The sun shines brightly in the North, yes. Yes, she understood, but she couldn’t fight the feeling of dread. Something told her that things were only going to get worse from here on out. Why did Edie have to start this? Why did Brison help her? This was too much!
“Just relax, Heidi. Get some rest,” Isaiah urged as he pushed her back against the mattress. He tugged the deep blue covers up over her legs and stomach, adjusting the pillow behind her head. “I’ll talk to my father and we’ll get it all sorted out, I promise. We’ll find your dad.”
Heidi let out a small groan as intoxication flowed through her veins. Her limbs felt so heavy and the world wouldn’t stand still. She opened her eyes to gaze up at him before she frowned.
“Why would you do that for me?” She asked quietly.
Isaiah stilled, his eyes moving to hers. “Why wouldn’t I?” He asked. “You saved my life back there.”
“You saved mine first,” Heidi argued. “You pulled me from the dirt and gave me CPR. You could’ve gotten my cooties, Isaiah.”
He chuckled, rolling his blue eyes before he sighed. “That was a long time ago, you know? I was just a little boy, going off what my friends said. It was sort of stupid.”
“It was,” Heidi agreed as she rubbed at her eyes. Why was she sleepy so suddenly? She couldn’t sleep right now! She needed to prepare. She needed to plan. This wasn’t acceptable.
“Well, in any case, you’re the one who came to find me. Consider us even.”
“Mhm,” Heidi murmured sleepily as she smiled. “We’re even now.”
“Good,” Isaiah touched her cheek gently, his thumb tracing over the flesh just beneath her lower lip before he pulled his hand back. He was surprised to feel the hot fingers curling around his wrist as he turned his attention back to Heidi. She was suddenly too close and her caramel eyes bore into his. “What’s wrong, Hei-”
He was cut off by the feeling of warm lips against his much cooler ones. Steam rose into the air between their mouths and Isaiah shivered from the small tremor rocking his body. He didn’t have time to ponder the why or how, all he could do was kiss her back in a way he didn’t realize he wanted to.
After only a second of hesitation, Isaiah’s lips sealed over Heidi’s, returning the gentle snog as he lifted his hands to frame her face once more. Holy hell, how had he not known this girl was such a glorious kisser?
Heidi’s cinnamon lips all but devoured Isaiah’s mint ones as her arms wrapped around his neck. He could feel the heat radiating from her body and even though he probably should have worried about melting or something along the lines, all he wanted to do was keep kissing her. He shifted, one hand moving to the back of her head as his long, thin fingers tangled into her curls. Sweet Gaia, what a woman.
It was a peculiar feeling that Isaiah couldn’t be sure he’d experienced before. He’d kissed scores of women over the last few years, but none of them compared to the soft firecracker he currently had wrapped up in his arms. She was sweet, warm, and her tongue tasted like honeysuckles. Hell, he didn’t even like honeysuckles, but he was quickly becoming a fan as his wet muscle stroked against hers.
He knew she was a little under the influence. He knew she was vulnerable given the news she’d just received about her father. He knew she was tired and needed to get some rest before they could even begin to discuss a course of action, but damn; damn.
As his lips travelled the length of her neck, Isaiah listened to the soft sighs and tiny purrs of pleasure leaving Heidi’s kiss swollen lips. He kept her body close to his own as he felt a gentle tug against his platinum strands.
“I’ve had too much cider,” she murmured as her nails bit into his lower neck, causing chills to surge down his spine as his body answered the call of hers.
Isaiah sighed, resting his cool forehead against her hot shoulder as he breathed in the scent of summertime and burning embers. “I know,” he whispered. He pulled away reluctantly, readjusting the blankets to cover her heaving bosom before he smiled. “Go to sleep, Heidi. We’ll talk more when you awaken.”
“Okay,” she smiled sleepily, rolling over until her back faced him. It was only a matter of seconds before her breathing evened. She was asleep.
Isaiah forced himself to get up from the bed, moving towards the door before he stopped and glanced back at her once more. How was it that she’d transformed from an over-opinionated little bookworm into this strong, brave woman overnight?
