Winter Tails: A Limited Edition Winter Shifters Collection

by Fox, Piper

  “I’ve only ever done what I thought was right for Byliar.”

  “And burning down Kynoh, was that right for Byliar?”

  “No, that was right for me!”

  “How could you be so selfish?”

  “Talk to me about selfishness when you have a child of your own. And that child takes everything away from you!”

  “Are you insane? What did I ever take from you?”

  “You took my light!” Margaret screamed. “Everything that was special about me drained from my body and you absorbed it. Once you were born, no one looked at me the same. All everyone cared about, was you! Every conversation was an update on the new baby. And when the world realized you were an ice dragon, that the magic in our bloodline carried on with you, nothing else mattered.”

  “How can you blame me for any of that?”

  “My life went from being what I wanted it to be, to being what you needed it to be.”

  “Excuse me if I’m wrong but, that’s what motherhood is!” Naomi rebutted. “It’s being what your child needs you to be. It’s taking care of the life that you brought into this world. That was your choice, not mine! I didn’t force your hand in that.”

  “I had to preserve the last born!” the queen rambled on. “There were others, you know, ice dragons. They still exist, you aren’t some great anomaly. But the Sinos, Byliar, your father, my father, they all acted as if you were some grand discovery that we had to protect at all cost.”

  “I used to think that I’d done something wrong. I wondered how I could make things better with you. You’re my mother! All I wanted was for you to love me and for us to have a genuine relationship. Now I realize you were never capable of that. It had nothing to do with me. It wasn’t my fault. You are so consumed by your desire to be seen, that you convinced yourself that you were living in a shadow I was never big enough to cast.”

  The bellowing roar of the dragon that was fighting with Axel rang out and for a moment, Naomi forgot how vicious her mother was. She turned her head toward the fight. As soon as she did, the queen dropped her robe, revealing a hidden dagger. She plunged the blade into Naomi’s side.

  Naomi’s eyes were wide with pain and shock. She reached for the queen, but Margaret stepped away, letting her daughter fall to the ground, her blood spilling from the wound. The dragon howled once more in the distance before its shadow blocked out the remaining sun.

  The world turned hazy as Naomi watched her mother climb onto the back of her dragon guard and take off into the sky, leaving her for dead.

  * * *

  The sun dropped from the sky, giving way to the moon and a fresh blanket of snow. Naomi’s body disappeared beneath the collection of snowflakes, but Axel still found her. Tired and beaten, he barely survived his own battle, and when the dragon guard was just moments from ending his life, the queen called him away. Unable to shift back to his dragon, he walked the five miles back to her.

  When he reached her, Naomi was still breathing, but her life was draining fast. He lifted her to his chest, hoping that she would respond to his touch. Instead, she hung in his arms, limp and cold to the touch. He gently lifted her head to his, his forehead pressed against hers as he sobbed.

  “I’m so sorry,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her for the last time.

  When their lips parted, she exhaled.

  The icy air spread from her lips and circled around them. As it moved, the fresh snow lifted, and the grown beneath them glowed. The soft blue light grew with intensity and enveloped Axel and Naomi.

  Axel covered his eyes as the light shone brighter and when he dropped his hand from his face, Naomi’s bright blue eyes stared back at him.

  “Naomi?” he touched her face, brushing away the remaining snowflakes that sparkled against her brown skin.

  “Axel,” she breathed, and the air dropped in temperature again. “What happened?”

  “I thought,” he started, “your mother, she left you here. I don’t know what happened, but I thought I lost you.”

  “She stabbed me.” Naomie placed her hand against the side where there was once an open wound. It was no longer there. “How is this possible?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m glad you’re okay!” Axel pulled her into his arms, hugging her hard enough to crush her.

  “She left me for dead. My mother tried to murder me.”

  “Tried and failed.” Naomi pushed away from him and stood. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to confront her.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, she can’t just get away with this Axel.”

  “Naomi, we can just leave now. She thinks you’re dead. Hell, she probably thinks I’m dead too. We can run away from all of this and no one will think twice of it.”

  “And what about Vanessa, and Min? Do you think I should leave them behind? Do you think she won’t do to them what she believes she’s done to us? Only they won’t be able to get away from her. They won’t have the same luck that we’ve had.”

  “You’re right.”

  “I’m going back there, now. Are you coming?”

  “I can’t shift.” He admitted. “I had to walk back here to find you.”

  “You look fine to me.”

  “I,” axel paused and frowned. “Actually, I feel a lot better than I did before.”

  “Try,” she urged him.

  He struggled, but he shifted.

  “Good,” Naomi lifted her hand to touch his face before calling her ice dragon to the surface.

  As they left Kynoh, she looked down to the courtyard where the ground still glowed in the intricate pattern of a snowflake. In her mind, she thanked her grandfather and as her wings carried her home, she felt his spirit with her.

  * * *

  Margaret stood on her stage, her face a mask of sorrow as she began her performance. The scar across her eye only added to her pitiful display.

