Reign of Ice (Forever Fae series) Page 3

  As much as I wanted to deny it, I felt the same way.

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE you let her go,” Sorcha scolded, approaching me from behind. I couldn’t believe it either.

  Without turning around, I kept my gaze on Ariella’s retreating form as she rode off down the beach with Kamden by her side. As much as I wanted to hate the warrior with her, I couldn’t. He used to be one of my warriors in the Winter Court until he decided to follow Kalen to Spring. He was a strong fighter and I knew he’d keep Ariella safe.

  “You know as well as I do that she wouldn’t have listened to me. It would only push her away even more. I am not stupid, Sorcha.”

  Sorcha scoffed. “Umm … I hate to break it to you, dear brother, but I think you’ve already pushed her away. It took all I had not to kick your ass inside.” She came around to stand before me with her arms crossed over her chest and with a scowl on her face. “Do you want to know something, Brayden?”

  Even if I said no she was going to tell me anyway so I said, “Yes.”

  “Loving someone doesn’t make you a weak person. I know you’re the leader of the Winter Army. You’re strong, extremely stubborn, and closed off. A lot of us Winter Fae are like that. I tried to be an ice cold bitch like mother, but it wasn’t in me to be like that. It’s not easy to tell someone how you feel and believe me, I know. Drake isn’t exactly passionate like Ryder, or a complete moron like Kalen, but we all know what love is and we feel it. Stop fighting it and go to her. I can see it in your eyes that you feel something for her. You’re only fooling yourself if you think otherwise.”

  She turned on her heel to walk away, but then stopped and her lips tilted up in an evil smirk when she said, “Oh yeah, by the way, you better be glad it was me who came out here to talk to you and not Drake. He’s really fond of Ariella and he isn’t too happy with you right now. So do me a favor and make things right with your princess. You don’t have to profess your feelings to the whole world if that’s what you’re worried about. Only Ariella needs to know how you truly feel.” And that was where I had my problem. There was never a time when I needed to express how I felt with words. It wasn’t something I did … ever.

  “When does she have her guardian ceremony?” I asked curiously. I had an idea brewing in my mind, except I wondered if it would even be possible. There was only one way to find out.

  A glint sparkled in Sorcha’s eyes and she smiled. “Tomorrow, why?”

  “You’ll see,” I remarked slyly. “I have an idea, but I’m sure it’s going to anger Ariella more.”

  Throwing her hands in the air, Sorcha groaned and mumbled to herself as she walked away. Ariella said she’d be ready to face me, and I was going to make tomorrow be that day. I just needed to talk to her father first and prayed that he would approve of my request.

  KAMDEN RODE WITH me the whole way back, which only took less than an hour. Since my family was all still in the other Summer Court, he decided to stay for a while. The mischievous smile on his face as he got off his horse grated on my nerves, though.

  “What is that look for, Kam? Tell me.”

  He chuckled and put his arm around my shoulders as we walked up the steps to the palace. “Brayden has it bad for you, Princess. I have never heard or seen him look at a female the way he did you.”

  I snorted in disbelief. “It still doesn’t change the fact that he’s an ass,” I remarked. “Was he always so closed off when you were his friend?”

  Kamden shrugged and pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t say we were friends per se. Kalen was the one who was my friend and that’s why I chose to follow him to Spring along with Zanna. But yes, he was always quiet but fierce when he fought. Most of the warriors hated fighting with him because he could be lethal.”

  When we got inside and settled in one of the sitting rooms, one of the servants brought us a tray filled with fruits and berries along with some sparkling water. My nerves were frazzled from everything going on, but I managed to eat a handful of berries and drink all of my water. Not knowing if I was going to live to see our land saved had me feeling in despair, and lost. My guardian ceremony was tomorrow, but what good would a guardian do if I was destined to die?

  Kamden gazed warily at me. “What’s on your mind, Princess? You shut off on me there for a second.”

