Reign of Ice (Forever Fae series)

by L. P. Dover

  I was me again, but how?

  “Ariella?” Kamden muttered, coming to the door. “How did you do that? How did you make yourself look like Zanna?”

  Touching my face, I leaned closer to the mirror to inspect myself. Everything was back to normal. “I don’t know how I did it. All I know is that I was thinking about Zanna and how amazing she was and then I changed. And just now when I was looking at my hair I was thinking about how mine was blonde and then it came back.”

  Kamden’s eyes grew wide and he bellowed, “Well, happy birthday, Princess. It looks like you’ve come into your new powers. I must say I’m a bit jealous. Just think of all the jokes you can play on people now. Are you going to tell everyone at the ceremony?”

  Thoughts of what Elvena and the others discussed came back at me full force. They were waiting to see how my powers progressed before they told me about what the scroll actually said. For some reason, I had the sinking suspicion that this gift needed to stay hidden.

  Gazing back and forth from Kamden to Zanna, I sighed and said, “No, I’m not going to tell anyone and neither are you two. Promise me you won’t say anything. I know it’s an amazing gift, but it’s something I don’t want anyone knowing just yet. Promise me.”

  Zanna nodded. “I promise, but what are you going to tell everyone when they ask what special powers came to you? You know they’re going to ask,” she responded incredulously. “The others had some pretty amazing abilities come to them and I know they will be anxious to hear what happened with you.”

  I waved her off and grabbed my dress. “I’ll come up with something, but this is important. I can’t let anyone know that I can do this other than you two. Kamden, you need to promise me.”

  Kamden smiled and shook his head. “I promise, Princess, but you know I would’ve figured it out once I became your guardian. I don’t think you could’ve hidden that from me.”

  Sadly, I smiled and said, “You’d be surprised, Kam. I’m pretty good at keeping secrets. But you seem pretty confident that you’re going to win. Arrogance can lead to mistakes if you’re not careful.”

  “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be fine. You are the one who needs to concentrate on staying you so you can keep your secret. Now hurry up or we’ll be late. You still need to ask your father if I can compete.”

  That’s right, I do, but I know he’ll say yes.

  Rushing into the bathroom, I removed my robe and slid on my silver gown. My ice blue eyes stared back at me in the mirror, and I could feel the extra power flowing through my veins like a jolt of energy. Staring into the mirror, I called on my magic to make my eyes purple like Meliantha’s. Immediately they turned and I squealed in excitement.

  “This is amazing,” I breathed.

  I experimented with my hair color, my facial features, and even my dress. It wasn’t just my face I could change, it was my whole body including my clothes. I could be anyone I wanted to be and change at will. It was all starting to become clear to me as I stared at my changing form in the mirror. This is how I’m going to trick the dark sorcerer. I guess it was a good thing I was great at tricking people.

  I experimented with my shifting way longer than I should have because I was already late for the ceremony. Kamden and Zanna waited on me to finish because they were both going to walk me down to the Great Room where the fighting would begin. Before I could open my bedroom door, Drake barged in looking annoyed and agitated.

  “It’s taking you long enough,” he snapped. “Everyone’s waiting on you. We need to go.” He glanced back at Kamden and Zanna and said, “You two can go ahead and make your way down there. I’m going to escort Ariella myself.”

  I held out my arm when they were about to pass me to stop them. “Wait, Drake. I need to ask father if Kamden can compete with the other warriors for the right to be my guardian.”

  Drake sighed and waved his hand impatiently for me to hurry. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem. It seems this ceremony has taken on new rules.” To Kamden he said, “Just go down there and join the other warriors. If this is what you truly want and Ariella wishes it then so be it. Good luck to you.”

  Kamden grabbed Zanna’s hand and pulled her out of my room. He turned around once and winked. “I’ll see you down there, Princess.” Zanna waved at me and smiled before they both disappeared down the hall.

  “What do you mean by the new rules?” I asked, taking hold of his arm.

