Will of Fate (Dual Court Kiss Book 1)

by Samantha Britt

  She walked over and looped her arms around his neck. “I know,” she mumbled into his shoulder. “And I will come back. But for now, I need to do this. I need to learn more about being Fae. I need to experience this amazing world that I never knew existed before I have to go back to my real life here.”

  Ian sighed, knowing he couldn’t refuse her. “If you have even the slightest feeling of unease, you need to promise that you will come back immediately.”

  She nodded, but it didn’t appease him.

  “I am serious Gwen. Don’t take liberties with your safety.”

  “I’ll be careful,” she vowed, tightening her hold around his neck. “I promise.”

  Now, a week later, Gwen continued living at Winter Court with no worries regarding the duke. In fact, she barely saw the fae; only in his company when she attended largely populated royal dinners. Of which, there had only been two.

  While a good amount of her time was spent touring the palace and greater Winter Court area, Gwen insisted she keep up her progress on utilizing her Winter abilities and enlisted Ronan’s help for the task.

  Ronan proved to be an admirable teacher and an even more admirable friend. The two had grown close during her stay, and Gwen learned quite a lot about the Fae Realm from the guard. Where she originally believed the fae to be unfriendly, it turned out he was simply reserved. Once he felt comfortable with her, Ronan turned out to be warm, inviting, and kind.

  “Maybe a walk would be beneficial for you?” Ronan suggested. Gwen heard him sit down across from her and felt his worried gaze. “Would you like to finally see the royal gardens?”

  Lowering the cloth from her eyes, Gwen stared at the ceiling, following the scrolled pattern. She sighed, trying to will her physical pain away. “I would, but I thought Kalan wanted to show them to me. He seemed eager about it during my tour that second day.”

  “Perhaps we can go see if he is available to join us? I am sure he would appreciate a distraction.”

  Gwen shrugged, trying to appear indifferent when, in reality, the thought of spending time with the prince excited her. She found her feelings surrounding the prince disturbing to say the least. She was an intelligent woman with a future ahead of her, for goodness sake. She shouldn’t allow herself to be so distracted by a pretty face and nice personality. She had bigger things to worry about.

  The pair rose from their seats and made their way to the North Wing–Ronan believed Kalan to be located somewhere in the royal rooms.

  Gwen rubbed her hands up and down her arms in response to the cool burst of air that met her upon stepping outside. Ronan appeared unaffected, not even noticing the cold temperature. Figuring her half-summer blood made her more sensitive to the typical Winter Court weather, Gwen lowered her arms to hide her discomfort.

  Ronan led Gwen through the labyrinth of rooms with no luck. Kalan was not in any of the easily accessible places. “He might be in his parent’s quarters,” Ronan supplied, leading her back down the grand staircase.

  “And I’m guessing we can’t go check?”

  Ronan sent her an apologetic smile.

  Shaking off her disappointment, Gwen hooked her elbow into Ronan’s and steered him towards the Great Hall. “Then we will have to enjoy the garden by ourselves.”

  Ronan grinned down at her while allowing her to lead the way.

  Reaching the garden doors, Ronan guided her through, and Gwen inhaled deeply as the scent of nature filled the air. The area was brimming with all types of trees, bushes, and flowers; each lush and thriving in their beautiful space. While the plants had the traditional green and brown colors of the Human Realm, the flowers varied from the purest white to the deepest violet, with most being shades of blue. Gwen was stunned to realize that thin layers of snow and ice were also dispersed among the plants, adding a sparkling glow to their vibrant colors. It left her speechless.

  Ronan chuckled as he took in her reaction and pulled her towards a stone walking path to their right. “Come on, there is much more to see.”

  Smiling excitedly, Gwen followed, anxious to see what other magical sights were ahead. She loved the outdoors.

  They didn’t make it far before the smile fell from her face.

  She and Ronan rounded a bend that led to plaza decorated with a large, central fountain. The fountain was magnificent. Made of ice, its focal point was the ice-statue of a couple sharing an embrace. Their faces depicting wonder and love as streams of water circled them from the base at their feet. It was a lovely sight.

