“I want to visit Ian,” she informed the guard, her expression brooking no argument as she returned her attention to him. “And I want to do it soon.”
He looked as if he wanted to protest but decided against it. Instead, he tilted his head in submission. “As you wish.”
***
“I don’t understand your objection, Mother,” Kalan shook off his tuxedo jacket and loosened the bowtie. “Lady Gwenevere could have done nothing to warrant it.”
Queen Tanya followed her son into his quarters, shutting the door with an irritated snort. “I suppose you are suggesting that taking all of your attention is not enough cause for my disapproval?” Her regal composure all but absent as she confronted her son.
Kalan balked. “I hardly spoke with her this evening. I was with you and Father the majority of the time.” Kalan did not wish to include Hera in his grouping, although his mother had gone out of her way to leave the young lady alone in his presence on multiple occasions.
She gave him an annoyed look. “You may not have spoken with her, but she had your attention nonetheless. You refused to keep your eyes off of her for more than one minute this evening. It was incredibly rude to young Hera.”
There it was. The reason behind his mother’s rambling. The prince shook his head in exasperation. He was going to have to be very clear of his intentions.
“I am sorry to tell you this, Mother,” Kalan started, removing his cufflinks to roll up his sleeves as he suddenly felt overheated–a sensation not welcomed by Winter Fae. “But I am not interested in Miss Hera, nor am I likely to be. I suggest you save your efforts for an endeavor you are more likely to be successful with.”
He sat and removed his shoes, choosing to ignore his mother’s incredulous expression.
“Am I to understand that your interest is in this no-name relation of Ronan’s? That you would knowingly bestow your affections on a fae who does not fulfill the qualifications your prophecy lays out for your lifemate?”
Kalan stiffened at his mother’s callous tone. “She has a name. It is Gwenevere.”
“You would ruin Winter Court?” She asked with a shrill voice full of incredulity. “You would ruin all your father and I have provided for you, ruin the prosperity of your subjects? All for one pretty little lesser noble?”
Kalan closed his eyes and rubbed his hands down his face, lacing and forming a steeple with them under his chin. He was in no mood to argue with his mother. She might be right that he would have no future with Gwen. By Fate, it was a realization that he had come to not long ago himself, but he was not going to forfeit her company or friendship for Hera, or any female, he felt no real connection with.
A fae’s life was long. Kalan knew that there was still plenty of time to find his fated mate despite his mother’s impatience. And until he found a female he felt as attracted and captivated with as Gwen, he would not settle down. His feelings for the lady were going to be his reference point for all future potential mates.
Deciding to take the high road in the conversation, Kalan sighed and chose to assure rather than fight with his mother. “Nothing romantic is occurring between Lady Gwenevere and myself, Mother. Do I find her beautiful? Of course, only a blind fae would not.” Kalan paused as the image of Gwen in her evening gown filled his mind. Beautiful is an understatement.
“But just because I find her attractive does not mean I am pursuing her. I know she cannot be my lifemate. You do not need to worry about that.” Kalan was sure his mother knew that as well, no doubt checking the birth date the prince listed on Gwen’s forged documents the moment she could.
Queen Tanya’s expression relaxed slightly. “But how do you expect to find your future mate if you give all of your attention to incompatible females? I just want you to be happy. I want you safe. Your lifemate will give you both of those things. Is it so wrong for me to want those things for you?”
Rolling his neck, Kalan stood and approached his mother, wrapping her in an embrace. She might be domineering, but he knew it rose from her love for him. He did not feel like arguing the point that his mother had no hard proof that his mate would provide such things. Prophecies could be fickle things.
“Just trust me, Mother,” he gently implored. “Trust me to make the right decisions. For now, I want to enjoy my youth and learn to become a great ruler. Trust in Fate that I will know when my true mate comes and, when that happens, I will not let her go.”
He heard his mother sniff before she wound her arms to return the embrace. “Promise me, if you find her, you will bond with her at once.”
Kalan squeezed her, placing a quiet kiss in front of her tiara. “I promise.”
She sighed in relief, pleased with his vow. If she were able to read his thoughts, however, Kalan knew she would be displeased with what she saw.
For if she read his mind, Queen Tanya would see the smiling image of a young woman celebrating the successful use of her winter abilities. She would see the lovely fae’s blue eyes alight with excitement as she leaped into his arms, and she would know that Kalan had never wanted to let her go.
***
A loud thumping on his bedroom door brought Kalan out of his restful slumber. His body had been so exhausted from lack of rest that Gwen’s close proximity lost its hold on preventing sleep.
“Enter,” the prince called out, stretching and then sitting up as his door opened.
“Forgive me, Your Highness,” his temporary personal guard stated, bowing in deference. Kalan missed Ronan’s unceremonious presence, but knew the sacrifice was worth it if it meant Gwen would be safe and comfortable.
“What is it, Yuri?”
“Your father has sent for you, he told me you would be expecting his summons.”
Upon hearing the guard’s message, Kalan leaped from the bed and hurriedly began dressing for the day. Glancing out the window, the prince moaned at the brightness of the day. He must have overslept. A glance at the clock on his end table confirmed as much.
