A Crown of Snow and Ice: A Retelling of The Snow Queen (Beyond the Four Kingdoms Book 3)

by Melanie Cellier

  “Are you sure?” Lily asked. “Because we never got a good look at the item, but it must be something small since Cole managed to sneak it into two cells with him.”

  I thought of his bulging pack, and my heart sank. He hadn’t run out of that palace with empty hands. Would he have dared steal any godmother objects from his queen?

  “I’ll take you there now,” I said, jumping up.

  “But Celine, your dress,” said Giselle, but I brushed her comments aside. Now that the twins had raised the possibility, I didn’t want to lose a moment checking on the security of the prisoner.

  The twins hurried after me as I raced through the corridors. I stopped the first footman we passed, sending him to fetch Oliver, but I didn’t wait, telling him to send the prince straight to the holding cells.

  When I burst through the doors, my dress filling half the small room, two startled guards leaped to their feet and hastily bowed.

  “Your Highness,” one stammered out. “Can we help you?”

  “The prisoner,” I said, breathless. “Is he secure?” Sterling was the only one currently being held there.

  They exchanged confused looks. “Of course, Your Highness. Would you like to see—”

  Before I could agree that I would like to see for myself, the door crashed open again, Oliver only just pulling up before he collided with the twins.

  “What—” His question cut off as his eyes fell on me and slowly widened.

  I stared at him in confusion until Lily elbowed me.

  “The dress,” she whispered, a laugh in her eyes, and I looked down at the blue silk. I had forgotten I was already dressed for the banquet. I suppressed a flush of pleasure at his reaction, forcing my mind back to the issue at hand.

  “The twins have just reminded me that if Sterling is the man from Palinar, he may have had access to an object that allowed two previous prison escapes.”

  Oliver looked back over his head, and I realized he had his own entourage. When Princes Jon and Dominic pushed forward into the room, they nearly squeezed me out the far door. I could only glance gratefully at Alexander for remaining in the corridor. Someone had some sense, at least.

  The poor guards finally managed to decipher the conflicting orders being called over each other, and one of them led us all through a locked door and down a plain corridor lined with barred doors. He stopped in front of one, gesturing toward it, his eyes on Oliver.

  When Oliver stepped forward, choking, his eyes widening, the guard looked quickly into the cell and then fell back with a startled exclamation.

  “But…he was here…I swear it!” He looked desperately toward the other guard, bringing up the rear. But the second man looked just as shocked and horrified.

  Dominic shouldered his way forward to peer through into the empty cell.

  “I think he was our man, right enough,” he said, his voice grim.

  “Don’t worry,” said Jon, clapping a hand on the shoulder of one of the guards. “No one’s going to blame you. We’ve seen this before.”

  Dominic looked up and nodded once. “And my guards were the same. They thought the prisoner still in position until someone else called their attention to the escape. It must be part of the enchantment, somehow, although I don’t understand how it works.”

  “So we don’t even know how long he’s been gone,” I cried, aghast. My eyes flew to Oliver. “And that might not be the only object he smuggled out of that palace. As long as they were small enough…”

  “You’ll send out a search for him, I’m sure,” said Dominic, also looking at Oliver. “But he won’t have lingered in Eldon.” He rubbed his chin. “I’d put my money on his having headed straight for the southern border.”

  Alexander, still trailing us, sucked in a breath. “Eliam. And who knows what trouble he’ll wreak there?”

  “I’m so sorry, Alexander,” I said. “This is my fault. I should have thought to put on an extra guard. To have him searched…” I bit my lip.

  Oliver’s strong arm came around my shoulders. “If he used an enchanted object, then it’s unlikely more guards would have stopped him. I won’t have you blaming yourself. You aren’t responsible for security in the Eldonian palace.” He sighed. “And we’ve had a few other things on our mind.”

  We all traipsed back up to the higher levels of the palace in silence, each of the couples walking together, with Alexander trailing behind, clearly unhappy and wishing himself gone from Eldon. When we reached the entry hall, we encountered a group of new arrivals milling around. I tried to remember who else was due to arrive today.

  “Snow,” I exclaimed at last. “This must be Snow.”

  An older man turned around at my words and hurried forward to bow to me. “I’m afraid I bring sad tidings, Your Highness. Princess Blanche does not accompany me. Her father, our esteemed king, has succumbed to his illness. He passed away mere hours before we left.”

  “Oh no.” I pressed a hand to my heart. It had been coming for months, if not years, but I still felt for my friend. She loved her father. “How awful. Of course we understand that she could not tear herself away in such a circumstance. We shall have to settle for welcoming her when the actual wedding arrives.”

  The man shifted uncomfortably. “I’m afraid Her Highness will not be able to attend the wedding at all. Grieving customs, you understand…” His voice trailed away, and he looked so awkward that I rushed to assure him that no offense had been taken.

  But when the whole delegation had been led off to their rooms by a stream of palace servants, I turned thoughtfully to Alexander.

