Summer of Frost (Forever Fae #3)(11)

“I don’t think so, dear brother. I’m not the motherly type.”

He scoffed and shook his head, but when he settled back on the bed beside Meliantha I heard him whisper, “She’ll change her mind.” I chose to ignore his comment by giving my attention to the little one I was holding.

I did wonder what it would be like to have one of my own, but I also knew I had plenty of time. There were still so many things I wanted to do and see before I had a family of my own. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Drake staring at me, but I didn’t acknowledge him. I didn’t want to give anything away in that room with everyone watching, especially when it killed me not to return his gaze.





We all left the room to give Meliantha and Kalen some alone time with the babies and for them to get some rest. When we arrived we were shown to a set of rooms where Alston and Sarette had decided to stay while I visited with my family. I left without speaking to Drake, even though he looked like he wanted to speak to me. I thought I was ready to tell him … but I wasn’t. Oren was going to scold me, I was sure of it.

Meliantha and Kalen insisted we stay for the night so Brayden and I had agreed, even though I knew Brayden didn’t want to. His home was in the Winter Court and he loathed having to get accustomed to a new court. On the way to my room, I overheard one of the servant’s mention that the Summer Fae were staying as well. I knew that would give me more time to work up the nerve to tell Drake about what had been going on. Maybe I could break it to him in our dreams, I thought to myself.

When I opened the door to my room, I silently groaned at the sight of Alston sitting on my bed. “How are your family and the babies doing?” he asked.

“Like you care,” I hissed, heading to the window and taking off my gear in the process. Gazing out at the landscape, I noticed for the first time how beautiful it was with colorful flowers as far as the eye could see. Kalen’s pack of wolves were frolicking and chasing each other across the land, and it made me smile. I missed his wolves being at the Winter Court. I could picture myself living there amongst the milder temperatures and the smells of Spring, but it wouldn’t do well with my cold blood.

Alston came up behind me, closing the distance to where I could feel his body lightly touching mine. What the hell did he think he was doing? “I do care,” he whispered in my ear. “Anything that involves you is something I care about.”

“You’re full of shit,” I argued, moving closer to the window to get some distance.

He placed his hands gently on my shoulders and turned me around. I was shocked with how gentle he was being, but I was sure it was just a farce. However, his eyes had lost the coldness to them, which caught me off guard. “When are you going to realize that I’m honestly trying to change? You fell for me once and I know you can do it again.”

“It’s not that simple,” I said.

His lip curled up in the corner in a half-smile. “Nothing is ever simple.” He paused to look out the window before coming back down to me, his icy blue eyes looking soft and genuine for once. I hadn’t seen that side of him in a long time, and I can honestly say I missed it. He was my friend long before he became my lover.

“What’s changed, Alston? Why are you being like this now?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t realize how pushy I was being until Sarette and I talked. She pretty much threatened me and said I was screwing up all chances for us to be together. I can’t let that happen.”

“People don’t just change overnight,” I uttered, skeptical of his intentions.

Alston took my hands, and against my better judgment I let him kiss my palms. “I know that, but I’m going to work really hard. Just give me a chance.”

Oh, how I wished it was Drake in front of me professing his love instead of Alston. Alston let go of my hands and tilted my chin up with his finger so I could meet his eyes. “How about we go for a walk? It’s not every day we get to come to the Spring Court, and I know you like it here. I could see it in your eyes.”

In a way I wanted to be alone, but a walk through the gardens would probably help my sour mood. “Okay, but I want Sarette to come with us,” I insisted, knowing that probably spoiled his plan to seduce me, but he surprised me by smiling and nodding his head. Maybe he was serious about changing, I thought to myself, but I knew better than to fully believe it.

“I’ll go fetch her,” he agreed after kissing my cheek.

After Alston left the room, it gave me a few minutes to myself. I sat by the window on the plush window seat and opened it, letting in the rosy Spring air. I breathed it in deeply before calling out silently to my guardian. “Oren, where are you?”

“Right next door, ai dulin, listening to you and Alston.”

“Stalker much?” I laughed, earning a laugh from him in return.

“Sorry, but I kind of have to be. Just be careful with Alston when you’re by yourself,” he chided, worry eminent in his voice.

“Sarette will be with us, and I know you’ll be close by. You know I can take care of myself. I’ve done it before, and I honestly think he’s serious about trying to change. He seems … different somehow.”

Oren sighed. “I still don’t like him. Anyway, you need to find Drake and tell him what’s going on.”

“I will, Oren,” I huffed impatiently. “When the time is right I will.”