  I wanted to talk to someone about what I heard, but I knew I couldn’t and that it had to remain a secret in case there were traitors in our midst or ears lurking around every corner. I didn’t like feeling alone. Exhausted, I released a heavy sigh and smiled. “I’m sorry, I was just thinking. So tell me about Brayden. Did he have a lot of women in the Winter Court?”

  Kamden groaned and tilted his head back in the chair, avoiding my gaze. That groan could only mean one thing …

  “He did, didn’t he?” I questioned through clenched teeth.

  He threw his hands in the air, keeping his head tilted back. “What does it matter anyway? I’m sure you had your fair share of men. I mean, come on, Ariella, you’re hot as hell and you’re one of the funniest women I know. I keep waiting on you to play one of your sick jokes on me like you do the other warriors.”

  I stared at him for the longest time before we both laughed and let the tension ease. He lifted his head and hunched over, resting his elbows on his thighs. “Look, Brayden’s a guy and guys have needs sometimes. Especially when we’re fighting and training. We have to let out some of that tension before we kill each other. So yes, he had lots of women, but like I said he’s never looked at them the way he does you. I don’t think he even talked to the women he slept with.”

  “Well that’s comforting,” I quipped sarcastically, rolling my eyes. “It makes me wonder if he’ll be that way with me. I have no clue what’s going to happen with us now. Tomorrow I turn twenty-one and I don’t know what’s going to happen with my powers or who’s going to be my guardian. I don’t even see the point in having a guardian.”

  Scoffing, Kamden shook his head and grabbed my hands that were in my lap. Kneeling down on the floor, he clasped our hands together and gazed up at me with his exotic hazel eyes. “No matter how many people are in yours and Brayden’s past that’s where they’re at … the past. I have women in mine and Zanna has men in hers, but we both love each other no matter what. As far as your guardian ceremony goes, I have a question I wanted to ask you.”

  “What is it?” I asked, squeezing his hands. “Are you going to come to it?”

  He smirked and squeezed my hands back. “Actually, I wanted to see if you’d let me fight in it.”

  My eyes went wide and I gasped. Was he serious? “You mean you want to fight for me? Really? What does Zanna think about it?” I asked excitedly.

  Letting go of my hands, he laughed and sat back in his chair. “We were talking about it right before I found you in the stables. I was looking for you so I could ask you what you thought about it.”

  I studied him, trying hard to keep from smiling. If there was anyone I wanted to be my guardian it would be him. I hadn’t known him for long, but he and Zanna had become family to me over the past couple of weeks and I honestly loved them both.

  I lifted a curious brow and crossed my arms over my chest. “Do you think you can handle me, Kam? I mean, think about it … you’re going to be in my head every single day and listening to my crazy thoughts. I want you to understand what you’re getting yourself into.”

  “The same goes to you, Princess. You’re going to hear all my thoughts as well. Do you think you can handle me?” he asked teasingly.

  I chuckled. “I have no doubt. Okay, you can compete, but I’m warning you … my Summer warriors are fierce. You might regret it.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Yeah right. I have complete faith in myself.”

  We sat there and talked and laughed for hours until my mother and father arrived back from Drake and Sorcha’s Summer. After showing Kamden to a spare bedroom he could sleep in for the night, I retired to my room and shut the door, leaning heavily against it as
all my thoughts bombarded me at once.

  I am the one to end the evil and I don’t know how. I am most likely going to die in the process as well. I turn twenty-one tomorrow and gain my powers, the same powers the dark sorcerer wants. I had the prophetic vision with Brayden, who acts like I’m not worthy of his time, not to mention we have to be bonded before the weapon of mass destruction can be made. I’m not supposed to know what’s going on, but I do and the weight of it lies heavily on my chest. I have to figure out how to save the land, and the last thing I want to do is let my people down.

  Before lying down on my bed, I changed out of my clothes and put on a simple gray T-shirt that I got from the mortal realm. I never travelled there much since I was basically forbidden to until I had procured a guardian. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day and I had a strange feeling that Brayden was going to make sure he was there.

