“My lord,” said Ollie, sticking his head into the room. “We thought we heard the cry of a baby. Is it time?”
“Tell your family to come in,” said Eira with a smile, taking the baby from MacKay and cradling it against her chest.
“Are you sure?” MacKay asked. “You do realize they are all here – and I do mean all of them.”
“Just as they should be,” Eira answered with a nod. “It is Christmas day, and now we will have a real celebration.”
“All right, Ollie. Send them in,” said MacKay.
Ollie didn’t have time to say a word because MacKay’s family were all listening outside the door and rushed into the room.
“Is it a boy to play with Gavin?” asked Wolf, barging into the room with his young son in his arms. His twin brother, Arnon was right behind him holding his newborn twins.
“Cassius and Catrain won’t mind if it’s a girl or a boy because either way one of them is going to have a new playmate,” said Arnon.
Red and Freya walked in after their husbands with baskets of presents in their hands. “We have gifts for the baby,” said Red.
“And I brought the baby a pet.” Freya held up a frog and smiled. “It seems my Familiar, Beauregard has been busy lately, too. I have enough frogs for all of the cousins.”
“It’s a girl, and no thank you on the frog,” said MacKay with a chuckle.
“Let me through,” said Kin carrying a cradle made of gold. His brother, Stefan, held the other end.
“What the hell is that?” asked MacKay. Kin’s wife, Olivia, entered the room with their baby girl, Gretta in her arms.
“My husband made a cradle out of the golden spinning wheel, but I don’t want anything else made of gold, so he thought you might like it,” Olivia explained.
“Hell, I’ll take the cradle if they don’t want it,” blurted out Stefan.
“Stefan, I don’t want anything golden either, so just forget that idea.” Stefan’s wife, Bonnibel was about ready to give birth.
“That is very generous of you,” said Eira. “But are you sure neither of you wants it?”
“Nay!” both Bonnibel and Olivia said together, ending up laughing afterward.
“They’ve had some bad experiences with gold in the past, so it’s to be expected,” said Lucio, walking into the room and up to the bed. He rubbed his hand over the newborn’s head. “What will you name the baby?”
“We haven’t discussed it yet,” said MacKay. “Where are Rap and Ella? Can they never be anywhere on time?”
“Sorry we’re late,” said Ella, rushing into the room holding her baby son, Brom. Her husband, William was with her. Rapunzel entered the room after them with her husband, Marco carrying their baby boy, Zane.
“We are late because the children wanted a ride on the dragon,” said Marco.
“That’s right,” added William.
“Who wanted a ride?” asked Rapunzel.
“Oh, all right, I admit it was William and I who wanted to do it, but thought it was time our sons had their first ride on a dragon,” Marco admitted.
“Isn’t that dangerous?” asked Eira.
“No more dangerous than anything else this family does,” said Marco with a chuckle.
“So, what is the baby’s name?” asked Ella.
“Yes, Eira, what will we name the baby?” MacKay wondered.
“How about we name our daughter Kay, after you?” she asked.
“I think we should name her after you,” said MacKay.
“Name her after both of you,” said Ollie, trying to see over the crowd. No one even knew he was there.
“How’s that, Squire?” asked MacKay.
“Name her Kaira. It’s a little of both your names.”
“Kaira, I like that,” said Eira, looking down at her baby and smiling.
“Then Kaira it is,” said MacKay with a nod.
Wolf walked up, holding his boy, looking down at Kaira. Eira could see a certain sadness in his eyes.
“Is everything all right?” she asked him.
“I hope so,” he said, running a hand over his boy’s head.
“Wolf,” said MacKay. “Have you . . . changed recently?”
Lucio joined the conversation. “It seems when Hecuba died all her curses were not broken after all.”
“Nay, tell me it isn’t true,” said MacKay.
“It’s true,” said Wolf. “I still shift into a damned wolf, but it only happens on the full moon now. It isn’t nearly as bad as having it happen every night.”
“What about your son?” asked MacKay. “Do you think it will happen to him, too?”
“I don’t know,” he said, hugging the little boy to his chest. “It is too soon to know if the curse has passed on to Gavin. I hope with all my heart it hasn’t. But if it did, then I will be here for him to help him through whatever life throws his way.”
“It will be fine,” said Red, walking up and rubbing her husband’s arm. “Even if Gavin has been affected, we will have more children. I am sure the curse won’t continue now that Hecuba is dead.”
“We are a family and, together, we will get through whatever hardships life hands us,” Lucio stated. “I am so happy that my whole family is together this Christmas. I don’t want anything ever to tear us apart again.”
“The whole family isn’t here,” said Eira. “I miss Medea and wish she could be with us.”
“It’s her choice,” said MacKay.
“That’s right,” added Wolf. “She has stayed holed up in Tanglewood Castle, not once visiting any of us since the day Hecuba died.”
“She has a lot to work out,” said Lucio, coming to her defense. “It will take her some time, so just be patient.”
Eira looked up and saw Medea standing at the back of the room. She was about to say something, but Medea held her finger to lips and quickly disappeared.
