Fire and Ice (14 page)

The vine-covered walls of my room were closing in, becoming more like the prison it was. It was impossible to think in here, I needed air. I rushed to the veranda, sprinting down the long staircase to the ground. Ignoring the fatigue, I wandered through the briar tunnel heading for the Citadel courtyard.

My father was a changeling, the human he replaced might be gone, but my father was an immortal. It meant there was a chance he was still alive. If the Unseelie fey hadn't killed him, perhaps they'd kept him as a prisoner or slave. Either way, I had to find out. Swiping at the tears of frustration that rolled down my cheek, I gulped a mouthful of air, the warmth of it like a soothing salve over my bruised ego. I couldn't understand what was with Adrius — what had caused the radical mood swing. Without even realizing it, I'd started pacing… a habit developed from years of stressing.

A twig snapped, sending a flock of bright yellow birds into flight. From behind the low-hanging branch of a tree, Julien leaned into my field of view.

“If you're about finished with the melodrama… how about a walk?”

“A walk?” I echoed, blinking up at him on his perch.

Swinging down with the ease of a monkey, he sauntered toward me in that arrogant swagger of someone who knew exactly how good-looking he was. That was more of an understatement, not that I'd ever tell
him
. This whole place made me more self-conscious of how plain I was in comparison. Even dressed like a fairy princess I didn't have a shot at matching their exquisite grace. Everyone possessed a mythological beauty. They were not only attractive but alarmingly so. I twirled a lock of hair between my fingers, biting down on my lower lip.

“Yes, Princess. A walk. With me. I would love to show you around if I may. And you look like you could use a bodyguard.” He smiled and although his arrogance was grating, I found myself accepting his invitation.

“Let's go,” I muttered offhandedly, gliding past him into the courtyard.

His face broke into a brilliant yet unnerving smile. “Let's go this way, Princess. It's a little less… crowded.”

I sighed, not really caring where we went. My mind was elsewhere.

“So, judging by your overall sour mood, things didn't go so well with my brother,” he jibed.

“How did you know about that?”

He shrugged. It seemed nothing remained private in this place. Not where it concerned me anyway.

“I'd say
not well
is a huge understatement,” I said glumly remembering our painful encounter.

“So, what's with all the drama?” An amused spark lit his eyes.

“Maybe you can tell me.”

Julien sized me up, and then shrugged. “Adrius doesn't know how to have fun. Here I try to get him out of yet another boring assembly with the Elven guard, to meet with a pretty girl…” He shook his head sadly. “And this is what he makes of it. Guess he doesn't enjoy being reminded of his commitments during meetings, but when you insisted I tell him you were waiting on him, I had to comply.”

I froze. So was that it. The thing causing his strange mood? Julien had dragged him from whatever business he was attending. And he thought the demand had come from me.

My irritation with him swelled. “You shouldn't have done that, Julien. It wasn't necessary for you to interrupt him.”

“That's where you're wrong, Princess. With Adrius, duty is never finished. Were it not for my delivering your message when I did, you would have been waiting a long time.”

I gave a frustrated sigh. “Whatever, but now he's mad at me, thanks to you.”

Julien shrugged lightly, enjoying things way too much. “He needs to lighten up. He's worn that whole brooding, sulking dark hero image for far too long. It's been at least since the day his mother died… in his arms.”

I winced, squinting up at him. It occurred to me that he said
his mother
and not
our mother
. But I didn't bother to ask why. No wonder Adrius looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his back. That breadcrumb of info explained so much.

Julien led us into the forest, along a narrow trail. Tropical plants and waist high grass grew next to us, weaving its way around a snaking mass of roots. It was eerily breathtaking. So many species I'd never seen before. We strolled in tandem silence, along the meandering moss covered trails that led deeper into the forest. I stopped, pointing at a cluster of plants a few feet from our path. “So many pretty little flowers. I know that one. It's a Mandragora,” I announced, amazed to find something I recognized.

He stared at me. “Now, how could you possibly know that?” He used that patronizing tone I really didn't care for.

