Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(74)
“Brayden,” a soft voice sounded behind me. I could barely hear it because of the pounding in my ears. I didn’t want to hear anyone’s voice other than Ariella’s. Nothing else mattered.
A light hand touched my shoulder but I was too numb to actually feel it. Calista knelt down beside me, and with tears in her eyes she squeezed my arm that held Ariella tightly to my chest. “We need to get her home to Elvena, Brayden. There has to be hope since her body is still here and not into ash. It’s time to go,” she said softly.
Was there still hope? All I knew was there was no home without her, but I had to believe in something.
Getting to my feet, I carried Ariella over to Sorcha who was still in dragon form, hanging her head as I approached. I ignored all the pitying stares as I walked past my warriors and only concentrated on the angel I had in my arms, the angel who had also taken my heart. Sorcha held out her claw and I climbed up, never letting go of Ariella.
“Let’s go,” I called, holding on as Sorcha took off into the sky. We were followed by Drake, who roared and whimpered, gazing over at the sister he’d lost. “Please come back to me,” I cried, wiping the tears angrily away from my eyes. I wanted to be furious at her for going against me and doing what she did on her own, except looking down at her angelic face I couldn’t begin to feel anything except how much I loved her, and how empty and lonely my life was going to be without her.
The ride back to the Winter Court felt like an eternity, but if there was any hope left, I sure hoped Elvena could find it. If there was anyone who could it would be her. When Sorcha landed at the palace steps of my home, I jumped off and rushed Ariella inside.
As soon as I entered through the doors I yelled as loud as I could, “I need someone to find Elvena, now!”
Quickly, I carried Ariella to our room and kicked open the door. I gently laid her on the bed and sat down beside her, shaking from impatience. I wanted Elvena to hurry and say that she could find a way to save her. I wanted to hear those words come out of her mouth and know that everything would be okay.
“Hang on, Ariella. I’m going to bring you back,” I cried, kissing her limp hand. It was the same hand that held my ring … the ring I gave to her.
Shouts and shuffling feet echoed out in the hallway, but I couldn’t focus on anything other than Ariella and her frozen body. By the time Elvena made it to the room and to my side, I hadn’t realized that everyone had already joined in behind me. Tears were all I could see as I gazed at everyone’s faces. Calista and Meliantha were holding onto each other as my brothers comforted them by their sides. My sister had Drake, my parents had each other, and so did Ariella’s parents. I was the only one, standing alone, and doomed to live the rest of my life in misery.
How was that fair? Ariella sacrificed her life to save the Land of the Fae and this is what she got … what we got. How could a land that loved its people so much not protect her when she had her own blood spilled to save it? If she didn’t survive, I wasn’t going to be a part of it anymore; I refused to be a part of it.
Elvena’s chin trembled as she gazed upon Ariella with a hand over her mouth, trying to keep in her sobs. “How is she still here?” I asked. “She has to still be alive somehow, right?”
She swallowed hard and shook her head. “I don’t know, child. I can’t feel her presence, but she is still here. From the wound in her chest she should’ve been ashes a long time ago.”
“What can we do?”
She sighed and hovered over Ariella, narrowing her eyes in concentration. “Let me take a look and see what I can find. There has to be an explanation somewhere.”
I moved over so Elvena could get closer to her, watching as she placed her hands on Ariella’s head. Closing her eyes, I could feel the energy spike in the room as Elvena mumbled a chant in the Old Fae language. I knew the language well, but even with my enhanced hearing I couldn’t tell what she was saying.
She travelled her hands down Ariella’s body, hovering about an inch above until she reached the place above her heart. She choked on a sob and sucked in a ragged breath before continuing on down. At that point I knew it was no use. The despair flowing off of Elvena was answer enough. Ariella’s heart had died, and with it mine as well.
I couldn’t take anymore.
I took one last look at my angel, my love, and my wife. Forever will she stay engraved in my mind, but there was only so much loss I could take. Turning on my heel, I dug my nails in my palm to keep my mind focused on the physical pain and not the pain of losing my love ripping my heart into shreds. I ignored everyone as I passed them, and for the first time ever, my brothers even knew to stay back.
Before I could get out the door, Elvena’s command stopped me, “Brayden, wait!”
I turned around slowly and met her sorrowful brown eyes. My throat closed up and it felt like I couldn’t breathe from the weight pressing down on me; I didn’t want to breathe. By the look in her gaze I knew what she was about to say would only tear me apart more. I thought about just walking out, but I had to know.
“I know why she’s still here,” she uttered sadly, looking only at me.
She hung her head and took a deep breath before meeting my eyes again. The next words that came out of her mouth were not what I was expecting at all. The force of it slammed into my chest and took every ounce of happiness I had ever felt and shoved it into the pits of despair. Grief consumed me and I got lost in it, falling until I knew I would never find my way back.