Winter’s Frollick
Kingdom of Dune, Book One
Felicia Tatum
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Untitled
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Also by Felicia Tatum
About the Author
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locals or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Published by Tatum Writing LLC
PO Box 663
Monterey, TN 38574
www.feliciatatum.com
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All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any for whatsoever.
Copyright © 2021 Felicia Tatum
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All rights reserved.
Cover: Felicia Tatum
Editing: Amy Briggs
Created with Vellum
1
Cold snow lay in her palm, small specks of ice forming from being near her. Freya called to the ice and snow, demanding they return to liquid form so she could create her masterpiece. They obeyed, and the water flowed in the air above her hands, ready and eager for her command. With a flick of her wrist, the stream shot from her palm. The ice solidified, her magic fusing the water particles together and creating the ice sculpture of the picture in her mind on the ground before her. Orion’s lean body was created quickly, but his face took more time. Focusing, she thought of each line, each chisel, each dip of his features so it would look exactly like him.
So concentrated on the sculpture, she didn’t hear the man or the beast closing in on her.
“Princess Freya!” a man with a deep voice called in terror.
Freya spun, coming face-to-face with the largest dagoon she’d ever seen in her life. Fire simmered in the three massive eyes staring at her, and at least six arms thrashed through the snow attempting to capture her body. Refocusing the ice she had been playing with, she shielded herself with no success. The long claws sliced through the sculpture like it was paper and a low growl sounded through the forest. He was close, close enough she felt his breath on her face, and she could hear his long claws scratching at the icy ground below them.
A tall and well-built man without a shirt on jumped through the air and landed beside her. He took her hand, his touch sending an electric current racing through her body that settled on the space above her left breast. Freya’s skin burned for a second before a warm and satisfying heat took over. She felt the mark start and finish, but there wasn’t time to worry about that now. The dagoon would eat them if they became distracted.
“I’m fire. Stand back,” he directed. She stood her ground but allowed him to take point. The mark on his chest called to her, and quickly she averted her eyes.
His hands lit and the area around them melted quickly. She faced her palms to the liquid and calmed the water, allowing it to tickle her senses and nip at her skin while she watched this man battle the dagoon. He was fierce, an obvious warrior, and didn’t hesitate to light the beast up. The dagoon screamed and howled in pain, but the flames engulfed it so fast it couldn’t retaliate. It withered to ash on the ground, mixing with the water surrounding them. She forced her magic down, pushing the watery mix into the ground below, then waved her hand so the snow replaced the mess. No one could know she was out here on her own. As the sole heir to the winter kingdom and the person responsible for freeing her people from the curse, putting herself in danger wasn’t acceptable.
She glanced at the fae, noticing his ripped muscles tight under his skin, and the way a scruffy shadow curved around his chin. Not allowing herself to linger, she gathered her dress skirts in her hands and started the trek back to the castle. “I appreciate your assistance, sir,” she called behind her.
Heavy stomps followed but she kept moving. Dealing with this man, the mark, and everything it meant was not something she wanted to do that day.
“Your Majesty?” His voice was extremely close now and his breath tickled her neck.
A shiver ran down her spine and she hated herself for wanting him closer. She spun and glared at him, but noticed the pond forming behind him. “You melted the snow with your fire!”
Blasting a stream of power from her hands, she quickly fixed the mess he made and gave him another evil stare. “Can I help you with something else? Would you like a reward for your actions? A gold star on your record, perhaps?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “What they say about you is true, I see. Well, nonetheless, I’ve been marked. You’re stuck with me. We can head back to the castle and deal with it in the warmth.”
“Shouldn’t you be warm with your affinity?” Freya snipped.
He leaned closer and she felt the heat radiating from his body. “Baby, you have no idea how hot I am.” His words caressed her skin and a chunk of her chilled heart settled in the pit of her stomach.
This was not what she wanted to be bothered with on this day or any other. Her feelings regarding a mating mark were strong, and not positive. Dealing with the mark and the mate who came with it was not on her agenda now...or ever. She didn’t care if it meant she may die, she did not want to accept it.
Angry with the reaction and his words, she sprayed him in the face with water and growled. “I’m not your baby.”
He let out a belly laugh and swept his arm out in the direction of the castle. “Please, lead the way, my princess.”
The way he called her princess did something to her, but she fought to hide her reaction. She trudged to the castle, ignoring his overwhelming presence. Everything about this man, his smell, his face, his body, his warmth, was attacking her senses and sending her heart into a beating fury.
