Soul Mates: Magic (Soul Mates Series) by Elizabeth A. Lance Page A

I just assumed that was a practice you no longer carried on.”
    “It is the best part of Yuletide,” Tatiana said with a grin. “Never break an oath made to a Fae. You would think that humans would learn after a while, but no, there are always a few who think they can get away with it.”
    “Who all goes on the hunt?” I asked curiously.
    “Oh any Fae that has an oath breaker to seek out and punish, a few of the warriors, the hounds, too, love to go along as well.” Tatiana put a few more drops of peppermint oil into the bowl. “Now dear, let us work on creating you a divine bloom.”
    “What kind should I create?”
    “Hmm, well that depends. I chose a white rose with a pale pink tip. It signifies happy, joyful love. What kind of flower speaks to you?”
    “I’ve always had a love for Calla Lilies, they are so unique looking.”
    “A beautiful flower, it’s true. Yes, I believe that will be just the thing…” Tatiana murmured. She moved about the room, pulling bulbs from various places and slicing pieces and fusing them together. “Come, my dear…touch this one, give it life.”
    I reached out my finger, lovingly caressed the gentle bulb and watched it spark to life. It bloomed into a beautiful deep purple Calla Lily with white tips. I’d never seen one quite like it in my life. It was gorgeous. “Oh…” I breathed out with wonder.
    “It’s lovely, and perfect, just like you. And it conveys just the right message I think.”
    “Message?” I asked.
    “Oh yes. Roses are not the only flowers that have significance. All of them do. Calla Lilies mean magnificent beauty, like you , my dear. And the colors, well the deep purple is for passion and royalty, while the white tips show unity and commitment. It says a great deal about what kind of leader you will be to our people. Only you could touch that bulb and have it bloom in such a way. They truly do speak to you, you’ve chosen well.”
    I smiled. “May I have a bouquet of these?”
    “Oh not yet, we must breed them, make them hearty and strong. Here touch this one, I need another sample bloom to draw from,” Tatiana said gesturing at another fused together bulb. “We shall reveal your flower at your debut.”
    I sighed. “All right. What can I do to help?”
    I worked with Tatiana for a few hours creating hardier flowers, deepening the purple and brightening the white. They were gorgeous flowers and I was proud to have created such a beautiful thing.
    It was late when I emerged from Tatiana’s room s and I was quite hungry. Trinia was sure to have supper ready soon, so I went to my chambers to change. Suppers were usually formal and proper attire was required as well as the removal of the ring the kept my appearance human. I took a quick shower, washing my hair in lavender scent, and blowing it dry before I removed the ring. It was easier to care for that way.
    I stared into the mirror as my shape changed. Not too drastically, but enough. My long strawberry hair lengthened to hang past my hips, my ears took on a slightly pointed shape. My chin too took on a slightly pointed appearance as my face thinned and my cheekbones became more prominent. My skin turned more bronze and seemed to glow iridescently in the mirror. I’d gained a few inches as well, something I always appreciated.
    I debated about what to wear and finally decided on a whimsical silvery gown. I twisted my hair up into an elegantly messy backwards side-to-side hair-do. Sort of a modern take on the early nineteen hundreds look. I let Faerie do the rest, and I wasn’t disappointed. Silver holy adorned my head in the form of a tiara to match my dress. I applied glittery silver eye shadow to my eyes and a simple light gloss to my lips. I took one last look in the mirror before stepping out into the hall.
    “Princess, you look lovely.”
    “Thank you, Aurora,” I said with a smile.
    “I was just coming to tell you supper is being served.”
    “I was just on my way, thank