“Grade Twelve Botany. We were studying them the day I met Adrius.” It seemed so long ago already. “You wouldn't believe the crazy legends associated with them.” I laughed, reaching for a lavender blossom.

Julien grabbed my hand and yanked it away. “Did you completely sleep through your class, or are you feeling a little suicidal?” he snapped.

I withdrew my arm, confused.

“That plant will be the second thing to get you killed. Unless you're ready to die a painful death, you might want to reconsider
touching
in Mythlandria's forests — starting with that species.”

I blinked. “Oh, I didn't think…” Mumbling numbly, I stepped away from the plant. “They say it has healing properties.” Gran used to talk about it for different remedies.

“It has one. The only purpose for harvesting a mandrake is to aid in expelling evil demons from an infected soul.”

I frowned and a slight smirk played across his face at my reaction.

“Evil demons. Seriously?”

“Come now, surely even your fairytales have taught you not all souls are good, Princess.”

I looked once more at the flower. It seemed harmless enough. A stocky plant, with deep green leaves framing a single amethyst blossom. Amazing how the same plant used in the right measure can either kill or cure.

“Try to remember, Princess, plants in this land will defend themselves, aggressively if they're so inclined. Those
pretty little flowers
as you call them…” He pointed. “Will wrap you in poisonous thorny vines and slowly crush the life from you, leaving the tree roots and maggots to devour your remains. It would be wise to keep your fingers to yourself if you're at all fond of them.”

With a shudder I made a mental note not to touch anything… ever. “So, where to next?” I was anxious to find a less vegetative place when Julien flashed his cocky smile.

“Actually, I think someone may be looking for you.”

Seconds later Adrius rode up beside us, mounted on a sleek black unicorn.

“Brother,
dearest
.” Julien greeted him without turning to look in his direction.

I wanted to ask how he knew Adrius was coming, but then remembered all elves were seers and had that extra sensory perception thing going on. Besides, I couldn't take my eyes off the unicorn. Standing over six feet tall, it resembled a prize steed with its silky black mane and muscular stature. Only the glowing amber eyes and twisted opalescent horn gave it a mythological edge. It snorted, tossing its head high in the air.

“Father is waiting for you in the keep,” Adrius said, dismounting the steed with the skill of a trained rider. The frost coating his words gave me a chill.

“I hope my brother has been good company. Are you enjoying your tour so far?” I thought he was speaking to me, but his eyes were fixed on Julien, who looked completely disinterested.

“It's like I never left botany class,” I answered, trying to lighten the suddenly tense atmosphere.

It didn't work.

“Well, since you're here now, I guess I'm free to go. So I'll trade you — one princess, virtue intact, for your unicorn.” He smirked, waggling his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes.

Adrius didn't reply, silently handing Julien the reins with a steely glare that made me shiver. Julien ignored that too and swung himself onto the animal's back, with the swift agility of a rider.

He nodded. “Thank you for your delightful company, Princess. I'm available for breakfast anytime my brother is too busy.” And with a quick thrust of his legs, the unicorn reared and galloped toward the Citadel, leaving Adrius and me alone.

I spun on my heels to face him, still wary from his earlier mood.

“Something you need?” I said, lifting my chin, my hands clenched at my hips.

The forest was silent, blanketed in the glow of neon green lichen. Filtered sun rays lit pockets of the forest in blinding light.

He rotated slowly, reading my expression without a word. His gaze intensified, and his eyes held mine unwaveringly as though seeing through me. I looked away, trying to shield myself from him somehow.

“Lorelei, I owe you an apology,” he finally said. His voice so thick with remorse it completely threw me.

“There is a lot going on now demanding my attention. The king relies on me to oversee certain tasks. Unfortunately, he can't count on Julien for anything of importance. I should have known he was behind the interruption.” He paused. “Not that it would have made any difference… but it doesn't excuse my behavior.”

I didn't understand what he meant, but decided to let it go.

“It's okay, really,” I said dryly. I was only half lying.