  “People of Byliar,” she addressed the crowd. “It pains me to tell you this, but our princess has died. Naomi experienced a mental break, causing her to believe that we were against her. We tried to help her, but she fought us. She burst through the palace window, attacked our guards, and flew back to Kynoh. When we reached her, she’d suffered a terrible fall and,” she stooped with feigned sobs, “my daughter is no longer with us.”

  Cornel stepped up to the podium, placing his arm around her shoulder in comfort. She accepted his affection before stepping aside to give him the attention of the audience.

  “Byliar,” he began, “Our people have been at war for longer than most of us have lived. In this terrible time, I am calling for peace. Byliar must mourn and heal during such an unfortunate loss. After discussions with your queen, we have decided that the best way for us all to move forward is still in unity. And so,” Margaret appeared by his side again, “Your queen and I will marry, thus healing this nation for once and all.”

  There were mixed responses from the crowd, murmurs of confusion and suspicion. One moment the queen announced the death of the princess, and in the next they learned she was to marry the man she promised her daughter to. As the rumbles of speculation continued, Margaret and Cornel turned to leave.

  It was the first time many of them heard it. The deep thunder that reached caused the ground beneath them to shake. They turned to the sky to find two pairs of wings in the shadows above.

  “Who is that?” Cornel pointed to the sky, and when Margaret’s eyes followed his finger, she blanched.

  Arctic tipped wings cut through the clouds just a moment before the stream of ice pummeled the stage. The wood structure exploded into splinters, forcing everyone to run. Margaret and cornel tried to flee, but the ground beneath their feet turned to ice and they both slipped. Cornel flew forward, sliding across his stomach and slamming into the wall. Margaret fell backwards on her ass and slammed her head on the ice.

  Naomi continued her task of freezing out anyone who would dare to approach them. Axel remained i
n the sky, watching over her. If anyone approached, he would protect her with everything he had. Most of the guards would do nothing to try to stop her, but a few were more loyal to their queen than their country. Those were the ones she focused on.

  The ice dragon landed on the frozen stage and stared down at her mother, who was already pleading.

  “Naomi, please, I know you can hear me. I know you’re in there, please don’t do this!” Margaret struggled to get to her knees. “I love you, baby girl. Please.”

  Naomi released another thunderous roar before she shifted from dragon to human.

  “You stand here and lie to our people and then pretend to care about me?” She reached down and grabbed her mother by the collar, dragging her back to the broken podium. “Tell them” she ordered, and the remaining crowd gave her their attention.

  “Tell them how you promised my hand in marriage to that monster for temporary peace. You took my choice away and threatened to kill the people I cared about if I didn’t comply. Tell your people how even after I told you he beat me; you wouldn’t reject his offer!”

  “I-,” Margaret began her efforts of damage control, but Naomi refused her the opportunity.

  “You attacked me, you kidnapped Axel, and when I went to save him from your torture chamber you tried to kill me.” Naomi pushed her mother away. “Not only did you try to kill me, but you left me for dead! Now you come here with your fake tears to guilt our people into complying with this horrible truce. What did you promise him this time, mother? What horrible deal did you make in the name of protecting your people?”

  “Naomi, it’s okay,” Margaret held up her hands. “I know you believe I am against you, but you must remember who I am.”

  “You will not stand here and make me out to be the monster.”

  “Naomi-,”

  “It's true!” The small but familiar voice called out.

  Naomi turned from her mother to see Min, her aide and friend, standing with a group of other aides. To her right, the mute who’d suffered the most abuse at her mother’s hand.

  “Min?”

  “What the princess says is true. All of it.” she turned to the crowd. “We are the servants of the palace. We hear all, see all, and we know all. The queen tried to kill the princess!”

  As the crowd roared in horror, Margaret set her eyes for the brave group of aides. She didn’t make it far before Naomi’s hand wrapped around her throat. She lifted the queen in the air and slammed her back into the ground.

  “No more!” Naomi screamed. “This ends here!”

  She turned to their people. “The queen will be tried for her treason. For her annihilation of the Sinos family, for the crimes committed against innocent Byliarians, and for the attempted murder of the princess!”

  Refusing to be taken by the approaching guards, the men who’d done nothing to defend her against her daughter, Margaret jumped from the ground and with an agonizing screech, called her dragon. Her wing still torn from their fight, she struggled to lift from the ground.

  In a flash of power, Naomi returned to her dragon. She opened her mouth and allowed the stream of ice to pummel her mother’s back, completely ripping away her wing. The queen slammed against the ground. With pained effort she stood, folded the one working wing into her back and turned on her daughter.

  She opened her mouth to breathe her fire, but Naomi refused her the chance to do anymore damage. She whipped her ice tipped tail at her mother’s face, this time she didn’t just leave a scar, she ripped her jaw off completely. Fire dripped from Margaret’s halved mouth as she stumbled forward. Her eyes found her daughter just before Naomi bit down on her neck, ending her life.

