1 Half-breed!

I hung my red face in shame as I tried to ignore my cousins' words.

"24 and unmated. I pity you, mother, still having to care for it after all these years." My cousin, Lady Olivia Trent said. As she spoke she cast a gloating gaze at me where I stood against the wall.

"Yes," my other cousin, Miss Delphi Goldleaf, agreed. "It's so embarassing. Why did we have to take in a half-breed? I've repeatedly asked Papa to throw her out because of how everyone treats me when they find out."

"Honey, I told you before, just say she is an upper servant, not a relative." The Lady of our house, Madam Goldleaf, my aunt said. "Why my parents were happy when my sister married that poor, pathetic Earl, is beyond me." Madam Goldleaf's gaze met mine and she gestured for me to refill her teacup.

Lady Trent had come over for tea today and of course they had to moan about my presence as they always did.

I hurried over and refilled Madam Goldfleaf's cup as ordered.

"Mr. Goldleaf won't get rid of her though, on account of the estate." Madam Goldleaf continued. "I say it's a lost cause but he is still delusional about being able to recover it."

My hand spasmed as Madam Goldleaf mentioned my original home.

My father had been a human lord in Viceria, the Earl of Rorgazk. I was his younger daughter, Kylara Adamare. My older sister's name was Camelia. Camelia and I were half breeds. Our mother, Madam Goldleaf's sister, was an elf.

Our family had been close with the family on a much larger neighboring estate, but one day they turned on us. Only I escaped them. I know my mother burned to death but I still don't know what became of the rest of my family.

"Stupid Mutt! Can't you even pour tea?" Miss Goldleaf screeched. I looked down at her cup and saucer. A few drops of tea had splashed into the saucer when my hand shook.

I fearfully glanced at Madam Goldleaf.

Her face was cold as she quietly said, "Get out."

My lower lip trembled. Despite the gnawing hunger in my stomach, I knew there'd be no food for me tonight.

This was fine, because according to Madam Goldleaf, I was as fat as a cow.

I ducked my head and made for the door. I was just reaching out to open it when it was thrown wide. The heavy wood slammed into me and I was knocked off my feet.

Pain exploded in my head as I slammed into the ground. The last sound I heard before I lost consciousness were the giggles of my cousins.

Just around 3 am:

"Kylara, I'm serious. I-I," I looked at the young males face. His ruby red eyes, his dusky lips, his narrow jaw, his always unruly, black hair were all as I remembered.

He looked around 16 but I knew better.

He was a young Fierous, a humanoid creature who would one day share a body with a Fire Spirit. Although he appeared young, in reality he was already 22. Most magical creatures aged slower than humans, and Fieri were no exception.

I remembered this part.

"I love you." Kane said. Back then his words made my heart soar. He was my childhood crush. Who wouldn't be thrilled when their childhood love was returned?

Back then I'd thought he and I were alike. I thought that he understood what I felt, since his family seemed to hate him too. I'd been wrong.

The memory went on.

"I love you, please stay with me." He pleaded with sad eyes. It was getting late in the day and I had to return to my house. Kane and I had spent the afternoon together playing in the woods, as we always used to do.

I was about to ask him to come home with me for dinner when cold laughter reached my ears. Turning with wide eyes, I saw Kane's cousin, Rhana, leaning against a tree. For some reason he was armed. His face was twisted into a rakish smirk as his hand rested on the pommel of his sword.

The faint, acrid smell of smoke reached my nose. I ignored it.

"What do you want Rhana?" Kane asked sharply. Rhana pushed off the tree.

"I want to stop you from stealing the spoils." Rhana replied.

I frowned. That sounded ominous. I may have only been 14 at the time but I was already more intelligent than some adults.

"I've had my eye on this brat." Rhana continued. "When she wasn't found in the house, I figured you'd done something so I came to find you."

The scent of smoke in the air was stronger now. I glanced in the direction of my father's manor. Above the trees I could see thick clouds of blackness. I gasped as I realize my father's house was burning.

"Come here, Kitten." Rhana said extending his left hand, his right still gripped his sword. "Come here now, and I won't hurt you."

"Kylara", my mother's voice said in my head. Her voice was strained as if she were in pain. I wanted to respond but I didn't know magic. "Kylara, you have to run, right now. The Essenvir Clan has betrayed us. Don't look back just go. I-"

Her voice cut off and for a moment I saw orange flames crawling over her bed, carpets, curtains, and desk. Searing pain covered my body and I knew in that moment that my mother was burning alive.

"I love you, Kylara." Her tight voice said weakly. "Run!" My mother commanded.

I felt as if an alien force had taken over my body and I took off running as fast as my legs could move.

Sitting up on my narrow cot, I wiped my wet cheeks.

I didn't know why I still dreamed of Kane. It had been ten years and yet I still-

An image of his laughing face as we raced through the woods flashed in my mind.

I fisted my right hand until my nails bit into the heel of my palm.

"Dammit!" I whispered. I slammed my fist down into my bedsheets.

