| |
I woke up to feel a strong arm wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly. Could it be? Or had it all been a dream? No – the reality was more blissful, more beautiful than that! I rolled into Kian's chest, as strong and well-defined as marble, placing my hands all over his body, reminding myself that he was real, that this was real.
Kian laughed as my fingers tickled his ribcage. “So,” he murmured through barely parted lips. “This is what true happiness feels like.”
“I guess so,” I whispered. It was as if all the other times I'd shared with Kian were only a dream, only a shadow or an echo. Last night had been so different, so much greater and more beautiful, that it was like wakening from a dreamland of shadows into the brilliant color and vibrancy of life. All of the love I felt for Kian had been leading up to that moment, that final consummation of our love, a reunion that joined not only our bodies but our very souls. Summer and Winter magic had melded in the force field of flame that surrounded us, even as our bodies had tangled on the grassy floor of the woods. When I first entered Feyland, I was a mere girl, but have grown up quickly, becoming an adult almost overnight as the realization of the danger and duty I hold sank in immediately. I was now the Summer Queen, with all the responsibilities of a woman. I was a woman now, human or fey. Back in Oregon, in the mortal world, time had pass while I was in Feyland... so much time that I was sure I was no longer a child, a minor, but of age. My classmates would have graduated from high school by now as time in the mortal world moved along faster than time in Feyland.
I sighed as I looked at Kian. I had grown up in Feyland, and my love for Kian had grown into a mature one. Yet all my life, Kian had been with me, in my dreams, and now in my arms. As I traced my finger along his bare chest, I knew our bond from childhood – our engagement still held true.
Everything seemed so right, so perfect. This was how it was always meant to be – I felt that now, with a surety that made me strong. Kian and I couldn't be apart any longer; no, I wouldn't be able to bear it! I thought once more of the pain I had suffered when I promised Kian's mother I would abandon our relationship in exchange for making peace. But I felt different now. I felt sure that I could not make peace without Kian, without our love.
The sun was high above us when Kian at last sat up, brushing his jet-black hair out of his eyes. He leaned over and kissed me long and slowly. When he stopped, leaving me wanting more, he traced a finger along the curve of my hips. He smiled, his eyes staring into mine. “I wanted to make sure you’re real and not an illusion. Seeing you again is too good to be true, Breena.” He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight and kissed the top of my head.
“I can stay here in your arms forever,” I said. “But it seems there is so much I must do to restore the Summer Palace and begin anew with the peace treaty.”
“It's time to start,” Kian sighed. “The work of restoring Feyland may yet never be finished, but we must try...”
“Restore Feyland?” Last night, we hadn't talked about politics or kings; we had only given in to our love and desire. The harsh reality of the renewed war came upon me all at once, like the blaring of an alarm bell. “Kian, what's happened?” I thought once more of him standing above the defeated Summer soldier and my heart felt sick. “The war...the peace treaty...Delano was right. He had been telling the truth about Winter and Summer again at war.” But I knew what his answer would be. I didn't want to hear it. “Kian – is the peace gone?”
He lowered his head and shook it, his eyes grave and dark. “I'm so sorry, Breena,” he whispered. “I'm afraid Winter blames you for having allowed the siege of your men, and Summer believes that we are responsible for not one but two assassinations – the Summer Queen Redleaf, and now you. I don't know if peace will ever be possible now.”
“That can't be!” I almost shouted aloud. “Not after we've worked so hard....” My voice trailed off. “So, they think you've killed me, is that it? They think you were just some spurned lover, killing the woman who betrayed him?” Hot tears stung my eyes. “How could they think you would let anything get in the way of peace? Even I, who saw you stab me, knew there had to be something...that it couldn't have been you!”
“I was stupid,” said Kian. “If I hadn't left the Great Hall, whoever it was would never have been able to glamour into me...everyone would have seen the real me! But I left you, and that imposter was able to take my place! Despite my protestations, I cannot prove it was not me who stabbed you. Even the Winter Queen and all of Winter believe so.”
