Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(11)
“This is amazing,” I breathed.
I experimented with my hair color, my facial features, and even my dress. It wasn’t just my face I could change, it was my whole body including my clothes. I could be anyone I wanted to be and change at will. It was all starting to become clear to me as I stared at my changing form in the mirror. This is how I’m going to trick the dark sorcerer. I guess it was a good thing I was great at tricking people.
I experimented with my shifting way longer than I should have because I was already late for the ceremony. Kamden and Zanna waited on me to finish because they were both going to walk me down to the Great Room where the fighting would begin. Before I could open my bedroom door, Drake barged in looking annoyed and agitated.
“It’s taking you long enough,” he snapped. “Everyone’s waiting on you. We need to go.” He glanced back at Kamden and Zanna and said, “You two can go ahead and make your way down there. I’m going to escort Ariella myself.”
I held out my arm when they were about to pass me to stop them. “Wait, Drake. I need to ask father if Kamden can compete with the other warriors for the right to be my guardian.”
Drake sighed and waved his hand impatiently for me to hurry. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem. It seems this ceremony has taken on new rules.” To Kamden he said, “Just go down there and join the other warriors. If this is what you truly want and Ariella wishes it then so be it. Good luck to you.”
Kamden grabbed Zanna’s hand and pulled her out of my room. He turned around once and winked. “I’ll see you down there, Princess.” Zanna waved at me and smiled before they both disappeared down the hall.
“What do you mean by the new rules?” I asked, taking hold of his arm.
Drake chuckled lightly and patted my arm. “Oh, you’ll see when we get down there. It’s going to be very interesting.” My heart pounded harder with each step we took. If Drake said it was interesting then there was something going on that I didn’t know about.
As we approached the closed doors of the Great Room, I stopped mid-stride and took a deep breath. I didn’t want to ask my next question, but I had to know. “Is Brayden in there?” I asked, tilting my head toward the room.
Drake pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. “You know, I don’t think I saw him out in the audience. I saw Queen Mab and King Madoc earlier, but I never saw Brayden.”
If I thought his absence wouldn’t bother me I was sorely mistaken. With such an important event in my life, I figured he’d want to be a part of it since he we was bound to me … but I guess not.
Forcing a smile, I turned toward the door and said, “It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m sure I’ll be just fine without him. Let’s go.”
Drake chuckled. “Whatever you say, Ariella. Tell that lie to someone who believes you.”
I scoffed, but before I could say anything in my defense the doors to the Great Room opened. Drake took my hand and linked our arms together so he could walk me inside. With each passing step, my heart thundered in my chest. There were so many people here, much more than what I had anticipated.
My mother and father were waiting for me on the dais, both with smiles on their faces, but their presence didn’t help my frazzled nerves at all. What made it even more peculiar was that the warriors all had their armor and gear on, but they also had their helmets on as well. I looked up at Drake questioningly, but he just smiled and elbowed me in the side. I wasn’t going to be able to tell who was who in the fight.
When I reached my father, Drake let me go. My father took my hands and kissed my cheek before escorting me to the chair beside his. When I sat down, I leaned over to whisper in his ear, “What’s going on with the helmets? Why are they wearing them now when they’ve never had to wear them before?”
“No, they didn’t have to before. However, if you would’ve graced us with your presence earlier, and on time like you were supposed to, then you would have heard the story King Madoc told all of us about Sorcha’s ceremony. It appears someone lost an ear during that fight, so we wanted to avoid that and any other facial injuries that could occur. I’m sure you understand.”
My eyes went wide and I grabbed his hand. “Oh, of course I do. I was just curious. I would never want our warriors to get hurt like that.”
“I know, little one. Well, are you ready?” he asked. “I think our warriors are getting a little restless. I also see that we have an extra one competing with us today.” He glanced over at Kamden in his Spring Court armor and smiled.
“Yes, Father, we do. Kamden wanted to fight and I agreed. Is that all right?”
His smile grew wider and he nodded his head, except it seemed like he found something else humorous as well. “Of course, it’s all right. However, he’s got some pretty strong competition out there. I’m curious to see who wins.”
Me too, I said to myself. It was going to be interesting.
My father stood up from his throne and walked to the edge of the dais so he could address the crowd. Everyone was there, including: Calista and Ryder, Meliantha and Kalen, Sorcha and Drake, Durin, the leader of the dwarves, Queen Mab and King Madoc, and also Aelfric and Rhoswen of the Elvish kingdom. I glanced quickly at them, acknowledging them with a nod of my head before focusing back on my father.