“What is it, Eira?” MacKay asked her. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Not a ghost, just a memory of the past,” she told him. “It is a memory I hope can change someday.”
“Things don’t change,” said Wolf, still sulking that his curse hadn’t left him entirely.
“They change, but only when we are ready to change,” said Eira.
“That’s right,” answered MacKay. “We have all changed in one way or another.” He bent down and kissed Eira and then kissed his baby daughter as well. “After all, my wife changed and is now one of the warmest, friendliest people you will ever meet.”
“It is because of you, MacKay,” Eira told him. “If you hadn’t come into my life, I would have never known the meaning of love. Because of you, I will never again be lonely and neither will I have a Heart of Ice.”
From the author
The Tangled Tales Series has come to an end. Thank you for going along on the magical journey with me. This has been a dream of mine for a long time to take fairy tales and turn them into romances with happily-ever-after endings.
If you enjoyed Eira and MacKay’s story in Heart of Ice (Snow Queen), I would love if you posted a review for me.
Sometimes life isn’t exactly as we see it, just as you’ve witnessed through MacKay’s curse. What one person views as bad, another might interpret as a blessing instead. Seeing life through another’s eyes can bring about changes in our personal views or perception. Through MacKay’s curse, Eira was able to see herself in a different light, and decided to change. A vision such as this could make all the difference in the world!
May you always consider life’s hardships only challenges and blessings in disguise instead of viewing them as curses. Remember, through adversity, we are awarded opportunities to change and grow stronger.
For those of you wondering what happened to Medea, you will have a chance to read her story soon as part of my Second in Command Series.
If you have missed any of the Tangled Tales, here is the complete list for you.
Lady and the Wolf – Book 1, (Red Riding Hood
)
Just a Kiss – Book 2, (Frog Prince)
Beast Lord – Book 3, (Beauty and the Beast)
Touch of Gold – Book 4, (Rumpelstiltskin)
Lady in the Tower – Book 5, (Rapunzel)
A Perfect Fit – Book 6, (Cinderella)
Heart of Ice – Book 7, (Snow Queen)
The books are also available as paperbacks, and will all be in audiobook format soon.
May you find your happily-ever-after in life,
Elizabeth Rose
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Rose is a multi-published, bestselling author, writing medieval, historical, contemporary, paranormal, and western romance. She is an amazon all-star and has been an award finalist numerous times. Her books are available as Ebooks, paperback, and audiobooks as well.
Her favorite characters in her works include dark, dangerous and tortured heroes, and feisty, independent heroines who know how to wield a sword. She loves writing 14th century medieval novels, and is well-known for her many series.
Her twelve-book small town contemporary series, Tarnished Saints, was inspired by incidents in her own life.
After being traditionally published, she started self-publishing, creating her own covers and book-trailers on a dare from her two sons.
Elizabeth loves the outdoors. In the summertime, you can find her in her secret garden with her laptop, swinging in her hammock working on her next book. Elizabeth is a born storyteller and passionate about sharing her works with her readers.
Please be sure to visit her website at Elizabethrosenovels.com to read excerpts from any of her novels and get sneak peeks at covers of upcoming books. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or Bookbub. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss out on new releases or upcoming events.
Click to join Elizabeth Rose’s Readers’ Group.
Excerpt from The Duke and the Dryad
The Duke and the Dryad
(Elemental Series Book 2: Earth)
Rae-Nyst hadn’t killed the bull, Humphrey had. She’d grabbed the blade from the druid’s hand when she’d heard the forest crying out to her for help, warning her that Duke the Destroyer had come. His name as well as his hardened reputation was known throughout the lands of Manterra and even neighboring lands such as Thorndale and Lornoon – the villages by the sea. He had on more than one occasion burned towns to the ground in the rage of battle, for reasons no one could quite understand. He had the means to destroy all right, and no morals or qualms about doing it either. He’d take a life without blinking and think naught of it. But now, one bull was sacrificed and he acted like ‘twas a catalyst of an all-out war.
She had to be careful not to anger him further. She knew that with one spark of his torch her whole forest could go up in flame. Fire was her weakness and drained the life essence from her quickly. Her feet on the earth, just touching the trees and plants gave her strength. She was the elemental guardian of the forest, and she would do anything – anything at all to protect it from the likes of people like him.
“I am sorry for your loss,” she said. “But the animal knew ‘twas a sacrifice to the gods and gave its life willingly. It did not suffer.”
“Now you are really making me angry with your addlepated words. And mayhap the bull didn’t suffer, but when I am through, every last one of you druids will suffer immensely. Believe me on that one.”
“There is no need for that. I am sure we can think of something to give you in exchange for the bull. Mayhap food from the earth, or even wood if need be.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. That was a prized, rare, white bull, and worth more than any berries or roots you could possibly offer. I need a life for a life. That’s the only fair exchange. Now tell me, do you have any other bulls stashed away for future sacrifices? ‘Twould not match my bull’s worth, but being the fair man that I am, I may consider it.”
“Nay,” she answered. “As it was, the sacrifice called for two white bulls, but we only had the one. We live simply. The only animals here are the ones that live off the land in the forest.”
