Heidi ignored their calls of warning as she sprinted up the golden steps that she could see her reflection on once upon a time. They were now dull and lifeless, some of them chipped as her bare feet hardly made contact on her way up.
“Your highness, please!” Lille pleaded as she transformed into her winged counterpart mid-step, zooming past Heidi’s head. She stopped, hovering in the air as she extended her arms towards the princess. A series of frantic chimes rang in the air, but Heidi easily side stepped the glowing ball of orange, continuing on her way.
Where were her people? Where were the children? This wasn’t right at all! They should have been here, rejoicing her return, but instead Heidi was met by the skeletal remains of her beautiful kingdom.
Isaiah wasn’t far behind. His eyes scanned the aftermath of what had undoubtedly been a surprise attack against the Fire people. He tried to imagine how it played out. The Darskygg probably waited for King Sidius and his men to leave before they attacked. He could hear the sound of iron hitting against iron in his mind as he crouched down to pick up a thimble. It immediately froze in his hand as he frowned. There was a mixture of evidence here. The vines and mounds of dirt indicated the Darskygg were from the Earth, but given the scale of damage, it was anyone’s guess on what else was involved. It looked like a tornado had hit the place, or a hurricane. Hell, at this point, it could have been anyone.
“Who would want to destroy the Fire people, Sir?” Pike asked quietly as he crouched down beside Isaiah. “If Edie is dead, Sir, who is carrying out her plan?”
Isaiah shook his head, letting the thimble fall against the ground before he sighed. “I don’t know, Pike. But I plan to find out.”
When the Ice Prince and his fairy passed through the large double doors that led into the throne room, Isaiah took note of the tarnished golden hinges and the wood barely clinging to them. Someone had entered with great force. His eyes scanned over the busted wall length windows, once decorated with beautiful glass art from the Fire fairies. Shards of red and orange were scattered about on the floor, mixed with dirt and ice.
If Isaiah didn’t know any better, he would have suspected someone of Ice was involved in this, too, and that wasn’t a feeling he was fond of having in his chest. Did a traitor live among his people?
The sound of gentle weeping tugged him out of his inner debate as he approached the throne carefully. Heidi was on her knees, her face buried against the seat as she gripped something in her hands. Upon further inspection, Isaiah saw that she was holding her father’s crown. Something stirred deep inside of him and his brows furrowed. All he wanted to do was hold her and reassure her that everything would be all right, but hell, he wasn’t even sure if he could convince himself of that right now.
Lille hovered in the air nearby, her eyes on Heidi as the young Fire Princess sobbed against the velvet material of the seat. Her shoulders shook with grief as the crown in her hands glowed an angry orange from the fire engulfing her fingertips.
“It’s best just to leave her for now, Sir,” Pike said quietly. “She needs this.”
Isaiah shook his head slowly. “What she needs is justice,” he argued in a low voice. “She needs her father and her people, and whoever did this needs to be punished.”
The loud clang of Isaiah’s helmet skidding across the floor didn’t even disturb Heidi, but when she felt cold arms wrapping around her shoulders, she quieted.
“We’re going to make this right,” Isaiah murmured into her ear. His long fingers stroked down the length of her hair as he held her, cradling her against his chest. “We’re going to find your father and your people, and everything will go back to the way it was.”
“It will never be as it once was,” Heidi whispered. Another tear slid down her cheek, falling against Isaiah’s hand before dispersing into an angry sizzle of steam. “It cannot go back to the way I remember it, Isaiah. I have done things…”
“I know,” Isaiah frowned. “But you will rebuild and prove to the universe you are much stronger than anyone gives you credit for. This? This can be fixed and your people will stand behind you. Your father will see what an exceptional queen you will make one day. Like the phoenix, you will rise from the ashes.”
Heidi scoffed bitterly as her face contorted with heartache. She lifted a hand to wipe at her eyes before she turned her head to peer up at Isaiah. “What people?” She asked. “My people are gone. They could be dead for all I know, and what was I doing while this was happening? Playing School Girl on earth? Taking a nap in your castle? It is unacceptable! I should have been here!”
