Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3)

by Alexia Purdy

  Who was she?

  A frigid, ice cold hand grabbed Paki and slammed him to the side. “Don’t ever touch her.” Corb snarled at him.

  “It’s alright, I’m fine.” She waved Corb back, throwing a searing glare at Paki and continued forward with the group. Why did the feeling that the woman in the brief vision was important not only to Paki, but to Shade too? All she could hope for was that they would find out just how critical things were very soon. Maybe even the reason for Paki’s hatred toward her.

  “Sometimes the way is not what it seems.” Nyol hardened voice echoed back to them and she looked up toward the brazened leader. He seemed very sure of himself, as if nothing could happen which he hadn’t already predicted. It made her wonder what he thought of them. She hoped there wouldn’t be too much resistance at the Palace of her taking the throne back from whatever lesser queen had control over it at the moment. From the looks of it, it wasn’t going to be an easy feat. It might even prove difficult and darn near impossible if their feelings toward her were as icy as Paki’s.

  Approaching a clearing in the middle of the dried out and sparse forest. The group gathered in its center, patiently waiting for everyone to gather in closely. Dylan was studying everyone’s movements closely, making Shade feel increasingly nervous. Claustrophobia crept in as she watched the group press in on her. She shivered as she backed into Corb, who grasped her shoulders, making her spin and almost tumble to the floor. His grip kept her standing, but she could feel his frozen fingers digging into her skin as she found herself staring eye to eye with the Ancient Winter King.

  His Mother of Pearl eyes were not as white and shiny as before. As a matter a fact, they were the lightest color of blue she’d ever seen. He looked, dare she say it, more human with his irises this way. Gasping at finding the difference making his face morph so much, she couldn’t take her eyes from his.

  “What’s the matter, princess?” He cocked his head to the side as he took in her reaction.

  “Your eyes, they’re…changing. What happened to them?” She swallowed her fear away and waited as Corb dropped his hands from her shoulders and reached up to touch his eyelids. The silver metal bracelet gripped into the angry flesh of his wrist and looked even more deeply embedded than before. She couldn’t imagine the searing pain it must cause him and wondered if it would ever come off. From the looks of it, if it did, he’d be scarred forever. Or maybe he didn’t scar. Maybe it would heal quickly the moment it was removed. She had a strong suspicion that it was laced with iron to weaken him further.

  This torture made her shift, uncomfortable with the thought that it had everything to do with her.

  He blinked his humanly light, blue eyes at her, mystified at her discovery. “I’m not sure, Shade. I can’t say this has ever happened to me before. It must be my connection to you. Maybe in time…,” he paused, his eyebrows furrowing as the thought passed his lips. “Maybe I’ll become fully human.”

  They both glanced back toward Nyol as his voice echoed across the group. “This is the portal. Stay together closely, it will take us straight to the entrance to the Scren Palace.” With that, he brought a staff he’d carried with him and slammed it into the ground. The ground shook with a violent wave, making Shade and everyone shift to keep their balance. She hoped it wouldn’t be like Camulus’ violent jaunts that made her want to hurl every time he took them on a trip.

  Not a moment later, the earth was still and the group began descending out of the clearing onto a cobblestone road, which led directly up to the gates of a sprawling palace beyond its metal embrace. Nyol approached the gate with fluidity which made everyone move out of his way without even a word. Nyol produced a small flute, looking like small piccolo and played a short, melodic tune. The gates creaked open, wide enough for them to filter through, and shut immediately after the last warrior stepped through. Shade found it fascinating. It was similar to the Glass Castle’s gate, but different. There was not just one gate, the next one was an unseen barrier, which if Dylan and Shade hadn’t been behind Nyol’s people, they would have run right into it.

  Nyol drew a pattern in the air with his finger, paused at times and jerked his hand in opposite direction, too. Once he was done with this air lock, Shade felt the breeze shift, as if a vacuum had been opened and the troops began to pile in. The place was fortified with magic locks. How anyone ever planned to get through the gates without a royal guard was beyond her. It could easily be a very confining trap too. Escape would surely be highly impossible.

