Ismena cried out and released Elisabeth to claw at her chest.
Elisabeth fell to her knees and coughed as the air made its way through her crushed airways.
Ismena collapsed next to Elisabeth, her blue eyes wide. “This… wasn't… how… but it was you… I… cursed...” she gasped before going still.
Elisabeth felt something wet slide down her cheek and quickly wiped the tear away. Why should she cry for the woman who never wanted her? And yet a small, cold sliver of her heart had desired Ismena's love more than anything.
She tore her eyes away from her stepmother. The storm had ceased, and the wights collapsed as if dead. A balmy breeze blew across the courtyard, the chill gone as if it had never existed.
Cedric held out his hand to help Elisabeth up. Shakily she accepted, and he pulled her to her feet. He shook his head, trying to look stern, but a smirk bellied the expression. “You just can't stay out of trouble for a single moment, can you, Lizzie? It seems as if you are in need of saving every time I turn around. I suppose, to save myself future trouble, I'm just going to have to keep a closer eye on you.”
“Meaning?” Elisabeth asked, pressing her hand against her side. The slick warmth of blood coated her fingers.
“Nothing, everything- you're free to interpret it any way you like.”
Elisabeth smiled grasped his hand with her free one. “You’re a good man Cedric,” she said, squeezing his hand.
“Well, that’s certainly not how I expected you to interpret it, and also it is completely untrue, but as I’ve said before- believe what you will.”
Elisabeth tilted her head as she considered him. “Thank you, Cedric. You saved me- multiple times.”
Cedric shrugged and waved his hand nonchalantly. “Yes, I’m a regular hero now. My reputation is ruined. And to prove that I am really too far gone to be any kind of respectable dark lord I will simply say it now. You’re hurt. We should get you inside to see about that nasty scratch you got.” Cedric swept her up in his arms.
“Your shoulder!” Elisabeth protested.
“You insult me, really. I'm fine.”
Elisabeth frowned at him. “You were not earlier when I had to rescue you.”
Cedric furrowed his brows. “When you had to- ah you mean when I was fighting Ismena. I see you fell for my little act as well. I was simply trying to get your stepmother to let her guard down, which she did.”
Elisabeth shook her head. She couldn’t believe that her stepmother was dead. That the hunt was over. That she was finally free. And… motherless.
Her eyes landed on the wights lying still in the courtyard and shook her head. “Where did she even get wights to send against us? I thought you said that they all died years ago when they attacked Mooraven. So where did these come from?”
Cedric shrugged. “How should I know?” he said quickly, but there was something in his eyes that said otherwise. Before Elisabeth could pry, he turned and began striding toward the door. “To risk repeating myself, I was not kidding when I said that we needed get you inside and bandaged up. I didn’t go through all of this trouble to rescue you only to have you die now. And when we’re done with that, we should probably see what we can do about unfreezing those guards of yours.”
“How do you know about-?” Elisabeth trailed off as a crow flew overhead. “Oh, never mind. But you are in need of bandages as well.”
Cedric grinned. “If it makes you feel better, dear.” He turned to the dwarfs. Alban was collecting his knives with the aid of Fergus, and Lucius supported Florian, who was looking rather wane. Gabriel pulled Kenrick to his feet, looking around warily, as if waiting for more enemies to appear. “Come on, boys, let’s get inside before we all catch our deaths of cold.”
“That may be unnecessary. Look.” Aldrus pointed at the steady drip of water from the parapet just as the sun burst from behind the clouds, shining brilliantly down on them. “The snow is melting.”
Epilogue
Luk limped down the hall, cursing the dark prince silently. He had little doubt that Cedric had built the fire too close on purpose.
Morren’s son had every intention for Luk’s pant leg to catch on fire and burn him. Even if he claimed otherwise.
But Luk supposed that he should just be thankful to be still alive. Even if he was both frostbitten and charred.
He glanced over his shoulder at the grand hall. Firelight flickered against the stone walls where his men were thawing. He heard laughing and jeers as the prince and the dwarfs sparred with their words; every now and then the princess’s voice joined in.
He didn’t care for how close she had become with those fugitives. She insisted that she owed them her life, that she owed them her kingdom. That they could be trusted, but Luk still wasn’t sure if he was willing to do that. The prince was Morren’s son- whether he’d helped the princess or not. And those dwarfs had fought for Mooraven in the war.
The princess was too fair and kind for her own good. She didn’t understand the depths of hate her people felt toward Mooraven. Many families had lost fathers and sons to that war. They would not be quick to forgive.
But, Luk supposed that, if it came to it and the prince of Mooraven and his dwarfs did end up proving to be a threat, he could deal with them later. For the time being his mission was to make certain with his own eyes that the shadow which had haunted them for years was finally gone. That Ismena was actually dead and his princess was at last safe.
He didn’t know what to expect now that the regent was dead and her reign of ice was over, but surely nothing could be worse than what they had already gone through.
Luk leaned into the entrance way, finally reaching his destination spent and short of breath. He looked out over the whole length of the courtyard, taking in the rose bushes and the fallen forms of the wights, his guards who had defected. He’d noted that Cedric hadn’t informed the princess of who the wights had once been. He supposed that was for the best. Princess Elisabeth would be desolate if she learned what had really happened to her other guards. Though he didn’t know why Cedric had refrained from telling her- it wasn’t as if he cared- so he must have an ulterior motive.
Luk would have to watch him very closely.
But that was a matter for the future because he had a much larger problem.
His eyes stayed riveted on the crimson stain marring the worn tiles.
The body wasn’t there.
The Tale
Continues in…
A Winter Dark and Deadly
~*~*~*~
All is not happily ever after…
~*~*~*~
Acknowledgments
Winter Cursed was originally a story I wrote for a contest, a contest it didn’t win. Not winning was a major disappointment, a blow to my self-esteem. It left me wondering if my story was good enough, and I just want to thank all of the lovely people around me for encouraging me to keep going. This story most certainly wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you guys.
My family for your continued support. For reading my story and giving me feedback.
All of my lovely betas: Lila, Tracey, Faith, Beth, and Lydia. You guys really shaped this story into what it is now and I don’t know where I would be without all of your helpful comments.
My editor Deborah C.
My good friend Ivie Brooks for your helpful feedback, for the beautiful cover you for designed me, and for loving my story, possibly more than even me- possibly.
Anne Elisabeth Stengl and Rooglewood Press for hosting the contest that Winter Cursed was written for, even if it didn’t win. This story wouldn’t be here without that contest.
And you, my reader, for reading my story. If you enjoyed Winter Cursed please consider leaving a review for it on Goodreads, Amazon, or the store that you bought it from. Thank you so much for your continued support. It means so much to me!
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