Silver Frost (Bitter Frost #3 of The Frost Series) Page 3

  Logan sighed and nodded, wrapping his great arms even tighter around me. “But just imagine what kind of danger you would have been in then, Breena.” He let his fingers trail down my back and then began grasping at my hand. “You wouldn't have led a normal life, for starters. Never known about your mother's side of things...being human. Considering how alluring glamoring is, not to mention magic, you would have forgotten about your human half altogether!”

  “That’s true,” I had to admit. Since knowing I had fairy blood in me, I have grown more and more entrenched in learning about everything fairy.

  “I’m almost glad you didn’t learn about your fairy heritage until later,” Logan said. “Considering how fairies don’t think much of werewolves.”

  I smiled up at him. “I hope to change that. I, for one, think very much of one in particular. I missed you, Logan.” I was blushing.

  “I missed you too, Breena,” he said softly. “Very much.” I could see him looking into my eyes, searching my face for any signs of love, of passion. He wanted to see if I missed him as much as he missed me, if I loved him as much as he loved me. Was he still willing to go to the ends of the earth, or to Feyland for me? Willing to fight for me – or defend me with his life? I knew that he had always loved me, spent our whole friendship wanting me, wanting this – since we were five or six years old. As I looked at him, I wanted to tell him how much I cared for him, too. He had been my friend, my confidante for so long, and I could not imagine my life without him, but my mind thought of Kian, locked up in the dungeon of my own kingdom, and I couldn’t bring myself to say those words Logan longed to hear.

  He realized I wasn't about to confess my love anytime soon, and so he cleared his throat, perking up. “So, Miss Adventurer, where were you sneaking off to before you got side-tracked by that kelpie?”

  I sighed. I knew how Logan would respond – the topic would darken his face with shadows of his regret. I didn't want to hurt him, but less still did I want to lie to him, and if Logan was to accompany me on my mission, he would do well to know what he was fighting for, what we were fighting for.

  I cleared my throat and spoke.

  “To find Kian.”

  Chapter 4

  I was heading for Rodsgard, the Autumn fortress where Kian had been taken. It was a ways from the Summer Palace, in the Autumn vassal territories. Only the most ruthless of Summer prisoners were taken there, to spend their final days in the barren wilderness of dry autumn before their execution. There was nothing I could have done. I had just been crowned Summer Queen, but a quick look at Wort's face was all I needed to know – I was a Queen in name only. If I so much as said a word in Kian's defense, Wort would have me branded as a traitor, and even if he didn't kill me himself, he would ensure that a “popular uprising” of “concerned citizens” did his despicable job for him. I could feel the power of Summer radiate through my body, but in this I was powerless. I could not voice my love for him. Being a Queen was just another form of a cage.

  As I sat Logan down on the sweet-smelling grass, explaining to him the reasons for my journey, my mind flashed back to that horrible – terrifying day. I had expected to see the execution of Rodney – my steadfast friend and lover of Shasta, the Winter Princess. The Summer Queen had wanted him killed as an example: there could never be peace, nor friendship, between members of the Summer and Winter Kingdoms. But the execution had been stalled by the assassination of the Summer Queen and Rodney's disappearance.

  Everybody knew who was behind it – the Winter Court, of course! The individuals didn't seem to matter. And yet only I had seen the warrior holding the blade – proud, strong Shasta, whose love for Rodney would not let her stand idly by. I watched as she cut Rodney loose and rode away with him on her shining blue stallion. Was she my enemy now, this Winter Princess, who shared the same beauty as her brother? Was Shasta, whom I had always admired,– always longed to be like – my enemy?

