Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(22)
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?