Winter king, p.14
Winter King, page 14
part #1 of The Wyth Courts Series
“Amber, listen to me.”
He was so serious, so somber, I frowned. “What is it?”
“You heard what I said to Grimmel, didn’t you?” His eyes searched for the answer in mine. I stilled, not even breathing. “It wasn’t a lie. You’re my fated mate, Amber, and that is so, so special to us fae. I can’t even begin to explain it to you.” My heart broke for him, for me. Cade had waited for his mate for so long, and right when he found her, this lowly human, he had to kill her to save his people. It really wasn’t fair. “But I knew I loved you before that. In fact, I knew I was falling for you when you first tried to kiss me when you thought you were dreaming.” I brought my hands to my face, hiding in embarrassment. With one of his big hands, he grasped both my wrists and pulled them down, so I was looking into his eyes again. “I’m serious, Amber. I love you. I love you with all my heart and soul.”
“I love you too,” I confessed. A new shine appeared in Cade’s eyes, something so primal and sensual, I could have melted right on the spot. He leaned into me, easing his body over mine, but I threw my arms out and pushed his shoulders up, so I was still looking into his eyes when I said my next words. “And that’s why I want to do this, Cade. I want to be sacrificed for your people.”
He stared at me as if he hadn’t heard me right. “Amber…I don’t think you understand. I’ll not lose you or my land. I’ll find another way to have you both.” He gritted his teeth. “You’re mine, and nobody is taking you away from me ever again.”
I shook my head once. “You talked to Mahaera so many times, you know there’s no other way. And time is running out. Soon the curse will be here and nothing will be left to save.”
Cade dropped his head on my chest. “Please, Amber, don’t do this to me. I can’t lose you.”
I ran my hand over his hair. “You won’t lose me. My body will die, but it’ll restore your court. I’ll live on through your land.”
“No, that’s not—”
“Cade,” I interrupted him. A yawn followed, letting me know I was still too tired. “I don’t want to argue right now. Can you just lie beside me and hold me while I sleep?”
I saw in his eyes that he wanted to keep arguing about this, but for my sake, he relented. He settled beside me and gently wrapped his arms around me. I rested my head on his shoulder, glad I could still touch him and inhale his scent. “You would think that after… how long has it been?”
“Two days,” Cade said in a low voice. “You’ve been asleep for two days.”
“So, I slept for two days, and I’m still tired.”
“You almost died. That’s not a little thing. Plus, the medicine you just took. It’s strong against pain, but it also makes us drowsy. Even though your dose is carefully measured, I believe it’s still very strong and would make you sleepy.”
I hmphed. “Will you be here when I wake up?”
“Yes, my love, I will.” He kissed the top of my head. “Now and forever.”
I didn’t think much about that “forever” in his sentence. By my calculations, this was the twelfth day since I had come to the Winter Court. In two days, I would be sacrificed in the ceremony. Our forever wouldn’t last forty-eight hours, and I was even too tired to enjoy the little time I had with him.
A sliver of sorrow swirled in my chest. I didn’t want to be sad about my decision. I was doing the right thing. But it still hurt having to leave Cade behind. To leave him without a mate.
I just hoped he didn’t stay sad for too long.
This time, when I woke up, Cade was right there, as he promised, with breakfast and a midnight iris from the courtyard. He was gentle when helping me wash up, change clothes, and eat something. His hands lingered on me for a long time, as if he couldn’t stop touching me. I wasn’t complaining. In fact, I loved it. I wouldn’t mind having him touching me all the time.
While Cade watched me like a hawk, I ate a little. He had his human maids make me a more human breakfast: scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon, and a strong black coffee. Though I couldn’t stomach everything yet, the few bites I ate were delicious.
I loved having Cade by my side, though a heavy cloud hung over our heads. It was midmorning of my thirteenth day there. I had less than twenty-four hours to live.
“Don’t you have to check on the curse or your people?” I asked. I appreciated having him with me during this time, but I didn’t want him to neglect what was happening because of me.
“You’re more important right now,” he said, his eyes hard, his brow furrowed.
“Cade….” I rose from my chair and went to him. Though pain still radiated from my body depending on my movements, I needed to hold him. I sat on his lap, straddling him. His arms snaked around my waist, his big hands covering most of my lower back. “You have a court to run. If you forget about that because of me, I’ll only feel bad about it.”
“I have Kei overseeing everything,” he said, his eyes locked on mine. “And I have scholars trying to find another way to save my land. It’s just a matter of time before they find it.”
I frowned, not sure about that. Since the goddesses had insisted there was no other way, I thought Cade was just wasting these people’s time. But I didn’t say anything, especially when he snaked his hand down my ass, shifting his weight under me, aligning his hips with mine.
“Cade,” I whispered as my body started heating up.
“You have no idea how I wish you were better,” he said, his voice husky, his eyes bright with desire. “I would be inside you right now.” One of his hands rounded my thigh and slid under my nightgown, under my panties.
I sucked in a sharp breath.