  The room was quiet and dark, but I could see the twinkling lights of the sprites out by my window. I knew I should be terrified of my fate, and in a way I was, but there was nothing I could do about it. I knew my time was coming.

  I never thought my life would end so soon, but what my sisters failed to realize was that I valued our world and our land above anything else, including my own existence. I would save them … I just needed to figure out how.

  The sunlight beaming in through the window shone bright, but that wasn’t what had awoken me. Someone was sitting on the bed with me; I could feel the bed jostle and hear their breath as they sat quietly. Groaning, I turned over and was met with the beaming smile of my friend, Zanna, with her wide blue eyes jumping with excitement. “Happy birthday,” she cheered. “Do you feel any different?”

  “What are you doing here?” I asked groggily, having endured the worst night sleep ever. “It’s kind of early don’t you think, Zanna?”

  “Yeah, if you consider mid-day to be early. Everyone’s waiting on you to get ready for the ceremony. Kamden wanted to come in here and wake you up hours ago, but I told him no.”

  So that’s why she looks immaculate. Her raven colored hair was pulled up and away from her face in a bundle of curls, and her silky emerald colored gown made her skin sparkle like golden glitter. It was amazing how our bodies changed with our chosen courts.

  “So what did he say when he saw you looking like that?” I asked, grinning at her. “You look amazing. I’m sorry he didn’t make it back to you last night. He stayed here and talked to me for a while.”

  “It’s okay, Ariella, I promise. Kamden didn’t exactly say anything when he saw me. He pulled me into his room and, well … you get the picture, right?” She averted her gaze shyly but I couldn’t resist, I burst out laughing.

  “I completely understand. So when are you both going to take that final step? You two have been together for ages.”

  She sighed. “Yes, we have, but there’s still plenty of time for that. He’s excited about fighting today. Will your mother and father approve of him since he’s not of your court?”

  With a shrug of my shoulders, I got out of bed and started for the bathroom. I had no idea if they would approve. My father would most likely accept, but my mother was the one who was the stickler with following the traditions.

  “It’s never been done before,” I called out over my shoulder, “but I don’t see why they would have a problem with it. The only concern I have is that he will be with me in the Summer Court if he wins. Not to mention that if and when I bond with Brayden I’ll be a Winter Fae, which means I’ll be living in the Winter Court. Is that really what you want?”

  Zanna stopped in the doorway to the bathroom, her lips set in a firm line as she peered at me with a serious glare. “Yes, it’s what we want. I’ll admit, I love Spring, but Kamden wants to do this for you and wherever he goes I follow. I think we make a nice trio, don’t you think? And besides, our mission is to get some sense knocked into the hard headed Winter prince for you.”

  I scoffed and rolled my eyes, while taking off my clothes. “Good luck with that, but be my guest to try. I’m going to take a quick shower so I can get ready for the ceremony. Do you mind getting my dress out of the closet for me?”

  “Of course,” she said, turning around to walk back into my room. I turned on the water and waited for it to get steamy before stepping in.

  “Which dress is it, Ariella? You have a ton in your closet,” she shouted so I could hear her over the running water. I washed quickly since I was already running out of time.

  “It’s the silver one with the thin straps,” I called out. “It should be right there in front.”

  “You mean the one with the plunging neckline. Seriously, Ariella, your warriors aren’t going to be able to concentrate with you wearing this. I’m going to have to keep Kamden away from you.”

  I could hear her laughing and fumbling around in my room. Zanna was such a fun loving spirit and always understanding, not to mention beautiful with a big heart. I didn’t know any of the Winter Fae could be as sweet as her, but I guess the changeover to Spring might have had an influence. All I knew was that I felt closer to her than any of my other friends in the Summer Court.

