Winter Heiress

by Skye MacKinnon

  She said my father wasn’t very magically gifted, so I suppose I should be grateful that I’m as strong as I am. I’ve not pieced together the entire story, but from what my mother and Tamara told me, Beira created my father because she was lonely. I was never planned.

  I shake off those thoughts and concentrate on the task at hand.

  The giantess is watching me closely. “Everything okay?”

  I nod. “I’m ready.”

  She smiles and points towards the centre of the circular room. “You may want to get up and ready yourself. This may be more of a challenge than you think.”

  Her knowing smile tells me that she knows more about me than I’d like her to. Am I becoming arrogant? I certainly hope not.

  I walk a few steps until I’m more or less in the centre. Somehow, I feel vulnerable. If I had a wall at my back, I wouldn’t have to be aware of who might attack me from behind. But it’s clear Eithne wants me to be in this position, so I stay, readying myself.

  I firmly grip my hold on my magic, ready to throw up a barrier should someone throw something at me. The strongest element in the room is earth, with air being a close second. No water or fire, sadly, those are the ones I feel most confident in. Although my control over air has improved a lot and I’m now able to pick up smaller objects without destroying everything around them. Most of the time. If my magic isn’t throwing a tantrum.

  Nothing is happening and with every second that passes, I’m getting more and more nervous. To distract myself, I let two little whirlwinds form above my hands, turning quickly around their own axis. Creating them doesn’t take much thought or energy anymore, especially not here where the room is saturated with air magic. Wind isn’t always the best defence, but it can be great offence and a way to restrain your opponent.

  “Nervous?” Eithne chuckles and I’m tempted to throw one of the baby tornados into her direction. She’s friendly, but I’m not quite sure yet if I like her. She’s enjoying this a little too much, not caring that her tests might end in my death. Or loss of Immortality. Whatever.

  Still, everything stays quiet. My feeling of unease is increasing. Is this part of the test? Seeing how I cope under pressure? Well, I’ve got my Princess mask on and I don’t think anyone would see my nervousness. Except for the giantess, apparently. I’m pretty sure by now that she’s telepathic. She picks up too many things for it to be coincidence.

  Finally, there’s a noise behind me and I swirl around, ready to throw the air magic at them. Except that it’s my mother.

  Beira is here.

  My heart drops. I’ll never win against a Goddess, let alone her. She’s the most powerful of them all. And I wouldn’t want to hurt her anyway, not after experiencing her almost being murdered a few weeks ago.

  “Hello, my daughter,” she says in a cold voice, so unlike the Beira I’ve got to know. It’s like she’s talking to someone far beneath her who’s angered her. Someone she’s going to punish for their crimes. I’ve only been to one court session so far but that was exactly the way she sounded there. Cold, detached, regal.

  “Mother,” I respond warily. “Why are you here?”

  “You died. I’m making sure you stay dead.” Her face is a mask of ice, her eyes dark spheres without any spark of sympathy or love.

  “You can’t mean that,” I splutter, backing away from her approaching form. “You’re not yourself.”

  She smiles mirthlessly. “Oh, I’m certainly myself. I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since you were born. I can finally get rid of you and erase the mistake I made. Without you, the memory of your father will fade and I can once again be the Queen I was before I created him. Don’t worry, I’ll make it quick.”

  She raises her hands and icicles sprout from her fingers. It looks like she’s growing claws.

  I stumble backwards, tears running down my face. What she said… is it true? Was it all a farce? But…

  She throws an icicle at me and I just about manage to expand one of my mini tornados in front of me to build a barrier. The icicle falls to the ground and breaks into a million pieces.

  My mother laughs cruelly. “Don’t prolong it, Wynter. You can’t escape your destiny.”

  In response, I draw on my earth magic and rip open the floor, turning the tiles into a mound in front of me. It’s not much of a barrier, but at least it may act as a distraction.

  “Why are you doing this?” I shout again, deflecting one of her icicles with another bout of wind. She’s throwing them at me quicker and quicker, and I’m noticing how my energy is waning already. I don’t even have the time to mount a counterattack, all I do is defend myself. But I’m aware she is holding back. She could crush me with a single thought. Right now, she is toying with me.

  Almost lazily, she flicks another icicle into my direction. This time, I throw some earth up into the air, blocking it. The icicle and the ball of sand it’s stuck in fall to the ground. There’s no time to rest. I crouch down on the floor, hiding behind my barrier so that I only have to protect my upper body from her assault.

  It’s not until pain races through my back that I notice my mistake. I thought in human terms, not in magical. In this world, icicles don’t have to fly in a straight line. They can circle and approach from behind... like this one just did.

  I fall onto my belly, my back muscles spasming. I feebly try and get up, but my legs aren’t working. She’s got me incapacitated after mere minutes of fighting. Demons were child’s play compared to this. I have no chance against my mother. It was stupid to even try.

  Suddenly, she’s by my side, drawing a cold finger over my cheek. It stings and I move to get out of her reach, but I’m too weak. The tremors in my back are making their way into my shoulders until my arms start to shake. I still have access to my magic though. I ask her to connect to the air around me and she does it without any further nudging. For once, she does what I’m asking her to.