A knock came from the door. Suddenly self-conscious, I jumped up from Cade’s lap. Pain coursed through my back, reminding me I wasn’t as well as I hoped. Gritting my teeth, I turned to the door, but before I could take one step, Cade held my wrist and said, “I’ll get it.”
I stayed by the table and armchairs while Cade strolled to the door and opened it.
A male fae with short white hair and wearing long white robes stood on the other side. “My king, I’m sorry to bother you.”
Cade’s big frame froze. “Did you find something?”
“I’m not sure, my king, but we would like to show it to you, just in case,” the fae said.
Cade glanced at me.
“Go,” I told him. “I’ll be fine. Go see what it is.”
He took four large steps to me, cupped my face, and kissed me. A fast but hard and deep kiss that left me dizzy and wanting for more. I always wanted more from him.
“I’ll be right back,” he whispered against my lips before marching out of the room and closing the door behind him.
I was sad to see him go but also relieved. There was something I had to do alone.
I closed my eyes and called for her. “Mahaera.” As far as I knew, I could call one of them and another would show up. That was okay, as long as one of them came and talked to me. I opened my mouth, ready to call her again and beg if necessary, when I heard her voice from behind me.
“I’m here.”
I turned around and faced Mahaeru, the black-haired sister. She wore black tactical clothes that reminded me of a commander in an army. Her pose, her posture, the hardness in her dark eyes, the thin line of her lips—it all made me a little wary of her.
“I need your help,” I told her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Cade
The scholars called me to the library, where they had been holed up for the last two days, going over all the books and knowledge, not only of Winter Court but also all of Wyth.
Deep down, I knew they wouldn’t find anything. Mahaera had told me there was no other solution. And yet, I hoped. I had to hope, because I couldn’t imagine holding the ceremony tomorrow.
But as I arrived at the library and went through the scholars’ notes, I realized that all they had were theories—really bad ones.
I smacked a notebook on the table. “Does anyone have anything concrete? That you know will work, no matter what? That we can put into practice right now?”
All the scholars lowered their heads.
“I’m sorry, my king,” one of them said in a cowering voice.
A wave of rage swept through me. They had me called away from Amber for this?
“Keep trying!” I barked. “You’ve got twelve hours to find a real, concrete way of stopping the curse.”
With that, I exited the library before I broke something. On the way back to Amber’s bedroom, I ran into Kei, who had stopped by to take a quick shower before going back to the White City to do my job. I felt bad for all he had to do for me these past few days. I would compensate him for all of that later.
“I’m on my way to start evacuating another village,” Kei said, his voice somber. “This is the last village before the White City, Cade. We should start thinking about evacuating the people here too.”
I rubbed my fingertips on my temple, feeling a headache coming. “Not yet, Kei. Not yet. I can’t think about that just yet.”
“I understand,” Kei said. “We can wait another two days.”
Two days. As if he didn’t know what was scheduled for tomorrow morning. My heart tugged as despair enveloped me. There wasn’t enough time. I had to do something.
“You’re doing a great job, Kei,” I told him half-heartedly. “Keep it up for now, please.”
“Will do.” Kei bowed his head and walked toward the back of the palace, where he would probably get his horse and gallop to the next village to be evacuated.
I was losing my frosting mind.
I couldn’t imagine evacuating the White City and the White Palace, the hearts of the Winter Court, and yet, what other freezing choice did I have? I wasn’t going to kill Amber; I had already decided that.
But if I didn’t sacrifice her, then my city would be lost.
This was an impossible situation. I couldn’t choose between my mate and my court. I just couldn’t.
Decided, I went to my study and grabbed the medallion from the drawer under my desk. Perhaps it wasn’t the best solution, but it was the only one I had right then. I tucked the medallion in the pocket of my cloak and raced back to Amber’s bedroom.
The guards stepped to the side when they saw me and allowed me to go in.
I frowned as I looked around her bedroom. “Amber?” I called out. No answer. My heart pounded as I checked the closet and the bathroom. “Amber?” My voice rose in confusion and despair. “Amber!” I went back to the door, opened it, and asked the guards. “Did Amber leave?”
Niossal frowned. “No, my king. You were the only one in and out of this room today.”
“She isn’t here,” I muttered, the blood in my veins rushing in my ears.
“What? How?” Niossal stared inside.
“I know where she is.”
I turned back to the room and found Mahaeru standing beside the bed. I clenched my fists. “What did you do to her?”
“Nothing she didn’t want me to do,” the goddess said.
“What does that mean?”
“Amber asked me to take her until the ceremony tomorrow,” Mahaeru said. “We’ll perform it at the main road, right in front of the curse.”
My magic crackled in my fingers. “Snow above, I will strike you if you don’t return Amber to me right now!”
“Go ahead, strike me.” Mahaeru lifted her chin and puffed her chest, serving as a big target for me. “You’ll only be dooming your land further.”
I gritted my teeth, wanting—needing to do something. But what? I exhaled and let go of my magic. “Mahaeru, please, don’t do this to me. There has to be another way.”
