Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(3)
I can’t take my eyes off of it. It’s mesmerizing. I feel drawn to it somehow, like it’s a part of me now that I wear it and I have a feeling I will never be taking it off.
“It’s beautiful, Elvena. I will never take it off.” I smile and hug her so hard she pounds on my back for me to let her go. I tell her I’m sorry and she just laughs it off. She’s always telling me I don’t know my own strength. We spend the rest of the time in silence as Elvena helps me into my dress and arranges my hair in a beautiful cascade of curls and braids with a sprinkle of delicate flowers in all shades of color.
Chapter 2
Ryder
“Are you sure you don’t want to accompany me to the ceremony, M
other?” 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.
She lifted one of her eyebrows and smirked to show me that she knew what I was doing. I love to get my mother worked up over the Summer Court Queen. My mother is a beautiful lady with long, raven black hair and blue eyes. She’s been known to freeze things with a single glare. She’s funny when she gets going and also a little scary.
“No, dear son, I will wait here for your father’s return. Your father is 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 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. My mother looks menacing when she sits on her throne. However, she does save her smiles only for me, my brothers, and my sister. She is known throughout the Winter Court as being the true Ice Queen. The throne room is the central room of the palace where my parents live. Council meetings and any other gathering are held in this room.
The white draperies cascading down the walls of the room glimmer in the light. Floating lights flicker across the room, which gives the illusion of snow falling. It’s like a winter wonderland here. Outside there is always snow falling; the room is surrounded by windows so we can enjoy the scenery of the grounds. I am twenty-three years old, the oldest of my siblings. I have spiky brown hair, and my height is six feet and two inches. I have two magical affinities, controlling the weather and invisibility. The invisibility has definitely had its advantages. With my other magical affinity of controlling the weather, I could make the snow and ice melt here in the Winter Court and make a blizzard occur in the Summer Court. I’ve thought about playing a cruel joke on the Summer Court by bringing them a full on blizzard, but starting a war would not be in our best interest.
When I go to the Summer Court there will be a meeting about the happenings within and around the Black Forest. My father will be with Durin, the leader of the dwarves, in the Endelyn Mountains to discuss the production of more magical relics. Evil magic is brewing and the bitter taste of it is in the air. So many fae creatures are being taken from their lands and it’s unclear why it is happening. We’ve sent people to search for them and they have also gone missing. My father once told me of the battle that occurred in the Black Forest hundreds of years ago. He was there and it took everyone in the Winter and Summer Court, as well as the dwarves and elves to help conquer the evil sorcerers. I can’t wait to hear what the king and queen of the Summer Court have to say about all of it. They, too, have had many people go missing. This is going to be my first time going to the Summer Court. Usually my mother and father have dealt with all court functions, but being the eldest son, I have taken over the Winter Court Army and taken my place in court meetings.
We have heard of the prophecy and our people are trying to translate its meaning. Our advisor, Heylfred, believes that it will begin with me and the Princess Calista. Being that we are the eldest and of the next generation, he believes that our hearts are destined to be together. Heylfred is a smart man, but sometimes I wonder about his sanity, however, he is usually right. I have never met Princess Calista. I wonder what she’s like. Queen Tatiana gives an air of being better than everyone and King Oberon can be a stubborn mule. I can only imagine what the princess will be like.
The time has come for me to leave so I lean over to kiss my mother’s hand and bid her farewell.
“I thought I would at least try to get you to come with me.” I give her a wolfish grin and say, “We wouldn’t want you killing the Summer Queen, now would we? I’ll take my leave now to prepare my things for travel. Warren and Kalen will be accompanying me along with several of the warriors.”
My mother laughs at me and smacks my arm. “You are too much, my son. Be safe and make sure to tell the Queen I said hello.” I shake my head at her and turn to leave the throne room. I hear her cackles all the way outside the house.
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. I have two younger brothers, Kalen and Brayden, and a younger sister named Sorcha. My brothers have their own houses on the property as well, but my sister stays in the main palace.
As I reach my house, 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. Yes, I like the finer things that I am offered, but nothing compares to the rustic feel of my house. The Winter Court has such a magical appearance with the dusting of snow everywhere and the icicles hanging from every surface. The whole land shines and glimmers like diamonds.