Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(66)

When all I got was silence, I turned on my heel and marched back into the palace. I wasn’t going to sit idly by anymore. If no one was going to help me, I was going to go in alone. With my heart pounding, I pushed open the doors to the throne room and stood my ground.

“I’m going after her … now,” I announced. “Even if I have to go alone, I’m going.”

They all gaped at me uncertainly for a few seconds, but it didn’t take long to get the approval I needed, and the help I wanted. Drake stepped forward and nodded. “I’m with you. They can’t go up against the dragon,” he said, grinning.

Sorcha snorted and glared at him. “I think you mean dragons,” she retorted. Turning to me she said, “Besides, if you find out where she is we can fly in there quick and grab her. She’s not going to be happy about that, though. She’s risked her life to save us, and if we go in there it’ll all be for nothing.”

It was true, she had, but I was too selfish to let her go through with it alone. “I don’t care,” I argued. “She’s my queen, and be that as it may we are supposed to make decisions together. She doesn’t get the right to dictate how I am supposed to live out the rest of my life. I want her in it and I’ll be damned if she throws it all away trying to save the world, not when we can help her.”

Drake smirked and clapped me on the shoulder. “When will you ever learn that Ariella will do as she pleases? I’ve lived with her a lot longer than you and nothing ever stands in her way. The sooner you learn that, the better off you’ll be. Now come on and let’s go find her.”

“I’m coming, too,” Calista insisted, joining her brother’s side. “I can ride on his back. He only flew with Ariella, so it’ll be a first for me.”

“And you can ride on mine,” Sorcha added, elbowing me in the side.

“Thank you, to all of you. As soon as I get through to Ariella we leave,” I announced.

As everyone fled the throne room, I stayed behind with Elvena. I needed her help to push through that last barrier to her. “Are you going to tell her you’re coming for her?” she asked, taking my hands in hers.

Sighing, I shrugged my shoulders and said, “With how Ariella is I don’t think it would be a good idea. She will just run away from me.”

“She wouldn’t be running away from you, child. That is the last thing she is doing.”

I knew she wasn’t running from me, but it sure didn’t make it any easier with her blocking me out. Squeezing Elvena’s hands, I closed my eyes and concentrated. Her power flowed through me and I could see it mingling with mine as we pushed against that barrier in Ariella’s mind. When we first started it was like a thick slab of stone we had to push through, but now it was more like a pane of broken glass waiting for that last pebble to be thrown to make it shatter.

“We’re almost there, child. Just keep concentrating,” Elvena muttered.

The more we pushed, the more I could feel Ariella and her sadness. She knew what I was doing, but I wasn’t going to back down. With as much force as I could muster, the barrier shook and shattered into a million pieces. I was in.

“Why?” she cried through the bond. “Why are you making this harder on me?”

“Because,” I said, “I love you and I am not ready to give you up.”





“ARE YOU OKAY? You’re not hurt, are you?” Brayden asked.

Merrick and Bastian were both staring at me curiously, noses wrinkled in disgust. Since we were behind closed doors, I changed back into myself to make them feel more comfortable. It had to be strange knowing the grotesque creature in front of them was me.

“No, I’m not hurt physically, but emotionally is a different story.”

“I’m sorry for what I did. I just had to know you were all right. Bayleon came to us today and told me about Bastian. Needless to say, I was not happy with what I heard.”

“He’s only trying to help me, and so is Merrick,” I replied, feeling defeated.

“It should be me helping you!” I could feel the anger flowing off of him and pouring through our bond. He was close to losing it and it was all my fault.

Gently, Merrick tapped my arm and asked, “Are you talking to him now?”

Sighing, I nodded and hung my head. “Yes, and he’s not happy with me, and especially, with Bastian.”

“Brayden, I understand you’re angry but I’m doing fine on my own. The sorcerer isn’t even here right now. He’s in the mortal realm getting his army. He’s planning on bringing them over tomorrow. I have to be here to stop him before he gets them all here.”

“What are you doing now?”

I glanced over at the corner where Gothin’s ashes still remained on the dingy floor. “If you must know, I’m staring at Gothin’s ashes that are scattered on the floor.”

“Isn’t that the sorcerer’s right hand man? Did you kill him?”

“Yes,” I assured him. “I killed him with the dagger. It was strange because when I pierced him with it, it devoured his skin like iron does to ours. I had never seen anything like it.”

“Where are you now?”

“I’m in Gothin’s home hiding out with Merrick and Bastian … why?”