She pushed open the door and walked inside. She felt the pull toward the man behind the counter. He was tall, taller than Henry, with dark curly hair and huge blue eyes. He was thinner than Henry and didn’t have as many muscles, but handsome, nonetheless. She walked over to him and stopped, staring.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
She glanced at his shirt and saw the name Jacob. “Jacob, you must hurry and come with me. We’re in danger.”
He raised his brows and stepped back. “Huh?”
She waved him toward her and stated it again. Jacob stared at her like she was crazy, and Henry knew this was going downhill very quickly.
“Jacob, that’s your name?” Henry started.
Jacob nodded his head.
“This is Freya. I’m Henry. We’re…not from around here, but we are searching for you.”
“Why?” he asked. His face showed clear confusion and he was clearly on high alert.
“We’re...fae,” Henry whispered. “We need you in the other realm.”
Jacob gaped dumbfounded. “Fae?”
Freya snapped her head to Henry. “He doesn’t know of Winter.”
“It’s winter outside, lady. Are you two drunk?”
Henry shook his head. “We’re sorry. We shall return.”
Jacob shook his head slowly. “Yeah. Feel free to bring your car in for repairs or maintenance.”
Henry dragged Freya outside and down the walkway. “He doesn’t know he’s fae.”
“How?!” she screeched. “Everyone knows.”
Henry shook his head. “Not necessarily. Some fae come...play in the mortal realm. He could be half fae.”
She gasped. “You think his parents left him here?”
He nodded. “I do. How else would he be unaware of Winter? He has to think he’s mortal.”
“Or he’s lying to us,” she pondered.
“I do not believe so,” Henry said. “We should find shelter.”
“Orion said to get a motel or hotel,” Freya said. “I do not know what it is, but it looks as if it says motel up there.” She pointed ahead of her where there was a fancy motel covered in lights. “Do you have the money?”
Henry nodded. “Let’s go, Princess.”
The trudged through the ice and snow to the motel. Once inside, Henry approached the desk and asked for a night there. The clerk quickly checked them in and gave him a key, stating the room was on the third floor and the elevator was to the right. Henry didn’t know what an elevator was, but he took Freya’s hand and followed the instructions. All around them, lights shone on trees, indoor trees, and banisters. Henry and Freya weren’t sure why everything was decorated, but they assumed it must be a holiday or celebration. Freya studied the building, wide eyed as she took it all in. Henry continued to pull her toward the elevator. A young couple was standing in front of two metal doors, watching the light at the top change. Once the doors opened, they stepped inside, and Henry pulled Freya in with him.
“I believe this is what we do,” he whispered.
She nodded, not sure if she should speak around these mortals. She saw a row of buttons on the wall and noticed the three was lit up. She hoped that was where their room was and decided it was best to not touch it. Once the elevator stopped, leaving a funny feeling in their stomachs, the two exited and looked at the key they held. 303. Freya saw a door with the numbers 303 on it and pointed while tugging Henry along beside her. Freya pushed the key in and smiled widely when the door clicked open.
They entered a large room with one large bed, a table, a chair, and a bathroom. Freya’s mind raced as she realized they would have to share a bed together. How could they do this? There was only one.
“I can sleep on the floor,” Henry suggested, as if he’d read her mind.
She shook her head. “No. It’s fine. We can share a bed. We’re mates.” She felt a shiver run down her spine and she fought the feeling in her stomach. She couldn’t help but notice how good Henry looked in this T-shirt and jeans. He was strong and his muscles were tight under his shirt. She prayed he kept it on.
She excused herself to the restroom and shut herself in the tiny space. She wet her face and stared at her reflection, wondering how exactly she’d gotten in this situation. Oh yeah, she was born. She cursed Rulissa in her head, promising herself she’d make her pay for all she’d done to her and her sisters. She glanced back in the mirror and noticed the way her shirt clung to her body and wondered why they didn’t dress this way in winter. These clothes were much more comfortable than the dresses she wore at home.
A knock came at the door. “Freya, are you okay?”
She dried her face and opened the door. “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”
She sat on one edge of the bed and he sat on the other. The awkward silence filled the room until finally, Freya spoke.
“I shall turn out the light now.”
Henry nodded and lay back, propping his hands behind his head. He was relaxed and cool while Freya felt like a ball of nerves. Why was she so affected?
She gently turned the covers down on her side and lay on her side, facing Henry. “Won’t you cover up?”
He shook his head. “I’m always warm,” he chuckled.
“It must be hard in summer,” she said.
“I’ve never been out of Winter. I do not know what summer feels like.”
She lay there, mouth hanging open as she realized he didn’t know what any other season felt like. She wondered if most of the kingdom was this way. Did they not know the beauty of spring and how everything comes to life? The heat of summer which left you feeling exhausted in the best possible way? Or the fall when everything prepares for a winter slumber?
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I have visited my sisters, so I know all the seasons.”
“Tell me about summer,” he said softly.