“I know who it was,” I said.
“Wort!” Kian's face darkened with anger.
“No, not Wort.” I put a hand on his shoulder. “Kian, it was Delano.”
“The Pixie King!” Kian's eyes blazed with anger – like twin blue flames staring out at me. Delano had nearly killed Kian, while he was his prisoner. “I should have known. Nobody could be that insidious, that capable of deceit. He's always been our enemy; we were fools to ignore him.”
“Who else is alive?” I asked quickly. Then I lowered my head, not wanting to let Kian look into my eyes. “Is Logan okay?” my voice was low, barely louder than a whisper. I didn't want to make Kian any more jealous, but I had to know. Was my friend still alive? Was Logan, the man I was engaged to under Wort’s spell, there?
I saw the jealousy in Kian's eyes, but he refused to alter the stony expression on his face. “Yes,” he said softly. “He is still alive.”
“I' m sorry,” I cut in. “I had to ask....”
“No, I understand. He was – is – your friend.”
“He doesn't know...” I said, sighing, “that what we had was only a result of a spell.”
“Only?” Kian raised his eyebrow. “I think Logan's cared about you even before he drank that potion.”
“But he doesn't know that our engagement, that it was all a lie!” I sighed.
“Oh, Breena,” Kian whispered, holding me close. I felt his soft breath close against my shoulders, like a warm breeze filling me with love. “It's all gone so terribly wrong. And I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't more understanding with you, about what had happened to you, the confusion you must be feeling when you realized that you'd been placed under a spell. Only once the news of your death had reached my ears was I able to take control of the dark emotions that overtook me when I thought that you'd chosen Logan, was I able to think clearly through my pain. And I knew then what a fool I had been not to be there for you at that moment. My guilt, my shame, my pain: I thought they would destroy me! I wasn't sure I could survive without you. I went into battle, seeking out death at the hands of my enemies, and instead I continued the cycle of war, so deep was I in despair!” As Kian spoke, I saw tears – sparkling and iridescent – forming in his bright blue eyes.
He looked into my eyes and saw the tears rolling down my cheek, and then his tears began flowing, too, transforming into infinitely tiny snowflakes as they hit the ground. My tears followed his, streaming slowly at first, and then faster, watering the earth.
Then, where my tears had wet the ground, I saw budding with impossible speed a single flower, a snow lily. I jumped up in surprise. “What the...”
Kian couldn't help but laugh through his tears. “I suppose you really are a fairy now,” he whispered. “Really and truly.” He stroked my hair. “Your magic is exceptional. I have never seen anything like this before, except last night – the combination of Summer and Winter magic. Where I make frost, you make flowers.”
“I feel like I've died,” I said. “And come back as somebody else. I'm me, and I'm not me.”
“Whoever you are,” said Kian, “I love you more than ever, Bree. You’re still the same Bree who stole my heart. You hold in your hands my heart, my soul, and my very being. You are already the Queen of my heart, my love, my true love, my only love.” He kissed me gently.
“I can’t get enough of your kisses, Kian,” I sighed into his chest.
“I wouldn’t mind showing you how frost kisses are done again,” Kian said so low and deep, so softly that I leaned in closer to hear him. As I leaned in close, he grabbed my arms and pulled me into an embrace that had every part of me against him. I felt his heartbeat against my ear, and I felt his cool breath against my hair.
“I promise you, Breena,” said Kian. “For you and for my family – for everyone I love – this war has got to end. And we will be together at last...you will be by my side forever my queen, and I will be by yours forever your king!”
He led me to my horse and helped me into the saddle before jumping on alongside me. He wrapped his arms tightly around me, kissing the back of my neck as he stroked my hair out of my face. His touch was light and soft; I never wanted to leave it. “With my life, Breena,” he was murmuring into my neck. “The future is ours!”
I gave the horse a light kick and then we were off, galloping through the fields and forests of the mountainside, coming closer and closer to the fairy lands.