  At the time my heart had fluttered in fear for Shasta – long after she had vanished into the mists. And then, before I even realized what was going on – I had been crowned the Summer Queen. Everything had happened so quickly – a crown was being forced upon my head, and words I could not even understand were chanted over me. In moments I could feel something strange and mysterious within me – something overwhelming, a new kind of power. This was the royal heat of the sun, strong and fierce like fire, the magic of summer – and I possessed it. But one look at Wort's leering face was enough to turn that power into nothingness. I knew his intentions were no good. He was loyal to the old Summer Queen, who hated me almost as much as she had hated my mother, and I wasn't about to win him over easily. When Wort had woken me up that night, dragged me to the throne room before dawn had broken, and announced that they had captured the assailant, the Winter Court assailant responsible for killing the Summer Queen, it was for Shasta that my heart began to beat. But when they presented the prisoner to me, I was shocked to see instead the face of Shasta's brother, the man I loved, Kian. He had been beaten up – his skin was marked with bruises blue and purple, but I could still see the love shining for me in his eyes. I could feel our telepathic connection spark us both, as he expressed to me his love, his happiness that I had ascended to my destiny and become the Queen of the Summer Court. My heart broke as I realized there was nothing I could do. My people had demanded revenge against the Winter Court, spurred on by Wort's propaganda, and they called out for the spilling of Kian's blood

  Wort and his men, the old Queen's advisers, knew how these things worked. They waited up with me all night, hasty to spill blood first thing at dawn. I could smell the sadism and violence in their breath. How was I to execute him – that was the question, not if.

  At last I spoke, measuring my words carefully, knowing that one false step would bring both Kian and me to ruin. “I will not make a hasty decision,” I said. “There is no proof, after all, that this fairy is the one behind the assassination.”

  “No proof!” Wort sputtered. “He is a Winter Prince! That is all the proof we need.”

  “It will only make matters worse,” I said, my voice shaking. “If we act rashly now, we may worsen the situation – the Winter Court is already in an advantageous military position. If we execute the heir to the throne, we risk no-holds-barred destruction, civilian deaths, pillaging. Meanwhile, the Winter Court is holding as prisoner many Summer Court knights – sons, brothers, husbands of many of the women of this court. Are we to forfeit their lives, too? For you know if we execute this Winter dog that is what the other court will do. They will not hesitate to execute their Summer prisoners.”

  Wort gaped at me in amazement. “We can't just let him go!”

  “Precisely not. We will keep him imprisoned – and bargain for his life with the Winter Court. They return our hostages, and we let him live...in a tower of our choosing. They do not...and then you may execute him as you see fit. We cannot waste our leverage at this opportunity.”

  “But the people want him dead!” Wort insisted.

  “I wish to think about that,” I said. “I will consider for a few days. In the meanwhile we shall treat the Prince with the kindness and respect that we afford our prisoners of war here in the Summer Court, in the manner in which we hope the Winter Court would afford our own prisoners.”

  With that I disbanded the meeting.

  As I walked out, I sent Kian a telepathic message, gathering all my love and strength into a single thought.

  I shall see you soon, my love. Be strong, and do not hate me for being so cold. They must not see that I love you or it would mean sure death to both of us...”

  I retreated to my room, shaken to the core. I crumpled down onto the bed, weeping into my pillow, hugging it closely to my chest, feeling as cold and empty as the great and hollow room that was now my bedchamber. They had Kian – Wort and his men. It was worse than the Pixies. At least when the Pixies had Kian, for all that they were dishonorable bandits, you knew they would find some use for hi
m. Delano would never be stupid enough to kill a prisoner when he could get something out of it – and the Pixies' true priorities were money and power. But Wort and his group – a group whose limits and members I did not even yet know – only wanted Winter Blood at any cost. Despite my reassuring message to Kian, I knew we were both still in danger.

  I tried to use telepathy once more now that my mind had quieted down. Kian?

  I heard his voice, as soft and reassuring as the Summer rain. Breena, I do not hate you. I understand. There was a pause. Shasta should not have killed the Queen....But his voice trailed off, and I was left alone in silence in my room.

  A few minutes later I heard his voice again, stronger than before. Breena, they are here. They are taking me elsewhere!

  My heart leaped with alarm! Had Wort disregarded my orders, chosen to take the matter into his own hands and execute Kian anyway.