Once up the stairs, she strolled through the castle entrance as the knights opened the doors for her. Orion, her personal attendee, stood at the staircase with his arms crossed. He’d practically raised her, and she knew the look on his face. He was angry.
“Freya.”
The sternness in his voice almost made her cower like she did when she was a child and was caught misbehaving. “Orion,” she replied.
He opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it when he noticed the man. “Who is our guest?”
She gazed at him, realizing she didn’t even know his name. The stranger smirked and bowed.
“Attendee Orion, I am Sir Henry of Winter and Fire. It’s my greatest pleasure to meet you.”
Henry. The name sent flutters through her chest and stomach and she gripped the latter in fear of vomiting. Orion moved to welcome Henry but stopped short.
“You’ve been marked, Freya!” he bellowed.
And there it was.
She sashayed past him and threw her hand back in Henry’s direction. “Can you do something with him? I’ll be in my room.”
Orion didn’t listen, as usual, and followed hot on her trail. “Freya! We must discuss this! Now!” He hurried behind her and she was too slow to lock him out of her room. He joined her and sat on the bench. “What happened?”
“I was in the forest…” she started.
He scowled at her. “Alone?”
She nodded. “I was making an ice sculpture for your birthday party.”
His expression softened and he gestured for her to continue. “And then he was there. I don’t know where he came from or why he was out there, but as soon as he got within a foot of me, the marks appeared.”
“Freya…you have to find the others. We only have two months before your birthday.”
She felt the weight of his words and she knew her duty, but damn if she didn’t want to. “I know what I must do.”
He stood and took her hand. His gray hair had long grown white and the wrinkles on his face were too many to count. It shocked her for a moment, realizing sometime along the way, he’d grown old. When she was younger, she would tease him and count each wrinkle because he told her they were a secret map which led to treasure. Orion smiled kindly and brushed her hair from her face. “Freya, I know you don’t want to find your frollick. I honestly can’t blame you, but the land will be cursed to winter forever. You’ll never become queen. You don’t want that, do you?”
Freya shook her head. She truly didn’t want to let down her people, but the thought of marking three other men was terrifying to her. She was only twenty-five. She wasn’t ready for this kind of commitment. Her mother had children with all four members of her frollick. And she and her sisters were cursed to the season they were born in.
What if something—or worse—happened to her future children?
“Freya, I can see the thoughts and fear churning in your mind. You don’t have to love each of them. The mark doesn’t mean romantic feelings”
She sat on her bed and patted the space beside her. “Explain it again.”
“The mark means you are meant to be. Not necessarily as lovers, but as partners in life. Those who are marked are destined to help you break the curse on your land and bring back the other seasons. You must mark a man from each season and with each affinity. Sir Henry is Winter and Fire, so the other seasons will be found elsewhere. Freya, you don’t have to love them, but they will probably love you. Every man in this kingdom, and your sisters’ kingdoms, knows the risk they are taking, and have vowed to be true if the mark appears. Your family has a long history of queens loving their frollick, but you have never been like the others. You are fierce, rebellious, and kinder than any of your other family members I’ve met. And I’m three-hundred years old, so I know a few things about your family.”
The tears welled in her eyes, so she took his hand and squeezed. “Thank you, Orion. I guess I should get to know Henry.”
He grinned mischievously. “He’s not bad to look at, my dear. It won’t kill you to speak with him.”
Rolling her eyes, she allowed him to drag her to her feet. “Do I have to?”
He nodded and pulled her along. “You’ve kept him waiting long enough.”
2
Her demeanor was as cold as her land, just as everyone always stated. But he knew his fire would melt her into a puddle before long. Roaming the grand hallway, he saw photographs of her as a child and how she grew into the stunning princess she was today. He’d always admired her from afar and couldn’t believe he’d been marked by the woman who’d frequently joined him in his dreams since he was a teen.
“Sir Henry.”
Her formal tone had him grinning to himself as he slowly turned to face her. “My Princess.”
Her back was straight as a board and she carefully thought out her next words. “I apologize for my behavior. Marking you was unexpected, and I should have handled it better.”
Henry bowed and held his hand to her. “It’s forgotten. Shall we sit somewhere?”
She eyed him curiously. “Do you have any clothing?”
He raised a brow. “Does my naked torso make you uncomfortable?”