Heidi tore herself away from his arms as she stood. Isaiah was quick to join her, towering over her trembling frame as he cupped her face in his hands. “Heidi, you couldn’t have known what was going on. I didn’t know. My father didn’t know! You’re not a psychic.”
“No, but I am my father’s daughter,” she argued. Peering up at him with tearful eyes, it was easy to see Heidi was struggling with everything she felt in the moment. She was angry, sad, and terrified beyond belief.
“Yes, you are,” Isaiah whispered as he leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. “I will help you find him, Heidi. I will help you find everyone. Whoever is responsible for this, you have my word they will be punished. I will not rest until King Sidius is home and this kingdom is as bright as you.”
“I’m not bright right now,” Heidi choked back a sob. “I’m so dim, Isaiah, and I don’t know where to start.”
“Shh,” Isaiah bumped his nose gently against hers. “I’m sure if we put our heads together, we can come up with a pretty kickass plan.”
Heidi laughed despite her tears, rolling her eyes. “Oh yeah? And where would you suggest we start?”
Isaiah grinned as he released her, moving his hand to rest against the handle of his sword that was strapped against his hip. He shrugged his shoulders before glancing around. “I think the best place to start would be Flameldos.”
“Flameldos,” Heidi repeated as she chewed at her fingernail. “Oh! Of course.”
How could she be so dense? Why didn’t she think of that straight away? Visiting the Kingdom of Summer should have been her first instinct, considering the Fire and Summer people went hand in hand. Duh!
“We must travel to Saturn at once,” Heidi nodded. “Lille?”
The Fire fairy immediately grew to Heidi’s height, smiling as she gazed at the young Princess. “Yes?”
“Lille, please go to Saturn and inform the king of my arrival.”
“Yes, your highness,” The Fire fairy bowed her head before she poofed, turning back into the bright glowing ball of orange light. She zoomed out the window and disappeared into the afternoon sky.
“May I be of assistance, Miss?” Pike asked as he peered between her and Isaiah.
“Yes,” Heidi nodded. “Go to Neptune and inform Prince Adrian that I will be visiting with him shortly.”
Pike blinked. “Is that all you wish for me to do, Princess?”
Heidi glanced at Isaiah, biting her lower lip before her eyes moved to Pike again. “Tell him I need an army.”
“An army?” Isaiah asked, fighting back the grin threatening to take over his face. He quirked a brow as he tilted his head to the side. “And who, Heidikin, do you plan to lead this army?”
Standing to her full height, Heidi exhaled calmly before she gave a firm nod of her head. “Me.”
Thank you for reading The Fire King’s Daughter!
Other books by T.E. Ridener:
The Blood Betrayal Series
Blood Betrayal (Book #1)
Blood Revelations (Book #2)
Mirela and Her Vampire
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Character List
Heidi- Princess of the Fire people.
Isaiah- Prince of th
e Ice people.
Brison- Wind person, rank unknown.
Edie- Empress of the Earth people, Fire/Earth Hybrid. Heidi’s half-sister. Deceased.
Lille- Fire fairy. Heidi’s guardian.
Pike- Ice fairy. Isaiah’s guardian.
Queen Teralynis- Heidi’s mother. A Fire/Ice Hybrid. Deceased.
King Sidius- Heidi’s father. King of the Fire people.
King Fryse- Isaiah’s father. King of the Ice people.
Queen Kolet- Isaiah’s mother. Queen of the Ice people.
Princess Savana- Isaiah’s younger sister. Princess of the Ice people.
King Muir- King of the Water people. Deceased.
Prince Adrian- Prince of the Water people.
King Frederyck- Heidi’s grandfather on her mother’s side. He was king of the Fire people before his daughter took his place.
Queen Amaryllis- Heidi’s grandmother on her mother’s side. She was an Ice maid, but became a Fire person because of her love for her king.
Places
Earth- Residence of the humans, Earth, and Air elementals.
Saturn- Residence of the Kingdom Flameldos, home of the Summer people.
Neptune- Residence of the Kingdom Oceavora, home of the Water people.
The Fire King's Daughter Page 17