Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(47)

“I’m going to hold you to that,” I teased, biting his lower lip.

Brayden licked the lip I just got through biting and took my face in his hands, gazing at me with his heat-filled eyes. “After I take you back to my dwelling there’s something I need to do afterward.”

“Like what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

He grinned mischievously and winked. “I can’t tell you, but it’s something I had been thinking about all day. I’m going to need Calista’s help to make it happen. I promise it won’t take long. Then when I come back I’m going to make you my queen.”

“And then what are you going to do?”

Shivers raced across my skin as Brayden lowered his lips to my neck and kissed his way slowly up to my ear. His voice came out husky and full of need when he whispered in my ear, “And then, my sweet angel, I’m going to make love to you.”





BRAYDEN HAD LEFT with Calista over an hour ago, along with Ryder and Kalen for protection purposes. The look on Calista’s face was priceless when Brayden went to her and asked for her help. His brothers picked on him a little, and instead of getting mad like he did last time they picked on him, he joined in with the laughter and joked back. He wanted to escort me to his dwelling, but his mother requested some time with me before he took me away.

Sorcha also joined me, but held me back a few paces while we followed Queen Mab down the corridor to her side of the palace. Quietly, she whispered sarcastically in my ear, “What happened to all that mess about not getting attached and bonding with my brother?”

I rolled my eyes at her and sighed. “It was stupidity talking. I’ve been known to speak before I think sometimes. After everything that’s happened I realized that by not bonding with him and forming our court that I would be putting you all at risk if I failed.”

“I see,” Sorcha remarked. “Is that the only reason why you’re doing it?”

I smiled and shook my head. “No it’s not, Sorcha. I love him.”

We walked in silence the rest of the way until Queen Mab ushered us into one of her rooms and shut the door behind her. “Mother, what are you up to?” Sorcha asked. “I don’t think Ariella is going to be interested in your hand me downs.”

The room we were in looked like a huge closet that would put mine to shame any day. Queen Mab scoffed and dismissed Sorcha with a wave of her hand. “I didn’t bring her here for a hand me down. I actually have something that I had made for her when she got here,” she responded incredulously.

She disappeared into another room, and when she came back she had the most gorgeous white gown draped over her arm. She held it up to me and grinned. “When you came here and we had that talk, I knew you and Brayden would work things out. You will look like a true ice queen in this dress.”

Sorcha snickered, “Why, because she’s going to look like a snowflake? She’s going to blend into the snow with that white dress, her bright blonde hair, and pale skin.”

They bantered back and forth and I thought it was funny how they interacted with each other. My mother and I never talked like that or joked around, and it made me happy to know I was a part of something real. The dress was simply amazing, but what really made me smile was that I knew Brayden couldn’t care less what I wore; it was what was underneath that counted.





Brayden still wasn’t back yet from doing whatever he and my sister had to do, but Coran was waiting for me by the back palace doors. “Did Brayden tell you to keep a watch over me or something?” I asked humorously.

He bowed his head and gave a slight grin. “Yes, he did, Your Highness. I was told to escort you to your home when you were done with the queen.”

With my dress in hand, I was ready to go. Coran followed me closely as we ambled down the path to Brayden’s home. It was hard to call it my home since once we formed our own court we wouldn’t be living there anymore. It was strange to think that in just a matter of hours I would be queen of my own court. Up ahead, I could see Kamden waiting for me on the front porch steps with a worried frown marring his face. He was alone and that could only mean one thing … he hadn’t found Zanna yet.

“Any luck whatsoever in figuring out where she could be?” I called out as Coran and I approached him.

He shook his head and threw his hands up in the air. “I’ve been looking, but I can’t find her. I think something’s wrong. This isn’t like her to disappear like this.”

“Hmmm …” I wondered. “I know she wouldn’t have given up looking for you and went back to Spring, which means she’s probably still here somewhere.” I walked up the steps to my door and let Kamden and Coran follow me inside. Draping my dress over one of the chairs, I took a seat and tried to think. Where could she be?

Coran stationed himself by the front door while Kamden took the seat across from me. Frustrated, he ran his hands through his hair and grumbled, “What are we going to do if we don’t find her? We’ve never been away from each other like this.”

Reaching over, I placed a reassuring hand over his and squeezed. “We will find her, Kam. When Brayden gets back I’ll get him to send some people out to look for her. It could be that you two just missed each other. Although, for some reason I have a feeling in my stomach that I don’t see that as being the case here.”