Improper Mage Read online

  Improper Mage

  Taylor Westwood

  Taylor Westwood

  Copyright © 2022 Improper Mage by Taylor Westwood

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from author, except as permitted in the case of including brief passages for use in a review or by U.S. copyright law.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Liana Monroe sat upon a cushioned wooden stool in front of an open window in her sister’s room reading a thick and heavy tome. Sunlight drifted through the sparkling glass highlighting the frayed leather bindings which were older than any relative she recalled having owned the book. Thick pages were worn from use, but the words were no less easy to read because of it. A gentle breeze lifted the curls from her neck, cooling her on this warm, summer afternoon, and bringing with it the fresh citrus scent of the magnolia tree rustling beyond.

  Her lady’s maid, Phillipa, pulled at the curling ribbons she tied into Liana’s hair last night, letting the glowing chestnut strands dangle free. Liana gave no notice of the common routine only to tuck a piece of hair out of her face to keep reading while the room behind her bristled with activity and mindless chatter. Liana’s sisters, Charlotte, and Hannah, sat on their own chairs facing the vanity while their maids spun their sun-kissed honey colored hair into beautiful braids.

  “I do hope I catch the eye of Master Ranville. He is such a handsome and powerful man,” Charlotte gushed while adding rouge to her cheeks. “His manor house is so grand. It would make a lovely home. And it is in such a good location near the center of the city.”

  “Yes, dear. Master Ranville would be an excellent suitor indeed,” Lady Mary Monroe agreed with her eldest daughter, that constant simpering smile tilting the corner of her lips. That smile rarely fell, not even in the privacy of their own home. “This year’s suitor season is guaranteed to be much better than last year and the year prior. I hear many more men are participating. So many in fact that the king is hosting this season. Gods willing, all three of my girls will be able to find a suitor this season,” she said with a hopeful smile.

  The sisters were all close in age, just one year apart from each other. Charlotte, as the eldest daughter, came out to society first. Her debut occurred two years ago, but she didn’t catch much male attention, at least, attention that didn’t have wealth to back it up. If you were to ask Lady Monroe or Charlotte though, they would tell you of the severely lacking presence of suitable men in attendance.

  Last year it was Liana’s turn to present herself to society, and just as Charlotte’s had been a boring affair, so too had Liana's. This year, it was Hannah’s turn and Lady Monroe was eager to get all her girls engaged and settled into respectable marriages. That was her responsibility as a mother to daughters in high society, to ensure she made proper matches for her daughters that would secure their extravagant lifestyles.

  “I have my eyes on Lord Dietrich. He is so dreamy,” Hannah swooned, her cheeks already naturally blushed and having no need of the rouge.

  “Lord Dietrich would make a fine match, Hannah,” Lady Monroe responded as she supervised the girl’s preparations, her own hair and gown already primped and donned. “Your father knows him well as they both serve on Master Ranville’s council. Perhaps he can put in a good word for you, my dear.”

  Their father, Lord Monroe, was a member of the mage council, just as his father had been before him. He served the leader of the mage, Master Ranville. So aptly named because he was one of three Master Mage in their prestigious country. It took a lot of talent and even more education to become a Master, which made the title highly respected. The Masters were able to perform magic that commonfolk couldn’t even dream of, let alone perform.

  It was Liana’s dream to become the first female Master in all of Triaedian. She yearned to learn all that the males kept to themselves. She had the mind for it, and she thought possibly the skill for it as well. It was the education and propriety she did not have, nor would she ever. Females were not allowed to become Masters. They were to run the household and produce heirs, much to Liana’s dismay.

  “What about you, Liana? Who have you set your eyes upon?” Lady Monroe questioned. The girl did not hear her mother as she set the heavy tome in her lap and held her hands aloft toward the magnolia tree outside the window. As she began to quietly recite the spell, she held her hands together with the palms facing up to form a bowl.

  Liana always was more interested in magic and books than gossip and dresses. Her mind sought knowledge not riches or marriage. So unlike the other high society females, everyone sought to remind her of that whenever they got the chance. Liana did her best to ignore their petty insults and focused on the things that mattered most to her, mainly her magic.

  Not that she could readily practice magic without hiding most of it. The male mages might as well have outlawed females from using any magic for all the control they lorded over the females. Liana wouldn’t stand for it though. She studied the magic she was born with. She cultivated it into a power equal to any man. One day, she might even reveal that fact to the world should she ever gain the courage.

  “Liana!” her mother called; her tone full of scolding. She stomped over to her daughter and yanked the dirty book away. The spell died on Liana’s lips and her hands fell into her lap with disappointment. “Gods above! I’ve told you time and time again to stop with the spells, Liana. You are a woman now. You have learned all the spells you need to keep a proper home and that is all. Now, let Phillipa get you dressed. We must leave soon.”