“Taking another’s life will do that to you, your majesty.”
Isaiah turned again to see Pike standing in the doorway. The smug fairy had his arms crossed over his chest, grinning from one pointy ear to the other.
“How long have you been standing there?” Isaiah asked as he grabbed the crystal doorknob, closing the door behind himself as he stepped into the hallway.
“Long enough,” Pike shrugged before he chuckled. “But if you’re worried that I saw something, I shall lie and deny it until my death.”
Isaiah scowled as he started walking down the long, white hallway. He wiped at his tingling lips before rolling his eyes. “I’m not worried about you seeing anything,” he replied. “It was a drunken kiss. It meant nothing.”
“You’re attempting to put words in my mouth, Prince,” Pike piped as he walked close behind. “I’m not suggesting it meant anything at all.”
“Who gave you permission to be out of form?” Isaiah questioned as he turned the corner sharply, hoping to lose the other.
“I gave myself permission,” Pike replied. Damn. He was still following him. “I thought you would be in need of some guidance with the current events taking place.”
“What I need is a tall glass of whiskey cider and a blunt,” Isaiah replied as he pushed open the tall, majestic double doors that led into his sleeping chambers. They swung closed behind him, but opened a few seconds later as Pike followed suit. Damn it.
“I’m afraid I don’t care for the human things in life, Sir,” Pike replied as he made himself at home on a luxurious light blue chair near the window. “I do, however, have some pixie dust if you’re interested?”
“I need a high, not a death sentence,” Isaiah muttered as he shrugged out of the silk jacket his mother insisted he wear to the dinner. He tossed it onto his bed, gazing into the mirror as he frowned. “I don’t know what I am supposed to do.”
“About what, your majesty?” Pike questioned as he gazed at the prince through his reflection. “About helping the Fire princess get her father back? About obtaining some human hash? About that lip-lock?” He wiggled his brows.
Halfway through unbuttoning his shirt, Isaiah whirled around to stare at the obnoxious fairy, his eyes narrowing in on him. “Do you like having your wings, Pike?”
The white haired fairy shrugged his shoulders. “Only on days that end in ‘y’, your majesty. It’s very kind of you to ask.”
“If you’d like to continue keeping them, I advise you shut that hole on your face. I appreciate what you did for Heidi on earth. Had it not been for you, I wouldn’t be here now, but make no mistake when I say that gives you no grounds to be so bold.”
“What I did for Heidi?” Pike questioned as his brows lifted. “What did I do for her, Sir?”
Isaiah was tugging his shirt off, glancing around his bedroom for his blue robe. That stupid thing couldn’t have gone far. He hadn’t been home in months. “You know, allowing her to use the sword of Rime.”
“I didn’t allow her to use anything,” Pike responded.
Isaiah stopped his search, his eyes lifting to the fairy that was lounged out lazily across the chair. He frowned. “Then how did she get the sword?”
Again, the fairy shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I gifted the girl a dagger, Sir. I couldn’t tell you how it became the Sword of Rime.”
“That sword only works for Ice people,” Isaiah stated as he spotted his robe hanging off the coat rack near the door. Why on earth was it there? He pulled it over his pale skin, the muscles danc
ing beneath as he shook his head. “None of this makes sense.”
“I beg to differ, Sir,” Pike said as he stood from the chair and gave a small bow. “I think all of it makes perfect sense. You just need to accept it.”
Isaiah glowered at the fairy’s comment. “What in the name of Gaia does that mean?” He asked as he turned around to look at him.
But the fairy was gone.
23
The celebration of the return of Princess Savana and Prince Isaiah was bittersweet. While the Ice people were grateful to have them home, the news of King Muir’s death and King Sidius’ disappearance weighed heavy on the hearts of everyone. No one took it harder than Heidi. Lille explained the princess was too ‘grief stricken’ to attend the festivities, and so she stayed put in the chambers provided to her by the King and Queen.