  Where? My voice grew frantic.

  I don't know.

  At once my eyes misted over, clouded by a vision. I was seeing through Kian's eyes – seeing what he saw. Menacing Summer Knights brandishing shackles came closer and closer, swinging their chains with malicious glee.

  “We're taking you somewhere you won't see the light of day.” I could hear the cruelty alive in their voices. “They say it is the End of Summer, this land.”

  Kian – no!

  But it was too late. Kian had already begun trying to fight. He punched one square in the face, but the others were too quick for him, outnumbering him five to one. They landed on him, pummeling his ribs and arms and legs. As if I were there myself, I felt the bruises on my own body, screaming out with pain. Who were these knights? And where were they taking Kian?

  Before I could follow him any further, a brief knock came at the door. Before I could answer, it flung open imperiously. Wort was standing there, flanked by a demure-looking maiden.

  “My Queen,” he said, bowing deeply. His obsequiousness was apparent from the way his robe touched the floor – I knew not a word of it was sincere. “I thought you'd like some nourishment.” He gestured to the maiden, who approached me with a foul-smelling bowl of what looked like dirty gasoline.

  “This will help you relax.” He waved, and the maiden brought forth a golden spoon. “Kelpie soup – the soup of the royals.”

  I made a face, however involuntarily.

  “No thanks,” I said. Even if I had trusted Wort, the soup looked like a mix of tar and burned rubber, and smelled even worse.

  “That's what the last queen said, at first,” said Wort. “But look what a magnificently strong and powerful queen she was.” His voice became soft, even lustrous then, talking about this old Queen he had so admired. “When she first became Queen, she was but a mere young woman, newly married to a king she barely knew. After drinking kelpie soup, she gained clarity of mind, of purpose, and realized her power as Queen.” Wort smiled, showing green teeth. “It's what sets apart a mere fairy from a royal fairy, a fairy meant to rule. All royal fairy women drink kelpie soup.”

  I sighed. I realized there was no help for it – there was no way I was getting out of this one. I might as well get this out of the way, fuming in anger at what Kian was going through. If I drank this soup like a good little girl, perhaps Wort would answer my questions about Kian.

  I reached for the spoon, but Wort jerked it away. He handed it instead to the young maiden, who used the spoon to scoop up a spoonful of the soup, put it in her mouth, and swallowed. Hard. Wort looked her up and down, his eyes scanning her frame. “See, nothing to be afraid of...my Queen.” He spoke the words as if they were an insult. “Here you go.” He scooped up another spoonful of the soup and handed it to me.

  It tasted worse than it smelled. I couldn't help it – before I could stop myself, I instinctively spit it out, right in Wort's face.

  “That's not going to help you,” said Wort drily.

  I sighed. There was no help for it. “Alright,” I said. Just pretend it's medicine, I told myself. I put it in my mouth and swallowing, forcing down the noxious liquid. I could feel it burning my throat as it went. As soon as I swallowed it, I knew it was a mistake.

  “Now, sleep,” said Wort, waving his hand over me. Instantly I became drowsy, and my eyelids felt as if they were made of lead. As my vision grew fuzzy, Wort looked even stranger than usual to me – his normal toadish form becoming more pronounced, until he almost seemed like a giant frog. All the questions I had about Kian and where he was being taken, faded along with my consciousness.

  Trying hard to keep my eyes open, I muttered, “What are you? You don't look like the other fairies here...and your magic. It's different.” This didn't feel like fairy magic.

  “I'm your loyal Summer denizen,” Wort said. “Before then, I was of the Autumn court...”

  So many courts! “Aren't we all fairies, despite the different courts,” I asked, as I drifted off to sleep.

  “No, not all of us are fairies,” said Wort. But before I could press him further on the subject I drifted off to a dark, deep, sleep.

  That was the first night I dreamed that Kian was my enemy, that I would have to either kill him or let him kill me. The dream had haunted me every night since.

