Reign of Ice (Forever Fae series) (20 page)

He chuckled, showing off the dimples I used to love seeing on his face when he was alive. He said, “Yes, I think so. Look, whatever you have in your mind that you plan on doing, don’t do it. I wasn’t joking when I said they wanted to take your dagger, but if you have something up your sleeve you need to forget about it.”

I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “Even if I did have something up my sleeve there is nothing you could do to stop me. I’m a big girl now, Merrick, and I’m also queen of my own court. I think I know how to protect my people and keep them safe.”

Standing from my chair, I didn’t wait on him to reply. Instead, I joined into the group and went to stand by Brayden. “So what’s the verdict?” I asked, peering at everyone and taking in their concerned gazes.

Leaning over the drawings of our land, Brayden straightened his shoulders and sighed. “We strike the day after tomorrow. It’ll give us time to get everyone ready to fight and for our allies to join us.”

I could deal with that because it would give me plenty of time to do what I had to do before anyone got hurt. The gloomy expressions on the faces of everyone around me, however, gave me pause. From the hesitation coming from Brayden through the bond I knew exactly what was going on; Merrick was right. They wanted the weapon.

“What else is going on?” I demanded, placing a protective hand on the dagger. The movement didn’t go unnoticed, making the tension in the room elevate a hundred levels.

Brayden cleared his throat, his tone wary as he gazed at me and began, “I want you to let us have the dagger, angel. We all decided that since the sorcerer is not after you specifically anymore that it might be best for someone else to carry it into battle.”

Fuming and eyes wide with rage, I hissed through gritted teeth, “Are you saying I’m not going to be fighting? Who else is going to carry it other than me? It’s not like there are too many other choices of people who can touch it.”

Taking a deep breath, he nodded sadly and closed his eyes. “You’re right, there are not that many choices, but Elvena thinks we may have a way to where someone else can wield it other than you or the others. Also, I would never keep you from fighting, Ariella. You are an amazing warrior and no matter what I, or anyone else, says you will be out there with that sword in your hand.”

“Who then?” I demanded, placing my hands on my hips, observing them all. “Which one of you is going to be the one to kill the sorcerer? I don’t remember all of you letting me in on this decision.”

I stood there waiting on someone to answer me, but all they did was either look away or send apologetic glances toward Brayden. Each second I didn’t get an answer was a second closer I was to losing control. I couldn’t take anymore.

“Who!” I shouted, my hands shaking with anger. The echo of my scream bounced off the walls with a deafening roar, making everyone flinch.

“It’ll be me, angel,” Brayden confessed softly.
“I have to know you’re going to be safe,”
he finished silently.

My blood froze in my
Winter veins and my heart tightened in my chest. Turning around slowly, I gazed at him in disbelief. There was no way in hell I was letting him sacrifice himself for me. He probably didn’t even know that I was the one who
had
to do it. By the look in Elvena’s eyes when I cast her a sideways glance I knew for a fact she hadn’t told him the truth yet.

“Like hell you are,” I exclaimed firmly with my head held high. To everyone, I said, “I am the one who is going to do this, not anyone else. It was destined for me and I’ve accepted that. Keeping me in the dark wasn’t going to change anything.”

Confused, Brayden furrowed his brows and spoke, “What are you talking about keeping you in the dark? Who kept you in the dark?”

My gaze found
Elvena, my sisters, and Sorcha, but then I turned and focused just on Brayden. When I left this room it would be the last time I saw him, especially if he wanted to take the dagger from me. If he succeeded in that, our world would suffer the dire consequences, and I couldn’t have that.

“Do you know what the scroll said?” I asked him.

He nodded quickly. “Yes, it told us what we needed to do as far as the weapon to kill the sorcerer.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes, why?” he inquired hesitantly. “What else was there? Was there more?”

Sighing, and with tears beginning to blur my vision, I cupped his cheeks in my hand and kissed him one last time. If I explained to him what I knew he wouldn’t let me out of his sight. I had to go now before he could stop me.

I poured all my love and soul into our final kiss and let my tears escape.
“I love you, Brayden. Whatever you do, don’t forget that.”

He immediately pulled away from the kiss and narrowed his eyes. “Why are you saying that? What else was in the scroll? Tell me!”

Shaking my head, I wiped away the tears and forced myself to smile up at him even though I was breaking apart inside, knowing it was the last time I would ever set my eyes on him. As softly and calmly as I could, I cried, “It doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is keeping our land safe and we’re going to do that. If you don’t mind I’m going to rest while you all finish up in here. If you need me I’ll be in our room.”

Frowning, he took my hand in his and lifted my chin with his other. “Do you want me to walk with you?” he asked, his tone laced with worry.

Shaking my head, I tried to keep my voice from trembling when I replied, “No, I’ll be fine. Stay here with everyone and I’ll see you when you get done. I just need to rest.”

