I squinted, trying to see a galloping horse coming my way via the ancient road. No such luck. No sound met my ears, either. My spy was five minutes late. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to set me on edge. Everything did these days. Was she dead? Had King Peter caught her? My nameless spy was excellent, and I didn't want anything to befall her.
Suddenly, a green light to my right caught my attention. My guards drew their weapons and two ice daggers materialized in my hands as the green light turned into a green-rimmed portal. It opened, revealing a meadow and fireflies on the other side, and Virgie stepped through, my spy behind her. My hands balled and I had to hold back the urge to seize Virgie and shake her. Sela, Blair, General Alden and the other Winter fae tensed. They hadn’t been happy with me insisting to go to the borderlands every other day to see the spy myself. But they didn’t understand. The risk I was putting myself under was nothing compared to my desperation to hear news about Thorsten.
I held up my hand for the other warriors, letting them know I’d be handling this. Slowly, weapons sheathed as Virgie straightened and waited for me to speak.
“Virgie.” My tone came out clipped as emotions raged within me. Frustration churned out my anger, but gratefulness lurked in the background, holding hands with my desperation that was ready to accept any help, no matter how small.
“I sent five letters,” Virgie said calmly. “You didn’t respond to any of them, so I decided to come myself.”
I breathed out slowly. I couldn’t deny that I’d been punishing Virgie with my silence, the only sliver of control I possessed. By sending me Blythe Tree, who had spent a lot of time around King Peter and knew his daily routine, Virgie had proven her loyalty and dedication to freeing Thorsten. By helping me, she was risking her life and that of Peony and Nathan, both who were very dear to her.
“I needed time to deal with everything.” I let the silence hang between us.
“I understand.” Virgie’s eyes shone with sincerity.
A stone fell from my chest, allowing me to breathe deeper. We were good. “My coronation is at dawn. The generals have rushed it and managed to procure me a new crown. Parts of the Winter lands are starting to crumble without a leader to keep the magic here solid and flowing through everything. When my father was banished to the wastelands—”
“It disrupted the Winter lands,” Virgie finished and frowned. “Onyx. I’m sorry. That’s a lot to take on.”
I raised my chin and gave her a brave smile as the stars twinkled above me, seeming to be laughing at my expense. Tomorrow morning, I’d become the one to keep the Winter lands together. I’d need to figure out how to retrieve Thorsten without endangering the Winter lands further. Funny, how I’d always thought that power meant autonomy and freedom. Sure, no one was forcing me to become queen and take care of my court, but the pressure to do the right thing was stronger than any command could’ve ever been.
“I’m the last Vinter,” I said calmly as acceptance settled into my bones. “Only a royal can withstand the crown and the connection it’ll give me to the Winter lands.”
Even all generals combined couldn’t replace a true ruler. Already several villages had crumbled. General Alden and the others had never seen anything like this ever happen in the Winter lands before. My court needed a monarch, and that was another reason why I hadn’t replied to Virgie. The generals didn’t want me taking any unnecessary risks before tomorrow, and that included communicating with anyone from the Summer Court. They wanted my full focus to be on the coronation. While I was the heir, the crown could reject me if it deemed me unworthy.
“That’s good. With the crown on your head, you’ll be more resistant to King Peter’s magic.” Virgie tilted her head. “What are you going to do about the Shield?”
The Shield Virgie told me in her notes was a plant that made the king resistant to ice. “Is there any way to destroy it?” Ice flooded my chest at the thought of King Peter using something he’d stolen from my lands against me.
Virgie shook her head. “I doubt it. None of us know where he keeps it. Even if we found the plant, it would be of no use. For it to work, all he has to do is eat one petal a day.”
I sighed. Great, so the king had something to fight my powers, and Peony was bound by a vow, unable to help us anymore.
Virgie took a step closer. “There’s hope. Nathan and Nerissa will lead the Vasara students. Peony has a new hobby—potions. She’s been working around the vow, tricking herself into thinking that a potion capable of killing plants is for weeds and gardening purposes.” A grin spread across Virgie’s face. “Nerissa and I have talked about tipping arrows with the weed-killer potion, too. We’ll make sure you get some once you arrive at my engagement party, which is in two days.”