  “Grieving customs? Do you do things so differently in Eliam, then?”

  He shook his head, still frowning at the place where the delegation head had stood, his face looking gray. “I do not know what customs he refers to, Your Highness.”

  “Hmmm…” I tapped my lips thoughtfully. “You have been so kind as to grace us with your presence all these weeks, Alexander. But I understand that you knew King George personally. No doubt you will wish to return and pay your respects. Perhaps you would be willing to carry a message from us with you? We will send our condolences, of course, but also a warning about Sterling.”

  Alexander looked at me, relief in his eyes. “I would be honored to carry a message, Princess Celine.”

  I smiled a sad smile. “I suspected as much. I shall have it drawn up immediately.”

  Alexander bowed. “Then I shall leave you so that I may prepare for my departure.”

  As he strode away, almost running in his haste, I looked up at Oliver. “Something is going on over there. I just hope it doesn’t have anything to do with Sterling.”

  He pulled me into a tight hug. “No, I’m sure it does not. But even if it does, we can trust Alexander to sort things out. I’ve spent some time with him these last weeks while all of you ladies were busy with planning. He’s the type you can rely on. And his loyalty to King George was absolute.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief, sinking against him. “I hope you’re right.” I stiffened at a sudden thought. “Wedding planning! The betrothal banquet! I had forgotten all about it.”

  “I hadn’t,” he said. “Not with you wearing that dress.”

  I smiled, relaxing a little. “It is rather magnificent, isn’t it?” I surveyed his plain clothes and wrinkled my nose. “You, on the other hand, are far from ready.”

  “My apologies, my lady,” he said, laughing down at me, “I would never want to disappoint you.”

  I shook my head. “Enough of that. You go and get ready. If you’re going to marry me, then you’ll need to learn how to make a good entrance at my side.”

  “With you at my side, no one will be looking at me,” he said.

  And I could hardly send him away without a kiss after that. Which I somehow suspected had been his intention all along.

  Note from the Author

  To discover the full adventures of the Lanoverian royal siblings, read the Four Kingdoms series, star
ting with The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea.

  For Celine’s earlier adventures in Marin, read the first book in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series, A Dance of Silver and Shadow: A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

  To be kept informed of my new releases, please sign up to my mailing list at www.melaniecellier.com. At my website, you’ll also find an array of free extra content, including a bonus epilogue to A Tale of Beauty and Beast that includes Celine and leads into the story of Eldon.

  Thank you for taking the time to read my book. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please spread the word! You could start by leaving a review on Amazon (or Goodreads or Facebook or any other social media site). Your review would be very much appreciated and would make a big difference!

  Map

  Acknowledgments

  It’s been a long time building to Celine getting her own adventure, and that doesn’t come without some measure of pressure. I’ve had all sorts of emotions about this book, and I’m so grateful to the many people who have borne with me through them all. Add to that the fact that A Crown of Snow and Ice was written during some major life transitions, including a house move, and I feel like my team have been required to show extra patience with me this time around! And as always, I appreciate them more than I can say.

  Particularly my husband, Marc, who bears with every up and down, and keeps me fed, clothed, and sane in the midst of it all. You are an amazing partner in this writing journey. And to both our families, thank you for housing and supporting us despite our irregular schedule! We value your support enormously.

  A big thanks to my beta readers—an even longer list than usual due to my uncertainty over this story. Rachel, Greg, Katie, Priya, and Ber, your faithfulness through over ten books now continues to astound me. And Shari and Cheri, your willingness to jump on at the last minute was so gratefully appreciated!

  For my writing community—I love taking this rollercoaster journey with you all. Kitty, Kenley, Shari, Aya, Brittany, and Diana, it’s such an amazing gift to have you only a tap of the keyboard away, despite living on different continents. You’re the best! But it’s equally amazing to have an Australian author friend—same time zone for the win, yay—who is available for daily writing sprints, chats, and mental downloads. I’m not sure I would have finished this book on schedule without you, Marina, so thank you!

  Thank you also to my three editors who do so much to help me bring each of my books through to completion. Mary, Dad, and Deborah, your input and expertise is greatly appreciated!

  And another thanks to the amazing Karri, who has made so many beautiful covers for me now. It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite, but this one would be a contender for top of my list.

  Which leaves God—the only one who sees each of us as we truly are and loves us unflinchingly and unendingly. No thanks could be enough.

  About the Author

  Melanie Cellier grew up on a staple diet of books, books and more books. And although she got older, she never stopped loving children’s and young adult novels.

  She always wanted to write one herself, but it took three careers and three different continents before she actually managed it.

  She now feels incredibly fortunate to spend her time writing from her home in Adelaide, Australia where she keeps an eye out for koalas in her backyard. Her staple diet hasn’t changed much, although she’s added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.

  Her young adult Four Kingdoms and Beyond the Four Kingdoms series are made up of linked stand-alone stories that retell classic fairy tales.