She smiled at she thought of Silvia and her fiery spirit. It matched her season perfectly. “Summer is like waking up on an exciting day out with your family when you were younger. Everything is bright and sunny; the heat feels like a very warm blanket as it caresses and darkens your skin. Each day lasts long into the night, the sun staying high in the sky for hours and hours. Your skin feels warm to the touch and drops of sweat sometimes fall from your forehead. But it’s fun. There’s swimming and sports and fairs to go to. Every year, Silvia puts on a summer fair for her people. She started it when she was only ten, with help of course,” she explained. “She wanted her people to have a fun day to themselves each year and made it happen.”
He sighed. “It sounds lovely. I hope to experience it someday.”
“You will,” she said with determination. “We will find my mates and break this curse so Winter can have all seasons again. It’s been so long, my whole life, since it’s been cold. I wonder how many of my people are like you and in the dark about other seasons.”
“Everyone your age or younger,” he chuckled. His voice was deep and rough. It sent chills through her every time he spoke in a low tone.
She drew shapes on her pillow and sighed. She wasn’t sure what to say to Henry. How to build a relationship with him. Her hormones were going crazy, and she’d been having crazy thoughts of how it’d be to kiss him. His lips were full and round, making her wonder how they felt. Stop it! It was the mark talking. She needed to cool down.
She swiftly turned to the other side, leaving Henry baffled at her behavior. “Freya?”
“I’m tired,” she snapped.
He sighed softly and adjusted on the pillow. “Very well. I hope you’ll tell me of fall and spring sometime.” She didn’t say anything, leaving the silence deafening across the room. He reached out, resting his hand on her shoulder. “Goodnight, Freya.”
She hesitated, then said, “Goodnight, Henry.”
6
The sun rose, peeking through the curtains and lighting the space between Freya and Henry. She turned, the sun hitting her face and she groaned. Henry stirred and reached for
her, pulling him against his front. She stiffened and stared at his face. Chiseled jaw, hard cheek bones, and full lips started back at her. His eyes were still closed, and he made the softest of sounds, shooting electricity straight to her stomach. She placed her hand on his chest, right where his mark was underneath his shirt, and she sighed. He was warm and comfortable. She hadn’t felt like this in her whole life, and she wondered what it was. He began to stir, and she scurried out of his arms. He opened his heavy eyes and squinted at her. “Freya?”
“Yes, good morning.”
“I dreamed you were cuddling me.”
Shit! She laughed a fake laugh and sat up. “What?”
He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “I know. Did you sleep well?”
“Mmhmm.”
She felt the awkwardness growing between them. He thought it was a dream. What in the world was happening right now? She stood and stretched, noticing he stared longingly and seemed to appreciate the view. She had no idea if Henry thought her attractive, and she found herself curious. Would she ever have feelings for him?
“I guess we should get going soon. We need to find Jacob,” Henry said. He stood and walked around the bed toward the bathroom. He lost his footing and fell, toppling on top of Freya and pushing her back down on the bed. They breathed heavily as the tension grew between them. Bodies flush together and heat rose between them. He felt the length of her body, the softness she exuded, and she felt the hardness of his muscles against her chest. Her chest heaved with every breath and he inched closer to her face.
“Freya,” he whispered. He moved even closer, the heat of his breath hot on her face.
Her eyelids fluttered and she moaned softly. She rose slightly feeling her lips closer to his and then pushed him away. “No.”
He propped up on his hands and pulled away from her. She hit his chest with her fists and insisted he get up. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “You’re just so beautiful and you were so close…”
“It’s okay. I was right there with you,” she snapped. “But I don’t want to be like every other princess who falls for her frollick.”
“What’s wrong with having feelings for one another? We are mated for life.” His voice was desperate and pleading as he stared at her.
“I don’t know!” she screamed. “I don’t know!”
He took two large strides and had his hands in her hair. He pulled her to him, his hand low on her back, and kissed her passionately. She leaned into him, feeling the world around her stop as his lips moved against hers. She opened up for him, feeling his tongue dance across hers. She felt the tingling in her spine and the butterflies in her belly. She didn’t know what this feeling was, but it was thrilling. He finally pulled away, leaving her lips red and swollen.
“Wow,” was all she could say.
“We have to find Jacob before he gets to work,” Henry said. He gazed at her, eyes wide. She wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but his mouth was slightly open and he studied every inch of her face as he was lost in his thoughts. He pulled away from her and rushed to the bathroom. She wasn’t sure what he felt, but she wondered if he was as confused as her.
They hurried to ready themselves for the day and were on their way. Freya used her power to gently move the snow and ice out of the way as they trudged down the nearly empty walkway. The mechanic’s location was not far from the motel and they rushed to get there to find Jacob. They saw him walking not far from the location, his face focused on a device in his hands.
“How do we do this?” Freya asked. “He doesn’t believe us.”
“Touch him. Make the mark happen. He’ll have to believe you then.”
She nodded. It was a good idea. Henry was full of good ideas. She absentmindedly touched her lips, feeling his lips on hers again as she walked toward Jacob. Would his kiss feel as hot as Henry’s?
“Jacob!” she yelled. “Please, can I have a moment with you?”
He rolled his eyes and pulled out his keys. “Not you again. Are you stalking me?”