I swallowed hard, shocked how much my former nemesis was doing for me. Peony had tried to free Thorsten only to lose her own freedom. Peony had changed, and I had to give her credit. I nodded grudgingly. “That’s good, but we still have the problem of the transmutation. Peony won’t be able to fool herself into turning Thorsten back into a vampire, and my spy hasn’t found anyone else up for the task.” At my words, my spy shook her head.
“Peony also made a strength potion.” Virgie gave me an impish smile. “It enhances willpower and will allow her to override the vow and change Thorsten back. We should strike when the king least expects it. Right at the beginning of the party, which will be in the afternoon. We can throw a blanket over Thorsten.”
I nodded slowly. Virgie had been busy. I glanced at General Alden and Sela, who both nodded with approval. They’d be fine with me taking the risk as long as I also eliminated King Peter and got someone else onto the throne, like Caleb. Alden had been clear that without the Summer lands to balance the Winter lands, both would deteriorate. “This weed killer Peony has been working on, will it protect me from the king?”
Virgie’s eyes flashed with excitement. “I believe so. It’s really strong.”
“Excellent.” With me having a Shield of my own, I should be able to get close enough to King Peter. But would I manage to kill him, a king who had centuries of experience on me? What if I didn’t have to kill him?
I turned to General Alden. “Once the crown is on my head, I’ll be able to open the portals without any practice, correct?”
He frowned. “Yes, but it won’t be necessary. I’ll do that so that you can focus on the rest.”
I shook my head. “I’m not interested in opening a portal into the Summer Court. I want to open the portal into the wastelands and banish King Peter.”
General Alden hesitated. “That’s a delicate situation. When King Olwen—”
“He wasn’t prepared for the possibility of Princess Petra dragging him into the wastelands with her. But I know the danger. And unlike my father, I won’t be alone.”
Sela stepped closer. “We’ll back Onyx up.”
“Together, we’ll banish him,” Blair added, her green gaze sparking with determination.
“Banishment is as good as death when it comes to vows.” Virgie flashed me a winning smile. “It will free everyone who is under King Peter’s thumb.”
It would give us a second chance in case Peony failed to change Thorsten back after drinking her willpower potion. “All right. We have a plan.” I breathed into the tension running from my neck down my body. So many things could go wrong with this plan, but I had no choice but to proceed. King Peter didn’t know that I’d moved up the coronation. He didn’t know about Peony’s potions. We’d take him by surprise. This was our best chance to win against him. We couldn’t afford to wait for another opportunity.
“We’ll attack one hour into the party when King Peter will be busy socializing. Blythe enlightened me about his routine after some convincing.” I motioned to the surrounding borderlands. Her prison was a few miles away, in an old, abandoned tower. Her vow to King Peter was the reason I hadn’t taken her back to the Winter dungeons. She'd report everything to King Peter if she ever escaped.
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Virgie’s eyes glittered with eagerness. “We will let the Vasara students know. I’ll make sure Peony makes plenty of her weed killer.” Virgie stepped closer, her lilac wings fluttering behind her back. “We’ll free Thorsten again and get King Peter off the throne.”
I extended my hand, and we shook. “To a new beginning.”
“To a new beginning.” Virgie turned and stepped back through the portal with my spy. Blair drew close to me, and I took comfort in her presence, reminding myself that though the road ahead was steep, I wasn’t alone. My friends would be there for me, each step of the way.
The throne room stretched out in front of me. It was on the top floor of the palace, with ice pillars rising from the hundreds of assembled Winter fae and soldiers. My people, who’d die for me. My people, who I needed to protect. Everyone glowed in the blue and silver light that emanated from the icicles overhead. The very first pink rays of dawn poured through the large windows on the opposite end of the room.
