Betrayals of Spring (Forever Fae #2)(2)

My voice quivers when I ask, “Why did you bring me this?”

I instinctively look up to meet his eyes when I notice him stepping forward. Kalen is a tall man who is about 6’2” which makes him tower over me about five inches.

He laughs and shrugs his shoulders.

“I brought it as a gift for you. I thought things were going to change, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. I guess I was wrong.”

My mouth hangs open and I stare dumbstruck at his audacity. I can’t believe he would be so flippant. He acts as if it’s not a big deal and that he doesn’t care. I should have known from the beginning that he wouldn’t take this seriously. I’ve heard stories of the flirtatious Prince Kalen, but with me I thought it was different. I thought he was going to be different.

I can’t believe how stupid I was thinking that Kalen, the prince of heartbreak, would actually settle down with me and be the one the prophecy had foretold would be mine. I thrust the necklace out to him.

“Take it back! I don’t want it! I thought you were different… that you actually cared,” I scream.

Kalen rushes over and pulls me into his arms. I stand motionless as he leans down to place his cold, Winter lips onto my forehead. The searing pain of his frozen kiss has branded me a fool. I want him gone and out of my life.

He lets me go but holds me by the shoulders.

“I did care, my sweet princess, but I can see now that it was a wasted effort. Besides, you’re a little too timid for my tastes. I’m sorry it has to be this way, but it’s a good thing we found out now before things were taken further.” He reaches down and touches the necklace in my hand. “Keep the necklace. It’s the least I can do for the heartache I have caused. You need to forget about me, Meliantha.”

I look into his piercing blue eyes, but I see nothing. He smiles again, but instead of seeing his playful smile, I see one of mischief and deceit. Even though I’m dying inside, it takes everything I have to muster up the strength to say what needs to be said.

“I want you to leave… now! I will forget you and think nothing more of you from this day forward. I can guarantee you that. Leave!” I yell.

He bows.

“It’s been a pleasure, Princess, but I will do as you wish. Again, I’m sorry.”

He gives me one final glance and walks away, never looking back. The sounds of his footsteps are silent as he leaves. I can no longer breathe from the anger taking over my body. Why did I fall for him? Why can’t I be strong like Calista? The heartache feels like a poison slowly travelling through my body and killing everything in its wake. Why does it have to hurt so much? I take one last deep breath and the world seems to stop as I let out the loudest, guttural scream imaginable.

I know the whole Summer Court can hear me, but I don’t care. The scream lasts for what feels like an eternity. When my lungs are spent I collapse to the ground out of breath and heartbroken. A broken heart is something I never want to feel again, and from this moment on, I vow to keep my heart safe.





- Five Years Later -



I jerk awake covered in sweat while the memory of the dream comes flooding back to me. I have tried to forget that day, but it always comes back.

“Mel, are you OK?”

I look over to see Finn’s amber-colored eyes staring at me with worry. I try to force a smile to reassure him that I’m fine.

“I’m alright, Finn, it was just another nightmare. Go back to sleep,” I reply softly.

He quirks his eyebrow to let me know he doesn’t believe me. He leans up to give me a kiss and I gently kiss him back. His tongue traces my bottom lip and he moans against my mouth. Satisfied with the kiss, he rolls over on his side and slowly drifts back to sleep. The deep rumble of his breathing lets me know he is sound asleep. I wish I could fall into the realm of dreams that fast. These days I am lucky to get even a couple hours of sleep.

Finn is one of our warriors in the Summer Court and has been for one-hundred and fifty years. We’ve been lovers for almost five years. It began not long after the ordeal with Kalen. I guess you could say he was there to mend my broken heart. According to the prophecy, I am one of the Four. That means I will be drawn to another to complete the magic I am destined to fulfill, just like Calista and Ryder. They are now King and Queen of the Fall Court and have expanded their powers in the Land of the Fae.

Finn knows that one day I will no longer be his, and that he has to accept that. Our time together is amazing, and I enjoy his company as well as the intimacy. His attitude changes in bed sometimes from being soft and sensual to being rough and possessive. It has concerned me on numerous occasions. On the rough nights, our encounters tend to be a little wild and heated. I can honestly say I have enjoyed some of those nights, but sometimes it gets a little too rough. My sense of danger spikes to a whole new level when he gets like that. Every time I mention it to him he seems to not understand a word I’m saying. It’s like he can’t remember some of the things he’s done. It doesn’t happen often, but I have learned to be more alert around him when his mood changes.

I stare at Finn. He’s lying peacefully in my bed. I wish that I could love him, but the feelings never come. I care for him and have a deep respect for him, but I know in my heart that I will never fully love him. I reach over to play with his silky, long, blond hair that flows past his shoulders and is splayed across the pillow. He always keeps it pulled back when he trains, but when we’re in bed together he lets it hang loose because he knows that is how I like it. He looks ethereal when he has his hair down. His face is always smooth and his smile is angelically beautiful. He may have the face of an angel, but his fierce temper and battling skills would claim otherwise. Sometimes I wonder why he stays with me knowing it will never last. There are so many Summer faeries here that would kill for a chance to be with him. Maybe one day he will find one. His hair glides through my fingers as I gently twist it around. His blond hair is so white it illuminates in the glow of the candlelight in my room. It’s so white it looks like snow.