The king nodded a greeting to Ronan and his son. “Kalan, I need to speak with you.”
Ronan bowed and excused himself. The king took the guard’s place beside Kalan. The prince returned his gaze to the fire, attempting to summon his vision of Gwen again.
“How are you?” Those were the first words, beyond greeting, his father said to him since Eirie. Kalan ignored them, believing it was quite obvious how he was.
The king remained undeterred by the slight. “I came to see you regarding Gwenevere. I am unsure if you know this, but I have well established informants positioned at Summer Court…”
The news did not surprise Kalan, but hearing his father mention the girl did. The prince forced himself to patiently listen to his father’s words.
“…and it appears Gwenevere has made an appearance there.”
Kalan stiffened, but he kept his eyes forward on the flames. “When?”
“My sources tell me she has been in Summer Court for two days.”
Kalan’s heart pounded. He saw Gwen two days ago. Had something happened?
“Do you believe they will harm her?” The potential affirmative answer terrified Kalan, but he had to know. His soul needed to know if his lifemate was in danger.
The king sat down beside Kalan, surprising the prince into looking at him.
King Kheelen sighed. “My understanding is Gwenevere is in the palace with Cai and Orla. I do not believe they would ever harm their kin, but I fear other Summer Fae. Especially after what happened to her mother...” King Kheelen’s voice grew soft, his eyes distant with memories. Kalan did not miss the flicker of pain cross the male’s expression.
Kalan forced himself not to feel empathy for the fae beside him. The whole situation was his father’s fault in the first place.
A small part of Kalan admitted his thoughts might not be fair, but he quickly silenced it.
“Summer Court believes a Winter Fae was responsible for the princess’ death,” Kalan reminded his father, trying to convince both males Gwen was safe.
The king nodded. “Yes, they do. I worry for Gwen for different reasons. Many Summer nobles saw her at the ball and will recognize her. I pray to Fate that Cai and Orla keep the ruse of her being a Winter Noble. Though, I suspect they will not. Her heritage will not stay hidden for long if that is the case.”
“You fear Summer Court might wish her dead due to her being a dual-court fae?” The words tasted like ash as Kalan choked them out.
“Yes.”
Dread filled Kalan’s veins. “What are you going to do?”
His father turned to him and locked his strong eyes with Kalan’s uneasy ones. “I will wait to hear more from my informants. I will learn everything they and the rest of Summer Court know of Gwen before making a decision. But know this, Kalan, I will protect her. She will be safe.”
Kalan did not want to put his trust in his father after everything that happened… but he did. The king’s words were certain and offered Kalan a sense of relief. No matter that it was small. King Kheelen was the most powerful and resourceful of the Winter Fae. If anyone could protect Gwen, it was him.
“Thank you,” Kalan said the words in genuine gratitude. He could not keep Gwen safe alone, and was mature enough to acknowledge that fact.
“No need to thank me,” his father stated. “I will do anything to protect Gwen. She is, after all, my daughter.”
And just like that, Kalan’s relief disappeared. It was replaced with the ever-present resentment of the fact his father, King Kheelen of Winter Court, had an affair with Princess Gwendolyn of the Summer Court.
His father’s words reminded Kalan of the affair leading to the birth of Gwenevere –the absolute and undeniable love of his life… The love society would say he could never have.
“Of course,” Kalan slid out bitterly, turning his attention back to the blazing flames. “How could I forget?”
Chapter 2
“You’re going to wear down the carpet.” Ian’s amused tone was meant to distract Gwen from her anxiety, but the effort fell flat. Nothing was going to ease her mind. Nothing, but getting out of the cursed space she’d been locked in for the past two days.
Following Aeron’s sudden appearance in the Human Realm and their subsequent fazing to Summer Court, Gwen found herself stowed away in a villa-type suite. She was unable to leave the space by the presence of multiple, beefy, Summer Court guards positioned at all exits. She cursed the fact she was still under the influence of the defalutar potion King Kheelen insisted she take. All her fae abilities were currently out of commission. Most notably, fazing was not available to her at the moment.
“I need to get out of here, Ian,” she responded to his comment. “Keeping me locked in here is definitely not a good sign of being safe.”
“No one will harm you here, Gwennie. You have my word.”
Gwen refused to feel comforted by the childhood nickname. “Why are they keeping me in here? Are they afraid of me?”
“I’m sure you are being kept here for your own good. Keeping you out of sight until King Cai and Queen Orla figure out what to do with you is, most likely, a necessary precaution.”
Gwen sighed and flung herself dramatically on the floral-printed chair beside her. She leaned forward, placing her head in her hands.
Breathe… just breathe.
The words became her constant mantra since leaving Eirie the night of the ball. It seemed Gwen’s easy acceptance of discovering she was Fae, and all the other wild information accompanying that fact, disappeared.
Now, just thinking of the various truths she recently learned threatened to send Gwen into a state of panic. That was especially the case when she thought of Kalan and the truth regarding their relationship.
No, Gwen forced his handsome vision from her mind. You can’t go there…
Find out what happens between Gwen and Kalan in Work of Fate, available HERE on Amazon!
Will of Fate (Dual Court Kiss Book 1) Page 30