am I really descended from royalty? Where is the Light and will I ever find it? Am I in danger from the king? Could I be putting you all in danger?"

I place a finger on her lips. "Shhh. You cannot torture yourself."

There is a knock at the door and a servant enters bearing a tray of food. "Prince Aren, King Torbjorn thought that you might require some refreshments."

"That is thoughtful. Lady Elissa is not feeling well." I direct the man to put the tray on a table in front of us.

Even though Elissa turns her nose up at the food, I persevere and hand-feed her a morsel. The eagle happily ruffles spectral feathers. I like providing for my mate.

"What is it?" she queries.

I cannot hold back a grin. "I enjoy feeding you."

"Well, that honey pastry looks tempting."

Breaking off a piece of the sticky confection, I quickly ferry it to her mouth, honey dripping from my fingers. Capturing my wrist, she slowly sucks my fingers one by one, all the time maintaining eye contact.

The nurturing presence of the eagle is pushed aside by the passionate tiger, bringing us into dangerous territory. "Are you trying to test my resolve?"

"Why? Are you thinking impure thoughts?" There is a wicked glint in her eyes. My own eyes, I am sure are showing signs of hazel.

With a twist, I manoeuvre our bodies so that she is lying caged beneath me. Nibbling at her earlobe, I confess in a husky tone, "I am thinking how I would like to cover you in honey and slowly lick it off."

Let us remove these annoying layers and try it now, the tiger urges.

No, we must wait. I insist, remembering how I promised my parents that I would be honourable.

"Your birthday cannot come soon enough. Though I warn you..." I press down against her. "...we may never leave my chambers."

It gets hard to think straight when she arches up teasingly against me. "Why? Do you plan to keep me chained to your bed, bare foot and preg...?"

She shrinks back and the playful air falls away from her face. I can see that some dark thought has entered her mind. The eagle, once more in ascendance, insists, We must see to our mate.

"Please tell me what troubles you," I entreat.

She looks away and mumbles, "I'm, I don't even know what I am and you, you're an Animage."

Gently cupping her cheek, I turn her face so I can see her expression. "I do not understand your concern."

"What if, one day, we want to..." She closes her eyes as if afraid of my response and finishes in a barely audible whisper, "... to have a baby?"

Yes, her belly swollen with my cub. The tiger's purr of delight rumbles through me.

"I would be overjoyed. How could I not love something that was part of you, of us?"

Her eyelids flutter open and she beams at me. Her love is like being bathed in sunlight.

"Aren, I feel like I have finally found my home in you."

My heart swells with love and devotion. I have lived a privileged life, but no riches can compare to simply being with the woman I adore.

......

Over the past few days, winter has really set in, but the sun is shining and gives everything a glittering, crystalline quality. The castle gardens are the perfect setting for a romantic stroll with my beloved. Perfect, if not for our chaperone, Aine.

Large, fat snowflakes start falling lazily from a bruised looking sky. Elissa grins and grabs my hands, trilling, "Let's dance, Aren."

Her joy is contagious and I grin like a fool as we twirl across the frosted ground. I do not know if it is my imagination, but it seems like the white flakes above our heads are dancing with us.

Aine smiles indulgently at our antics. She is such a sweet lady and if I were to hazard a guess, I would say that she is growing very fond of Elissa. Neither she nor Sirius dare to outwardly indicate their belief that she is their descendant. There has been talk about potentially adopting her. Thankfully they both look favourably upon my courtship of Elissa, so I am confident that I can count on their blessing.

When we reach the river, Aine hesitates for a moment and then rather than following the path, she turns right. Elissa and I follow behind as she walks towards a huge beech tree. Elissa falters, spotting a sad cluster of half frozen flower buds.

She stoops down and gently touches one of the buds. To my amazement it perks and opens up bright yellow petals. I know that she has been struggling to perform magic, yet sometimes it seems to flow naturally when she is not trying.

The sound of tinkling laughter comes from a very tall woman stood with Aine. I cannot recollect ever having seen her before. Curious as to the identity of the stranger, I help Elissa up and fingers entwined, we go to investigate. Oddly, it is considerably warmer under the bare branches of the tree.

"By the grace of the Mother, welcome to my bower." The woman bows, causing her dress, which is made from dried leaves, to rustle.

"Elissa, Aren, this is a beech dryad," Aine informs us and to think all this time, I had no idea that one lived within the grounds.

The dryad is an impressive figure, who towers over us. Now I know, I can spot elements of the tree about her appearance; her skin is brown and slightly rough, not unlike bark, her hair is a mop of dark green, like the tree in full leaf and her eyes are like deep wells.

"Do you detect any elemental magic in me?" Elissa asks the dryad.

The dryad gives an enigmatic smile and holds a hand to Elissa's cheek. The leaves of her dress change colour, first orange, then yellow and then dark green. "My child, the power of nature flows strongly within you."

.......

The High King commands his magic mirror, allowing him to watch Elissa, Aren and Aine. The way the snowflakes follow the girl as she dances, does not go unnoticed by him. While he is aware of the head of his guard entering the room, he does not turn from the mirror.

"An Elemental," he murmurs almost to himself.

"Are you sure?"

Offended at being questioned, he whirls around and in an imperious tone asks, "Remind me Garrett, what am I? What were my forefathers?"

Garrett cowers. "My humble apologies, my liege."

"They think to deceive me. They may not speak the words, yet their bodies betray them. Observe the way the fallen queen is looking at the girl with such devotion. Mayhap we have a new princess?"

Although pleased with his own clever deductions, he does not like the implications.

Garrett looks shocked. "You have a daughter?"

He gives a mirthless laugh. "Certainly not. I have not deigned anyone to bear my child."

His mind wanders to the aftermath when he entered Rowan's mind and encountered Elissa's scent. He had left his other mistress, Dawn, quite exhausted by the time he had ridden out his lust. Even now the thought of that aroma causes him to clench his jaw.

Without thinking he commands, "I want her brought to Avalon. Take her by force if necessary." He rationalises to himself that it will not hurt to give a show of his might. "Inform Lord Nero and Lord Fintan to prepare their forces."

"Lord Fintan?" Garrett asks in surprise.

"I hope that you do not seek to question my judgement again. That would be unforgivable."

"I will attend to it straight away."

"Wait! On no account must the Elementals know they have a potential queen to rally behind."

"May I ask what your plans for the girl are?"

There is something in the tone of Garrett's voice that makes him wonder if he would have the guts to eliminate her if necessary. Not that he is convinced that he could even give that order.

Defensively he growls out, "To nullify any threat she poses."

..............