Ever Winter (15 page)

Chapter Fourteen

“I EXPECT YOU
found the castle to your liking?”

Shade jumped as well as Dylan from the frosty voice that emanated from the doorway. They were both back
in her room, the one she had initially awoken in and had been chatting incessantly as they sat on the bed. Dylan had also woken in his own ‘room’ but found hers more comforting. Maybe because she was in it.

“Corb.” Shade stated more than asked. Her eyes widened at the Ice King and she jumped to her feet. Dylan had moved around the bed to stand by her, ready for a fight if need be. “What’s going on? Why are we here?”

His flat expression gave them no clue of his mood. Mother of pearl irises made him seem more like a ghost than anything else. He was handsome with his sharp nose and carved jawline. The long mane of white with a black inlay of hair was tied tightly into a lone ponytail which trailed down his back. He looked different somehow. He was no longer wearing his white attire he’d worn when they’d arrived. Now dressed in his black riding attire, the lieutenant’s uniform he’d worn when he led Aveta’s army. He looked somewhat tired, as if he’d been riding for many hours. Dirt clung to his boots in small clumps, trailing bits all over the snowy floor.

“It doesn’t matter anymore why, it matters that you are here now, both of you. Forever. I’m glad you’ve found it cozy enough and have each other’s company as I am away a lot dealing with Aveta and the Unseelie Army. I still lead them for now and there have been some changes going on that I personally have to take care of.” He slowly pulled off his black leather gloves and rubbed his eyes, looking more and more exhausted. “I’ll take my leave now. Continue to enjoy the grounds but I warn you, don’t try to go past the gates of my castle, you will not be able to pass and it will alert me immediately.”

“Wait, how do we find you if, you know, if we need to ask you something.” Shade attempted to stall him before he disappeared to who knows where for who knew how long. “And why can’t we remember anything at all?”

Corb sighed, partially turning away from them, obviously annoyed. “I will explain a lot of this later. There is nothing to fear, this is your home now. That’s all you need to know.” With that he disappeared behind the closing doorway, as if he’d never been there. Only the small specks of dirt left in his wake told otherwise.

“Well that wasn’t very helpful.” Shade groaned and plopped back onto the bed, staring up into the open sky above. The snowfall had stopped and only white clouds shifted above like billowing puffs of cotton. “That Aveta he speaks of, do you know who that is?”

Dylan slumped onto the bed next to her leaning on his arms as he turned toward her. “Not a clue. It does sound oddly familiar, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.” She slipped in between the sheets, more out of habit than the cold, and bunched the pillow under her dark locks. She felt homesick, but, where was home? She had no memories of home and couldn’t remember, try as she might, if she had any family. It was an odd and sad feeling, like a lost photograph which should have been the most precious of treasures.

“I guess it’s just you and me then.” Dylan traced his fingers over her cheek, sending sparks of electricity along her skin. “Are you tired?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure why, I’ve been sleeping forever it seems.”

“Me too, I’ll let you rest. I’ll be down the hall, three doors to the right if you need me.” He sat up to leave but she curled her fingers around his wrist before he got away. Turning to see the fear in her eyes made him stop cold, unable to leave her in such a state.

“Please stay, don’t leave me alone in this place,” she begged.

He nodded crawling back up to the second pillow next to hers. He shifted until he was comfortable but remained above the sheets. He knew they were close, but he couldn’t remember how close they really were. In the meantime, going slow seemed to be the right thing to do.

A flash from her necklace caught his attention and he reached out to stroke the two ampules hanging from the silver chain. Another charm, a familiar looking acorn-like seed hung, held in place by a metal loop. Something about it made his mind tingle, like a forgotten memory and he stared at it a good while.

“They’re beautiful. What are the vials for?”

Shade cranked her head down to peer at the necklace. The charms sat on his fingers as he softly caressed them. The blood-red fluid inside sloshed and glinted against the harsh white illumination of the room. She shrugged, unable to recall what the necklace was for.

“I don’t know. I can’t seem to remember. It is beautiful though, isn’t it? I feel like it must mean a lot to me.”

Dylan let the charms slip back onto her skin and nodded. “They must, yet here we are, we can’t remember any of it. Do you think anyone misses us? Would anyone know where we are?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe.”

He reached out and continued to caress her hair gently, spiraling her locks around his fingers and staring an infinity into her eyes. Shade smiled as she watched him get comfortable next to her. This way, she would be able to rest without her nerves waking her every two seconds. Only being near Dylan could keep her fear at bay. She continued to study the lines of his face as he watched her right back. Slowly her eyelids dropped and sleep lulled her away to a sweet dream.

Chapter Fifteen

THE BREEZE SWIRLED
into the opened glass doors and made Soap’s golden brown hair fly behind him, swaying in the wind like ribbons. The setting sun painted his face with its tangerine gold colors and reflected across the pools of green which were his irises. His arms were crossed tightly on his chest as he watched the sunset. He’d been so distracted lately, wondering about Shade, hoping she was okay. He’d wanted to go with them, and now, with them missing, he felt his guilt rip through him and settle like a bad meal in his stomach.