Judging that it was about the time that I normally got up. I stood and dressed myself in my usual training gear, a white robe belted over white loose fitting pants.

I snagged bread and cheese from the kitchens on my way to my clearing in the forest behind the house.

After I ate, I spent the next three hours training with my daggers.

***

I stopped when I saw the sun peaking above the horizon. I felt better now. I knew that if I one day saw Kane again, I'd walk right up to him and slide my dagger home.

Returning to the large, brick house that belonged to my aunt and uncle, I discovered it was in uproar.

Servants raced in and out of rooms and up and down the halls hollering at one another.

Much to my surprise, the entire household seemed awake. It was, maybe, just past 6 AM.

I watched the confusion in silence for a few moments before a passing servant finally noticed me.

"Damned Half-breed." He shouted. "Where'd you go? The Master's been looking for you for hours."

I blanched. If that were true, I was surely in for a bad beating.

I nodded and started for my rooms to change into proper clothes, but was stopped short when the servant grabbed my arm. He dragged me around the stairs to Mr. Goldleaf's study. The servant opened the door and shoved me inside.

Despite this being a fairly large house, the rooms were rather small. Between the shelves of ledgers, cabinets of files, my uncle and his desk, my uncle's study usually looked small. However, with the additions of my aunt and cousin, now it looked downright tiny.

My uncle was seated behind his large oak desk as usual. The desk was cluttered by papers and ledgers but was still reasonably organized. My aunt and cousin sat in the two chairs in front of the desk.

My aunt was watching me with a guarding expression while my cousin was gazing at me with pure loathing.

I flinched in anticipation of the beating to come.

"Kylara, Kylara, come in!" My uncle called with a warm smile.

I blinked. He'd never looked at me like that before. Hesitantly, I stepped forward.

"Would you like anything? Tea or cake perhaps? You missed dinner last night due to uh-" his face flushed a bit, "your accident."

Madam Goldleaf's head whipped around to glare at him, "Do not offer that Half-breed things like she's one of us." She snapped.

I smiled and ignoring her, said, "Both please." Madam Goldleaf turned a baleful glare on me as my uncle told the servant to bring them. I looked around the room with a troubled frown. "But how will I eat my cake while standing?" I asked in a small voice. I directed a meaningful gaze at my cousin.

I didn't actually expect anything to happen, but I wanted to see how accommodating my uncle would be, so I could judge the severity of the situation.

"Darling," He said to my cousin. "Give your cousin your chair." My cousin gaped. I smiled inwardly as I compared her to a catfish. The resemblance was quite close.

"Papa, why?" Miss Goldleaf, my cousin, whined.

"Because I said so." My uncle said. His jaw tightened. The door opened and the servant came in with the tea and cakes.

"But Papa-"

My aunt ,unable to see her daughter displaced for me, got up and moved to stand behind her mate as the servant placed the tea things on the desk.

My cousin reached for a plate as I poured myself a cup of tea.

"Don't you dare!" Madam Goldleaf, my aunt, snapped at my cousin. "We do not share tea with the likes of her."

My cousin pouted. I hid a smile as I picked up the cake that my cousin had wanted and took a large bite. It was strawberry shortcake.

I savored the taste of cream, sugar, and strawberries. It had been a long time since I'd been able to eat something sweet. I smiled at my cousin and aunt, while their expressions looked as if they were chewing on iron.

When I had finished my cake and was sipping on my tea, my uncle spoke again.

"Kylara, your time has come at last!" He said happily. I frowned but stayed silent so he continued. "High Lord Volanti, our lord, has recognized your talents and virtues. He has named you as one of his participants for the High Mating Season."

The High Mating Season was a summer long event to promote good international relationships between all ten of the major countries on our continent called Aleus. Each of the ten countries selected five participants of mating age who were usually from the finest, wealthiest, and most powerful families in their countries. The participants would spend the summer interacting with each other in the hopes of securing powerful alliances for their families' and countries'. These alliances were usually cemented with the matings of the participants. That was the entire goal.

"I am to be a participant at the High Mating Season?" I repeated keeping my expression carefully blank.

My uncle nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes. High Lord Volanti has at last heard my pleas with regard to your-"

Miss Goldleaf couldn't contain herself any longer and jumped to her feet, "Since when does trash get to attend the High Mating Season? Did you tell our Lord how much better I am? Did you tell him that she is a fat cow?" My uncle stared at his daughter, his expression darkening as she went on. "Forget it. I am going in her place. Once the High Lord sees me, he will forget all about that filthy, talentless half-breed!"

"Cousin, I was unaware that you were the Master of this house." I said, with a smile. "I was also unaware that you were on such intimate terms with High Lord Volanti. If you want to go so badly you can-" My uncle slammed his palm on the table.

"I make the decisions in this house. And you are going, Kylara. You will find a powerful mate by the end of the season and if you do not, I will disown you. That is final!" My uncle said firmly.

"Yes, sir." I said ducking my head to hide my smile.

I had no intention of finding a mate. I would take back my estate and ruin the Essenvir Clan in time, but first I needed to be free. I needed to be disowned.