by Leia Stone
I stood on tiptoes, and he still had to lower his head so our lips could touch.
I love you, we both whispered through our bond at the same time.
He let me go. Turning back to the room, his body shifted into his half bear, growing larger and even more powerful. My wolf howled in my chest, as she always did when Kade stood like that. So strong. So solid.
As I walked away, I marveled at the way he let me go, barely even a sliver of worry in our bond. I loved Kade with every part of my being; he was my other heart, my soul mate, but one of the reasons I adored him so much was that he respected me as an equal. He respected my power, my position as queen. Who would have thought that a king and queen could coexist with so little ego between them? Especially for two alpha animals. Our bond was a miracle, and I needed to thank the gods for it every single day.
But first … I needed to rid myself of one parent, and free another.
As I was striding toward the stone room, a familiar energy hit me. My throat got tight as the white wolf bounded into sight. Finn and I stopped and stared at each other for many long moments, drinking each other in. We had never been separated so much as we had since I took the crown. So many things keeping us apart. So many fights and battles. It was only as I stood there, his familiar presence before me, that I truly realized how much I needed him. How much I missed him.
I missed you too, Ari. May we never be parted again.
I ran for him as fast as I could, diving the last few feet to wrap my arms around the giant beast — a beast I loved more than life. The soul of my wolf inside rose up and collided with the soul of our familiar. Finn and I lifted our heads back and howled together, a long, happy sound. A sound of pack.
When we had sated our bond — for the moment — I rose and said to him, “I’m ready … to free my mother … to punish Luca. I know I can do this.”
I heard a chuckle from my left. I turned to find Calista and Baladar standing there. “Nice to see my years of affirmation training has not left you.”
I didn’t reply, choosing instead to cross the few feet between us and throw my arms around her. “I’ve been looking for you,” Calista said into the side of my face. “I needed to see with my own eyes that you were okay. Kade told us where you were.”
Clearly our army had arrived, and I knew now that the fae would never turn on us. They were too outnumbered.
I pulled back to see her face better. “I remember everything you’ve taught me. I’m just going now to finish the job.” Another one of her lessons: finish what you start.
She gave me a pat on the arm and then Baladar bowed his head. With a wave, the pair turned and returned the way they had come.
I turned in the opposite direction, Finn at my side. We entered the mecca stone room to see that Violet had magically confined Luca up against the mecca stone, his hands bound by purple bands of magic. It seemed to be overwhelming him.
He was awake and furious.
“I should have killed you when I had the chance,” he spat at Violet.
Those words sent surges of white hot anger through me. He was one of Violet’s tormenters. Something I had forgotten whilst trying to repress what my best friend had gone through.
Violet glared at him with hatred. He had been instrumental in causing her great suffering in the Winter Court. I wanted her here to bear witness.
I crouched down to meet his eyes. “Did you ever love her?”
His eyes sharpened. “Who?” I could tell he really had no idea who I was talking about, which was an answer in itself.
Me, the Red Queen’s voice filtered into the room, and unlike last time, the weakness was not obvious.
Lucas’s face went slack, losing all color as his body trembled a little. He looked left and right as if trying to see where she was speaking from. I was pretty sure he was muttering the word “Impossible,” but I couldn’t quite hear him. Leaning forward, I placed one hand on the crystal, taking care not to touch him. I focused my energy there, magnifying the Red Queen’s essence until she was a transparent projection standing before him.
He gaped open-mouthed at the vision of her. Aside from Arianna, you were the only person I ever loved, she said to him, her face and voice devoid of all emotion.
The arrogant fae stared back at her, recovering somewhat from the shock, enough to say, “There is no room for love in our lives. We have duty, power, and responsibility. Love is for the weak.”
“When I was alive, I believed the same thing,” the Red Queen told him. “But I was wrong. It’s only in death that I realized how much I did love you and Arianna. I missed years with her. It is my greatest regret.”
The pain in my chest was almost unbearable, but I didn’t crumble.
“All the years you separated us kept me alive,” I told her. “You shouldn’t regret that.” I hated that Luca was here, witnessing these final intimate moments with my mother.
I pointed to him and wrapped mecca around his throat, tightening it to the point he could only just gasp for breath. “You should never have come to our world. This is my city. My mecca. You will now be punished how I see fit.”
His eyes were bulging as I continued to constrict his air supply. Without his mother, or his staff, he was weak. Useless. Reaching down to my ankle, I pulled forth one of the fae blades I had stashed there. I was only about ten inches long, but it would be enough to do the job.
I placed the serrated tip over his heart. “May you never find the peaceful rest and rebirth of death. May you never walk in our worlds again. You are not fit for the royal blood you were borne. Goodbye, Luca.”
I leaned all of my weight forward and skewered the bastard, burying my blade to the hilt. With a gasp, he took his final breath and I felt the mecca pulse. Using that pulse of magic, I pulled on the Red Queen’s energy, and at the same time pushed on Luca’s, pushing his soul further into the stone. Somehow the power knew what to do; knew I wanted to exchange one for another, and unlike last time when I tried to remove my mother, this time she did not slip through my grasp.
