Reign of Ice (Forever Fae series) (9 page)

Kalen
spoke up, “I think we both had to learn. You Summer girls aren’t exactly easy to deal with.”

“Please,” I remarked incredulously. “I don’t think you
Winter men are easy to deal with either. It definitely hasn’t been a walk in the park.”

“Well, technically Ryder and I are no longer
Winter so you can’t include us in that,” Kalen said with a sly smile. “So that jab can only be directed at my little brother.”

Brayden scowled and clenched his jaw while gripping onto the handle of his sword. Rolling my eyes, I shook my head and kept walking.
“Calm down, oh silent one. Your brother is just picking on you. Loosen up a bit and get that scowl off your face.”

“Right now is not a time of joking, angel. My brother has failed to realize what could’ve happened just now. The time for laughter has ended. We have bigger problems on our hands.”

“Yes, we do,”
I agreed.
“But we can’t let Alasdair suck the life out of us. I still plan on living mine just as I’ve always had. Soon it’ll all be over.”

We finally made it to the Great Room, and once the doors opened
Calista and Meliantha both ran up to me while Sorcha acknowledged me with a thoughtful nod. They didn’t look surprised to see my changed skin so Brayden must’ve already had the chance to tell them before I called him up to my room.

“Did he take your power?”
Calista asked quickly, embracing me tight.

I shook my head. “No, he didn’t, but he said he’d be back for me.”

She sighed and hung her head, gritting her teeth with a low sounding growl. “And unfortunately he will. So is it true that you’ll be leaving with Brayden for the Winter Court today?”

“Yes, it’s true,” I replied.

She smiled and grabbed my hand, turning it over and to the side so she could inspect my skin. “It’s so weird seeing you like this. Meliantha and I only have subtle changes, but you—”

“Yeah, I know it’s strange,” I interrupted her, spotting
Durin over her shoulder. I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me toward our parents. I regretted that decision as soon as we came to my mother.

My mother gasped and tears flew out of her eyes as she ran to me. “Oh my
heavens, look at you. You don’t even look like my daughter anymore.”

I rolled my eyes and bit my tongue from the comment I wanted to say. “Thanks, Mother. As if the circumstances aren’t already complicated enough,” I spouted sarcastically. “We have bigger problems to worry about and the fact that I’m a Winter
Fae now can be discussed later.” Turning my head, I decided to ignore her and focus on Durin who already knew what I was going to ask.

He acknowledged me with a nod and glanced at everyone in the room before announcing, “I am assuming now that the bonding has been completed that you wish for me to forge the final weapon?”

“Yes,” I spoke up hastily over the crowd. “It needs to be done as soon as possible.”

Calista
, Meliantha, and Sorcha all three joined my side as Durin came toward us. “I will get it done, Your Highnesses. What type of blade would you prefer?” he asked us all. “It needs to be something you all can wield.”

We all four studied each other, but it was clear what the weapon of choice needed to be. I would’ve suggested a sword since that was what I was good at, but a dagger would suffice. I knew for a fact that the others knew how to wield one along with their other talents. A dagger would be the easiest to drive through the dark sorcerer’s heart, if that’s what you wanted to call it. I didn’t think he’d have one, but obviously he did.

“A dagger,” I suggested to Durin. “That’s what we need.”

Elvena
joined us and said, “That’s not all he will need.”

She left the room, and came back moments later with a vial in one hand and a knife in the other. “He needs your blood, children. I want you all to cut your palms and let your blood flow into the vial.” She handed
Calista the knife first, who sliced her palm and clenched her fist to squeeze the blood out faster. Once she completed her part she passed the knife to Meliantha, then to Sorcha, and then to me.

I sliced the palm of my other hand, the one opposite to the one I bonded with Brayden with, and let my newly bonded essence fill up the rest of the glass vial. Once the first drop touched the others’ blood, the whole vial exploded with a burst of bright light that was stronger than the summer sun. The magic swirled around the tube and grew stronger the more blood I added to it.

“What’s happening to it?” I asked, shielding my eyes.

Elvena’s
lip tilted up in a smile, but it was a sad kind of smile. Softly, she said, “It’s the power of the Four combined, child. What more can I say other than it’s the most potent and raw power this land has ever seen.”

When the vial was completely filled up with our blood, I sealed it and handed it to
Durin. He wrapped the vial in a black cloth so that we wouldn’t be blinded anymore and packed it away in his bag. “I will get the dagger made as fast as I can. It’s going to take some time, but as soon as it’s finished I will deliver it myself.”

With those final words he bowed to us all and hastily retreated out of the Great Room. I could only pray to the heavens that he hurried. Now it was time to say good-bye to my parents before I had to leave and travel to my new home … the Winter Court.

