by Anna Santos
Claire sucked in a breath and said to Ming, “He’s mad.”
“He’s not mad, just afraid of what could have happened.”
“He didn’t pat my head.”
“He wasn’t wearing gloves,” Kara said.
Claire frowned but paid no attention to it because her chest burned, and her hands shook. “Am I hurt anywhere?”
“I don’t think so,” Ming said, flying around.
“We should take off her clothes and make sure the explosion didn’t hurt her,” Tasha said from behind.
Claire saw the green fairy sitting the floor, seeming tired.
“That stinky witch was going to kill us,” Tasha muttered.
“She doesn’t like it when William is happy,” Kara said.
William showed up at the top of the stairs and climbed down. Claire noticed that he was wearing gloves.
“Stop babbling and help Claire.” Squatting in front of Claire, he pulled her into his arms and proceed to carry her up the stairs and down the corridor to her bedroom.
As scared as Claire still was, the fact that he had her in his arms and was carrying her like a husband would carry his wife to their bedroom made her heart slow the beating and raised her body temperature. His perfect face was tense, and his eyes weren’t giving her any attention. Still, he was the most handsome being that she had ever seen.
Claire had caught a cold from being outside. It was better than dying.
For the next two days, she had to stay in bed and be pampered by the fairies who attended to her every need. William came to visit her and read to her. He didn’t talk about the fact that she had disobeyed him or about the existence of a dragon that flew around his palace at night.
Claire decided not to ask. She had an idea of what was happening by putting together the information of what the fairies said that night and what the legend told about William’s curse. He would tell her everything when he trusted her. Leaving the palace to watch the fireworks at night without telling him was probably seen as a reckless act.
For the time being, she was happy to have him to herself while she recovered. Besides, she liked to stare at him while he sat next to her bed and read her a book. His voice was gentle, and he often smiled at her, making her believe he wasn’t mad at her.
“Is it still spring outside?” Claire asked the second day he came to read to her.
“I’m still happy.” Opening the book, he looked at the page. “Are you scared of dragons now?”
“You once told me that not all of them were evil.”
“When did I say that?”
“When you were showing me the pictures in the books.”
William inclined his head. “You should believe me, then.”
“I never imagined how big they would be. The images show that they are big, but being in front of one feels different than seeing a picture of it.”
His intense blue eyes aimed at her. “Are you scared of living with me here?”
Claire shook her head. “You saved me.”
“I was lucky. I couldn’t sleep and heard you and the fairies giggling outside. I came to see what was going on and saw the creature.”
“I won’t go outside again in the dark. I promise.”
“You can still go to the balcony. There are magical stones around the palace that protect it from her fire.”
“Okay. What are you reading to me today?”
“The adventures of a reckless human and her sidekick fairies.”
Claire giggled. “You’re making that up.”
“I am, but it would be a fun story.”
Claire rested her head against the pillow and waved her hand. “Read. I promise I won’t fall asleep today. I’m feeling better, and the fever is gone.”
William grinned and returned his attention to the page. “Once upon a time, there was a handsome prince who was cursed—”
William’s soft voice carried Claire’s imagination and made her smile as she gazed at his attractive face and lustful lips.
Chapter 19
Life returned to normal after the fright, but Claire only longed to see her parents more. Almost dying made her realize that she could have ended up like one of the girls that never returned. When that happened, her parents would sob and curse the prince. Now, she knew that it wasn’t his fault. The evil witch wasn’t content with just cursing him. She wanted him to be miserable and unable to find someone who loved him.
As much as he was happy with Claire’s presence, the fact was that there was more to life outside the palace’s walls. His people needed to know that their prince wasn’t heartless and uncaring about the struggles they faced. If they met him, they would see how brave and kind William was.
That night, Claire gathered the courage to broach the subject with the prince. She wanted to convince him that leaving the palace was a good idea, especially since Claire would get to see her parents and introduce them to the prince. Her mother would be radiant as she always said good things about William when Claire doubted his good intentions and morals.
“The dinner is excellent.” Claire decided to set the tone.
“Indeed, thanks to you and the fairies.” William beamed. “It’s book club tonight. Have you decided what book you want to read for us?”
“Yes, but I would like to talk to you about something else.”
“You can talk to me about anything,” the prince assured.
She nodded. “I know. That’s why I’m telling you that I would like to do something different from what we usually do together.”
His brows drew together. “What do you mean?”
“I think we should do something other than reading, playing, and ice skating.”
“You can’t,” Ming said, appearing beside her and startling Claire. “It’s too soon.”
“What do you mean?” Claire asked the fairy.
“What do you want to do alone with the prince? Why can’t we join you?”
“But you can join us.”
“We can?” Ming frowned and looked at the prince. She grinned at him. “I think I’ve misunderstood Claire’s intentions.”
Claire gulped and blinked rapidly. Her voice came out with an edge of panic. “What did you think I wanted to do?”