“That will never do, and unless you want a war, you’d better come up with another alternative quickly. I am losing my patience, and I am not known for being a compromising man.”
“Take one of us in exchange,” came the desperate voice of the chief druid.
“What?” Wolfe asked, and noticed the girl’s eyes open wide by the man’s comment, as she seemed just as surprised as he.
“What are you saying, Humphrey?” asked the girl. “That one of you would be willing to go with The Destroyer as a sacrifice?”
“Not a sacrifice,” said Wolfe, “as that won’t replace my loss. I will take one of you back to the castle as my servant instead. ‘Twill be someone to tend to my every need and do backbreaking work in my fields each day. Now that I am short an animal, I need someone to pull the plow. That was my breeder you killed as well. Not sure how you’ll remedy that!”
“Take whichever of us you think would best serve your needs, my lord.” Humphrey extended his hand, offering the other druids. They said nothing, just sat there in silence, letting their leader trade them off like cattle being brought to the market.
Wolfe took a look at the druids, and realized he didn’t want any of these heathens within his castle walls. They were weak, praying men, not strong warriors like him. They had no skills with any weapon. Nor did they have knowledge of what happened before or after a battle, should he decide to have them help his squire polish his sword or take the rust off his armor in the process. He sincerely doubted they knew anything about the hard life at a castle, as they’d lived in the forest their entire lives and probably had never done a decent day’s work - ever. They couldn’t plow a field let alone bring him his weapons or even a meal for that matter. All they could do was teach him how to chant or call upon their pagan gods, and that was something he would never do – not even if his own life depended on it. They were worthless! This would never do.
Then his eyes fell on the odd girl again. She looked at him through intense but hooded, big green eyes, drinking him in, reminding him of a cat. She was mysterious and alluring, and he couldn’t help feeling that she was watching his every move, like a predator stalking its prey. Aye, she stirred his loins in an unusual way. And though he’d ignored it for many years, he did like an oddity. Anything unusual excited him, taking his interest and making him feel alive.
Plus, he was tired of the castle lightskirts. He hadn’t had a decent bedding with a wench worth mentioning in so long that he’d started avoiding his knights when they bragged about the women they’d had and asked him about his own endeavors in exchange. What he needed was someone unusual and exciting. And while she was as worthless as the druids when it came to manual labor, at least this girl could fulfill his manly needs.
“I’ll take her!” He pointed at her with the tip of his sword. A gasp went up from the druids and he could hear the muffled discussion of voices behind their hands in the dark.
“Nay,” the girl answered, shaking her head. “I am the guardian of my forest, I cannot leave here or who knows what would happen.”
Wolfe had never heard such a pack of lies in his life. Who was this girl that she thought so highly of herself that she believed she commanded the forest? Didn’t she know who he was? She should fear him like the rest of the townsfolk. She obviously didn’t know whom she was denying. Mayhap he needed to remind her.
“These are my forests,” he told her, “not yours. And the only protection they need is from people like the Druids. And since I have been offered one of you in exchange for the life of my bull – I’ll take it. For now. Until I can think of something better.”
“Choose any of us, my lord,” begged the chief druid. “Just leave Rae-Nyst, as she belongs to the forest.”
“I don’t want any of you,” growled Wolfe. “Now I chose the girl and she’ll come with me. She doesn’t belong to the forest. For as of this night, she belongs t
o me – and will warm my bed.”
Excerpt from Thief of Olympus
Thief of Olympus
(Greek Myth Fantasy Series)
Lysandra stood amongst the Amazon warriors, watching their ritual-dance around the blazing fire. Flames of orange and yellow stretched up to the velvet night sky, wisps of smoke reaching all the way up to Mount Olympus. This was her night. The night she’d been awaiting for the last one and twenty years. Now she would become a woman and earn the right of calling herself an Amazon warrior.
The sweat beaded beneath her thick robe, running in rivulets between her breasts. The wool scratched her skin like the claws of a Harpy digging at her bare flesh underneath. She looked forward to shedding the ceremonial garment soon, but at the same time feared the act to come.
She watched her Amazon sisters - as all the women of the tribe were called - as they twirled and turned, chanting the Amazonite words that always accustomed the coming-of-age ceremony. Their voices echoed in the crisp night, beating against her mind and pressing against her confidence. Soon, she would join them as a woman of the tribe. Soon she would lose her virginity, coupling with a man she neither knew nor had chosen of her own accord.
Short animal hide skirts and tight, small tops stretched across the Amazons’ bronzed skin. Their feet clad in warrior boots made from speckled goatskin, they stomped upon the hard earth causing little puffs of dust to rise to the surface. They wore girdles around their waists that encased their weapons: knives, swords, and clubs. Some had quivers of arrows strapped to their backs and bows raised in their hands. Lysandra’s chosen weapon was the sword. Her strength showed in her ability to fight fast and agile.
She’d been trained as a warrior since the day her mother, Medora, queen of the Amazons, had lain with a man of her choosing and birthed the stronger of the genders - a female child. The Amazons hated men. All men. Amazon women were by far the better gender. The female babies were kept and raised among the tribe. The male babies were sacrificed to Artemis, their patron goddess.
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