Kalan departed minutes later, following the guard as he escorted him to the North Wing and up to the third floor. Instead of finding his father alone in his study, he and Duke Aeron were seated on the balcony extending from King Kheelen’s sitting room, facing the Avalon Mountains.
Upon hearing the door open, both fae turned to watch Kalan step out to join them.
“There you are,” his father stated by way of greeting. “I was wondering where you were.”
“My apologies,” Kalan offered sincerely. “I was unaware of the hour. I hope I have not kept you waiting long.”
“Not at all,” Duke Aeron rose, extending a hand to greet the prince. “Think nothing of it.”
“Take a seat, Kalan,” King Kheelen instructed, waving him to a chair. His demeanor was not as light as the duke’s. “We have business to attend to.”
Obligingly, he sat and waited for one of the fae to begin.
His father did not make him wait long. “Duke Aeron and I have discussed terms regarding the resolution of our two courts’ differences, with the ultimate goal of ending our long standing dispute.”
The words pleased Kalan and they obviously pleased the duke, who was smiling broadly.
“King Cai and Queen Orla have agreed to publically acknowledge our court’s innocence in the untimely death of their daughter.”
The information stunned Kalan. “What could be their motivation for such a statement?” The look of displeasure his father shot the prince caused him to explain.
“What I am asking is: why would they go so far? Desiring to open up relations is one thing, but such an action seems unnecessary and drastic considering how convinced they once were of our court’s guilt. I believe they must have a motivation beyond wanting to smooth things over.”
Duke Aeron nodded at his words. “You are correct; they do have motivation for their actions.” He paused dramatically.
“King Cai and Queen Orla have been in mourning for their daughter’s death for twenty three long years.
For them, acquitting the Winter Court of all blame in the matter will force them and Summer Court fae to drop the matter, giving everyone a chance to move on.”
“You believe they can move on?” Kalan asked, skeptical of the reasoning. “You believe they can move on without knowing the true culprit behind their daughter’s murder?”
Duke Aeron met his skeptical gaze with conviction. “I believe that my king and queen have suffered enough sadness over the death of Princess Gwendolyn. I also believe that they desire to move on from their sorrows as best they can, and the continued conflict with the Winter Court serves as a constant reminder of their unfortunate loss. They wish to be done with it.”
The duke’s words were sincere, causing Kalan to lower his head in respect.
“Their offer is received with humility and honor,” King Kheelen voiced, his voice sounding strangely open. Kalan looked at his father and was surprised by the mournful expression.
“As our own gesture of goodwill,” the king continued, rising from his seat. “It would be the Winter Court’s honor to host a ball for the Summer Solstice. A gesture that shall display our respect for Summer Court’s most celebrated event, as well as a symbol to all fae that our two courts can and will return to the traditions of old in joining together once again.”
Kalan gaped, stunned by his father’s words. He knew Summer and Winter Court often met for various celebrations in the past, but no such thing had ever happened in his own lifetime. It would truly be a momentous occasion.
“Your Majesty,” Duke Aeron rose, his face awed but also wary. “I see that your offer is sincere and genuine.
“However,” he swallowed, nervous. “I wonder if my king and queen will be willing to attend a ball at Winter Court prior to the finalizations of a peace treaty. And with the Summer Solstice a little less than two weeks away…” The duke trailed off, not knowing what else to say.
Kalan stiffened in his chair, uneasy with what his father’s potential reaction could be. The Winter King was not fond of his decrees being questioned.
Thankfully, King Kheelen nodded in agreement with the Summer Fae’s words. “We shall host the ball in Eirie, a neutral location. And only our court’s nobles shall be permitted to attend in order to make the event more secure. How do you think your king and queen will respond to that proposal?”
After a moment of thought, Aeron answered. “I believe they will find it an agreeable arrangement. I would ask, however, that I be permitted to confer with them before an official declaration of the event should take place. This was an unexpected offer, and I would feel better with my answer after conferring with them.”
“Of course,” the king answered. “As you said, we have little time before the event. Please, feel free to depart at once to discuss the matter with your monarchs.”
The duke bowed. “Your Majesty.” He turned to Kalan. “Your Highness.” With that, the Duke strode from the balcony, his steps full of purpose.
The king walked to the balcony railing, his eyes trained in the direction of the mountains.
“That was quite the gesture you made,” Kalan told his father, standing to join him. “Do you think King Cai and Queen Orla will accept?”
“I do.”
Silence.
“Was your offer made purely to extend goodwill? Or was there additional cause?” Kalan asked, unable to imagine his aloof father making such a move without a certain objective in mind.
King Kheelen turned to him, meeting his eyes. Kalan tried to not appear shocked at the intense expression on his father’s face. “My son, I know how people perceive me. I am viewed as distant and, as a ruler, I do not mind that. There is benefit in having those you rule respectfully afraid of you.” He looked back over the rail, far into the distance.
“But I am not coldhearted. The day Princess Gwendolyn was killed, the Fae Realm suffered a great loss. She was a wonderful young fae and destined to be a great ruler. She showed compassion to all fae, not just those of her court. I would do almost anything to ensure that her death no longer causes pain to those she cared for. I would do anything to honor her memory.”