He trusted Dylan to keep her safe, but that didn’t mean he didn’t think that he should’ve been there for her. He should’ve insisted to go, regardless of what needed to be done here. Brisa was his charge now, but it didn’t mean his heart wasn’t elsewhere. His love for Shade was unshakeable and the longer she spent time with Dylan only created further distance between them.

Soap was losing this battle, he could feel it with every day that ticked by. The way she didn’t look at him with bright eyes anymore. The way her kisses had been so soft and tender initially, but the heat of them had faded immensely. It could all be in his head, now what with all she’d been through. He had to give her that benefit of the doubt and allow her space. All the time in the world it might take to heal her scars, he’d give to her. No matter what, he’d be there for her, in the end.

But, would she be there, in the end?

A knock resonated through his room and he turned to listen to see whom it could be. No one usually bothered him on these lonely nights. The days had dragged by so slowly yet, it was still ten days before the full moon. He would go mad if it didn’t go any faster. Not a man to sit and wait, he headed toward the door, unlatching it and swinging it open to find Brisa standing with a jug of some sort of fluid and two mugs.

“Um, hi.”

“Hello, Brisa. Please, come in.” He extended his arm to let her pass, closing the door behind her. “What do you have there?”

Brisa chuckled holding the jug up for him to grab as she made her way toward the breakfast table near the porch he had just been standing on. “Hot Chocolate. Do you like it? I had a hell of a time getting the faeries in the kitchen to understand my request. Seems to be an unpopular drink compared to honey wine.” She set the mugs down on the circular table and took the jug from him, pouring the hot liquid into both before settling into one of the chairs. She waved at him to sit as he stood there watching her curiously. “Apparently whipped cream is not a popular choice either so, we’ll have to do without.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you. I don’t feel like drinking it alone. Not much to do here besides mope and read. I’ve never seen so many books! Oh, did I tell you, I hate to read?” She took a swig of the hot drink before setting the mug back down.

“No, I didn’t know that. Why are you reading then?” He grinned sniffing the hot chocolate before taking a gulp of it himself. It burned his tongue but felt good sliding into his stomach.

“Well, there’s a ton of interesting stuff in them, it just sucks you in! Like the History of Faerie, Magic and Oak Trees, The Fae of Faerie, Magic spells for Witches. Oh, and I especially found the one about the Teleen called ‘Cavern Faeries’ really quite fascinating.” She drank down the last of her hot chocolate and served herself another mugful. “So, how come I can’t find much about changelings? Especially hybrids like you and Shade?” She eyed him suspiciously, studying his face intensely before taking another sip.

Soap smiled. He enjoyed Brisa’s company and was impressed with all the research she’d been doing about his people. “You know, that stuff is forbidden for a human to read.” He finished his own mug and set it down gently on the table. He laid his hand on the table as he sat forward, taking in Brisa’s furrowed face.

Enough minutes passed by for her to begin squirming from his stare. “I just think that’s kinda weird. You know, don’t you want to know more about yourself? What all a changeling can do? Did you know Teleen males have a hard time finding mates because of the scarcity of women? How’s that for Shade’s chances in finding a guy among them? They’ll be coming to court her if she doesn’t choose someone soon.”

At her words he flinched, jerking his eyes away toward the sun sinking under the trees. The room suddenly felt colder.

“She has to choose one of you, you know. Who do you think will win?” Brisa eyed him as he jumped up to close the glass doors. “Only one can win you know.” She shook the jug, frowning for it was now empty. She sat back; crossing her legs and watching him stare out the doors.

“I don’t know.” He ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated with her probing. “Why do you even want to know?” He was facing her again, his expression blank as he waited for her answer.

It was Brisa’s turn to harden her looks as she let his green eyes hover over her. He was incredibly good looking and it made her heart race just being face to face with him. She wondered what Shade’s intentions were, faking her way through their relationship. She knew more than anyone that Shade wasn’t in love with Soap. Why she would choose the steely-eyed full Teleen faery over Soap was beyond her. Nothing Shade did nowadays made sense to her. Especially her rejection of this man.

If he was hers, she’d never want another. Ever.

“I just want to know…” Soap was approaching her and he kneeled down before her, taking her hands into his. “Do you love her?” Brisa asked softly, feeling her face flush as his fingers traced over her knuckles and fingertips. It made her breath seize and she was sure her face was an unattractive shade of red as she began to sweat from his proximity.

“Yes, I do love her.” He slipped his fingers in her and held them tightly. His eyes hovered over her hands before flicking back up to her. “But she doesn’t love me back. You know that, as well as I do.” His eyes were a deep emerald green abyss in which she wanted to get lost into, so badly.

“She does love you, you know. But Dylan, I think he had her heart long before and she didn’t even know it.” Her breath was panting now as he shifted his weight leaning forward to hover so close to her, she could feel his breath on her skin, sending tiny shocks down into her chest. Was her heart locking up?

“I know.” Soap’s sad eyes made her heart melt and she wanted nothing more than to lean forward and meet his lips with her own. “Do you love anyone?”

Surprised at his advances and questioning, she shot out of the chair, backing away with her heart hammering in her head. “What are you doing? What is this?” She felt the room spin, trying to shake her head clear.