I kissed him one last time and turned away quickly so I could get out of the room before breaking down. My heart broke with each step I took toward the door, and it took all I had not to look back. I couldn’t look back.

Good-bye, Brayden.

“WHERE DID ARIELLA go?” Calista asked after Ariella left the room. Her gaze was wide and panicked as she rushed up to me.

Befuddled, I responded, “She said she was tired and needed to rest so she went to our room. Why does it matter?”

“She can’t be alone right now,” she muttered quickly. “She’s up to something. I can feel it and it’s not like her to just walk out of here calmly after we wanted to take the dagger away from her. Trust me, you need to go after her … now. We need to get the dagger before she goes and does something stupid.”

“Tell me what’s going on. Does this have to do with what the scroll said?” I demanded. “I’m not going anywhere until I get some damn answers.”

Mumbling something about me being just like Ryder, Calista stepped aside so Elvena could come in and explain. When Calista told me to track down Ariella, I never knew the situation was as dire as they thought until Elvena said, “Brayden … there are some things you don’t know. Things that myself and the others kept from you and Ariella.”

Clenching my fists at my sides, I started to fume but I had to hear what she had to say. “Go on,” I snapped impatiently with a wave of my hand.

Elvena sighed and lowered her head. “The scroll not only told us how to defeat the sorcerer, but it also gave us an idea of who it would be that could defeat him … and it’s not any of you.” She lifted her gaze and in it I saw nothing except sadness and regret. Immediately, my heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest. I didn’t need to hear her say who it was supposed to be because I already knew.

And if Ariella knew …

Turning on my heel, I rushed out of the room, my heart beating like razor sharp drums in my chest. The only thing I could hear as I raced down the corridor to our room was the silent screams in my mind saying that I was too late. How could I have not known, or better yet, why the hell didn’t anyone tell me?

“Ariella!”
I shouted in her mind. I hoped I was wrong in my assumption that she had indeed decided to take matters in her own hands. It wasn’t until I fully concentrated on our connection that I could already tell she had me blocked out.

“Dammit,” I growled, feeling as if I would explode.

The second I came to our bedroom door I kicked it open and rushed inside, already feeling the emptiness of her absence. The weight on my chest felt like a thousand tons crushing me to the floor as I struggled to breathe. After everything we had just gone through together, I couldn’t begin to fathom that she would actually leave me … but she did. The harsh reality of it slammed me in the gut when I found the crisp, white letter lying on the bed with a lock of her hair beside it.

I picked up the bright blonde lock of hair and clutched it in my palm, squeezing it tight. “So help me, Ariella, when I get you home you’re going to wish you didn’t run away from me,” I warned out loud to myself. The letter was folded over with a crease in the middle, but I could see her elegant handwriting inside. The ache in my chest grew deeper.

I opened it up slowly and read the words I’d been dreading.

Brayden,

By the time you read this, I’m sure you will already know the reasons why I had to leave. Please know that I love you and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe. When you said you were going to be the one to kill the sorcerer my heart ripped out of my chest. In that moment I fell in love with you even more and it made my decision even harder to face. In a way I wanted to be selfish and just stay with you, hoping that the scroll was wrong and that we would figure out another way … but I knew it wasn’t going to be so. There are so many things I need to ask your forgiveness on and I have no clue where to start. I need you to forgive me for leaving you. Trust me,
it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Even as I write this I can’t seem to get the tears to stop. I wanted to tell you about my fate, and that was the reason I kept closed off from you at the beginning. I didn’t want you seeing the turmoil that warred within my body. I know that I can succeed in doing what I have planned because there are things I can do that you don’t know about. “The one who can earn his trust will be the one to defeat him.” That is the quote from the scroll. I have that ability, Brayden, and if I can save the lives of our people with the sacrifice of just mine then I’m going to do it. I know you would do the same thing if you could. Our time together and the love we share is the only thing keeping me going right now, and however long I have left I want you to know that I will love you always. We will never be apart, my love, because you will always be in my heart and I will always be in yours … forever.

With all my love,

Your angel

I could feel the presence of someone behind me, and judging from the power level in the room it had to be Elvena. Holding the letter to my chest, I didn’t even turn around when I asked the question I was too afraid to hear the answer to, “What’s going to happen to her? Is she going to die?”

Elvena
sniffled and cried, “I’m not sure, child. From what I’m gathering it looks like it’ll be almost impossible for her to survive. No one could live through the magnitude of force the sorcerer’s power will unleash once it’s free.”

It cannot end that way!
I screamed in my mind. I couldn’t believe that it would end that way … I refused to.

Taking
Ariella’s letter, I folded it into a tiny square and placed it inside my armor belt. I wasn’t going to let her die; I was going to find her and bring her home. If I couldn’t find her tonight there was one person who could lead me to her … my sister. I just prayed to the heavens that I would find her before it was too late.