SAYING GOOD-BYE TO
my family wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be, but it still wasn’t easy. My mother was a blubbering mess, repeating over and over how she didn’t have any daughters left. I loved her, but she could be overdramatic at times and it was frustrating. The hardest farewell I had to make was to my father. His warm, loving smile was going to be the one thing I missed most about being at home … except Summer was no longer my home.

I could feel the effects of my change when I stepped out into the
Summer sun. It no longer soaked into my skin, making me feel refreshed, but burned and pierced through my flesh like hot coals.
No wonder the Winter Fae never stay long when they visit.
Even if I wanted to stay here and defy Brayden’s demand that I live with him in the Winter Court there was no way I could. I wouldn’t be able to stand the heat of the Summer for the rest of my life. The blood flowing through my veins knew where it belonged, and it wasn’t with the green meadows, waterfalls, and beaches. It was with the gray clouds, snow, and ice.

Instead of riding to
Winter on my horse, Lennox, I chose to ride in the carriage with Queen Mab, who was Brayden’s mother, and my mother’s archenemy. I had never really gotten the chance to talk to her, and I figured it would be a good time to find out more personal things about her son and why he was the way he was.

Queen
Mab twirled a lock of her long, black hair between her fingers as she studied me from across the carriage. Between her and my mother, Queen Mab was the only one who was happy about the change to my body. However, in a way I couldn’t tell if that was because she was truly happy about my change, or if it was because it caused my mother heartache. Their feud was a mystery to us all.

“When do you think you’ll complete the bond with my son, Ariella?” she asked curiously. I averted my gaze to peer out the window in order to avoid her curious stare. I didn’t know how to answer her. When I turned back to her I could see it in her eyes that she understood my wariness to the question. Her gaze could freeze anyone where they stood, literally, but what she showed me was warmth and compassion.

Leaning my head against the carriage wall, I sighed and regretfully answered, “To be honest, Queen Mab, I’m not sure when we will complete it. Brayden and I are complete opposites in every way imaginable. We have nothing in common, except a faraway attraction to each other that we can’t deny. I think we’ve only had one real verbal conversation the whole time I’ve known him.”

The queen smiled and let out a sad sigh. “Oh, Princess, you couldn’t be more wrong. Not every relationship is based on how much you talk, but how your souls connect. I’ve watched my sons grow and turn into the men they are today, and since Brayden has always been a Winter
Fae at heart, I’ve spent most of my time with him. He’s extremely gifted, and once he gets you home I’m sure you will find out for yourself. If you give him time I know things will change between you two. Your and Brayden’s relationship reminds me so much of a couple I used to know. They were very different, but their love was what they had in common.”

“Really … so what happened to them? Did they live happily ever after?” I asked.

She winced and bit her lip, her eyes closing as if in pain. When she opened them, a lone tear escaped the corner of her eye and froze on her skin before it could run down her cheek. She wiped it off and I could hear the clinking sound of it as it hit the carriage floor.

Sadly, she explained, “No, darling, they didn’t. However, that’s not the point I wanted to make. You and Brayden won’t end up like them because your love isn’t forbidden, although you both have the same qualities and differences like they had. A long time ago when I was
younger things weren’t like they are now. I don’t know how much of our history you are aware of, but there was a time when the Summer and Winter Courts were enemies. It was unheard of for a Winter Fae and a Summer Fae to fall in love. It just wasn’t the way things worked.”

Intrigued by her story, I sat up and moved closer, wanting to hear more. “So I’m assuming this couple you knew of was a Winter
Fae and a Summer Fae?”

She nodded and smiled, but her eyes showed nothing except sorrow. “Yes, and I haven’t spoken of them in over a century.”

My eyes went wide. “Wow, that’s a long time. I would love to hear the story if you want to tell it to me.”

Queen
Mab gazed out the window to the tall, plush trees of the Mystical Forest. The wind that blew through the carriage smelled of fall and changing leaves, signaling our approach to the Fall Court … Ryder and Calista’s court. I thought maybe she didn’t want to tell me the story since it was obviously hard for her. I could feel the sorrow pouring out of her mixed with the undertone of resentment, but it wasn’t directed at me. It was coming from deep within her soul as if …

“It was you, wasn’t it?” I acknowledged softly. “You were the Winter
Fae in the story you speak of.”

With a heavy heart, she nodded and finally revealed the story of forbidden love, “Yes, it was
me, Ariella. Sometimes it feels as if it was just a bad dream, but there are times when I can’t help but remember. When I see the one responsible for all the heartache, it all comes back to me. I’m sure you know of whom I speak. It’s not exactly a secret that I loathe her. To this day, she still refuses to accept the blame.”

Her admission caught me off guard and I gasped, holding my hand over my mouth and shaking my head. She couldn’t be talking about my mother, could she? What had my mother done to earn that level of hatred?

“Tell me what happened,” I demanded. “I have to know.”

