Summer of Frost (Forever Fae #3)(38)
Grunting with trying to keep me still, he whispered in my ear, “I’m only doing this to see if it helps. Otherwise, I don’t think you’d let me touch you. Feel me, Sorcha, breathe me in and tell me you don’t know who I am on the inside. I have to believe you’ll remember me when I find you.” He ran his hands along my bare arms, making me shiver. “Look at your skin, it reflects my own because once you gave yourself over to me you changed. This land you brought us to is … or will be, our home once I get you back. I will find you, and that is a promise.”
I couldn’t stop myself from breathing him in if I tried. His scent was so familiar, and it only took a second to realize that my body gave off the similar smell of Summer. Why did it do that? Drake slowly released me from his arms, but I stood there frozen and confused like a statue.
“I don’t understand,” I muttered under my breath, gazing down at my golden skin. “I was too tired to notice when I was awake, but I honestly don’t feel like a Winter Fae anymore. Alston said my skin changed after I took the potion.”
Turning around, I noticed Drake clenching his jaw, and I could feel the fury radiating off of him. “That was all a lie, Sorcha. Alston is the one who took you away from me, away from your family. The potion he speaks of was forced down your throat by the dark sorcerer. That was the deal he made with Alasdair. He traded his fealty to your court in return for erasing your memories of me and our time together so he could take you away.”
Exasperated, I said, “This is crazy. Alston would never do that to me. This is just a dream from all the stress I’ve been through.” I turned my back on him and began walking back to the water. “I seriously think I just lost my mind.”
I didn’t hear Drake approach, but in the blink of an eye he had me by the shoulders, turning me around to face him. The electric shock from his touch made my heart flutter rapidly in my chest, and my knees go weak. I never in my life had that sort of reaction to a man, not even Alston. Drake’s stormy gray eyes never wavered from mine, and for the life of me I couldn’t look away. His gaze dropped hungrily to my lips before descending and closing the gap between our bodies. He kissed me greedily, and my body helplessly complied. His hands cupped my face, holding me there, while he devoured my lips with his frantic kisses. Even if nothing made sense, there’s no harm in getting a little lip action in my dream. After all, it couldn’t be real.
When he pulled back, he studied my face. “Do you remember me yet?” When I shook my head, he groaned and continued, “I’m sorry, Sorcha, but Alston did turn on your people and take you away. Your family is desperate to get you back; I’m desperate to get you back. Please tell me where you are in the mortal realm.”
I shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you that even if I wanted to because I have no clue. We’re in a house somewhere in the middle of nowhere.”
He visibly deflated and closed his eyes. For some reason I wanted to console him, to tell him I’m all right, but I chose not to. “What has Alston told you?” Drake asked.
“He told me there was an attack at the palace and that my parents told him to take me to the mortal realm so the dark sorcerer couldn’t find me. We’re supposed to stay there until my family comes for me or sends word.”
Drake huffed and paced along the shoreline. “They’re not going to find you because they have no clue where you are!” he shouted. He took a few breaths before asking, “What’s the last thing you remember?”
Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the last thing that came to my mind. “I remember picking out my dress for the Winter Solstice Ball with Sarette, and watching all the people in my court dance around preparing for the party.”
“Let me guess,” Drake started, “You picked a blue evening gown for the occasion, and you wore the crystal necklace your mother gave you for your sixteenth birthday. I remember your dress dipping low in the front, exposing the tops of those beautiful breasts of yours. Anger couldn’t begin to describe how I felt when I watched every man ogle you from afar. I do know this though, I was mesmerized the first moment I saw you.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but closed it only to do it again. No one has ever said anything like that to me. Curiously, I asked, “If what you say is true about my memories, how long has it been since the Winter Ball?”
His reply was instant, and without hesitation. “It was ten months ago, and after that you visited my dreams every night.” I swallowed thickly and glared at him for any sign that he could be lying. His words seemed sincere.
“Are we lovers in these dreams of yours?” I asked, still doubtful. I just don’t know if I can believe this. It’s not exactly farfetched, but it would be a suicide mission for Alston if he did what Drake said he did.
Drake took my hand and gazed into my eyes. “We’re so much more than lovers in our dreams, Sorcha. You’re going to be my queen, a leader of the Summer Court. You can already see the change to your body. If there’s anything you take from this dream, let it be this … please, under no circumstances trust Alston or let him touch you. You’re mine, and I can’t bear it if he uses you and takes you to his bed.”
“Okay,” I drawled out. “First off, that’s just weird. I’m not going to discuss my sex life with you, and second, I’m going to need more proof if you expect me to believe this stuff you’re saying to me. You knowing about my dress color doesn’t prove anything.”