No! I heard Luca’s shout echo across the room at the same time I heard my mother’s voice.
Goodbye, Luca. I hope you spend eternity seeking forgiveness.
A bright light flared inside of the room before me. I saw a tunnel, and at the end was the Red Queen’s familiar, the white lynx I believed I saw in Central Park after her death. Then it was gone, as if it was a mirage. I gasped. When the queen trapped herself in the mecca, her familiar must have become a spectral ghost, walking in between the two worlds. Now they were being reunited, as they should.
A blast of icy air caressed my skin, bringing with it her scent, lavender and rose.
I’m so proud of you, daughter. Thank you. I pray that you can forgive my times of cruelty. Her voice whispered in my ear and I could no longer keep my emotions inside. Tears spilled over my cheeks as a small sob escaped me. I had Calista, so I had a true mother, but it felt like I had missed so much with the Red Queen. So much we could have had together.
“Wait!” I wanted to tell her that I forgave her, that I understood everything she sacrificed for me. That I understood she did the best she could. But before I could say anything more, her scent, and the icy wind … was gone.
Violet reached her arms around me as Finn lay his head in my lap, and they both held me tightly, mourning right along with me.
You are the strongest woman I know. You have lost a lot, but you will always have me. Kade’s strong voice and energy caressed me, adding his strength to that my friends were filling me with.
I was blessed. I knew that. I would never forget it. But still, I grieved.
Thirty seconds later, Kade burst into the room, bringing with him the scent of forest and home. Finn stood and Violet released me as Kade bent over and placed one arm under my knees and one behind my back, picking me up. We both needed the closeness. I rested my head on his shoulder and breathed him in.
We’ve done the hard part. Now with a little more work
we can have our happily ever after. Kade’s words seeped into me, soothing my soul.
He set me down gingerly and placed his forehead on mine. “Are you up for dealing with the Winter Court?” he asked.
I sighed. I wanted more than anything to just abandon all responsibility and go see my little sister, but I couldn’t leave the Winter Court without a leader.
“Yes,” I told him, before straightening my back and smoothing out my shirt. “What about King Samson and his people? Do they know the threat is neutralized?”
Kade nodded. “Yes, they are already returning home. They will wait for word from you, but for now they give their thanks.”
“Blaine and Bianca?” And whomever Kade’s guard was — his name was escaping me in my dazed state.
“Home. Safe. Already ordering the shifters back to their packs and dens. Reinstating guards.”
That was good. My friends and dominants would keep an eye on this world while I went to make sure the Otherworld wasn’t falling apart. I really hoped Shelley and Kian were faring well there, because I didn’t have it in me for another battle.
Taking a deep breath, I sought out the mecca stone in the Winter Court. Creating another portal, we stepped out into the icy lands. Well, into the room that housed the stone anyway. Violet, Finn, Kade, and I walked through the circular stone room, which had white wood floorboards, and was empty except for a purple, faceted stone. The main winter stone I was guessing. I was very careful not to touch it, remembering Dante’s words about the way their leaders were chosen.
We skirted the edges, exiting through a simple wooden door. Outside of the room were two guards, lazing back against the wall, looking half asleep. The moment we stepped out, they straightened with wide eyes, drawing their weapons. My winter powers froze their feet to the spot before they could attack.
“Thank you for your service,” I said. “I’m Arianna, granddaughter of the winter queen.” Their eyes went even wider and I recognized the complete and total panic there. So I hurried on. “Rest assured, I am nothing like my kin. I’m only here to ensure there is a just leader left in this court. Will you continue to guard this room for me? Until there is a new leader?”
Both of them nodded and I released their feet fully from the ice magic. The two male fae dropped to their knees, white furs spilling out around them.
“It is our honor,” one of them said in a thick accent.
I gave them both a wave, turning to join my family. We walked through a small stretch of woods that opened up into a courtyard of the dark stone castle. As we moved toward the moat that ran around the castle, a huge billow of smoke caught my attention.
“Kade…” I said slowly.
He followed my line of sight and then the four of us started to run. We crossed over the bridge, heading toward the main part of the town, where their markets had been held. The acrid scent of smoke was strong in the air, and it was starting to get hot. Which was more than a little noticeable in the Winter Court.
When the huge fire finally came into view, I was alarmed at the sight of papers, books, and other things stacked high in the center of the flames. Kade’s hand was resting on his sword, preparing for whatever battle was next, but then we both saw Shelley and Kian at the front of the blaze. They looked fine. In fact, everyone here looked well. I would even go as far as to say there was a sense of joy in the crowd of fae tossing objects into the fire. One woman clutched a painting of the winter queen.
“Ari! Kade!” Shelley gave a shout of delight, running over to greet us, Kian right behind her.
I gave them both a quick hug. Kian and Kade bro-embraced for a few moments too, and then Shelley launched into an explanation of what was going on here. “The winter queen made it mandatory that every household have a picture of her hanging over their mantle. The majority are thrilled she’s dead and are openly denouncing her rule. Only a few had to be … detained.”
Whew, that was a huge weight off my shoulders. I didn’t have a riot on my hands.