  The sight on the other side of the plaza, however, was not lovely in the slightest.

  Across from them, Gwen and Ronan saw a couple sitting on a bench, placed for optimal viewing pleasure of the plaza, fountain, and surrounding greenery. Gwen knew the identity of one of the fae almost immediately–Kalan.

  A pang of disappointment hit her chest as Gwen watched the prince interact with the pretty fae beside him. She was the petite girl from the royal dinner. The feeling was made even worse when she noticed the fae’s bright and heartfelt smile.

  Trying to control her emotions, Gwen inhaled deeply before dropping her arm from Ronan’s and walking back the way she came. All this time, she believed Kalan too busy with his royal responsibilities to spend time with her at Court. Now, seeing him have such a leisurely afternoon, she found herself doubting the story. The physical pain ever present in her body magnified in intensity.

  What does it matter? She chastised herself, trying to control both her emotions and pain. You don’t own him. He can do what he wants.

  “Where are we going?” Ronan asked, following her departure. “Don’t you wish to see the rest of the garden?”

  “No. I’m not feeling well.” The guard attempted to draw more information, but Gwen effectively dismissed his worries. She even went so far as to suggest he go about his day while she returned to her room to rest. After a little insistence, and observing Gwen’s sickly expression, Ronan complied.

  Gwen entered her bedroom and flung herself down on the large, comfy bed. After a useless amount of time spent trying to read a book she obtained from Ronan’s personal library, she tossed it on the nightstand and simply stared at the ceiling.

  “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid,” Gwen chanted, hating the tumultuous and unreasonable reactions she continued to experience over seeing Kalan in the garden. She hated to admit it, but she could not deny her feelings for the prince any longer. Not when she was experiencing such a whirlwind of pain and emotions.

  Gwen noticed she might have a small crush on Kalan following their encounter in her apartment–after the confrontation with Bradley. Standing so close to him in the warm space had elicited emotions she wasn’t too surprised by. After all, she found him attractive since the moment she saw him.

  While it now seemed like she might have been mistaken, Gwen could have sworn she read the same longing in Kalan’s eyes as they almost embraced. Since then, anytime she and Kalan spoke, touched, or even looked at each other, the feelings fluttered around Gwen’s stomach with renewed strength. Gwen had no idea her crush would morph into something so intense.

  Gwen tried to push the feelings aside, choosing not to dwell on why Kalan’s touch made her heart soar while his absence made it plummet. Ronan, unknowingly, helped her ignore the strange sensations as he kept her decently busy around Winter Court. Seeing Kalan flirting with another woman, however, proved not easy to brush aside.

  A soft tapping on her door frame had Gwen sitting up from her bed of pillows. Penny stood timidly in the entrance.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Gwen,” she gave a small curtsy. “Do you still wish to visit the Court shops today? We can reschedule for tomorrow if you are feeling unwell.” The maid, no doubt, took note of Gwen’s disheveled appearance.

  Gwen sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. She was not in the mood to do anything, but told Penny of her desire to see the shops and was surprised and elated when the girl offered to accompany her around them. Slowly, but surely, Gwen
was forming a friendship with the young fae despite Penny’s timid and submissive nature. She knew she could not risk impeding their fragile relationship by refusing Penny’s first brave invitation.

  “Of course I do,” Gwen offered a small smile. “Let me freshen up and then we can be on our way.” The resulting grin from Penny assured her she made the right move.

  After running a brush through her unruly hair, twisting it in a quick braid over her shoulder, Gwen and Penny left the quarters.

  Gwen attempted to find Ronan in the rooms before leaving, but he was nowhere to be found. She briefly considered postponing their outing until she could locate him, knowing he would insist on guarding them on their trip, but decided against it. She figured she and Penny were in very little danger going to the shops during daylight hours. She had roamed Winter Court many times with not even a hint of trouble. Her protectors were simply… overprotective.

  As luck would have it, while Penny and Gwen moved through the palace courtyard towards the west exit–recalling that it was the less used exit point–they ran into a Winter guard Gwen recognized.