Ming waved in dismissal. “Nothing. Carry on with your conversation.”
Flapping her wings, Ming flew away to the chair where she had been sitting with her two sisters. Kara had an oversized glass of wine in her hands that she had been sipping with a content face, and Tasha was reading a tiny piece of paper.
The prince spoke. “What do you want to do, Claire? Did you find a new game for us to play? Perhaps, you want to learn how to play the Celestia?” he tried to guess.
“No, but it’ll be fun.” Claire paused to gauge his reaction.
“I’m eager to know more.”
Since he seemed receptive, she explained, “I would like us to go to the capital for a visit.”
“No,” William replied.
“Why not?”
“I have no wish to leave the palace.”
“That’s why we should go to the capital. When was the last time you let your people see you?”
William averted his eyes and drank from his glass. “I have no wish to see them.”
“Then, you don’t want to go?”
“No.”
“Can I go?”
William snapped his eyes at her. “What do you mean? You want to leave?”
“No. Of course not.”
“You haven’t been here for longer than three months. Are you unhappy? Don’t you want to be with us anymore? Is it because of the attack?”
Claire leaned back, surprised by the barrage of questions he was throwing at her. Folding her hands on her lap, she sighed. “It’s nothing like that, William. I should have explained myself better.”
“Explain yourself then.”
Claire glimpsed the fairies who were also staring in her direction with widened eyes. Even Tasha had stopped
reading to listen to Claire.
“I love being here. I swear,” she assured the fairies. “I just miss my family. I want to visit them. Not the capital. Just my parents.”
Kara got up, flew forward, and placed her empty glass on the table where she landed. “It’s natural to miss one’s family. I’d miss my sisters if we’d been apart for a few days. You’ve been here for months now.”
“I can arrange to bring your family here,” William said.
Claire replied to him, “They would misunderstand their visit. They would think you wanted to marry me or some other absurd idea that my mother might have.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “Plus, even though I want to see my parents, I also wanted you to leave the palace and go with me.”
William tensed.
She stopped drumming. “You can leave the palace, can’t you? The curse doesn’t forbid you from descending to your capital, does it? I’ve always wondered why you’ve lived so far away from the rest of us.”
“We like to live on higher grounds. In this case, it also deters curious eyes. The farther I am, the less you feel the effect of my sadness. The capital would be covered in ice if I lived there,” William replied.
“Your kind?” she mumbled.
“I’m not human. I’m sure you’ve guessed that by now.”
Claire nodded. “Though you haven’t told me what you are.”
“Does that change how you feel about me?”
Claire pursed her lips and, eventually, shook her head. “Can’t we leave for a short time to see my parents?”
William’s lips curled up. “You want me to go with you?”
“That wouldn’t be wise,” Ming interfered. “A royal carriage in that part of the kingdom would bring too much attention. Everybody would assume the prince was there and would come to see him. It would create a commotion and upset him.”
“That’s why I proposed we go to the capital first,” Claire explained. “There are plenty of fairs and parties happening at this time of the year. As our ruler, no one will deny you entry. You would have a chance to see how your kingdom operates up close instead of staying cooped up here. My parents could be summoned to the Regent’s house.”
“I don’t like crowds and confusion.”
“William, we have fun together, and I am grateful that my presence has helped put winter on pause, but I miss my family and friends,” she elucidated. “My best friend, Myka, was getting married when I left. He said he’d wait for me to be his godmother, but he hasn’t written to me for a while. Mom isn’t writing as often, either. The letters aren’t enough. I would like to hug my father and check on my mother’s health. If you don’t want to leave the palace, then let me go, and I’ll return later.”
The prince stared off into the void like he often did when they first met. “Sorry, but I have to deny your request. The palace is our home now.”
Claire leaned forward in her chair. Begging him with her eyes, she added, “I’m here to make you happy. I know that. Yet if I’m sad, how can I make you happy?”
“I don’t want you to be sad.”
“Also, I’ll eventually have to leave. My stay is for six months. You know that, don’t you?”
William fisted his hand. “You can stay with me for as long as you want.”
“Let me check on my parents.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You won’t want to return once you see them,” William claimed.
“That’s absurd.”
“They are your family while I’m a sad prince who’s trapped in an ice palace and has no one who loves him.”
“We love you,” the fairies said at the same time.
Claire pursed her lips as unwise words threatened to leave them.
“Please, Claire. Stay with me a little longer.”
His plea left a hole in her heart and made her feel awful about her request. If she left, the winter would return. The crops would die. The animals would starve to death. She couldn’t risk it.
Her throat felt dry, and her hands shook. She gazed at the prince. “Will you let me leave once the six months are up?”
He took a few seconds to reply. “I will.”
She looked at her plate in defeat.
“Finish your meal. It’s book club night, and I have the perfect book for Claire to read,” Ming said in a cheerful voice.
Claire nodded, but she couldn’t pretend she was pleased. She tried to eat and settle into defeat, but his words kept needling at her. He was not even willing to give the outside world a chance.