The queen closed her eyes and smiled as if remembering those times long ago, of a time when she was just a princess and in love with someone she could never be with. With tear filled eyes, Queen
Mab began, “It all started about a hundred and thirty years ago. Going to the mortal realm was frowned upon, but I loved to sneak away and watch how the humans interacted with each other. I stayed away during the times they were at war, but when they weren’t I was there. I don’t know if you go there often, but when you spend a lot of time there our fae magic calls to each other. Faeries will always find other faeries no matter what, especially in a place where no other magic exists. Do you go there frequently?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I only go there to procure paintings. I really love their art. I left all my pieces in my room back home. I didn’t see the point in packing them all.”

A mischievous gleam sparkled in Queen Mab’s eyes when she said, “Oh, I don’t think you have anything to worry about with that.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

She waved her hand in the air dismissively and snickered. “You’ll find out later, my dear. It just goes with the theory that no matter how different you and my son are, there will always be something that ties you together. Okay, now back to the story. I was in the mortal realm and I had just gotten through walking across the Brooklyn Bridge when I spotted him. He was peering out over the bridge to the city, leaning over on his elbows on the railing. His golden skin stood out among the mortals, and even though he was dressed in mortal clothes I could tell underneath all of that that he was a warrior. I remembered just standing there, staring at him like I had never seen a Summer Fae before.”

“What did he do when he saw you?” I wondered.

Queen Mab laughed and shook her head. “He knew I was there the whole time watching him. After a while, without turning around to look at me, he finally asked me to join him. He also promised he wasn’t going to throw me over the bridge. I knew we were supposed to be enemies, but I didn’t feel any animosity coming off of him at all.”

I chuckled along with her and sat on the edge of my seat, dying to hear more. She wiped her eyes that were misty with tears and continued, “I had no clue what to expect from him. He was so full of life, just like you, and he brought me out of the shell I was in, made me feel things I never thought possible. I guess you could say Brayden is like me in that instance. He’s reserved, but he has a passion inside of him that’s stronger than any of my other sons. He likes to keep to himself, but even in the last day or two I could see a change in him. He just needs the right person to show him the way.
You
are that person to help him find that way.”

I knew Brayden had started to change, especially since he became my guardian. He kept his emotions open to me fully, which I knew couldn’t be easy for someone who had kept them hidden all his life.

Knowing Queen Mab’s story didn’t have a happy ending and that my mother was the cause of it, I had to know what happened. “What was his name?” I asked.

“Alaric,” she whispered. “His name was Alaric.”

I could feel her pain like a knife in the gut. She must’ve really loved him to have that kind of anguish inside her soul. “What did my mother do? How did she tear you and Alaric apart?”

Queen
Mab scoffed and shook her head. “What didn’t she do is the question. Alaric and I knew our relationship was forbidden, so we kept our love hidden from our world. We would meet on the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, even if it was just for a moment. Staying apart made it hard to breathe and during the day I could barely think of anything else other than being in his arms and making love to him. He was my first love and I thought maybe … just maybe things would change in the Land of the Fae to where we could be together. It just so happens that your mother put a stop to it.”

Closing her eyes, she huffed and tightened her hands into fists beside her. “I don’t hate anyone as much as I hate your mother. I didn’t know that she fancied Alaric and that they had once been lovers. When he met me, their relationship had ended and she had moved on to another warrior. However, when she noticed him not panting along after her she got suspicious and decided to follow him to the mortal realm.”

“So she saw you two together,” I cut in, ashamed that my mother could be so cruel. I knew where this story was going and I didn’t like it one bit.

Queen
Mab nodded. “Yes, she saw us together and turned us in. I never got to say good-bye to him.”

My heart broke for her because I couldn’t imagine falling in love with someone only to have
them ripped away and not be able to say good-bye. Although, most of all, I felt anger. How could my mother do that? How could she be so damn selfish and vindictive?

My voice shook when I responded, “Where is he now? Did my mother have him killed?”

“She might as well have,” she remarked. “He was banished to the mortal realm and I was banished
from
the mortal realm. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead. All I know is that I’ve hated your mother ever since and I will hate her to the end of my time.”

“Angel, are you all right?”
Brayden inquired through our bond.
“I can feel your anger and despair.”

He rode up beside the carriage and I peered out the window at him. I nodded my head and answered, trying to smile,
“I’m fine, Brayden. You’re mother and I were talking and she told me some things that—”

“What did she say to upset you?”
he interrupted, a scowl on his face. When I glanced over at Queen Mab she lifted a brow in question, but then realized what we were doing. She then smirked and sat there, watching us in amusement.

I huffed and rolled my eyes at Brayden, except a part of me couldn’t help but notice how sexy he looked riding on his horse. His muscles bulged in his arms as he held onto the reins and his body also moved gracefully along with his horse’s as they galloped along beside us.
Stop it, Ariella
, I chided myself.