  “Sir Torin,” Gwen greeted the handsome fae, not missing the genuine smile he gave upon seeing her.

  “Lady Gwenevere,” he approached the pair and bowed slightly. She and Penny curtsied in return. “What a pleasant surprise. Where are you off to this fine afternoon?”

  “The Court shops,” she supplied with a smile of her own. “My friend, Penny, has offered to show me around them.”

  Torin nodded in greeting to the young fae, and then let his eyes glance around behind them. “And where is your escort?” He asked, concern lines forming on his fair face.

  “We do not have one.”

  The guard shook his head. “Unacceptable. If you would allow me, My Lady, I will accompany you. My shift just ended.”

  Gwen thought his offer kind, even if unnecessary. “We do not wish to impose,” she argued halfheartedly, knowing his presence could save her from a reprimand later. “I am sure we will not be in any danger.”

  “I am afraid I cannot allow myself to let you take that risk. Please allow me to escort you,” his eyes were imploring. “I could not live with myself in any type of harm befell you.”

  Stunned by his earnest, Gwen could only nod.

  And with that, Sir Torin dropped his casual demeanor and became all bodyguard. He motioned for them to proceed ahead of him, following through the west doors. Gwen attempted to make conversation with him, but his short responses and attention on the surroundings soon dissuaded her. He was serious about his role on their outing.

  With a humorous eye roll, Gwen looped her arm with Penny’s as they made their way down one of the Court’s busiest streets. Initially, the young girl was stiff and did not appear to appreciate the familiarity. Eventually, she relaxed and began pointing out the store fronts of the shops she deemed had the “highest quality inventory”.

  Gwen listened and nodded to her tour guide while glancing around her dreamlike surroundings. The brick and stone walls of the buildings all glistened in the afternoon sun, their natural snow and crystal décor gleaming. Turning her attention to the bustling fae, Gwen observed the various appearances of the Winter citizens.

  Some were dressed casually; their outfits almost resembling those she would see in the Human Realm. Though, the quality of the material surpassing the mass-produced clothing by humans. Others appeared to favor the Regent style of clothing Gwen witnessed throughout the palace, and some leaned more towards styles indicative of the Renaissance. She found the last style the most intriguing, given that it appeared to be the most constrictive and uncomfortable.

  Returning her attention to Penny, Gwen noticed the girl’s sudden halt and dip into a subservient curtsy. Curious, Gwen glanced around and was met by the sight of a group of seven Summer Fae. Led by, none other than, Duke Aeron. They were directly in her path.

  Knowing the protocol Ronan taught her, Gwen lowered herself elegantly with a tilt of her head. “Duke Aeron.” She cursed herself for not paying more attention to avoid the meeting. She had been doing so well staying out of his notice until that moment.

  The duke bestowed a charming smile as he bent in his own greeting. “I apologize, My Lady, but I do not believe I have had the pleasure of making your acquaintance. I’m afraid my business at Court has kept me much too occupied.”

  That’s because I have been avoiding you like the plague, she thought wryly, all the while placing a pleasant look on her face. “I am Lady Gwenevere of Vetur, niece of Lord Ronan,” she introduced herself with the most self-assured voice she could muster. “Please allow me to introduce Sir Torin and Miss Penny.”

  Duke Aeron bowed respectfully to her companions. “Pleasure.”

  “We are just on our way to the shops,” she supplied, hoping he would take the hint and continue on his way.

  “Indeed?” The duke’s eyes shined as he met hers. Gwen was unsure if she should be alarmed by his expression.

  “Indeed.”

  Silence settled between them, and it seemed to drown out the surrounding crowd’s noise as Gwen met the gaze of a face she knew so well, yet had never spoken to. Aeron’s resemblance to his twin set her on edge. She needed to remember that this fae was not Ian and, therefore, could not be as easily trusted.

  “You are quite lovely, Lady Gwenevere.” Duke Aeron’s sudden compliment broke the silence, managing to catch her off guard. Behind her, Sir Torin let out a huff of surprise at the Summer Fae’s bold words.