  With air magic surrounding me from all sides, I manage to sit up, propped up against the air that is now feeling almost solid. At least this way, I can look my death into the eyes.

  My mother.

  Her expression is cold, unfeeling. Was it all an act? All the chats we had, all the laughter? Did she just pretend to be the person I thought she was?

  A tear runs down my cheek, in the same place where she touched me just a moment ago. She’s breaking my heart but doesn’t seem to care. If only my Guardians were here. But then I remember how strong she is and am glad they aren’t. She’d likely kill them without a second thought.

  I want to say something, but I know it will only look I’m begging her for my life. I don’t want to give her that satisfaction. So I stay silent, looking into her dark eyes... wait, doesn’t she have blue eyes? As bright as snowflakes on a crisp day? Then why do they look like coals, smouldering with hate?

  “You aren’t Beira,” I whisper, hoping that I’m right. “You’re not my mother.”

  She smiles. “No, I’m not. But I’m glad you thought I was. What does that tell you about your relationship with your mother?”

  She steps back and a massive icicle grows from her fingers. It’s clearly intended to stab me through my heart.

  But now that I know she isn’t Beira, I also know she’s not as strong as I thought. Maybe she hasn’t been playing with me after all. Maybe that was the extent of her power. Which is strong, definitely, but perhaps I can still fight her. She’s not my mother, so if I hurt her, I don’t care. Whoever she is, she’s my enemy.

  My mind clears and I let my emotions drift away. All that counts now is surviving.

  Ignoring the pain in my back, I grab a hold on the air around me and propel myself away from the Beira impostor until I’m at the other end of the room with the wall at my back. No more sneak attacks from behind. I’m finding it hard to keep my grip on the air holding me in place while gathering fire magic. She’s only used icicles so far, which gives me some hope. Maybe that’s all she can do.

  Trying to h
ide my intentions, I use more air magic to deflect the icicles she’s started throwing my way again. I’m now doing three things at once and my energy is waning fast. I will have to be quick and defeat her while I still can.

  Finally, I’ve got enough fire gathered. I release it not in front of me like I usually would before sending it in someone’s direction in the shape of a fireball.

  No, this time, I conjure the fire around fake-Beira, trapping her in a column of fire. She screams as flames touch her skin. She seems unable to escape her fiery prison, no matter how much ice she throws at it. I increase the temperature of the fire and draw it closer, until there’s no space between her and the flames.

  Her screams become louder as the fire burns her. I have to look away as smoke begins to fill the air above and her shrieks start to fade.

  I just burned someone alive.

  When I’m sure she’s gone, I let the flames fizzle out and drop to the ground. Pain floods my mind. Now that I’m no longer having to fight, the pain is overwhelming me.

  “Well done,” Eithne says softly, kneeling down by my side. She puts her large hands on my back and I flinch, expecting more pain, but strangely enough, the agony lessens at her touch. She rubs her hands back and forth and with every move, I’m feeling better. The tingles in my legs stop and I’m able to move my toes again.

  When she gets up again, I’m feeling well again. No pain. Even my energy is back to where it was before the fight started. It’s as if nothing happened, but the pile of ash in the centre of the room tells a different story.

  I scramble to my feet.

  “Well done,” Eithne repeats. “You’ve passed the tests. You can go back to the clerk now and he’ll give you your Immortality certificate.”

  “Just like that?”

  It’s a bit of an anti-climax. I kill someone and she tells me to go back to the old man with his folders and stacks of paper?

  “Do you want to repeat one of the tests?” she asks drily and I immediately shake my head. No, thanks. That was enough. I’m mentally exhausted and am sure this whole experience is going to give me nightmares for weeks to come. Especially the things my mother said... No, let’s not dwell on that. The priority is to get out of here, preferably alive.

  “I can’t come with you for obvious reasons, but I’m sure you’ll find your way back, right?”

  She points at her large form and I remember how narrow some of the corridors were. Does that mean she lives in this room? It’s the only one with a door big enough to let her in and out.

  What a strange place. One I’ll be glad to leave.

  The clerk is bent over some files, mumbling to himself. I clear my throat several times until he finally looks up.

  “Oh, you again. Yes?”

  I sigh. “I passed the tests, can I go home now?”

  He hands me another form. What a surprise.

  “I just need a signature here... and here... and on this one...”

  After I’ve signed at least ten documents, he pushes up his glasses and gathers some of the files into a pile.

  “All seems to be in order. You’ve achieved Immortality, congratulations. You will now be transported back to the place of your death.”

  “Ehm, thank you,” I mutter, not really sure about what to say.

  Then I see the book on his desk and remember that I filled in a form earlier to borrow it.

  “But what about my book?”

  “It will be delivered to you when it’s time.”

  “What?”

  The library blinks out of existence.

  Chapter Seven

  I don’t feel different when I wake up. Not like anything has changed. It’s as if it all never happened. But the concerned eyes of my four Guardians tell me all I need to know. It was real. Someone killed me. And I’m back, alive, Immortal.