  Slipping into my robe, I tied it at the waist and joined Zanna in my bedroom. She already had my shoes picked out and was searching through my jewelry with her brows furrowed. “I absolutely love this necklace you have, Ariella. It’s just so …”

  When she turned to acknowledge me, her mouth flew open and she dropped the necklace on the floor, covering her mouth with a shaky hand. Immediately, I flew around thinking there was someone behind me, but when I looked there was no one there. What was going on? Is she looking at me like that? I wondered.

  “What is wrong with you?” I asked, picking up my dress. “I don’t look that bad, do I? I know I didn’t get much sleep, but I actually feel fine now that I took a shower.”

  “Ariella?” she whispered, gazing at me like she’d never seen me before.

  “Yes, it’s me. Who else would it be? Seriously, Zanna, what is with you?”

  Not taking her stunned gaze from me she pointed to the bathroom with a shaky hand and muttered anxiously, “You might want to go look at yourself in the mirror. Something’s wrong.”

  Dropping my dress, I ran to the bathroom and ran a hand frantically over the fogged mirror, scared to see what Zanna saw but curious to know what was going on. The second my reflection came into view I stumbled back into the wall and screamed.

  I ARRIVED TO the Summer Court early for Ariella’s guardian ceremony alongside my mother and father, Queen Mab and King Madoc. I had hoped to see her around before the ceremony, but no one had seen or heard from her all morning.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” King Oberon asked, smirking at me. “I know my daughter and it’s not just you she’s going to be furious at. She’s going to be angry at me as well. This sort of thing has never been done before.”

  I nodded. “I understand, and I’m willing to accept the consequences of my actions, but this is something I know I need to do.”

  King Oberon sighed. “Very well, Prince Brayden. I grant you permission, but if we’re going to do this there needs to be some kind of compromise. I can’t have Ariella causing a big scene and walking away.”

  And that’s precisely what she would do. “What exactly would this compromise entail?” I questioned curiously.

  King Oberon smiled and put his arm around me, steering me down the massive golden halls of his palace. “I have an idea, but it’s going to require you to put aside your pride. Can you do that just once … for Ariella’s sake?”

  I would do anything for her, whatever it took.

  We continued down the desolate hallway until we came upon a door King Oberon stopped in front of. With his hand on the latch, he raised a brow and repeated again, “Can you do that?”

  Without finding out what was at stake, I nodded my head and agreed, “Yes, I’ll do it for her. I owe her my life for the way I treated her.”

  “Good,” King Oberon s
aid, turning the latch on the door with a smirk on his face. As soon as the light filtered into the room I took a look around and groaned at the sight before me.

  “Oh hell,” I mumbled. “If this doesn’t show her how serious I am then I don’t think anything will.”

  The king clapped a hand on my shoulder and guffawed. “She won’t see it that way at first, but if you give her time she’ll come around. I heard how you left her at the Spring Court after you had the vision. She doesn’t forgive very easily, and I can honestly say she got that from her mother. I think a little humility is good for the soul.”

  There was definitely going to be some humiliation tonight … mine. I was doing it all for Ariella even though she hated me for what I’d done. It was the first step to redeeming myself.

  MY BEDROOM DOOR burst open just as I collapsed on the floor away from the mirror, away from the sight of someone else’s eyes staring back at me. What the hell is going on? That wasn’t me in the mirror … it was Zanna looking back at me.

  Kamden stormed in the room all dressed in his Spring Court warrior gear and his sword drawn, ready for action. He ran to Zanna and searched over her, but then his gaze landed on me when she pointed in my direction. “What the …” he began. He approached me warily and tilted his head to the side, narrowing his gaze unsurely. “What’s going on? Who are you?”

  “It’s me, Kam. Now stop talking so I can concentrate,” I demanded impatiently.

  Marching over to the bed, I collapsed onto it and took some deep breaths. I twirled the dark hair in between my fingers that was all Zanna’s and immediately thought of my own, concentrating as hard as I could. And just as if I willed it, the hair between my fingers began to change colors; it was slowly going from black to blonde again. Kamden and Zanna both gasped as I ran to the bathroom and gazed hesitantly at myself in the mirror.