  “Nyol, who’s the current ruler of the Scren Palace?” Dylan inquired. Shade couldn’t believe she hadn’t asked this before. Though, something told her she already knew. Someone must’ve mentioned it to her before, but she couldn’t remember who had, no matter how much she tried. The memory spell Corb had used on her must’ve affected some of her long term memory. At least, it was a possibility.

  “Queen Ariana. She’s not as powerful as King Verenis was, but she has her own tricks up her sleeve.” Nyol threw a cautionary glance toward her, making her feel that this queen had a lot more than just tricks up her sleeve. “I hope you are who you say you are, she will submit to Verenis’ daughter, but she might make you prove it first.”

  They’d arrived at the inner castle entrance and entered into a large foyer. Shade studied the intricate stone decorations throughout, falling in love with its ornate designs immediately. It felt oddly familiar, like it recognized her, making its magic sing and caress along her skin with a warm breath. It made the hairs stand on end and had her smiling, even though they were being stripped of their belongings and weapons by the NicScren soldiers.

  Whispers fluttered in her ears, soft wisps like ghosts saying things like ‘it’s her’ ‘she’s returned’ ‘Shade’ ‘rightful ruler’. Shade spun, attempting to find the owners of the whispers but found none. “Did you hear that?”

  Dylan looked up, just having handed his swords to Nyol. “Hear what, Shade?”

  Noticing that no one else heard them, Shade shook her head, sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing, I thought I just heard someone whispering.”

  “These halls hold centuries of rulers and magic. It’s not uncommon to hear the voices of the past, at least, not for the rulers of the castle.” He squinted his eyes at her, observing her a little more closely. “So, daughter of Verenis, I would’ve loved to have met him. He’s legend in the southern realm. He was great ruler.”

  She hoped he’d been great enough to allow her to regain his throne easily from Ariana. From the dread growing in her stomach, something told her that it wasn’t going to be as easy.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  ARIANA WAS A good queen. Or so, she wanted them to believe. She watched them, carefully taking them in, one by one, like one would watch their doom entering the room. Shade was sure she would not be welcoming, not knowing exactly why, but the air was thick with tension as they entered the throne room. Shade could feel it like electricity crawling along her skin and choking up her breaths. Why would this interim queen object of her presence? Unless she had no plans to give back control of the Scren Seelie Palace. Could that be it?

  It was looking pretty bleak. Nyol’s demeanor had even changed as they entered, looking more like a prison warden escorting his prisoners in to present them to his queen. The guards surrounded them on every side. It made Shade sweat under her jacket. The heat here was also what seemed a thousand degrees hotter than outside the gates, where winter seemed to want to seep into everything. Here, the warmth was stifling and she could use a nice cool breeze to simmer it down.

  “My Queen, I present Shade, a changeling princess, daughter of Verenis, the deceased ruler of the Scren Palace.” He motioned toward her and she stepped forward. Urged on toward the queen, she approached the dais, hoping she wouldn’t regret it. Her insides churned as she got closer feeling Adriana’s aggression which was plain as day across her face. Her disgust at meeting Shade was no secret.

  “You dare come her
e and attempt to take the throne from me? Imposter.” She waved her hand at Shade, as if dismissing her as she slumped back into her throne chair. “I will not have this nonsense in my kingdom. Lock them up, lose the key.” Her features morphed into boredom, a mask of insanity already replacing her anger.

  Great, an insane Seelie queen. Fine replacement for my father, thought Shade.

  “Wait. I demand an audience!” Shade held her hands out toward the guards, who only stopped when she flashed them with a hit of air. They paused, glancing at Ariana for further instructions. “I challenge you for control of the Scren Court, for I’m the rightful heir, daughter of Verenis and Jade. You know this and yet you deny me.”

  Shade didn’t know where this confidence sprung from, but she could feel her grandmother’s memory charm magic swirling inside her. She had every memory of the court’s functions in her grasp. She could challenge Ariana to the death if she wanted to, since she was the rightful heir of a former King. It made her smile, secretly thanking her grandmother Lana for the sweet knowledge of such things.

