Forever Fae (Forever Fae Series)
Forever Fae
By: L.P. Dover
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written consent from the author.
Forever Fae
L.P. Dover
Copyright 2012 by L.P. Dover
Editor: Tabitha Short
Cover Artist: Regina Wamba
www.maeidesign.com
Acknowledgements
Writing has been an amazing journey for me during this last year, and I wouldn’t have made it through without the love and understanding from my husband, Matt and my two beautiful girls, Abbey and Anna-Grace. They have been so patient with me during this time and I can’t express how much I love them. My parents, of course, have always supported me in my decisions and have always had faith in me to fulfill my dreams. Writing has always been a dream of mine and now I’m glad to be able to share it with my readers. I want to thank my sister and my nieces for always being supportive and listening to me rant when I’d get frustrated. You have no idea how much that means to me.
I also wouldn’t have made it through without the support of my fellow author friends. Lucy Swing, you are an amazing author and you have become a wonderful friend to me. Your final push was what inspired me to begin writing in the first place. For that I will always be grateful and I love you so much for it. Jimie, you have been so supportive and have done everything you can to brighten my days. I have enjoyed getting to know you and having you there by my side.
Amber Garcia, I don’t know if words can express how much I adore you. You have been an amazing friend and everything you have done for me has been out of this world. Thank you for taking the time to beta read and for your honest opinions. I wouldn’t have gotten through everything without your advice and hard work. I love you all so much. Of course, I can’t forget the amazing people out there that have become my fans and fellow supporters. Without you, my books would be nothing. I have enjoyed talking to you all and hearing your encouraging words. Thank you to all that have had faith in me and in my writing.
Forever Fae
The Forever Fae Series
Book 1
By
L.P. Dover
Contents
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
About the Author
Prologue
The Prophecy
Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring
Two Courts to Four is what it will bring.
Without the Four the evil will spread,
The Land of the Fae will fall into dread.
The next generation will provide the Four,
The maiden souls and nothing more.
The Power of Four will start with the first,
If he gets the power, only then will you be cursed.
The Power of Four will be drawn to the others,
Their power is strong, the power of lovers.
The moment they become one,
Only then will the change have begun.
Two Courts to Four is what needs to be,
To save the Land, so shall we see.
Chapter 1
Calista
I am Calista, the eldest princess of the Summer Court, and today is the day that will change everything. Being the daughter of the legendary King Oberon and Queen Tatiana has come with many responsibilities, and ones that I’ve come to accept with great honor and duty; however, I have been known to go against the council from time and time, much to my parent’s dismay. I didn’t get the reputation for being hard-headed and stubborn for nothing. First and foremost, one of my honor bound duties is to accept a guardian on my twenty-first birthday, and today happens to be that day. In just a couple of hours, dignitaries from all over the Land of the Fae will be here to celebrate in this occasion.
The Guardian Ceremony is a centuries old tradition that will be held at sunset to determine who will be my warrior guardian. The warriors chosen will fight one another for the right to be given the honor. I enjoy watching the warriors practice, and secretly, against my parent’s knowledge, I do train with my friend, Merrick. They’d be shocked to learn that I’m just as skilled in battle as their warriors.
A knock on my door breaks me away from my thoughts, and my nurse maid, Elvena, enters the room.
“My lady, are you ready for the ceremony?” Always soothing, her voice is soft and angelic, but now she looks at me wide-eyed and gasps.
“Child, you don’t even have your dress on. Your father will skin my hide if I don’t get you ready in time,” she scolds, flapping her hands in the air while frantically running around my room.
Looking at her running around, I grin. Being half brownie and half elf, Elvena is a very beautiful woman, but short given her brownie heritage. Her curly brown hair hits her shoulders, and her eyes are the color of amber that almost glowed sometimes when you look at her. When my parents would travel across the lands on business, Elvena, was the one who took care of me and my younger siblings. She also happens to be the one who proclaimed the prophecy that has been widely known throughout the land. Apparently, I happen to be a part of that prophecy, but no one, not even myself know how I’m supposed to change the Land of the Fae.
“Oh Elvena, father wouldn’t dare do that to you. You’re one of the most important people in this kingdom, and the most sought out prophetess. Your prophecies have helped save our kingdoms for hundreds of years. I would never let him do anything to you.”
“That may be so, child, but I still have duties and you’re one of them,” she sighs. “Now, let’s hurry, so many of our guests have already started arriving.”
“Who all is here?” I asked.
Elvena stops her running around and narrows her eyes in contemplation. “Hmm … well, of course you know Aelfric and Rhoswen would be here early, and since Durin couldn’t make it, I did see several of his dwarves coming through the front gate before I came to fetch you. All that’s left now is the winter court fae.”