“I’m sorry, Cadewyn. To save the Winter Court, a human life has to end in a sacrifice.” She paused. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Amber doesn’t feel any pain.”
“Please,” I said, my voice breaking.
“I expect to see you there tomorrow.”
Then she disappeared.
And I let out a scream that shook the walls of the palace.
I didn’t sleep. I didn’t eat. I didn’t stop pacing around my study, demanding answers. From the scholars and from the goddesses—though the goddesses ignored all my calls.
None of the answers satisfied me. The scholars couldn’t find a way to break the curse, and in a few hours, it would take another village and come for the White City next.
Everything was crumbling at my feet, and there was nothing I could do. Nothing. Right then, I was a king without the power to save my people, to save my mate.
I never felt so desperate and helpless in my entire life.
When it was time to go, Kei came for me. “Are you okay?” he asked. I glared at him. “Stupid question.” I started walking, but he blocked the door. “Are you sure you want to come? Perhaps witnessing the ceremony will be too hard.”
I had thought about it, but…. “I can’t not come.”
Kei stared at me for a moment. Then he nodded and stepped to the side. He and the White Knights rode with me through the main road out of the White City until it met with the advancing curse in the south.
My heart sank at the view before me. Beyond the curse, everything was black and dead. But my heart sank even more when I saw the little white wood dais set up a few yards from the curse, with a long table on top.
The priestesses of the Moon Temple were already around the dais, but there was no sign of Mahaeru, or one of her versions, and Amber.
“Where are they?” I asked the priestesses.
One priestess turned to me and opened her mouth to answer. Instead, her eyes widened and she pointed behind me.
I whirled around and saw Amber standing beside Mahaeru on the other side of the dais.
Amber’s eyes locked on mine, and my breath caught. She looked divine in a simple, long white dress and jacket with her black hair tied in a tight braid.
She offered me a small smile, and a pain stabbed me deep in my core. Snow above, this wasn’t happening. I went to her, wrapped my arms around her, and held her tight against me.
“Please don’t do this,” I whispered in her ear.
She rose on her tiptoes and brought her lips to mine. She started the gentle kiss, but I took control, deepening it, molding my mouth to hers, moving in a frantic rhythm, tasting her, savoring her, marking her.
She was mine. Mine.
And I was about to lose her.
Slowly, Amber pulled back. I held on to her, but she broke the kiss and looked into my eyes. “I’ve got to do this, Cade. There’s a reason why I was chosen, why I was called pure-hearted and selfless. This is me being selfless.”
I locked my arms around her. “I can’t let you do this.”
“Please, Cade, don’t make this more difficult,” she said, her voice low. “Just remember I love you. I’ll always love you.” She pressed her lips to mine again, then stepped back, pushing against my arms.
I didn’t want to let her go. I couldn’t.
“Cadewyn, if you don’t comply with this ceremony of your own will, I’ll make you,” Mahaeru said, her voice harsh. “And I promise you, you’ll regret it.”
“Please, Cade,” Amber whispered. “She told me that if you don’t behave, she’ll take you away from here. I know this might be hard, but I really would like you here for me.”
Something burned behind my eyes. Defeated, I dropped my arms.
Amber showed me that soft smile again before climbing the dais with Mahaeru.
I watched, my eyes round. No, no, no. I wouldn’t let her do this. My mate couldn’t be killed. This was insane.
With a growl, I advanced toward the dais.
And met an invisible wall that pushed me back several feet. “What the frost?”
“It’s for your own good, Cade,” Mahaeru warned. “And stay quiet, or I’ll do something about your voice too.”
Kei grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back a few steps. Suddenly, I didn’t have the strength to fight back, not when Mahaeru helped Amber to the table, where my mate lay down and awaited her fate.
Mahaeru and the priestesses started chanting in their own language, and I felt their power rising from the ground. Meanwhile, the curse advanced, just a foot from the dais.
A moment later, a dagger appeared in Mahaeru’s hand. She lifted the weapon high.
My legs gave out, and I fell on my knees.
Mahaeru plunged the dagger into Amber’s chest.
Her dark red blood slipped down from the table to a hole on the dais, falling on the ground just as the curse advanced some more. The blood touched the curse.
A shudder seemed to shake the entire land.
There was a long pause—no one breathed, no one blinked. The Winter Court seemed frozen. Then, slowly, the curse started retreating.
“It worked!” Kei cried.
It had worked at the expense of Amber’s life.
I curled into myself, roaring and punching the ground below me, and cried.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Amber
I opened my eyes and stared at the blue skies. Was this heaven? Did I deserve to go to heaven? I wasn’t that perfect and sinless….
“Are you okay?”
I whipped my head to the side and found Mahaera standing beside me. I frowned. “Am I dead? What are you doing here?”
“I’ll explain everything. Just tell me what you’re feeling first.” She offered me her hand.
I took her hand, and she helped me sit up. My dress, once white, was now drenched in red. My blood. I had died, hadn’t I?