  Lady Monroe left with the book. Liana sighed but kept her mouth shut as she stood for Phillipa to dress her. She stepped into the undergarments held aloft for her and stared at the wall while her maid pulled the strings of the corset unbearably tight. When her mother returned, she no longer held the book in her possession, no doubt hidden away somewhere in Lord Monroe’s study. Liana looked away from her mother as she fussed over her other daughters. A private smile tugged at her lips despite her mother’s scolding. It would be so easy for her to find the spell book again just as it had been the first time.

  “I do hope Ms. Lightwood does not catch Master Ranville’s eye. She has been vying for him as well,” Charlotte complained. “She is not as pretty as me, and her magic is not strong, nor will any children she bears. I would be a far better match for the Master.”

  “That you would, dear,” Lady Monroe agreed.

  “What of the other women coming from the country? What competition do they pose?”

  Lady Monroe huffed. “None at all, my dear. The women from the country rarely match with one of our city men. They would marry any poor soul that looked their way if it meant moving out of the country. City living is much preferred, you know. They will take the eligible scholars
and tradesmen. It will be our Lords and Ladies that will match together, perhaps even a Master,” she said in a conspiratorial giggle, the sisters joining in. Liana rolled her eyes at the wall wishing she had her book back.

  “Hurry, daughters. We must leave if we are to make it to the castle on time for the ball,” Lady Monroe urged, which set the maids to work faster. “I must go check on your brothers.”

  As soon as their mother was out the door, Charlotte set in on Liana. “You must act normal tonight, dear sister,” Charlotte warned. “If I am to marry the Master, I cannot have you tarnishing my reputation.”

  “I would never dream of sabotaging you, Charlotte,” Liana responded blandly.

  “When I do marry the Master, and you must wait for a suitor, think of how your behavior affects Hannah’s chances,” Charlotte carried on as if Liana had not spoken at all. “If society deems you an unfit match it will spoil Hannah’s chances. You represent our family and anything you do is a reflection on us. We can’t have everyone thinking mother did not raise us to be proper women in high society.”

  “Yes, sister,” Liana replied, not bothering to listen. She had heard it all before.

  “Good. Let us leave then. We must arrive at the perfect time.”

  Liana slipped into her new silver slippers which matched the silver dress then followed her sisters out the door. Phillipa purposefully trailed behind the others, lingering in the room to fold Liana’s dressing robe. She’d seen what the girl had done earlier with that spell. She’d seen what Lady Monroe tried to prevent. There was no stopping her ward though. Liana was a force of nature with that magic, and she could perform any spell, create any potion or salve, without so much as a strain on her power.

  Phillipa glanced back at the tree outside the window. Her face pinched in both resolve and amazement. Her charge was the most skilled mage she’d ever met. Such a pity the girl was a female and society would waste her talents.

  Leaving the beautifully blooming magnolia tree that had barely two flowers on it this morning, Phillipa followed after the Monroe females.

  Chapter Two

  A long line of carriages waited along the drive to Sancta Valles Castle, named for the capital city it resided in, which stood imposingly at the point of the valley their city was protected by. Constructed of gray stone and pointed spires atop each of the many towers, the castle had been created from the image of power as Liana's books explained. Grand and sturdy, the castle stood for many centuries as a symbol of solidarity among the species of Triaedian.

  When Triaedian first became a kingdom, the first king had all three species work together to build it. After fighting together to destroy the old regime, they worked together to build a new kingdom, a land of peace and equality among the three species. At least, that’s how the history books relayed the tale. Liana thought Triaedian could use a reminder about how integrated they were all supposed to be because throughout her life, the species still seemed rather independent of one another.

  Nestled upon the mountains, the castle loomed above the city below, an ever-present shadow lording over its people. There were twelve spires in total. Seven spires stood upon each corner of the lower portion of the castle while four others stood atop the towers at the corners of the main castle which rose above the rest. And rising higher from the center, one mighty spire pierced like a dagger into the clouds.

  Liana admired it from afar for many years. This would be the first time she ever stepped foot inside and she couldn’t wait. It was the only thing the young woman looked forward to this year for the upcoming courting season. Gods knew she wasn’t looking forward to the men or the incessant chatter. Most of all, she was not excited about the gossip that would last for a year until the next cycle of courting arrived.

  There would be endless talk of who matched with whom, and more importantly, who didn’t match with anyone. Chatter about gowns and jewels would be less prevalent but still noted at least once during a conversation. If someone didn’t wear appropriate attire or wore something from last season, then all rules were null because that would be the most horrendous thing one could do during courting season.