Aelfric and Rhoswen are the leaders of the Elvish Kingdom, and Durin happens to be the leader of the Dwarves. Both the elves and the dwarves are powerful allies to the fae, and are our most trusted friends. I’ve spent many moons with Aelfric and Rhoswen in their beautiful kingdom, and I look forward to my next visit with them.
“Well, hell, I guess I better hurry then,” I laugh. “I’ve heard Queen Mab doesn’t like to be kept waiting when she arrives for something.”
Elvena suddenly stops and shakes her head. She’s never approved of my vocabulary, and of course the quip at Queen Mab definitely had her laughing.
“The words you choose to grace your tongue astounds me, child; although, I do have to say that you’ll serve this kingdom well when your time comes. There’s no other fae in the land that has the ability to control all the four elements such as you. Your powers are above anyone’s imagination and you will
do great things. Only time will tell what those great things will be.”
Pausing to stare at me with pure love in those hazel eyes of hers, she then turns it to a look of mischief. “Now let us get you ready for the ceremony. What dress have you picked out for tonight? It needs to be something special so those boys will have something to fight over,” she says and giggles.
Narrowing my eyes at her, I give her a playful scowl. She knows I’m not happy about the warriors fighting over me, but I also know there’s nothing I can do about it. After seeing my facial expression, Elvena was laughing so hard she snorted and couldn’t stop. I always loved her laugh, and I could always count on it to bring a smile to my face even in the worst of times.
“Xylia and I travelled to the mortal realm to pick out our dresses for the evening,” I tell her, knowing very well that my information would give her pause.
Her laughing abruptly stops and before she could interrupt I cut in and say, “Merrick was with us if that makes you feel any better. We were well protected and you know very well that I’m trained in battle. Merrick has been training me for years and I’m an excellent dagger thrower. I’m even better than most of the warriors.” I said this with total conviction.
By her slow growing smile I knew what Elvena was thinking. The only thing she heard of what I just said was that Merrick was with me. Merrick has been my life-long friend and we’ve grown very close to one another. Being around him all the time has definitely had my people speculating. Only Elvena and my best friend, Xylia, know about my trainings with Merrick.
“I know what you’re thinking, Elvena, and that’s not going to happen. Merrick is my friend, end of story.”
Her smirk told me she thought otherwise. “I believe you, child. But I don’t think Merrick will hold up that end of the bargain. Say what you want, but that boy has feelings for you. He watches you when you’re not looking and his eyes show the longing he has for you.”
Sighing, I say, “I care for him as a dear friend, nothing more, and besides he hasn’t even let on about his feelings toward me. Until he does, I won’t address it.” I decide to change the subject by pointing over at my closet and saying, “If you look in my closet over there, Elvena, you’ll see the exquisite emerald dress I picked out for tonight. I fell in love with it and I knew I had to get it.”
Elvena purses her lips knowing full well what I was doing and goes over to my closet and pulls out the dress. She looks at it up and down and a sly smile takes over her face. “Oh yes, Princess, you will cause a mighty stir tonight. You won’t be able to keep any of the young men away from you once they lay their eyes on you,” she laughs, rolling my eyes in response.
After laying the dress on my bed, Elvena pulls out a little silver box from her pocket and holds it to me. “What do you have there, Elvena?” I ask curiously, reaching for it.
“Open it,” she says. Opening the beautiful silver box, in it lays the most amazing, golden encrusted ring with a purple stone in its center. The stone is a deep purple color with an iridescent look to it. I’ve never seen a stone like it before. The band has words of the Old Fae language engraved in it, except I can’t seem to make out the words.
“Elvena, what do the words say? I’m having trouble translating,” I ask.
“It says, my child, Mind, heart, body, soul … I protect thee. It’s beautiful, is it not? This was my ring as a child and I decided that since I no longer needed it I would pass it along to you. It happens to be your birthday and tonight is a special night. I thought you deserved a special gift and it’ll also help protect you when your guardian can’t.”
“It’s beautiful, Elvena. I’ll never take it off.”
Smiling, she takes me in her arms and squeezes tight. “We need to stop dawdling and finish getting you ready.” Elvena pulls back and motions for me to sit. Her hands move swiftly through my hair and in a matter of minutes she’s arranged it in a beautiful cascade of blonde curls and braids along with a sprinkle of delicate flowers in all shades of color.
“Thank you…for everything,” I whisper.
“Anything for you, child.”
Chapter 2
Ryder
“Are you sure you don’t want to accompany me to the ceremony, Mother?” I ask, sarcastically.
My mother, Queen Mab, had graciously asked if I would go to the Guardian Ceremony for the Princess Calista. Graciously might not be the word I would say she used. She told me I had to go.
Lifting one of her eyebrows, she smirked to show me she knew what I was doing. I love to get her worked up over the Summer Court Queen. My mother is a beautiful lady with long, raven black hair and blue eyes. The men in our court literally freeze when they’re in her presence.