  “Wyn, you made it,” Crispin whispers, his eyes red-rimmed. “I... “ His voice fails and he stifles a sob. I tear up watching him being so emotional. He must have thought I was dead. Judging from their exhausted expressions, they all have.

  “See, I told you she would make it.”

  My mother makes her way to my bed and the twins step away respectfully, their gaze still fixed on me. They seem too shocked to speak.

  “Wyn, I am so proud of you.” Beira presses a soft kiss on my forehead. Her skin is surprisingly warm. When she pulls back, I quickly check her eyes. Blue, thank the Gods. Not black like that nightmare Beira I had to fight.

  “I knew you would get out of there, but still... well done.”

  She turns to leave but stops before reaching the door. “Now stop whining, boys, and find whoever did this.”

  My Guardians snap to attention.

  “Yes, your Highness,” Storm says with a small bow. Only because I know him so well can I see that he’s only pretending to be so calm. There’s a slight tremor to the hands he’s got pressed against his sides and his brow is a little more furrowed than usual.

  My mother sweeps out of the room and I’m finally alone with my men. They no longer hold back. Suddenly I’m held by all four of them and the comfort they give me is just what I need now, even if I didn’t realise it. I may be okay physically, but that doesn’t mean that my experience in the Library hasn’t left any marks on me mentally. I fought my mother, after all, even though she turned out to be fake. I heard what she said. I burned her alive.

  Hands rub my back and I revel in the warmth they all give me.

  “I missed you,” I whisper but Frost’s mouth on my lips stops me from saying anything more. He kisses me gently, as if he’s afraid that I might disappear again. But I’m here to stay, and I show him by deepening the kiss, hungrily sucking on his bottom lip. These men are mine and I’m not going to leave them alone.

  Frost slips his hands under my shirt, but it’s not long until one of the others lifts my arms and pulls the garment over my head. It’s a pity I have to break the kiss for that. I’m not wearing anything underneath, and I’m very aware that the only clothing I have left are my panties. That’s what Storm put me in when I went to sleep after our date. It feels so long ago already.

  Arc takes Frost’s place, his lips a lot rougher than the other Guardian’s. He pulls me closer until I sit on his lap. There’s something hard waiting for me there. But there’s no time to even think about it before my mind is fully occupied with Arc’s demanding kiss. Hands are rubbing over my back, cupping my breasts, caressing my skin. So many sensations...

  I moan against Arc’s mouth which he takes as an invitation to nibble on my bottom lip. I fight him off with my tongue, which he meets with his own. We kiss and kiss while others touch me, while my Guardians explore my body. My skin tingles everywhere and I’m afraid I might faint from all the feelings. Not just physical, emotional as well. All four of them are here with me. I’m not dead, on the contrary, I’m now Immortal. I’ll be able to spend all my life with them. All my never-ending life.

  “What are ye thinking?” Arc whispers and I only now realise I stopped our kiss.

  “I’m happy,” is all I can come up with, but from the sparkle in his eyes, I can see how he knows exactly what I mean. We’re in this together. All five of us. My beautiful, amazing Guardians.

  Arc gives me a gentle kiss on the lips, as if he’s not quite sure whether I want to continue. But of course I do. I return the kiss, showing him that it’s okay, that I want him to be passionate and demanding again. I like it when his lips are hard on mine. Almost rough.

  I slip one hand between us, touching his cock through the thick fabric of his jeans. He must be aching in there, surrounded by such a constricting prison. I fumble with his button and zip until he’s finally in my hand. His silky skin is smooth as I rub his erection. He groans and breaks the kiss, leaning back a little to give me better access. I climb off his lap to make it easier for him to slip out of his jeans. That’s when I notice that the other three have already done that. Even Crispin is naked and ready for me.

  He look
s unsure though, his expression hard to read. Is he okay with this? Is he just doing it to make me happy?

  So far, he’s never stayed when there was any kind of physical action between me and the others. But now, he’s here and judging from his hardness, he wants me just as much as I want him. But will the ghosts plaguing him let him?

  I slide off the bed and walk towards him, seeking his gaze. His blue eyes capture mine, giving me the confidence to run my hands over his naked chest. His muscles are hard and defined, even though he’s the smallest of the guys. He’s not as broad as Arc and not as strong as the twins, but he’s still perfect to me. I explore his skin, moving my fingers over his chest, then his back. I step closer when I reach his buttocks until I feel the tip of his cock on my belly.

  “Wyn,” he groans, “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

  I want to tell him that it is, but I know how hard this must be for him. I don’t want to make it any harder.

  “We’ll only go as far as you want, Crisp,” I reassure him. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “But I do worry,” he says huskily. “I worry that if I start, I won’t be able to let go of you.”

  “Then don’t let go...”

  He ends my sentence with a kiss. He’s gentle, tentative almost. It feels like a dream, not quite real, but believable. I’m finally kissing my blond Guardian. The one who’s tried to stay distant for so long.

  My Crispin.

  I pull him closer, squeezing his bum until there’s no more room between us. Skin on skin, lips on lips. Our kiss is getting more desperate, both of us gasping for air as our connection grows. We’re drowning in each other, not knowing where one of us begins and the other ends.