  Drake chuckled lightly and patted my arm. “Oh, you’ll see when we get down there. It’s going to be very interesting.” My heart pounded harder with each step we took. If Drake said it was interesting then there was something going on that I didn’t know about.

  As we approached the closed doors of the Great Room, I stopped mid-stride and took a deep breath. I didn’t want to ask my next question, but I had to know. “Is Brayden in there?” I asked, tilting my head toward the room.

  Drake pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. “You know, I don’t think I saw him out in the audience. I saw Queen Mab and King Madoc earlier, but I never saw Brayden.”

  If I thought his absence wouldn’t bother me I was sorely mistaken. With such an important event in my life, I figured he’d want to be a part of it since he we was bound to me … but I guess not.

  Forcing a smile, I turned toward the door and said, “It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m sure I’ll be just fine without him. Let’s go.”

  Drake chuckled. “Whatever you say, Ariella. Tell that lie to someone who believes you.”

  I scoffed, but before I could say anything in my defense the doors to the Great Room opened. Drake took my hand and linked our arms together so he could walk me inside. With each passing step, my heart thundered in my chest. There were so many people here, much more than what I had anticipated.

  My mother and father were waiting for me on the dais, both with smiles on their faces, but their presence didn’t help my frazzled nerves at all. What made it even more peculiar was that the warriors all had their armor and gear on, but they also had their helmets on as well. I looked up at Drake questioningly, but he just smiled and elbowed me in the side. I wasn’t going to be able to tell who was who in the fight.

  When I reached my father, Drake let me go. My father took my hands and kissed my cheek before escorting me to the chair beside his. When I sat down, I leaned over to whisper in his ear, “What’s going on with the helmets? Why are they wearing them now when they’ve never had to wear them before?”

  “No, they didn’t have to before. However, if you would’ve graced us with your presence earlier, and on time like you were supposed to, then you would have heard the story King Madoc told all of us about Sorcha’s ceremony. It appears someone lost an ear during that fight, so we wanted to avoid that and any other facial injuries that could occur. I’m sure you understand.”

  My eyes went wide and I grabbed his hand. “Oh, of course I do. I was just curious. I would never want our warriors to get hurt like that.”

  “I know, little one. Well, are you ready?” he asked. “I think our warriors are getting a little restless. I also see that we have an extra one competing with us today.” He glanced over at Kamden in his Spring Court armor and smiled.

  “Yes, Father, we do. Kamden wanted to fight and I agreed. Is that all right?”

  His smile grew wider and he nodded his head, except it seemed like he found something else humorous as well. “Of course, it’s all right. However, he’s got some pretty strong competition out there. I’m curious to see who wins.”

  Me too, I said to myself. It was going to be interesting.

  My father stood up from his throne and walked to the edge of the dais so he could address the crowd. Everyone was there, including: Calista and Ryder, Meliantha and Kalen, Sorcha and Drake, Durin, the leader of the dwarves, Queen Mab and King Madoc, and also Aelfric and Rhoswen of the Elvish kingdom. I glanced quickly at them, acknowledging them with a nod of my head before focusing back on my father.

  “Good evenin
g all honored guests and friends. Tonight we celebrate my youngest daughter’s twenty-first birthday along with her guardian ceremony. I wanted to thank you all for coming and to also wish our warriors the best of luck. Afterwards, we will have an amazing celebration to honor both Ariella and her guardian.”

  My father raised his arms toward the warriors and motioned for them to get in position. The only person I knew in the crowd was Kamden because his armor was different from everyone else’s. It was a good thing, because now I would be able to spot him in the fray.

  The warriors took up their stances; their swords poised in the air and their muscles ready. My father’s booming voice echoed across the room, “Warriors, you may begin!”

