Mark of the Princess Read Online Free

with her gift.
    "Kaleb, your mother and I were just speaking of you," Alcander said, his deep voice filling the room.
    "Really, and what pray tell were you saying?" Kaleb leaned back in his seat.
    "Oh, your mother was just mentioning how she would like to see you involved with someone."
    Kaleb glared at his mother as he straightened up in his seat once again.
    The little faerie simply shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
    "Mother…." Kaleb began.
    "I can’t help it. You’re my son, and I want what’s best for you. You are getting older and when you take the throne, it would be good for you to have someone by your side." Etana interrupted.
    The prince stood and began pacing the room. "Mother, you need not worry about me. I am just fine. I have told you over and over again. I will not look for someone merely to avoid loneliness. Whomever sits next to me on the throne must care for our people the way we do. I will not rush it." Kaleb responded, stopping to look at his mother.
    The mighty king looked proudly at his son. "Alright then Kaleb, we will respect your wishes." King Alcander stood from the overstuffed seat, walking to the arched doorway.
    "Oh! Father, I forgot to ask… is it alright for Velius to come to dinner tonight?" Kaleb asked, stopping his father before he walked out of the room.
    King Alcander looked at his wife with a careful eye, knowing she would not like the idea.
"What brought you to invite him to dinner?" Alcander asked, his voice deepening and becoming more solemn.
    "Well father, you always tell me to be inviting and proud of our Kingdom."
    "I know son, but you also have to know who you’re inviting. Some people are not what they seem, and Velius is one of those faeries I am just not sure about." The King said crossing his arms over his enormous, muscular chest.
    "Father if you don’t want him to come then I will not invite him." Kaleb responded with an understanding tone.
    "No, if it is your wish, then he is invited to stay for supper." Alcander countered, surprising Kaleb.
"Alcander!!" The queen said firmly, jumping from her seat.
"The child is invited Etana." Alcander said firmly turning his attention to his wife. "Come, I need to speak to you alone."
    The dainty little faerie almost had to sprout her wings to use along with her legs to keep up with the stride of her husband as they walked down the main corridor of the great castle. The crystals that lined the hallways reflected the sunlight all around. Some crystals had carvings in the center that seemed to come alive and dance when under the warmth of the sun. The master bedroom was the most beautiful room in the castle. The canopy bed had burgundy and berry colored sheer silk hanging form it’s beams, whilst the bed itself was made of the finest and softest silks and feathers. Carved silver chairs and night stands surrounded the bed, and lush pillows lay in every nook where any faerie bottom may land.
    "What is it my King?" Queen Etana asked, pulling her long hair to one side to move it out of the way before sitting on a rather large chair.
    "I allowed Kaleb to invite that boy because he is obviously going to learn the hard way that he cannot trust everyone. Plus…" The King stopped mid sentence, lost in thought.
    "What? What are you thinking?" Etana chimed in.
    "I’m just a bit interested in who he really is. Don’t you find it odd that he never has a direct answer? And then proceeds to ask a dozen questions? A little too inquisitive if you ask me." The king huffed on those last words. It was true that many faeries spoke in riddles and that they could not tell an untruth. However, it bothered him that he couldn’t read Velius’s character or motives. He was hiding too much. He reminded him of someone, but he just couldn’t put his finger on who…
     
    "So Velius, how long will you be in the kingdom this time?" Kaleb stepped back into the room, rejoining his friends.
    Velius glanced at Kaleb as they began to walk. "Just a few days are all