Summer of Frost (Forever Fae #3)(13)

“Drake!” she called out excitedly, beaming.

When I didn’t respond, she slowed her approach and eyed me wearily. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” I repeated. “I want the dreams to stop, that’s what’s wrong.”

She flinched as if I’d hit her, and backed up a step, looking confused. “I don’t understand. After last night I thought things were going perfectly. You made love to me, Drake. Are you saying that didn’t mean anything to you?”

“That’s the thing, Sorcha,” I replied, closing the distance. Taking her by the shoulder, I looked deep into her eyes, and balked at the hurt displayed in them. I couldn’t get over how they’re the same emerald green as the real Sorcha’s, and just as beautiful. Exasperated, I motioned my arms to our surroundings. “All of this isn’t real, none of it is. You’re just a figment of what I’ve imagined the real Sorcha to be like. You’re not her, and I want all of this to stop. I’ve never been this hard up over a girl before, and I’m not going to start now. It has to end; even if I never go to sleep again, I have to get you out of my head. ”

“You don’t understand,” she said quickly, grabbing me by both arms with bruising force. “You have to let me explain.”

Pulling away from her grasp, I moved away slowly. “There’s nothing to explain. I want them to stop … now.”

“You’re not even going to hear me out?” she yelled.

Turning my back on her, I began walking away. “No!” I exclaimed over my shoulder. I could hear the wood split after she punched one of the gazebo posts, and I was thankful that it wasn’t my face she’d hit. Sorcha knew how to fight, and with her spear, she made a volatile opponent. I had fun training her in my dreams, but now it was going to be all over. I was going to be free.

“Fine! You want them to stop? Wake up you arrogant jackass!”

My eyes flew open instantly with Sorcha’s last words echoing through my mind. I got what I wanted, but why did I feel so bad? The room was dark, signaling that morning had yet to come, but I could feel it steadily creeping closer. I was hesitant when I closed my eyes again, thinking my dream would pick up where it left off, but I was surprised how empty I felt when all that went through my dream was nothing except darkness.





“Everyone’s ready to go, ai dulin,” Oren insisted after opening the door to my room. “Are you ready?”

“Just about,” I answered. “I just need to finish this letter.” Taking in a deep, frustrated breath, I scribbled out the last few lines, signing my name at the bottom.

“Why do I get the feeling that you’re mad about something?”

“It’s because I am, Oren. Drake wouldn’t hear me out when I tried to tell him about our dreams, so I’m letting it all out in the letter. One way or another he’s going to hear me out. It took all I had not to chase after him and beat the shit out of him for walking away from me.”

Oren chuckled and came over to take a peek at the angry words scribbled on the parchment. His eyes went wide and he whistled. “I don’t think this is the way to tell him, nor do I think you doing it in your dream was the way either. Give him the letter if you want, but I think it’d be a big mistake. He may have been a dick last night, but you need to think about it from his standpoint before you run off saying things you’d regret.”

I huffed. “Fine! I’ll speak to him before we leave. How did you learn to be so calm about things?”

Oren tilted his lip in a half-smile. “It took years and years of practice, Princess. Finish up and I’ll meet you out front,” he said softly.

“Okay, just give me a few minutes to say my good-byes.”

First, I needed to tell Kalen and Meliantha farewell, and then find Drake to get everything out in the open. Rolling up the letter, I secured it with a tiny blue ribbon, and placed it inside the small pouch on my belt that was connected to my armor. Now that I’d been trained in combat, I always wore my warrior gear when I travelled, Brayden’s orders. It wasn’t very comfortable, but it sure as hell would protect me from unwanted arrows flying through the air or a swipe of a sword. Grabbing my spear, I attached it to the harness on my back and headed for the door. The palace was quiet as I made my way through the corridors, breathing in the delicious aromas of roses that were in vases lined up and down the hallways.

When I reached Kalen and Meliantha’s room, I knocked lightly on the door, hoping I wouldn’t wake the little ones if they were asleep. Kalen answered the door carrying his wide-awake little boy in his arms. Kale’s bright red hair reminded me so much of Drake, but the eyes …

“What the …” I started, staring in awe at my nephew and then back up to Kalen. “He has purple eyes,” I whispered, eyes wide open in surprise.

Kalen smiled, but Meliantha was the one who spoke. “They both do,” she announced, elated.

I trailed past Kalen to Meliantha’s side where sure enough my niece, Lia, had purple eyes as well. “This is amazing,” I murmured, not taking my eyes off the little girl. “I guess you’re not the only one now.”

Meliantha laughed. “No, and thank the heavens for that. I was tired of being the only one. Hopefully, when these two get older and have children of their own, there will be more faeries with amethyst eyes.”