I maintained my posture, legs crossed, hands firmly on the fur-covered armrests of the throne. I dared not fidget as the fae took in my cobalt-blue and silver dress decorated with a sea of crystals. My fate was about to be sealed, and Thorsten was missing this major milestone. Instead of my consort, General Alden stood next to me, ready to address the crowd. Sela and Blair were on my other side and behind them were the remaining four generals.
Beside General Alden, on an ice pillar, sat the crown that would change everything. The crown was mesmerizing, made of entwined, living pine branches and needles that sparkled with frost. Ice spikes rose from the center of the crown, glittering with hints of every color. A magical chill emanated from it that I could feel even from just a few feet away.
A fae of to the side hit a gong, and silence fell. All eyes drilled into me.
“Welcome, everyone, to the coronation of Princess Onyx Vinter,” General Alden began in his low and powerful voice. “On this fine morning, we will strengthen and stabilize the Winter lands and preserve the future of our people. Princess Onyx Vinter will lead us into this future and do what is necessary to ensure the continued survival of our realm.”
My heart thudded. General Alden didn’t waste time. Lengthy speeches and beating around the bush were not a Winter trait. He lifted the crown and slowly turned toward me.
“Princess Onyx Vinter, do you accept your role in protecting the Winter Court and doing whatever is necessary to ensure its survival for future generations? Do you vow to place the Winter Court above your own needs, wants, and desires? Do you vow to take the power of the Winter lands and mold it for the good of our people?”
Could I put the Winter Court above my own needs? Above Thorsten and my friends? I had to, or we’d all be doomed. I had to, or more fae would flee to earth and suffer. I couldn’t allow my selfishness to doom countless generations of fae.
The audience was completely still, waiting for me to seal the vow.
“Yes. I accept.” My voice rang out clear and confident.
“Then let it be done.” General Alden lowered the crown onto my head. The pine branches affixed themselves into my hair, holding the heavy crown in place. Power flowed from the crown like a strong current and into me. I gasped at the magic permeating every single cell of my body and mind, changing me, making me stronger, making me other.
General Alden gave me a tiny smile. “Long live, Queen Onyx Vinter!”
“Long live, Queen Onyx Vinter!” the crowd cheered.
21
Virgie
I felt much better after my talk with Onyx. Finally, she’d forgiven me for failing her earlier and was willing to move forward. Still, despite us being on the same page, Nathan locating several strong fae who were willing to stand up to King Peter, Nerissa preparing the Vasara students, and Peony succeeding in creating more of her potions, I was a bundle of nerves as my engagement party drew closer.
I tried and failed to take comfort in the knowledge that Onyx was doing something even more monumental than we were. Being crowned queen and having the wellbeing of a whole court rest on your shoulders was so much more responsibility than what I had, and yet, the thought didn’t diminish my anguish.
“Virgie,” Nathan said, catching up with me as I strolled the outside grounds of the Vasara mansion the day before the party.
I stopped and gave him a weak smile. “Nathan.”
He gazed deeply into my eyes. “Are you all right?” At my nod, he pressed on, “You’ve been out here for over two hours, walking and walking.”
That’s when I realized that the sun was no longer high up in the sky, but had started to set. Orange light fell on the surrounding flowers and grass. Trees cast huge shadows on the mansion. Night would come soon, and before I knew it, tomorrow would arrive.
“Are you upset because of tomorrow?” Nathan asked.
I didn’t reply, afraid that once I’d start, I’d never be able to end. I couldn’t afford a mental breakdown. I couldn’t afford anguish and tears when I needed a good night’s sleep and to keep my wits about myself. “Everything is in place. Onyx will be ready,” I said, focusing on the facts.
“Are you upset with me?” Nathan asked quietly.
I blinked. “Why would you say that? Nathan, without you I couldn’t have survived any of this.”
He nodded slowly and ran his hand down the outside of my upper arm. “Look, Virgie, I love you. I can tell you’re fond of me, but if it’s not enough, if you don’t want to spend your life with me, I understand.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he let me go. “After all of this is over, I’ll release you from your promise. This engagement was terribly rushed.”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
Nathan had just told me he loved me.