Isaiah tried more than once to escape the cheerful music and loud atmosphere of the dance hall, but to no avail. His father was keeping an annoyingly close eye on him. Why were they even having a party at a time like this? King Fryse explained that even in the darkest of times, the people had to have hope. It was a dumb reason, in Isaiah’s opinion. A weak excuse to frolic about and drink cider while Heidi hid herself away in a castle she wasn’t familiar with. She was probably very miserable.
“Don’t worry about the girl right now,” his father had said. “Drink, Isaiah. Be merry. Our kingdom will flourish once this madness is over.”
It was a pitiful thing to say considering Heidi was tucked away on the second floor of the palace with Lille standing guard at her door. Pike came by occasionally to check up on her, but there was no change. Heidi hadn’t stirred from her sleep and Lille didn’t want to bother her.
The young princess had been through astoundingly trying times, and there were even moments in which Lille had wondered if she would survive. The news of her father’s disappearance being added atop it all wasn’t going to help anything.
“How is she?” Pike asked as he returned for a fourth time.
“Still sleeping,” Lille responded as she rubbed her hands up and down her coat sleeves. The Fire fairy was wearing a thick leather coat. The vibrant orange color contrasted with the rest of the palace, but Pike quite liked that she stood out so much.
“Do you think you should wake her up sometime soon?”
“Soon, but not just yet,” Lille smiled gently. “She needs to dream right now. That’s why I slipped some slumber serum into her drink last night. I need her to dream right now.”
“Yes, but nearly a day has passed since she first closed her eyes, Lille. We don’t have much time to spare.”
“We have enough,” Lille said reassuringly as she gazed at him. “She will wake when she sees what she needs to see. We cannot disturb her before then, Pike. If there is any hope of our world being saved, she must see everything.”
“I know,” Pike sighed. “What of the prince? He is asking many questions and I fear I cannot withhold the truth from him much longer. He is my charge and I do not feel right in lying to him.”
“You’re not lying to him!” Lille insisted in a quieter voice. “You’re simply withholding the facts. He will know in due time, Pike. We cannot rush this. You know how important this is.”
“Yes, I do,” Pike nodded as he moved his hands out to take hers. His thumbs stroked over the backs of her knuckles as he smiled in a tender manner. “It will not be long until our kingdoms are united and everyone will know true peace.”
“I cannot wait,” Lille responded as she tilted her head to the side. Her sparkling topaz eyes searched his handsome face before she tiptoed to press a sizzling kiss against his cheek. “But we must keep in mind that danger is coming. The loss of King Muir will send the Water people into an outrage, and you know his son will not be easily persuaded into staying out of this fight.”
“Yes,” The Ice fairy frowned. “Prince Adrian is consumed by grief from the loss of his father. I am certain he will not stand by. I believe he will want to find his father’s murderer just as desperately as we wanted to find Queen Teralynis’.”
“Poor Queen Teralynis,” Lille whispered as tears glistened in her eyes. “I miss her so.”
“I know you do,” Pike murmured as he touched her cheek lovingly. “But her daughter will bring a new balance into our world. You’ll see. She is already blossoming into an honorable queen. Her father will be proud.”
“If he is still alive.”
“Do not speak such things,” Pike chided gently as he caught her gaze. “He is. He must be. The sun would be in mourning if he was dead. I believe that whoever holds him captive is simply waiting for us to take the bait.”
“But we will not take that bait,” Lille argued in another hushed whisper. “Heidi wields the power of two kingdoms. She is an unstoppable force. If only she learns to harness the power Gaia has given--”
The door flew open and the two fairies turned to see Heidi standing there. Her brown curls were unruly from sleeping, and her eyes were bright and alert.
“Are you all right, Heidi?” Lille asked as she stepped closer to the younger female.
“I’m fine,” Heidi insisted with a quick shake of her head. “But I need you to do me a favor, Lille.”
“Of course, your highness, anything.”
“I need you to help me get out of here. I need to get to Neptune as quickly as possible to find my father.”