  Ariana looked horrified. Maybe she hadn’t expected a challenge. She’d have to respond now, accept or submit to a public demand as that. Her skin flared bright red and the anger in her eyes was not short of intense. “How dare you?” She hissed, shooting up from her throne and jetting down toward Shade with a dagger she’d hidden in her hand.

  Shade had seen it though, as if the queen moved in slow motion. The jeweled dagger flashed in her vision and she flicked her fingers, willing the metal to melt in the queens’ hand. Just as she motioned it, a screech filled the room as Ariana fell to her knees, screaming from the burning pain of metal in her hand. She had dropped the melting dagger, but her skin was already seared and charred. Wisps of smoke rose in the air from the puddle of metal and jewels now melting on the marble floor. Shade watched as the queen whimpered, clutching her arm to her chest.

  “Kill her!” Ariana snarled, searing her deep, amber eyes at Shade. However, the guard didn’t move at her command. They couldn’t interrupt the dual; it would mean banishment from Faerie forever. Shade smiled with this realization, stepping forward, holding out her hand for Ariana to submit.

  “Do you submit your rule to me, the rightful heir of the Scren Palace?” Shade had just reached her when Ariana sent a scorching wind toward her. Shade felt it sear her skin but repelled it back just before it got to hot, sending it back toward the queen. It singed the edges of her hair, making Ariana yelp again before she withdrew the wind. She collapsed, weeping as she stared up toward the ceiling. Her skin lightly reddened from the heat and her skin blistered and blackening on her right hand. The pain etched on her face.

  “I submit,” she muttered, closing her eyes and fading into unconsciousness. With that, Shade turned to face Dylan, smiling widely and running into his arms.

  “We did it!”

  “No you did it.” He pulled her close, but stepped away as he watched the soldiers gather tighter around them.

  The look on their faces ranged from stunned to angry. Paki was at Ariana’s side, and the resemblance was unmistakable now. He must be her son, Shade pondered as her gaze followed his hateful glare to find Nyol. His decision to either control his guards would be crucial and she hoped it would go their way.

  The silence was broken only by the metallic clink of weapons as the guards shifted in their places, unsure of what to do as their leader took in the situation. His calm eyes looked wise beyond anyone else’s, making Shade pray that his wisdom would choose the right direction.

  “Stand down,” Nyol ordered his troops. Weapons lowered at his command, but no one backed away from them. Shade pressed her back against Dylan, praying this wouldn’t be the last time she would get to stand by him. She could feel his heart beating frantically, as well as hers, as they awaited their fate.

  “Behold, Queen Shade. May your rule be forever blessed.” Nyol kneeled down on one knee and bowed his head, both arms crossed at his chest. With that, a wave of soldiers kneeling rippled down the room, everyone doing the same as their leader. Shade turned towards Dylan, joy burned in her eyes as well as tears. He smiled back toward her, stepping back and kneeling down as the others had. Everyone was now kneeling, all but Corb, who’s intense stare made Shade’s fear ripple once more under her skin, and Paki−who was still at Ariana’s sleeping body.

  Shade was more afraid of Paki than Corb, but both sent shivers down her spine. She watched as Paki sized her up, finally bowing his head as he headed toward the back of the room next to Corb. He eyed the Ancient Ice King before he slammed his foot into the backs of Corb’s legs, sending him down to kneel on his knees as Paki shoved him down. After this, he also took position of kneeling holding his sword to Corb’s neck as he bowed his head toward Shade.

  The exhilaration was intoxicating and Shade relished it. She could hear her grandmother singing in her head, almost feeling her warm presence next to her. The scorching heat was unbearable, even though she knew it was the Summer Palace, Lana’s voice in her head told her she’d never had it this hot. It was Ariana’s doing and Shade should unravel the spell if she wished. The people hated it and they would adore her for altering the weather back to where it should be. Shade grinned, knowing Lana was right.

  Thank you, she whispered in her head to her grandmother. No one knew her better now and knowing her essence would be forever with her made her smile. She knew it would keep her safe, and always be there for her, no matter what happened in the future.