  Chapter 5

  Logan furrowed his brow. I could hear his sigh – deep and throaty, like the cry of a wolf raising his hackles. “Kian,” he said – and I could hear the anger in his voice, palpably throbbing with jealousy. “Of course – I should have guessed.”

  “Look, Logan...”

  “You're about to risk your life, your kingdom, your crown – your power – not to mention your safety...”

  “Kian is my...”

  My voice trailed off. I didn't really know what to call Kian. Was he my boyfriend? My fiance? We had been engaged once, as children, when we were too small to know the ways and trials of love. But things were different now – the split between the Winter and Summer Courts had made that complicated, and now with Kian a prisoner in the Summer Tower, I wasn't sure what we were at all. I sighed. I knew how I felt, what my heart told me was the truth. Did Kian feel the same way? Or did he resent me – the decisions I would have to make as Summer Queen, his sworn enemy.

  “I'll give you some time,” I said. “To think it over.”

  “That would be good, yeah.” Logan drew in breath sharply as he cast his eyes heavenwards. “I could use a second...just – to get my head around all this. Your Highness.” His voice was cold, but I could hear the emotion raging within.

  I went into the forest in search of my steed, which had whinnied and vanished at the arrival of the kelpie. I knew that Logan's answer wouldn't change my course. Regardless, I had to go find Kian. He was my true love – I could feel it deep within my bones. It was my destiny. It was the only choice I had.

  As I forced my way through the emerald brambles, whistling my horse's name softly to the wind, I reflected on my options. I knew there was no way out – I couldn't get Kian released through diplomatic means. If I tried to give an order, Wort would see it as a direct attack on his authority – and he'd start to think that the cons of having me alive outweighed the benefits. I had a sense that the last Queen, Redleaf, had been under his command. I wondered if Redleaf as I had known her – the strong, powerful, broken woman who had put her husband, my father, into an unwakeable sleep, had really been such a bad person after all? Or had Wort influenced her, turning her anger and jealousy at her husband's affair into the rage that fueled Wort’s political machinations.

  I wanted Logan with me. I needed him with me. But I couldn't force him. He had already put his life in jeopardy before for Kian, and nearly been killed by the Pixies for his trouble. I had suffered sleepless nights mourning his death before I'd learned that he was alive, suffering as their prisoner. I could not ask the same favor of him twice.

  I looked around – there was no sign of my horse. I'd never be able to find the steed at this rate, I thought, as I trudged back towards the banks of the lake. Logan was waiting for m
e, staring out at the iridescent sky. His gaze was as piercing and strong as the horizon. He let out a low moan from the depths of his throat.

  “What are you...”

  Suddenly, I heard a whipping through the trees, followed by the familiar clopping sound of horseshoes. My horse nudged through a bramble of trees, and trotted over to Logan, bowing at Logan's feet.

  Of course. Logan was good with animals – his wolfish nature gave him a connection with all the fauna of Feyland. Even the fastest horse in the Summer Stables would willingly give up freedom if it meant answering Logan's command.

  “Logan,” I said softly. He turned to look at me, startled that I had seen him summon the horse. “I know how you feel about Kian...”

  I knew what I wanted to say. I wanted to release him from his bonds, to set him free to go home to the mortal world, to tell him that I could take this trip on my own, that I didn't need his help, but he silenced me with a single, tender touch of his fingers on my lips. His fingertips felt as light as the breeze.

  “I'm going with you.”

  Before I could protest Logan continued on, his voice steady like the river. “I know you, Breena, and when you set your mind on something, there's no holding you back.”

  “Logan..”

  “Remember that Wilderness Protection Society we started at school?”

  I laughed as the memory came flooding back to me. I had been so obsessed with saving the woods behind Gregory High School that I became convinced that everyone else in the school would be, too. I'd spent hours putting the letters up on banners with my stencils and copying out reams of information on sign-up sheets.

  “There were only two members,” I said, smiling. Logan had proudly put his name down on the list – the first, and only, signup I got that day. “Me and you.”