His eyes narrowed. “But it isn't
okay, really
, is it? You are always free to be truthful with me, Lorelei.” Lowering his head, he smiled through the dark waves of hair that swept across his forehead.

“I should never have told you the details of your family so callously. It was not my intent to hurt you.”

“Let's forget the whole thing,” I said, not wanting to relive any of it. I preferred to focus on the fact there was a chance my father was still alive somewhere in Faerie. It was a slim chance, but that was all I needed for now.

Adrius nodded, with a slightly puzzled look. “Consider it forgotten. Here, I have something for you,” he said, moving toward me.

Instinctively I stepped back. His eyebrows rose slightly, but he continued. “Will you accept it?”

“What is it?” I asked warily. Accepting a gift from an Elven Prince could have serious ramifications — especially one who seemed to have such easy access to my thoughts. Nothing was given freely in the Nevermore and every gift, no matter how small, had a significant price.

He smiled darkly. “You're catching on. Don't worry. If I were trying to compel you, you would know it.”

My eyes widened as they shot up at him. “You can do that?”

He smiled a wicked grin. “I can. But I won't.”

I stiffened, lifting my chin. Clearly he's mistaken my reluctance for fear. I might have been bewildered, but I wasn't frightened… not even in the face of this beautiful intimidation.

“I'm not afraid of you,” I said coolly. I thrust out my hand to accept his gift.

His smile faded. “Mortals can be unbelievably foolish… clearly you're more human than I gave you credit for.”

I flailed about for a crushing comeback, but could think of nothing beyond third grade retorts equivalent to sticking out my tongue. Foreign, exotic scents thickened the air and the quiet amplified our tension. A second later, I glanced down to find a small box, wrapped in olive leaves and tied with shimmery, spider-web threads, resting in my hands.

Using a delicate touch, I eased open the mystery package. A silver chain, unlike anything I'd ever seen before, lay nestled in the folds of forest green silk. The chain was constructed of finely woven filaments of silver, as delicate as the spider web packaging.

I didn't usually wear jewelry. Not even the fake kind. I kept my mother's wedding ring, a pair of my father's gold, crescent moon cufflinks and the silver lemon charm, which Adrius mysteriously fished out of the whipped cream that night in the café, in a small treasure chest my grandmother gave me on my sixth birthday.

I held up the delicate chain. It gleamed in the sunlight, casting iridescent light fractals around us. Like everything here, it was almost too pretty.

“Silver?” I asked, running my fingers over the chain.

“Platinum.”

“Hmm…” I nodded with raised brows. “Why are you giving me this?”

What did his gift mean? I wasn't willing to seal my fate over some fancy trinket. The valuable lesson I learned with the green Faerie was still fresh in my mind. Up until this morning I might not have worried, but now I wasn't sure what to expect.

“You'll see why.” He smiled that special smile he reserved solely for persuading me.

My resolve melted.

“Just keep it somewhere safe for a while.”

“You know, you are so hard to follow. One minute you're warning me how dangerous you are, and then next you're giving me jewelry. Where I come from, you'd be labeled bipolar.”

“It's like I told you, Lorelei, I have a duty to uphold, and your protection is a part of that. But that does not mean it's wise for you to get close to me.” His dark eyes looked down from under long lashes. “Or trust me.”

“I do trust you,” I insisted. Insane as it sounded, especially to me. I prided myself in being level-headed and logical. Somehow with him my common sense became disturbingly uncommon.

“Do you?” He peered deep into my eyes.

“Yes.”

An anguished expression shadowed his face. “You shouldn't.”

“So then
this
—” I swung the necklace in front of him. “This is just your duty."

“Noooo,” he said slowly, taking the chain from my hand. “
This
is a peace offering.” Undoing the clasp, his hands reached around my neck, gently brushing my hair out of the way. A small shiver ran down my spine as his fingers grazed the nape. He leaned forward to close the clasp, securing the shimmering strand in place. His face was a mere inches from mine, and without realizing it, I stopped breathing.