“I don’t know what you mean, exactly, but I need to talk to you. It’s life or death.”
He paused with the key in the door. “What is it?” he said in a skeptical tone.
She reached for his arm, touching her hands to his skin and feeling the rush of heat as the mark began to appear. Jacob grew wide eyed as he clutched his chest and stared at her in horror.
“What did you do to me?”
“You are my mate. I need you to come with me.”
He locked the door back and examined his surroundings. “Let’s go to the park to speak.” Jacob led them through an alleyway and down a few blocks to the nearest park. He motioned for them to sit on the closest bench.
“What do you mean by all of this?” he quizzed.
“We are fae. We live in the land of Winter,” Freya started. “You are also fae or you wouldn’t be my mate.” She peeled the edge of her shirt back and showed him the mark. “I believe you are of Earth.”
“What does that mean? Of Earth?”
“It means you have powers related to earth and nature. Earth fae can control trees, flowers, and other things that come from earth. Some have an extra affinity for the animals who roam the land.”
“I don’t have any powers, lady.”
“You do. And it’s Princess Freya,” Henry scolded. “Show some respect.”
Freya shushed him. “He doesn’t know our ways.” She turned to Jacob. “I believe you could move this ground if you really wanted to. Close your eyes.”
He hesitated but followed her directions. “Okay, now what?”
“Breathe deeply and slowly. Feel deep into your soul, do you hear the call? Earth calls for you. It longs for you to be one with it. You can control it, if you only let yourself.”
He breathed for a few minutes before his face changed. A soft, happy expression crossed it and she knew he’d found his power.
“Good. Now reach down and touch it. Move that tree. Make it wave in the wind,” she instructed.
He tried and a branch barely moved. Then he tried again, this time focusing everything he had in him. The branch moved and swayed in the wind, the dead leaves still there falling to the ground.
“Oh my,” he hissed. He stared at her, and his blue eyes shone in amazement. “I did it.”
She nodded and grinned. “You did. Now, will you come with us? We are not safe in this land for long.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a long story, but our land is cursed, and we have to break it by my twenty-fifth birthday, which is two months away.”
“We?” he croaked. “I barely made a tree branch move and you want me to break a curse?”
“You are one part of a whole lot of pieces,” Henry said, acknowledging the man’s fear. “We will show you.”
“What about my job?”
“You do not need a job in Winter. You will be assigned something if the time comes. We must focus on the curse at this point,” Freya told him.
She felt a chill deep in her bones and knew Rulissa was nearby. “We must go now. Rulissa is here,” she hissed.
“Who is Rulissa?” Jacob asked.
She didn’t bother to answer him, instead grabbing his hand and Henry’s and began to run. The entrance to the fae land wasn’t far from there and they needed to hurry if they were going to make it.
Two large men stepped from behind a tree and smirked. With the flick of a wrist, the ground rose beneath them and they fell. Freya narrowed her eyes and threw up a glamour around them so no mortals would see what was happening. It was a neat trick fae possessed to keep themselves shielded. Once it was secure, she formed icicles and shot them at the man on the left. Henry took the one on the right, sending fireballs to him in rapid succession. Jacob stood back, his voice rising in terror as he begged them to tell him what was going on.
She sighed when one of her icicles finally pierced the man’s heart and he fell to the ground. She hated she’d killed him, but it was
him or her and she wasn’t ready to die. Henry defeated the man he fought against and grabbed Jacob and Freya’s hands.
“Let’s get out of here!”
They ran as fast as they could until they reached the entrance. Freya stepped through the wards first, holding it steady so Jacob and Henry could pass through. Only she could step through without anything happening to her as they were built on her land and for her safety. She remembered the day Orion had insisted they be put up. She was a little girl and didn’t understand the need for them. It was so long ago she’d forgotten about them until they needed to pass.
“We’re in,” Henry sighed. He bent and rested his hands on his knees. “That was intense.”
“What the hell was that!” Jacob screeched. He started pacing in the snow and didn’t realize there was ice beneath. He skidded along the ground and fell with a plop.
Freya rushed forward. “Jacob, are you okay?” She held out a hand to help him up and found him staring at her.
“You’re really a princess?”
She nodded. Moving her hand toward him in a motion to give her his own.
“Why do I feel like...this?” he said as he rubbed his fist over his mark.
“It’s the mark,” Henry said. “You are growing feelings for Freya. I feel it, too.”
Freya watched him, remembering the kiss they shared and blushed. She’d suspected there were feelings and now she knew. But what to do with them? It was something she could worry about later.
“Come, Jacob. Let’s get you to the castle.”
He finally took her hand and stood. “Thanks.” He stared at the skin where they’d touched and then looked her in the eye. “This is real. You’re real.”
She smiled and held her hand out. “Let’s go.”
They hurried through the forest with Henry in the lead in case any monsters were sent their way. Jacob struggled through the snow and didn’t appear to realize Freya was moving most of it out of his path. He gaped when they came upon the castle and Freya yelled happily when she saw Orion coming down the stairs.
“We found him!”
Winter's Frollick Page 3