Nathan loved me.
I pressed my lips against his and brought my arms around his neck. I tasted Nathan, inhaled his scent, pressed my chest against his. When I tore my mouth from his, I whispered, “I love you too, Nathan. Yes, this is all sudden and not the way I would’ve chosen my engagement to be, but I do not want to break it. I want to be with you forever.”
His body relaxed as his arms tightened around my waist. Then he lifted me up and twirled me. Before I knew it, his wings were beating rapidly, propelling us upward.
A giggle escaped my throat as elated dizziness settled over me. “What are you doing?”
“You’ll see.” He rose high above the walls surrounding the Vasara Center and flew in the opposite direction of the palace. We kept rising higher and higher, the breeze making my hair flap wildly in the wind.
“Nathan, where are you taking me?”
He smiled. “I want you to see that the Summer Court is worth fighting for.”
“I know that.” Yet, I still gasped as he put me down on a green hill, opposite the most massive waterfall I’d ever seen. Its loud crashing soothed me, and its droplets of water that sprinkled my face made me feel alive. Halfway down, the cascading water created a magnificent rainbow as the sun set in oranges and reds behind it. This was so much more impressive than the waterfall at the palace.
“Nathan, that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” I turned around to find him on one knee and my heart swelled.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He chuckled, well aware of how corny it sounded. It was good to see his playful side make an appearance. I’d missed it during the last tense days. “Virgie Everston, you’re the most interesting, enthralling, and maddening fae I’ve ever met. You’re stubborn, headstrong, and you call me out on everything. You’re the best friend anyone can ask for and your loyalty runs so deep, it sometimes scares me. Even though we haven’t known each for a long time, I know I’ll never feel the way I do about you about anyone else. Virgie, will you do me the honor and become my wife?”
He produced a wooden box with gorgeous engraving. It was way too large to hold a ring and when he popped it open, I discovered a diadem inside made of gold and set with amethysts and diamond
s. “I know in the human world you exchange rings, but I hope you’ll accept this. It used to be my mother’s. Nerissa insisted that I give it to you when I told her that I was planning to propose for real.”
Tears shot into my eyes. “Yes, yes, of course!” Nathan rose, and I ran my finger over the intricate diadem. “It’s gorgeous.”
He placed the diadem on top of my head, and his silver gaze too filled with tears. “I wish my mother could’ve met you.”
“Me too,” I choked out. We kissed slowly, then pulled apart. The sun was almost gone, and stars began to light up the sky.
“I wish we could celebrate properly tonight,” Nathan said, “but I think we should preserve our strength.”
I nodded, trying not to feel disappointed. “After this is over, we’ll have the rest of our lives to celebrate.”
It was hard not to beg Nathan to remain in this magical place, or ask him to come up to my room when we returned to Vasara, but I knew it wouldn’t be smart. Staying up and making love would not only cost us sleep, but also make us more relaxed. We needed the pent-up energy for tomorrow. We needed to be desperate to return to each other. Our desire for love had to be stronger than King Peter’s hunger for darkness.
To my surprise, I slept well, and when Amanda and Pierre showed up the next morning, I was ready. Pierre put me into an A-line gown that had a plunging V-illusion neckline and was a dream of tulle with beaded organza floral applique. My see-through, flower-embroidered slippers made me feel like a princess. The heels were thankfully not too high, giving me hope that I could fight in them instead of having to take them off and trip over my long dress.
Pierre was on board when I asked him for a side-braid. It was a romantic hairstyle that was also practical. He teased out a few strands to frame my face and put tiny flowers into my hair. Nathan’s diadem rested on top of my head.
“Superb!” Pierre proclaimed.
Amanda studied his handiwork. “Very nice. Thank you, Pierre.” She opened her folder. “Now, Virgie, let’s go over some potential questions.”
The Nocturnal and Fae Prison Academy Boxset [A Complete Paranormal and Fantasy Series Boxset] Page 99