Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(56)

“Who then?” I demanded, placing my hands on my hips, observing them all. “Which one of you is going to be the one to kill the sorcerer? I don’t remember all of you letting me in on this decision.”

I stood there waiting on someone to answer me, but all they did was either look away or send apologetic glances toward Brayden. Each second I didn’t get an answer was a second closer I was to losing control. I couldn’t take anymore.

“Who!” I shouted, my hands shaking with anger. The echo of my scream bounced off the walls with a deafening roar, making everyone flinch.

“It’ll be me, angel,” Brayden confessed softly. “I have to know you’re going to be safe,” he finished silently.

My blood froze in my Winter veins and my heart tightened in my chest. Turning around slowly, I gazed at him in disbelief. There was no way in hell I was letting him sacrifice himself for me. He probably didn’t even know that I was the one who had to do it. By the look in Elvena’s eyes when I cast her a sideways glance I knew for a fact she hadn’t told him the truth yet.

“Like hell you are,” I exclaimed firmly with my head held high. To everyone, I said, “I am the one who is going to do this, not anyone else. It was destined for me and I’ve accepted that. Keeping me in the dark wasn’t going to change anything.”

Confused, Brayden furrowed his brows and spoke, “What are you talking about keeping you in the dark? Who kept you in the dark?”

My gaze found Elvena, my sisters, and Sorcha, but then I turned and focused just on Brayden. When I left this room it would be the last time I saw him, especially if he wanted to take the dagger from me. If he succeeded in that, our world would suffer the dire consequences, and I couldn’t have that.

“Do you know what the scroll said?” I asked him.

He nodded quickly. “Yes, it told us what we needed to do as far as the weapon to kill the sorcerer.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes, why?” he inquired hesitantly. “What else was there? Was there more?”

Sighing, and with tears beginning to blur my vision, I cupped his cheeks in my hand and kissed him one last time. If I explained to him what I knew he wouldn’t let me out of his sight. I had to go now before he could stop me.

I poured all my love and soul into our final kiss and let my tears escape. “I love you, Brayden. Whatever you do, don’t forget that.”

He immediately pulled away from the kiss and narrowed his eyes. “Why are you saying that? What else was in the scroll? Tell me!”

Shaking my head, I wiped away the tears and forced myself to smile up at him even though I was breaking apart inside, knowing it was the last time I would ever set my eyes on him. As softly and calmly as I could, I cried, “It doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is keeping our land safe and we’re going to do that. If you don’t mind I’m going to rest while you all finish up in here. If you need me I’ll be in our room.”

Frowning, he took my hand in his and lifted my chin with his other. “Do you want me to walk with you?” he asked, his tone laced with worry.

Shaking my head, I tried to keep my voice from trembling when I replied, “No, I’ll be fine. Stay here with everyone and I’ll see you when you get done. I just need to rest.”

I kissed him one last time and turned away quickly so I could get out of the room before breaking down. My heart broke with each step I took toward the door, and it took all I had not to look back. I couldn’t look back.

Good-bye, Brayden.





“WHERE DID ARIELLA go?” Calista asked after Ariella left the room. Her gaze was wide and panicked as she rushed up to me.

Befuddled, I responded, “She said she was tired and needed to rest so she went to our room. Why does it matter?”

“She can’t be alone right now,” she muttered quickly. “She’s up to something. I can feel it and it’s not like her to just walk out of here calmly after we wanted to take the dagger away from her. Trust me, you need to go after her … now. We need to get the dagger before she goes and does something stupid.”

“Tell me what’s going on. Does this have to do with what the scroll said?” I demanded. “I’m not going anywhere until I get some damn answers.”

Mumbling something about me being just like Ryder, Calista stepped aside so Elvena could come in and explain. When Calista told me to track down Ariella, I never knew the situation was as dire as they thought until Elvena said, “Brayden … there are some things you don’t know. Things that myself and the others kept from you and Ariella.”

Clenching my fists at my sides, I started to fume but I had to hear what she had to say. “Go on,” I snapped impatiently with a wave of my hand.

Elvena sighed and lowered her head. “The scroll not only told us how to defeat the sorcerer, but it also gave us an idea of who it would be that could defeat him … and it’s not any of you.” She lifted her gaze and in it I saw nothing except sadness and regret. Immediately, my heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest. I didn’t need to hear her say who it was supposed to be because I already knew.

And if Ariella knew …

Turning on my heel, I rushed out of the room, my heart beating like razor sharp drums in my chest. The only thing I could hear as I raced down the corridor to our room was the silent screams in my mind saying that I was too late. How could I have not known, or better yet, why the hell didn’t anyone tell me?