“There’s more,” Kian interrupted, bestowing an adoring look on his mate. “Shelley’s been busy using her talent to interrogate the castle staff, and we finally unearthed something that might help. Apparently, the queen has a sister. She was locked away years ago because they disagreed about how to rule over the winter people.”
I sucked in a deep breath, considering the wide-reaching possibilities if this was true. I didn’t want to get my hopes up yet. There was so much we didn’t know. But a part of me couldn’t help but feel excited.
“Did you find her? Is she fit to rule?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain calm. This would be the perfect solution to all of my problems. If I could assess her and make sure she didn’t inherit the evil gene, then maybe she could rule the Winter Court.
“The spells surrounding her are too strong,” Shelley told me. “I wasn’t able to even get to the door without being pushed back.”
Well, luckily, breaking spells was my specialty. “Take me to her, please.”
Shelley and Kian nodded, and with one last look at the fire-happy fae, we all moved away from the flame-filled marketplace. Shelley led us around the back side of the castle, which was quite a walk since the structure was so large. I took the time while we strolled to really observe everything. Last time I was here, there was no time to do anything but run, be captured, and fear for my life. It was nice to take in the harsh beauty of this fae court — my heritage.
I glanced across at Violet, worried that the memories of being here might be getting to her, but she looked calm. The magical essence surrounding her also seemed calm. My friend was finally healing. Piece by piece, day by day, she was finding her way back to me.
On the far side of the castle there was a barren land. Even the trees seemed to have abandoned the area; all that was left were a few spindly, dead-looking plants. And a single stone hut. It was a square, squat building of dark stone, black ivy climbing the sides.
As soon as we approached the hut, Violet put a hand up to stop us.
“This is dark magic,” she said. We were about ten feet from the building. Violet took another step in, holding both of her hands up. I followed her actions, running my hands along the inky tendrils of the spell that surrounded the dwelling.
A greenish iridescent bubble appeared before us, highlighting the perimeter of the spell. My energy slapped out before I could even think about doing it, the spell popping like a balloon, dissipating into nothing.
Almost immediately a scream rang out from inside the cabin, and I focused my attention on the doorway, preparing myself for what might emerge. Violet reached out and grasped my arm before I could get any closer.
“She’s been in captivity for god knows how long. Let me talk to her first.” I stared into those white-blue eyes, reading between the lines of what she was saying. Violet could speak to her as someone who understood a small amount of what she had gone through.
“What if it’s a trap? She could be dangerous.”
Violet snorted at me. An actual snort. And I couldn’t stop a chuckle from escaping. “I got this, friend. Besides, you’re right outside if I need any help.”
She was right, so I nodded, and then Violet was gone. Poofed into thin air. I was still worried that this woman was dangerous. She was the winter queen’s sister, and she had been locked away for a reason. But … it was Violet.
Still, as we waited and waited and waited, my worry increased. When ten minutes had passed, and I was about to go knock on the door, it opened. A tall woman with white hair and a skeletal figure stepped out with Violet. Rags hung in gray strips down her bony frame; her hair looked damp, as if she’d just tried to smooth it back and look presentable. She walked with a slight limp as she crossed the distance toward us.
There was a sheen of tears on Violet’s cheeks, and I was worried that this had been too much for her. She’d only just started healing … moving forward.
When the woman reached Kade and me, she stumbled into a small curtsy. “Your H
ighnesses, my name is Priscilla. Please excuse my appearance. When the spell on my home broke, it caused me some pain…”
“Of course. I’m so sorry we are meeting under this situation. I’ve only just learned about your existence,” I told her. “My name is Arianna … I’m the one who killed Isalinda.”
Violet piped up. “I told her about the queen and prince’s death, and that you are the last of the royal line. Or that we thought you were the last.”
Priscilla nodded. “I have been locked up and at the mercy of my sister for many years. When our parents died, I was supposed to touch the stone. I am the oldest. But Issie always had a plan to usurp me and take my rightful place. She dabbled in dark magic. She broke our rules.”
It sounded like something the winter queen would do. Isalinda was cruel to the bone. And while it seemed Priscilla did not have the same darkness in her, I needed to make sure. I just had to figure out how to do it without destroying whatever fragile trust we had just built. I wondered … if I could sense and filter out the darkness in Kade … shouldn’t I be able to sense it in others too?
I reached out my hand. “Well, I’m just glad to have gotten you out of there.”
She reached out slowly and placed her fragile hand in mine. “We are well met,” she stated, and I pushed my mecca forward a tiny bit, feeling the energy of her soul.
It took a few seconds to sift through the pieces. Her soul had been damaged, quite badly, but while there was darkness there, it seemed to only be linked to the memories of her captivity. Once I pushed through that, there was a bright light in her center, an innocence that told me exactly how Isalinda had so easily tricked her.
She’s good, Kade. A good person and a great candidate to take over this realm.
She needs time to heal, but I sense great potential within her, he agreed.
Pulling my hand back, I smiled. Kade reached out his hand then and introduced himself, shaking very lightly so as not to hurt her. I decided it was best to just come out with the truth.