At a loss for words, the prince simply stared at his father. Who knew such thoughts hid behind his stern exterior? Princess Gwendolyn must have been an exceptional fae to elicit such a strong reaction from King Kheelen.
After a time, his father cleared his throat and once again looked at his son. “Take my advice, Kalan. Should you ever come across a fae of character that you admire above all others, be sure to keep them in your life; protect them at all cost. Such fae are a rare blessing and should be treated as such.”
Kalan knew his father was referring to the lost princess, and that his sentiment was not to be taken romantically, but the prince could not help but think of Gwen and all the feelings her mere presence could elicit from him. She was the most fascinating fae he had ever met.
Gwen knew nothing of her heritage until her adult life, yet handled the major transition with a level of grace that Kalan had never seen before. She displayed a desire to learn of the Fae Realm and soak up any knowledge given to her. While working on her Winter abilities, Gwen pushed through the obstacles she encountered and, ultimately, mastered them to such a level that Kalan knew she had to be from a powerful bloodline. Gwen was an anomaly. Nobody, fae or human, possessed the resilience and strength he witnessed in her.
She was also so beautiful it hurt.
His father regarded him with a curious expression while those thoughts ran through Kalan’s head. Afraid that his face revealed too much, the prince worked to control it.
After a moment, Kalan felt composed. “I shall keep that in mind,” he assured his father.
King Kheelen nodded, then turned away. Kalan excused himself from his father’s presence and made his way to Ronan’s chambers.
Gwen might not be his lifemate, but she had definitely worked her way into his affections. Despite knowing that it might be best to cut ties with her before he was hurt by the inevitability of their situation, Kalan could not.
“…be sure to keep them in your life…” His father’s words echoed in his mind, distracting him as he walked. Kalan knew his father’s words were wise. He knew he was going to keep Gwen in his life as long as possible. No matter the consequences.
Chapter 19
Gwen stood with Ronan in his main living area, exhausted with a throbbing ache in her temples. “I need a break. My head is killing me.”
Ronan walked to the kitchen, retrieving a dish towel from a drawer and running it under the sink. He returned, handing the wet compress over as he guided her to the ivory arm chair in the center of the room. Gwen felt the moment he began infusing the cloth with his winter ability; the soft texture growing harder as ice crystals formed across it.
“This should help. How about we call it a day? You’ve made great progress.”
Closing her eyes, Gwen applied the towel to her forehead, leaning back against the top of the chair. She and Ronan had been working on her fazing ability, and the skill was harder to master than she anticipated. Despite Ronan’s reassurances on her improvements, Gwen was growing impatient to learn to faze on her own.
She sighed as she remembered Kalan saying it could take up to a month for her to have the ability to faze to the Human Realm. She also remembered how consoling the prince was when her pent up frustrations resulted in a few unchecked tears.
Unfortunately, thoughts of Kalan did not lighten her mood. Gwen had hardly seen the prince following her first royal dinner at Winter Court; his parents kept him busy with the approaching Summer Solstice ball. Gwen was surprised to realize she missed him. Like… really missed him.
Gwen did not understand it, but she had grown used to seeing Kalan nearly every day since their initial meeting at Pat O’Brian’s. Not being around him seemed to cause a physical ache inside.
Thankfully, Ronan’s companionship remained constant during her stay in Winter Court, helping to alleviate some of her feelings of loneline
ss. The guard also managed to arrange a trip to the Human Realm for Gwen to see Ian.
Why am I complaining again? She wondered as she continued to relax.
Gwen’s thoughts traveled to her first visit with Ian, two days after her first royal dinner.
“What do you mean the Summer Ambassador is my brother?” Ian asked her, his long legs carrying him from one end of the living room to the other.
Gwen arrived early in the day with Ronan, eager to share the information with her friend. Luckily, the guard took his leave shortly after their arrival, saying he did not want to intrude on their time together. It was a thoughtful action, and it allowed Gwen the opportunity to tell Ian of the duke and share her true concerns.
“I mean that your twin brother is the ambassador currently representing Summer Court at the Winter Palace. I saw him.”
Ian’s eyes widened in fear. “Did he see you, Gwen? Please tell me he didn’t see you.”
She was honest. “We made eye contact from a distance, but it was very brief. He did not seem to recognize me or anything.”
Ian leaned his back against the wall and covered his face with his hands. “That’s impossible, Gwennie. You are the spitting image of your mother. He grew up with her, too. He would not be able to miss it.”
“But I look like a Winter Fae,” she pointed out, doing her best to convince herself as much as him. “You said he saw me when I was a child, and it was at a distance. I was blonde. He believes Wendy’s daughter to be a Summer Fae, and you said yourself no one knew of her relationship with my Winter father. His mind would not jump to such a farfetched conclusion, even if he thought I looked familiar. Even if he thought I looked like her.”
Ian’s shoulders slumped as he lowered his hands to rest on his hips. “This whole situation makes me nervous, Gwen. I want you back home where I can look after you.”
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