“No, dear son, I will wait here for your father’s return. He’s the only one who can keep me from ripping Queen Tatiana’s hair out of her head. That woman drives me up the wall with her air of arrogance, and with your father not here, I find it in the best interest of both the courts if I sit this one out.”
“I think I’d have to agree. We wouldn’t want to start a war now would we?” I laughed at the mental picture in my head of my mother going head to head with the Summer Court Queen. It would definitely be entertaining. Taking my mother’s hand, we walk together to the throne room where we both take a seat by the large window overlooking our wintery palace.
My mother sighs, “No, we wouldn’t. From everything that’s going on in and around the Black Forest we need to make sure we stay close to the Summer court. If something happens, we need to have them on our side and vice versa.”
Nodding, I say, “That’s true. I’m curious to know what they have to say about all of this. Has any of their fae gone missing as well?”
“Several have, and that’s what worries me. The air feels as evil as it did when the war broke out over a century ago. You can taste the bitterness of it in the wind.”
“Has Heylfred said anything more about the prophecy?” I ask curiously. Heylfred is our advisor and he has a way of seeing things that none of us can. He’s told me of his speculations about the prophecy, but I’m curious to know what he’s told my mother.
Tilting her head to the side, she smiles. “He says he believes that you and the lovely Princess Calista will be the beginning of it all, and that your hearts are destined to be together.”
I groan, “Yeah, that’s the same poetic bull shit I hear from him as well. If Calista is anything like her mother, I highly doubt I could stand to be within three feet of her.”
“You may be surprised, my son,” my mother says with a devilish smile.
Looking out the window, I see that my army has all began to gather and are saddling their horses. Leaning over to kiss my mother’s hand, I prepare to depart. “I must bid you farewell, mother. Warren and Kalen will be accompanying me along with several of the warriors. We’ll be back soon.”
My mother kisses me on the cheek and smiles. “Be safe and make sure to tell the Queen I said hello.”
“Yeah … right,” I say, giving her an incredulous look. Heading out of the throne room, her cackles echoed throughout the palace as I made my way out into the snow.
Leaving the palace walls, I head to my own house on my parent’s property. My mother and father refuse to let my brothers and my sister live outside of their own grounds, so to have our own privacy, my brothers and I have our own places scattered across the expanse of the Winter court. I have two younger brothers, Kalen and Brayden, and a younger sister named Sorcha. Sorcha stays in the main palace under the careful eye of my parent’s.
As I reach my house, or cabin like most mortals would call it, I see that my travelling companions are already dressed and ready to leave. I chose to have my house built to look like a log cabin because I liked the rustic feel of it. Growing up pampered for way too long, I could care less now about the amenities of the palace.
“Ryder, you need to hurry up, jackass, or we’ll be late,” Warren yells.
Warren is my best fr
iend and a strong fighter. He’s a little shorter than me reaching about six feet, but he’s a hell of a fighter. The Winter fae women love his demanding nature, but I find it cruel at times. I don’t know why, but he’s persisted on coming with me to the ceremony. I assume he just wants to get a glimpse of the Summer Court.
I yell back in a humorous tone. “What’s the matter, Warren, afraid you won’t get to the ball in time before midnight?”
Warren grits his teeth and scowls.
“Shut the hell up and let’s get on the road.”
His aggression catches me off guard and my temper rises. Stepping into his space, nose to nose with him, I demanded to know what was wrong with him.
“Look Warren, I don’t know what your problem is, but if you don’t stop this attitude, I’m going to kick your ass all the way to the Summer Court and back. You’ve been like this for weeks now, and if you’re not going to tell me what’s wrong, I suggest you suck it up and move on. This cry baby bullshit is going to stop now!” I yell.
At this time, my brother Kalen makes his appearance and laughs, giving me a fist bump.
“What did I miss? Are you two ladies having a lover’s quarrel or something?” He looks over at Warren and says in a teasing manner. “Man, Warren, you look like you need to get laid or something. Maybe you’ll get lucky with a summer chick. I hear they’re good in bed.” No matter what kind of situation I’m in, I can always count on my brother to lighten the mood.
Clapping my brother on the shoulder, I laugh and say, “Kalen, you never cease to amaze me. If anyone’s getting lucky, we know it’ll be you, but I think Warren is over his tantrum now, right?” Looking over at him, he forcefully nods and leaves the house.
Kalen smiles the whole time while watching Warren walk away. He looks like our mother with his raven colored hair and ice blue eyes. He keeps his hair shoulder length while I keep mine short. Anyone could tell that we’re brothers, and growing up we were often mistaken as the other, except Kalen likes to flirt with any female that walked, and he’s a total jokester, whereas I’m more calm and collected.