“I would leave in the morning and return at night.”
“I said no!” the prince exploded, slamming his fist on the table.
Claire’s body froze after quivering in fear. Her eyes widened and fixated on his angry face.
His shoulders relaxed, and he picked up his fork. “I can show you my library once we eat dessert.” His tone of voice was calm. “Would you like that? Ming told me that you showed interest in visiting it.”
The mention of the library should have rejoiced Claire, but she was too terrified by his outburst. Tears prickled her eyes.
“Claire?” His voice was soft, and everything she had loved before. His eyes were tender without the coldness he had in the first weeks. Yet, at that moment, everything about it sounded fake.
“Are you that inconsiderate about my happiness?”
“No, of course not,” he answered. “I’m willing to show you my library.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Haven’t I done everything to please you?”
“Yes…”
“Then why did you answer me without considering my feelings for a moment?”
“I’m afraid that you won’t want to come back if you leave.”
Claire’s eyes were glued to his sad face.
“I’ll be lonely again,” he claimed.
“You have your godmothers with you.”
His body moved slightly forward as if he wanted to say something, but the words took time to come out of his mouth. “It’s you who makes me happy.”
“You could come with me to the capital. We’ll ask the Regent to bring my parents to us. You can hold my hand and make sure I don’t run away from you.”
He rested his hands on the sides of his plate and lowered his gaze to the table. His sadness transpired in his tone of voice. “People hate me, Claire. It’s my fault that they can’t leave the kingdom and live in an endless winter. I can’t go with you to see your parents or visit the capital.”
“But, it isn’t winter anymore…”
He raised his hand. “Did you like me when you first arrived here, or did you blame me for everything bad that was happening?”
Claire clenched her jaw. “They don’t know you like I do. You need to let them see who you are. Maybe—”
“I’ve tried that,” he said. “I’ve tried everything. I can’t face them again. It will make me fall into depression and all this happiness that you make me feel…will end.”
Tears fell down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to pressure you.”
He rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry for yelling at you.”
“Could I, at least, leave to visit my parents. I promise you, I’ll return.”
He clenched his teeth. “You aren’t leaving the palace.”
Her throat hurt as the unforeseen sadness gnawed at her heart. Wiping her tears with a napkin, she controlled her emotions by inhaling deeply. “Excuse me, but I have lost my appetite.” She rose. “I will go to my room and rest.”
“Be sure to return, so we can read the book,” the prince said.
“My apologies. I am too stressed to want to read tonight,” Claire stated. “Or talk with anyone else,” she added when the fairies protested. “Goodnight.”
She marched all the way to the bedroom. Grabbing her mother’s letters, Claire flung herself onto the bed and bawled.
What she thought was a dream come true was becoming a nightmare. She w
asn’t being treated like a friend or lover but as his prisoner, only allowed to do the things he wanted. He had dismissed her need to see her family and didn’t even blink at the sight of her tears. Maybe she made him happy—like a jester at a fair—but he didn’t see her as his equal or as a love connection. She had been a fool for falling for him.
As far as she was concerned, becoming his queen was the last thing she wanted. She was done with the romantic thoughts of being more to him than a friend. All she wished for was to return home.
Chapter 20
The prince sat in an armchair in the tallest tower deep within the palace’s grounds. His mind swam with memories of everything that had transpired. The curse had put his kingdom at risk and closed him off from others.
He had lost all hope in the past years that someone would make him feel love again until Claire arrived and turned his life upside down. She had been his whole world for the past couple of months. Why couldn’t he be hers?
His brash temper and dread of telling her what he truly was had hurt her. He didn’t want to lose her. As much as he wanted to please her, if he let her go to see her parents, her life would be at risk again.
His sigh echoed in the largest room of the palace with a gigantic ceiling and a huge window that opened to the dark night. The icy wind entered and howled across the room, but the cold never bothered him. Not even before he was cursed. His magical powers were connected to water and ice. He had cursed his existence before, but his inheritance was what made it possible for him to fight against the one who cursed him, Edana.
William leaned forward and entwined his fingers together. He didn’t often go to that part of the palace. He’d rather stay in the library, reading and meditating, or in his bedroom. That night was special to him. He could only shift once a year.
In his true form, he felt reborn. The rest of the year, he was a cursed dragon stuck in a human body, unable to shift or touch anyone with his bare hands. Only true love could restore his powers and break his curse. He no longer believed that true love existed. Not after so many failed attempts. Still, Claire had been able to touch his heart and make him feel something. She had breached the walls he had built around his heart with her easy smile, kind soul, and playful nature. She was also stubborn and beautiful. The way he got lost in her eyes and how his skin tingled when they touched was nothing like he had ever felt before. Even if he shouldn’t, he found himself looking for her, longing to hold her, and listening to her talk about her day and her dreams. She was curious and smart. Playful and serious when she had to be. And he’d broken her heart and made her cry.