  THE SOUND OF metal clanging and clashing against each other was piercingly loud as the warriors fought. There were so many good fighters and I was beginning to recognize some of them by their movements. I trained with these men so I knew how our techniques worked and what our style was, especially those I fought with on a regular basis. As I searched through the crowd, hoping that I would find Brayden, there was something inside me that told me he was there … somewhere. I could feel the pull on my soul like I did every time he was near.

  “Father?” I whispered, tilting my head in his direction. “Have you seen Prince Brayden? Is he here? I can feel him, but I don’t see him out in the crowd.”

  “He probably just arrived and hasn’t made it in here yet,” he said quietly. “I’m sure you will see him later, little one. I know things are hard between you two, but it will all work out. Just have faith in your heart.”

  My mother scoffed and leaned forward so she could see past my father to me. “Of course things are hard after what he did,” she said, looking from me to my father. “He deserves every ounce of wrath you can give him after he left you in the Spring Court the way he did. He’s just a typical Winter Fae.”

  My father whirled on her and hissed, “That’s enough, Tatiana. Our daughter has been through a lot over the past couple of days and she can make her own decisions concerning the matters of her heart. The young man deserves a chance to prove that he is worthy.”

  “He has a lot of proving to do if that’s the case,” I mumbled to myself.

  Over time, the amount of warriors on the floor started diminishing rapidly as more and more of them became injured. The fighting had been brutal with many limping away and bleeding, but there were still four fighters going strong, Kamden being one of them. Once the wounded warriors took off their helmets, I was shocked to see Riddik as one of them. He happened to be the same warrior I used my wind magic on six years ago when I blew him across the Summer Court because he refused to be my date to Calista’s guardian ceremony. That incident earned me a night of solitude in my room while everyone else enjoyed the party. Lowering my head, I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face at the thought. It was amazing how much things had changed since then, especially me.

  By the time my gaze found the warriors again, there were only two left. Kamden and one of my Summer warriors. They mirrored each other exactly, their swords drawn and angled perfectly in the striking position. I edged closer in my seat to get a better look, but the Summer warrior’s back was to me so I couldn’t get a glimpse of who he was.

  The more I watched them fight, the more confused I became. I had never seen two fighters move with the same grace and efficiency and block each other as if they knew their next steps. We didn’t fight like that in the Summer Court at all. It was almost like …

  “Oh, no,” I groaned quietly, placing a hand over my mouth. It couldn’t be, could it?

  Frozen, I watched as Kamden’s moves slowly began to falter and grow tired, weary. When the other warrior knocked him on his knees and kicked his sword away, I saw the defeat in Kamden’s eyes and I knew it was over. He lost.

  The Summer warrior backed up and sheathed his sword before turning around and strolling up to the dais; his walk and stance very familiar. My father immediately stood and clapped his hands; the whole room exploded into applause. My guardian had been chosen.

  “Well done, warrior,” my father announced. The warrior bowed his head, but made no move to take off his helmet. My heart was pounding out of control, and it wasn’t going to stop until I saw the face of my guardian. I had to see him with my own eyes, because my soul was screaming at me it could only be one person, except that couldn’t be possible. There was no way it could be him.

  Standing from my chair, I started to take a step forward to approach the warrior, but my father’s large hand grasped my elbow, halting me in place. “Wait,” he insisted quickly.

  Before I could protest, his voice rose above the crowd, but the grip he had on my arm was one I knew very well; it was the same one he would use on me as a child when he wanted me to stay quiet. It wasn’t until his next words that I understood why he didn’t want me to make a scene.

  “Due to the intimate circumstances of the Blood Ritual, it has been decided that it will be done in private this time. I know it hasn’t been done like this in the past, but I must respect these wishes. If you would, I ask that you please enjoy all the food and wine to your heart’s content while Ariella and her guardian take a short intermission. We have much to celebrate when they return.”

  My father nodded to the warrior and he slowly retreated out of the room, and out the door. Gritting my teeth and trying to keep my calm, I hissed quietly, “Father, let me go. I have to know who he is if I am to be bound to him. Why do we have to do the Blood Ritual in private?”