  Liana hated it all and hated that she had to waste this late-afternoon summer day. It would have been fair weather to enjoy in the garden, but they were stuck inside the stuffy carriage while waiting for those before them to exit onto the castle’s steps. Even with the windows open, the carriage quickly became unbearable. Liana eyed her mother and sisters as they fanned themselves vigorously. Her father and three brothers were in the carriage behind them, far too many of them to all fit inside one. Not caring about how improper it might be, Liana whispered a spell for a gentle breeze to pass through the windows. Everyone sighed and stopped fanning for a moment. Liana kept it going, her family none the wiser, partly because they had no idea such a spell existed. Also, partly because they were so untrained in their magic that they couldn’t feel the telltale shift of magic in the air that a spell had been woven.

  As they finally came to the stairs, a servant opened the carriage door. Lady Monroe exited first then the girls followed. They waited for their father and brothers before ascending the stairs. Torches lit their way up the stone steps even though the day was still bright. The sun would be setting soon however, and their evening would begin.

  Liana gaped at the castle. From afar, she could not have appreciated the fine carvings in the stone of each archway. Nor could she appreciate how overpowering and small it made her feel. It was a structure of beauty and she wished she could ignore the ball in exchange for the freedom to explore this magnificent structure. The secrets such a place must hold. Secrets and tales a plenty she imagined.

  They followed the line of lords, ladies, and other nobles to the ballroom. Along the way, they passed through the grand entrance which towered above to the third-floor balcony. Stone staircases ran along either wall, framing the hall that led toward the ballroom. Walking along a dark red carpet, Liana nearly tripped twice because her eyes were so focused on admiring the castle’s details. They moved too quickly though for her to see much.

  As they entered upon a terrace with a staircase to either side leading down to the main floor, their mother made the girls take a dramatic pause. As they looked over the balcony to the grand room below, it gave everyone a chance to glance up at them and see the next women available for claiming. So, there they stood like cattle up for bidding. The three Monroe daughters, purebred and raised to society perfection. They would go for top dollar in this city.

  Everyone took a good eyeful. The men appraised for a suitable wife, one that would gain him the most. Liana knew there were always two questions men asked themselves when choosing a wife. First on the list to consider was how much a woman's dowry was worth and how influential her family name was. The greater her fortune and more clout he could gain with their marriage the better. Second to consider was her beauty. Not that it mattered entirely because the male would likely seek the comfort of another female after the marriage had been consummated and an heir secured.

  And all the while, the women inspected for flaws and something to gossip about. Beauty mattered far more to the other females than the males ever cared for. Liana couldn’t stand any of it, could hardly stand thinking about it.

  Standing shoulder to shoulder, Charlotte stood first on the left. She kept her shoulders back and chin high with her hair in beautiful braids twined around her head like a crown while the rest fell in tight curls down her slender back. Charlotte’s navy gown complemented her creamy complexion and overflowing bosom, not that one could get a good look before being caught by all the jewels adorning her body. One look and someone was at serious risk of being blinded.

  To her right stood Liana. Whereas Charlotte and Hannah looked much like their mother with soft, womanly features, Liana took after her father with sharp cheekbones and tall stature. Darker chestnut hair contrasted with theirs while her skin tanned a few shades darker. That could also have a lot to do with the fact that Liana
spent much of her time outdoors while her sisters remained cooped up inside. Liana’s dress gleamed a pretty silver that reflected in her emerald eyes while her jewels were much less likely to seriously harm. They were sparkly and eye-catching yet not overdone. Understated elegance is how Phillipa described them.

  Petite Hannah radiated with innocent beauty in her wine-colored gown. It would have been too bold a color for Liana but for the shorter girl, it gave her the exact right amount of boldness to not get lost in the crowd but not garner unwanted attention. All of her curly hair was piled atop her head in a youthful updo to show off her slender neck and the iridescent pearls collared around it.

  Lady Monroe took her husband’s arm before descending the stairs. Their eldest child, Wesley, took Charlotte’s arm. Liana was paired with her younger brother, Carlisle. Hannah with the youngest Monroe, William who was merely eight years old but still full of Monroe decorum.

  Liana kept her eyes ahead, refusing to meet any of the many eyes tracking their movements. She thought it was all in her head, but even the slightest bit of attention made her uncomfortable. She hated these balls so much because her only purpose here was to grab the attention of others.

  There were so many already in the ballroom and not just mage. Everyone of importance in the kingdom attended. Vampires, shifters, and mage alike. Everyone was here for one purpose - to arrange a marriage - either for themselves or for their daughters.

  Instead of focusing on them, she turned her attention to the room. It matched the imposing nature of the outside of the castle with massive stone columns lining either side of the longest walls to support the arched ceiling. Opposite the stairs, the far wall contained the dais and the king’s throne. There were two columns along the wall, framing an alcove where his throne sat. From this far, Liana could not discern the details of the throne only that the cushion was made of a purple fabric, the frame glinting with gold.