  Naomi dropped her mother’s head from her mouth, turned to the people and roared. They stood, silent, both in awe of her power and terrified of her potential. As she watched them, the callous king of Canois fled. He took to the sky, avoiding Axel who remained above, watching his mate. She could smell his fear and so could her people.

  To strike fear in the heart of a king was to change the balance of power. As Cornel escaped, her people cheered. The war was not over, but with Naomi as their leader, they would no longer be at a disadvantage.

  * * *

  Naomi stood beneath the night sky. Fresh snow once again covered the land of Byliar. She held out her hand to the falling flakes and smiled as one landed in her palm.

  “They’re really beautiful, aren’t they?” She asked Axel, who tried to sneak up behind her.

  “Yes, they are.” He wrapped his arm around her waist. “How are you feeling tonight, Queen Naomi?”

  “Queen,” she smiled. “a year later and it still feels weird.”

  “Does it feel weird to be marrying me soon?”

  “No,” she smiled. That part feels amazing.” She leaned her head back. “Except the part of Vanessa arranging everything.”

  “She has gotten a bit carried away, hasn’t she?”

  “Yes, but it’s her way.” She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss his lips.

  “I hate to ruin this wonderful moment,”

  “But?”

  “We’ve received word that Canois might strike soon.” He reported.

  “Is that right?” She released her hold and looked up at the moon.

  “Yes,”

  “Well,” she held her hand out, catching the more of the falling snow. The flakes moved across her skin, forming a glove of blue around her hand. She parted her lips and breathed her magic into the barrier. The snow lit up and vanished, forming an impenetrable force around her flesh. “Let them strike, we’ll be ready.”

  The End

  * * *

  Enjoyed this story? Be sure to leave a review! You can also preorder Reign of the White Phoenix, the first release of the Rise of the Elites shared world collection.

  About the Author

  Jessica Cage is an International Award Winning, and USA Today Best Selling Author. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, writing has always been a passion for her. As a girl, Jessica enjoyed reading tales of fantasy and mystery, but she always hoped to find characters that looked like her. Those characters came few and far in between. When they did appear, they often played a minor role and were background figures. This is the inspiration for her writing today and the reason why she focuses on writing Characters of Color in Fantasy. Representation matters in all mediums and Jessica is determined to give the young girl who looks like her, a story full of characters that she can relate to.

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  Read More of Jessica’s Books

  The Djinn Rebellion Series

  The Siren Series

  The High Arc Vampires Series

  The Alphas Series

  The Scorned by The Gods Series

  No Love for the Wicked

  Winter’s Awakening

  A Courts of Faery Book

  Faedra Rose

  About Winter’s Awakening

  I’ve always upheld my duty to the Winterlands, and it's folk, above all else. As the living embodiment of Winter, and one of the three great Queens of Faery, I've not often allowed myself to experience life's most simple joy: Love. As a result, I've developed a reputation for being an Ice Queen in more than just name.

  It’s been lifetimes since I last felt the hot touch of a male, but when three devastatingly gorgeous allies come to Court to celebrate the start of the season, it seems that situation may be about to change. Needs and desires kept buried under ice for far too long are resurfacing, and I find myself torn.

  Can I allow these princes the opportunity to thaw my guarded, and frozen heart? Or will my sense of loyalty to the crown see me miss out on the chance at a romance like no other?

  Nixian

  I feel t
he brisk, titillating caress of the North Wind as it playfully tousles my hair, and whispers over my flesh, even before I am entirely conscious. The North Wind is my herald. His arrival signifies that summer’s reign for the year is over, and that mine—winter’s—must begin. As the Winter Court and I awaken, the Summer Court and its queen, my younger sister, succumb to slumber. That is the nature of our rule. It has always been so, and always will be. Together we create a balance that not only sustains life, but allows it to thrive in peace.

  Aestia’s gifts are of fire and warmth, of soft beauty, sunshine and long balmy days. While mine are of ice and cold, of stark beauty, moonlight and long starry nights. We are the living embodiments of the seasons, two of the greatest of the Queens of Faery. Ever young, and immortal, we are as ancient as we are powerful. Our rule is shared over the dominion of the living, but the Shadow Queen, Umbriel, rules the Shadowlands—the dark, and mysterious realm of the dead. She too, is our sister, for we are three, and she is the eldest.

  With a yawn, I stretch my arms and legs, luxuriating in the softness of the silken covers. I smile, well rested, as my ice blue eyes watch the morning light cast rainbows about my chamber; the colours dance, refracting off of my magnificent canopied bed of ice. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, and something I never tire of waking to.

  A knock sounds on my grand double doors, followed by a formal, familiar voice. I sit up and swing my legs over the edge of the bed, rising to my feet. “Enter,” I call.

  A fae maiden with long midnight blue hair steps through with a broad smile upon her face. “Good morning, my queen,” she says dropping into an effortless curtsey. “I trust you slept well?”

  “As always,” I answer. “It’s good to see you, Ellanariel.”