She waved her hand and walked past his outreached palm. “Of course not.” She struggled to make eye contact with him, and he vowed internally to find out why she built such walls. “Follow me.”
He obeyed, and was awed by her confidence and regal presence. Everyone in her castle admired her, it was clear when they looked her way. Princess Freya led him down the long hallway and clicked a door open on the left. She motioned him to go forward, and he took in the room. Blue curtains adorned the long and wide windows revealing an open courtyard he’d been in before for parties. The furniture was sleek, sophisticated, and all white. A black table sat in the middle of the room and she led him to it. As soon as she was seated, a servant appeared with a tray of tea and cookies.
“Please sit, Sir Henry.” She took the teacups and poured both one. “Why don’t you tell me more about yourself?”
He sipped the drink and grinned at her. “I am Sir Henry of Winter and Fire. I’m in my twenty-fourth year. My mother was Lady Mia of Winter and Earth. She fought alongside your parents in the war, and I lost her. I have one brother, Sir Marc of Winter and Earth.”
Her face contorted when he spoke of the war, but she quickly composed herself. “My condolences about Lady Mia.”
He bowed his head and gave her a soft smile. “I do not blame you or your parents.”
“The war was started to rid the world of me and my sisters, Sir Henry. How can you not put the blame solely on my family?” Her words were strained, and he fought back the instinct to reach out and comfort her.
“You were in your fourth year. Your parents were protecting you from her. There is only one person to place blame.”
The internal struggle played out in her facial expressions as her face scrunched and pain flashed in her eyes. She was obviously upset. He cursed to himself for putting such distress into her mood.
“I apologize, Princess Freya. Please, let’s continue the discussion on other topics. Tell me of you and your sisters.”
Freya’s expression softened and she smiled. “My sisters and I speak often. We can’t see each other for long amounts of time without our power depleting, but we’ve found ways to utilize our gifts to converse. Each land has all the elements, so I’m able to tap into any pool of water and speak with whichever sister I wish. Silvia of Summer can connect to the Earth. She uses animals, trees, and other plants to send her messages. Lena of Spring is Fire.” Her face softened and glowed when she spoke of Lena.
“Since there are always fires in the castle, I speak with her most often. She’s my youngest and bravest sister. Vivian of Autumn is gifted with Air. Sometimes, I hear her voice caressing my skin as her messages play for my ears only. She’s truly gifted.”
Her entire presence was calmer as she talked of her sisters. Her brown hair shone as it lay in cascades of curls around her shoulders. Her dark eyes sparkled, and her full, pouty mouth continued to give him pleasure with each smile she graced upon him.
“I hope I can meet them someday.” He truly meant it. They sounded delightful.
Her gaze met his and she stared a few moments before finally speaking. “My mother was madly in love with each of her frollick members. I remember my fathers each teaching me about the gifts they had and adoring my mother above all others.” She stopped and carefully thought out her next words. “I do not feel I will be the same as my mother. I do not know if I can love another, much less four others.” Freya spoke slowly and deliberately, watching him for reaction.
Licking his lips, he gripped his hands on the edge of the table. “I am sorry you feel that way, but I do have something to clarify. I do not expect you to love me or to have re
lations with me other than friendship and caring for one another. Our mark does not determine love. I do not know you, only of you, so I can’t say whether I’ll feel those deep feelings for you or not. I can say I love you as my princess and wish only the best things for you. I understand my task is to assist you in breaking our kingdom’s curse and freeing every one of the forever winter. I have no further expectations.” Henry’s words were stern, but he feared she’d grown thinking she must give into her frollick’s sexual desires and it wasn’t acceptable.
Royals were known for loving their frollick, but now he wondered if it was encouraged by outsiders or family members. Could they not love who they wished? A simple mark did not mean there was romantic love in their hearts.
She gaped at him dumbfounded. After blinking several times, she regained her composure. “I appreciate you, Sir Henry.”
Her words were heavy and meaningful on his heart. She obviously feared he expected such things and he vowed then and there to make sure the other frollick members did not think such things either.
“My princess, you’ll find our generation has different values than those before us. My parents often spoke of the necessity of loving a royal if I were marked, but once they were gone, I learned quickly the mark wasn’t about romantic love, but rather loyalty. I do hope the other frollick members have the same mindset.”
She twisted a lump of her skirts in her hand. “I only have two months to find them, Sir Henry.”
“Please, call me Henry. And we only have two months. You are no longer alone in this task.”
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