  He sighed and let my arm go. “You’ll find out very soon, little one. But for now I need you to calm down and come with me.”

  Reluctantly, I nodded and said, “Fine, but give me one minute with Kamden.” I rushed down to the floor. Zanna was already there at Kamden’s side, helping him to his feet.

  When I got there, he took off his helmet and grabbed my hands. “Please forgive me, Ariella. I’m so sorry I didn’t win for you.” His whole body was drenched in sweat and the look of defeat in his eyes made my heart break.

  I squeezed his arm and shook my head, smiling warmly. “You did fantastic, Kam. There’s nothing to be sorry for. Your fighting was amazing.”

  Pulling me closer, his eyes went wide and he searched all around us to make sure no one could hear him. Quickly, he started to whisper, “Ariella, there’s something you need to know.”

  “What is it?” I asked hesitantly.

  He closed his eyes and blew out a sigh. “Your guardian is—” That was as far as he could get before my father interrupted us.

  “Ariella,” my father commanded, sending Kamden a warning glare. “I need you to come with me. Now.”

  Kamden sighed and stepped away from me. Calista and Meliantha came to my side and took my hands, tugging me with them. “We have to go,” Calista said. “You can talk to your friends when you get done with the Blood Ritual.”

  “Do you know what’s going on?” I demanded, following them out of the Great Room and into the hallway.

  “Not exactly,” Meliantha admitted truthfully, “but we have an idea.”

  We were headed toward my father’s study and behind us Ryder and Kalen followed close by, along with Sorcha and Drake.

  When we approached the door to the study, my mother and father were there along with Queen Mab, King Madoc, Elvena, and Durin holding a box in his hands. I stopped mid-step and jerked my hands away from Calista and Meliantha. “Okay, this is it. What’s going on? I’m getting sick and tired of being left in the dark about everything. I want answers right now.”

  “Ooh, she is feisty,” Queen Mab acknowledged with a huge grin on her face. “She will do well in the Winter Court. My son is a lucky man.”

  My mother rolled her eyes and scoffed, earning an even bigger grin from Queen Mab. Durin, the leader of the dwarves, approached me warily and handed me the long wooden box that I was for certain had my guardian dagger in it. Durin was short, reaching about four foot tall, and his warm hazel
colored eyes were always soft and genuine when he’d talk to me. I’d seen him at his fiercest and there was nothing soft about him when he was like that. His short brown hair and closely shaven beard was not something you would see on a dwarf, but Durin was different … he was separate from all the rest.

  “I brought the dagger for you, Princess. I incorporated your Summer heritage along with the Winter since you’ll soon be one of them. However, given all the gloomy faces here I don’t know if that was such a good idea on my part, but hopefully, it’ll be what you want.”

  Taking a deep breath, I slowly opened the box, and when the dagger came into view I gasped, “Oh my.”

  The weapon was exquisitely beautiful, and with it coming from Durin I knew there was no way it wouldn’t be. I could feel the power in the blade as I touched it. The handle was wrapped in vines representing the Summer Court, but what made it even more beautiful was that the vines were covered in ice, or at least that’s what it looked like. There was a crystal coating around the vines that gave off a blue hue and it sparkled like snow, glittering just like my skin did in the vision.

  I leaned down and kissed Durin on the cheek, completely in awe with his masterpiece. “It’s beautiful, Durin. Thank you.”

  He bowed his head. “You’re welcome, Your Highness. However, I think I will leave you all and get back to the celebration. Good luck with the Blood Ritual and make sure you don’t kill your guardian with that,” he teased, glancing down at the dagger with a smirk on his face. He bowed one more time before disappearing down the hall.

  The tension in the hallway was awkward, and much to everyone’s disbelief I wasn’t stupid. I knew who was waiting for me and I wanted to know why he and everyone else decided to trick me. I may have been fooled at first, but my heart knew who was in that room.