  “Please rise.” She spoke to Nyol, who glanced up to her and rose to his feet. “Thank you, Nyol. I am indebted to you for your loyalty to the court.”

  He nodded, bowing to her. “I knew you were the rightful ruler from the moment I saw you. You would’ve made Verenis proud. I’m most privileged to have gotten to be here for your return. I swear, the royal guard will be absolutely loyal and at your service with whatever you need.” He rose and gave her a comforting grin. Turning toward Ariana, who was rousing from her shock induced sleep, he asked, “What would you like me to do with the former queen?”

  Shade hadn’t even let that cross her mind. Flicking her eyes toward Ariana, she contemplated what to do, hoping Lana had an answer for her.

  There was only one solution to the problem, memory alteration, Lana’s voice whispered in her head.

  Really? Shade wrinkled her nose at the thought, knowing how devastating a memory loss could be. But, it was the only choice that would allow Ariana to live a free life in the court once more.

  “Her memory of her reign is to be erased and altered. She will be treated with nothing but respect and love from everyone in the court. Anyone who does otherwise will answer to me. Please make sure she is taken care of, Nyol.” He nodded, headed toward the fallen queen and had two guards scoop her up and remove her from the room. Shade knew her demand would be fulfilled and for once, felt she could rule the Scren Court. With Lana’s guidance from her memories, she could do it, and she would.

  One step closer.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  NOTHING COULD PREPARE Shade for the magnitude of things to be done in the court. Not only did Nyol keep her busy with agendas that needed to be approved or altered, she struggled to obtain any kind of downtime by herself to relax and hang out with her family or Dylan. It was exhausting, but necessary. Especially with the threat of Aveta’s vast army near the borders of the Southern realm.

  She’d changed the scorching weather to more temperate summer heat, which suited her fine. She’d not been a fan of winter her entire life, which she found funny now that the weather would always be warm. Yet, just outside the gates of the castle, the weather would not change to her command. The flurries fell increasingly around the perimeter of the gates, and Shade watched them from the balcony of her suite. All of Faerie was becoming colder. Temperatures had dropped all across the land and winter seemed to be expanding its reach all over. She’d demanded to know from Corb if he had done this to the land, scorching it with f
rigid temperatures. He’d gritted his teeth at her demands, though he would go on to deny such a thing.

  “It’s Aveta, you know that as well as I. As she continues to break the wards of the boundaries of Faerie, the weather will turn colder, until there is nothing but the season of death in all the land.”

  “You can stop it though, isn’t it your season?” Shade paced in front of the Winter Ancient, frustrated at the lack of straight answers.

  “Yes and no.”

  “So why can’t you control its spread?”

  He’d narrow his eyes smirking at her agitation. “I’m bound to you. My control over the winter is severed right now. The longer I’m bound to you, the more the Unseelie can use it against the other Fey, especially if the wards are breaking; there will be no boundaries between realms. It’s no longer in my power to send it back to the northern realm.” He turned away, crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall of his chambers. He was confined to this section of the palace, unable to explore it at his will. She didn’t trust him at all, even though he appeared to be stripped of his powers with the binding metal bracelet on his wrist. His flesh never healed around it, leaving it to remain an unsavory, angry red with puckering swelling underneath it.

  “Does it hurt much?” Shade asked. She knew it did, she just had to hear it from his lips for some reason.

  He held out his wrist, turning it side to side as he studied the metal. “Indeed it does, your highness. Indeed it does.”

  “Why doesn’t it heal?”

  He walked toward her, grasping her arm and pressing it against the shiny metal. It didn’t hurt, but she could feel his pain through the connection of their skin.

  “It is laced with iron. I’m not immune to its debilitating powers. You’re lucky your human taint allows you peace from its toxicity. Otherwise, you’d be in unbearable pain right now, enough to drive you mad.” With that he abruptly let her go, wandering over to the large opened glass doors to an opened veranda. He leaned his head back against the stone siding, letting the setting sun reflect in his ice blue eyes.