Pike frowned. “But, Princess, you should-”
“No,” Heidi frowned as she glanced to the taller fairy. “I need to go now. I cannot wait for King Fryse to plan a course of action. I must return to my castle and gather as many men as I can. I have to do this on my own. Do you understand?”
Pike and Lille glanced at each other worriedly before nodding their heads in unison.
“Good,” Heidi sighed. “How do we get out of here?”
“Might I suggest the front door?”
All three heads turned quickly. There stood Isaiah, dressed in his finest armor that shined so brightly that even the smallest hint of light reflected off it. He was holding a helmet in his left hand, and a sword in the right. His eyes met Heidi’s as he grinned.
Heidi stared at him inquisitively, confusion evident in her eyes as she opened her mouth to speak, but closed it quickly. She couldn’t help but to think of how handsome he looked. Don’t think of him like that, Heidi! She scolded herself mentally. Just because the boy knows how to wear armor doesn’t mean a thing.
“I thought you would be at the party,” Lille said as she crossed her arms over her bosom.
“Party?” Heidi asked. The distant sound of violins caught her ear and she rolled her eyes. Why wasn’t she surprised?
“I got bored,” Isaiah responded as he cocked his head to the side. Light blonde locks of hair fell into his eyes as he peered at the Fire princess. “Plus, I figured you would be up by now, and I also had the feeling you’d be ready to go on an adventure.”
“An adventure?” Heidi echoed. “I’m not sure what sort of adventure you think this is. I’m going into battle, Isaiah. I have to find my father and bring him home, and whatever war Edie has started, I will finish it. The Darskygg must be stopped.”
“Blah blah blah,” Isaiah rolled his eyes.
Heidi narrowed her eyes at him as Pike stifled a chuckle. Lille shot the blue fairy a death glare and he quieted.
“Why don’t you run along back to your party and dance with your little Ice girls?” Heidi asked irritably.
Isaiah gave her an award winning smile as he stepped closer to her. “Let us be clear on one thing, Little Princess. I do not run anywhere. Besides, there’s only one girl I prefer to be around at the moment, and she’s not an Icer.”
Heidi scowled as she pushed past him, making her way down the hallway. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing the blush on her cheeks. Sunken footprints trailed behind her as she headed for the entrance of the palace.
“So I get to come?” Isaiah called after her as he grinned. His
armor made a terrible racket as he, Lille, and Pike followed after the Fire princess.
“Get in my way and I’ll kill you,” Heidi said over her shoulder.
Isaiah smirked, glancing at Pike. “I quite like the new and improved Heidi.”
Lille bit her lower lip as she cast a worried glance towards the Ice fairy. “What exactly did she dream about?”
------------------------
The anticipation of returning home was quickly diminished when Heidi realized the bright glow in the Northern sky representing her kingdom was gone. The closer the foursome got, the more chilling the feeling in the pit of her stomach became.
“It did not look like this when I left,” Lille whispered.
The glimmering golden gates that protected the city were frozen over, shattered in various places as vines tangled around the ‘S’ and ‘T’ upon the frames. Heidi could hardly believe her eyes as they ventured further inside.
The courtyard that once flourished with cheerful chatter and joyous laughter was now silent, drench in melted snow and mounds of dirt. The majestic fountain that rested in the center of it was dry. Swallowing the hard lump in her throat, Heidi stepped closer to peer inside. The coins representing thousands of wishes remained on the bottom, along with debris from homes and shops. Tea pots, clothing, and toys littered the streets as Heidi lifted a hand to cover her mouth.
“What happened here?” Pike asked as he bent down to pick up a soggy teddy bear. He frowned as he turned it over to examine it more closely. “Was there an attack that your father forgot to mention, Isaiah?”
“I’m wondering the same thing,” Isaiah said quietly as his eyes settled on a shattered window. He remembered that place. It was the candy store that he frequented every time his family visited. It was empty and dark, just like the rest of the town.
“I don’t understand,” Lille said. Her voice broke with emotion as she followed after Heidi. The young princess was running towards the palace, and it was all anyone could do to keep up with her.
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