  “Uh… Thank you, Duke Aeron.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  It turns out she didn’t need to. The duke was already loaded with a question. “Would you have dinner with me sometime, Lady Gwenevere?” He asked with an unwavering gaze. “I should like to get to know you better.”

  Both Penny and Gwen gasped in surprise for different reasons. Gwen did not know how the fae royals and nobles handled dates. For all she knew, Fae could be as modern as the 21st century or as dated as medieval times. She did know, however, that for a Summer Fae to basically ask out a Winter Fae would be frowned upon, to say the least.

  Before she could respond to the bold request, Sir Torin came to her rescue. “Your Grace, I find your request of Lady Gwenevere highly improper considering you only made her acquaintance moments ago. Might I suggest you make your desires known to her guardian at Court, Lord Ronan, and get his opinion on the matter?”

  Sounds like Medieval thinking to me, Gwen smirked internally. She would love to see Ronan try to prevent her from seeing anyone under the guise of being her “guardian”. In this instance, though, she was glad for the excuse to not have to answer the duke’s invitation. Gwen watched as Duke Aeron formed a well-practiced, political smile.

  “Of course,” he allowed, tilting his head in deference to Sir Torin. “Forgive my impertinence, Sir. Lady Gwenevere. It seems your beauty distracted me from all rational thought.”

  Trying to hide her distaste with his cheesy line, Gwen bobbed a quick curtsy. “Forgiven, Duke Aeron. Now, if you will excuse us, we have errands to run.” Without looking back, she turned on her heel and made her way back to the shop Penny claimed, earlier, to be the best stocked bookstore at Court.

  Entering the establishment, Gwen walked all the way to the end of the room before letting the tension release from her shoulders. She felt Penny and Torin close behind her. She turned slowly, trying to appear at ease.

  “Are you alright, My Lady?” Sir Torin asked, his face washed with concern. Penny’s expression matched their escort’s.

  Gwen rubbed her temples, the headache from earlier in the day returning. She wished she could confide in her companions, but the only Fae who could know of her fear regarding Duke Aeron was in another realm. She needed to get it together. They would not understand why she seemed so worried at the proposition of the duke, no matter how “improper” it was.

  “I’m alright,” she sighed and straightened her shoulders. “Let’s just shop.”
>
  Chapter 20

  It can’t be… The duke watched Lady Gwenevere’s departure, managing to keep sight of her even with the crowded street between them. Wendy’s child is blonde… my niece is blonde.

  Aeron’s mouth grew dry as his thoughts took him to a fearful place. The Summer Fae thought the lady looked familiar his first night at court, but had been so busy with diplomatic matters he’d forgotten all about her. Meeting her just now, however, there was no denying his recognition. Lady Gwenevere resembled his brother’s love so much it was uncanny.

  My love too, I suppose… Duke Aeron shook the unwelcome thought from his mind. Ever since he took over the dukedom, Aeron refused to begrudge his older brother his relationship with Wendy.

  Since coming of age, Aeron fancied himself in love with his princess, often trying to win her affections with the charms he successfully used on other females. Unfortunately, Wendy never seemed to notice him. That didn’t mean she wasn’t friendly; Aeron would have actually considered them decent friends, but Wendy did not fall for his attentions. Her friendship with Eilian surpassing his by miles.

  As an immature youth, the duke was unable to control his jealousy, ultimately culminating in commandeering the dukedom from Eilian following their father’s resignation. When his older brother left Summer Court without a fight or word, Aeron never felt regret so deeply. He forced himself to banish his juvenile, envious grudge. Instead, vowing to concede any favor Eilian asked–or didn’t ask–of him.

  In the years following Wendy’s death, Aeron made it a point to check on his brother from time to time, eager to help Eilian should he find himself in trouble. Imagine his surprise when he saw his twin strolling through the Human Realm with a blonde child. Wendy’s absences from Summer Court suddenly made sense to Aeron as he calculated she was gone long enough to conceal a pregnancy. The duke rejoiced at the notion of Summer Court having another princess and wanted to urge his brother to reveal her existence to King Cai and Queen Orla.