Fire and Ice (41 page)

Our usual breakfast date took on a completely different feel this morning. I marched toward Adrius, arms folded across my chest. The rain had subsided to no more than a soft mist. An endless night of tossing and turning had left my bed sheets and my hair a tangled mess. Even through the hazy morning fog, he could see something was wrong. It showed in his fading smile and creasing brow when he saw what I was holding. I glared at the loathsome scroll with blaming eyes. Could one simple piece of parchment change the course of my life forever?

I stopped— my face inches from his, preparing to confront him.

“Why didn't you tell me?” I said, holding the scroll in front of me like a sword.

He sighed. “I wanted to, but the time was never right.”

“Well, I'm here now.” I shrugged. “Time seems right.”

“It's complicated.”

“I'm listening.”

“And, it's a long story…”

“Apparently, I've got all eternity.” My tone was acerbic.

“Alright,” he said wearily. “But remember you asked for this truth.”

Turning on my heels, I led him to the courtyard. Under the canopy of feathered trees, I dropped onto a twig bench close to the fire pit, suddenly chilly despite the warm air.

Adrius remained standing.

I glared up at him expectantly. “Anytime you're ready…”

He exhaled. “You believe you are here solely because of the prophecy. But there's more to it than you know. The Queen of the Unseelie Court has been meeting secretly with my father for some time. Making plans.”

“What sort of plans?” It was no secret that the Seelie Summer Court was in tight with the elves, but they didn't trust the Unseelie and Shadow courts.

“Plans involving you,” he replied.

“Me?” I swallowed. The time spent in the winter court with Zanthiel flashed uncomfortably to mind.

“They wanted you here, Lorelei. And it was not by accident I went to Drearyton Cove when I did.

“So, you were sent to look for me?” I asked frowning.

He sighed. “Not… exactly. But I knew I'd find you there. I had hoped to warn you before they sent shadow fey to find you. It was my intention to convince you to trust no one and refuse to eat anything offered to you by a stranger.” He continued, his face grimly serious. “I hadn't counted on your mother falling ill and you wandering into the forest that night looking for Vervain…” He paused.

I winced, but waited for him to continue.

“I knew that if the prophecy was true, you'd be able to help her. But then I learned more of the prophecies' predictions, stating your death would come at my hand. I tried to convince you to leave, but you'd already made up your mind to stay. When you left for Faery, it took every ounce of strength I had not to follow. But this connection between us…” His hand motioned back and forth. “It was more powerful than the binding curse, and I had to make sure you were safe.”

“So you followed me,” I said trying to piece together the fragmented story.

Adrius nodded. “Octãhvia's curse bound me to do all I'm requested for my kingdom, including strict obeisance of the king'
s wishes.” His eyes darkened into a frown and his teeth clenched. “Whether I agree with them or not. She believed there would come a time when my father waged war against the Fey, and when the time came, she'd have me on her side.”

“I don't understand. What are you saying?”

He shifted from foot to foot, remarkably uncomfortable for a warrior prince.

“You've been kept here by so many forces, Lorelei. And I played a part… as much as I hate myself for it. You have no idea how I wish it were otherwise. That things were different.” Pain was etched into his expression.

“So you're saying it's all true?” My throat tightened as his words sank in.

“Not all of it.” He shook his head, his eyes dropping to the ground. “But if the winter court decides you must stay with them, and they sway my father to their cause… I will be bound to see it done, unless…”

“Unless what?” I snapped in frustration.

“You were bound to me.” Hazel eyes flashed, and his hand clenched into a knot. “You can be sure I will fight with everything I have to keep you from Zanthiel's depraved shadow court… but should my father order it, I will be powerless to stop it.”

A twinge of guilt ran through me. I had the sense Zanthiel would love for me to remain in the Unseelie Court. Not as if he would ever get his way, but it hurt me to know that Adrius agonized over it. “But you said you'd be free once Octahvia was dead.”

He shrugged. “That's what we believed. But Hawthrin thinks because you absorbed her energy, it's preventing the curse from breaking. I told you before. If I was ordered to kill you…” His voice lowered, growing detached, colder. “I would have no other choice.” His gaze fell to the ground. “Until the curse is broken.”

“Then we'll find a way to break it,” I insisted. In a place where magic was so readily available there must be some counter-spell to undo what had been done to him. “There must be a way.”

He shook his head sadly. “There is only one way we know of.” He paused, drawing in a long slow breath. “Your soul must be sacrificed in exchange for mine.”

A chill shot through me, as I watched him in disbelief. Although my stomach was doing flip-flops, I couldn't believe Adrius would ever do anything to hurt me. Naïve, perhaps, but it was how I felt in my heart. I trusted him implicitly in a world where that trust could get me killed.

“Why don't you look angry? I betrayed your trust, Lorelei. You should be furious right now. Instead, you look worried.”

“I'm not angry, I'm processing. The last thing I'd ever worry about is my safety around you.” I watched a series of conflicted expressions play across his face.

He covered his face with his hands then combed them through his hair in frustration. “Honestly, Lorelei. Are you
addicted
to living dangerously now? I just told you killing you is my only chance at freedom… freedom from a spell under which father might order me to execute you, leaving me no choice but to obey. How many ways does your life have to be in danger in order for you to have enough sense to be afraid?”

“He won't. Why would he?” I argued. “Your father
wants
me to stay here in Mythlandria. He believes in the prophecy.”

“He couldn't care less about you — he wants you locked away in Faery, far from the throne of Elyssium. More so since Julien told him Hawthrin and I had an ulterior plan.

I narrowed my eyes. “What ulterior plan?”

“Keeping you here… and doing whatever it took to persuade you to stay. With me. Hawthrin believed if we were together long enough… he might find a way to break the curse, but that would also break the prophecy. It's complicated, but I would no longer be at my father's mercy, bound to his will… I'd be bound to you instead.” His jaw was rigid and he met my gaze with his all-consuming stare.

A warm buttery feeling trickled inside me and I had to look down to regain my concentration.

“He figured you and I could never happen if you reigned over the Shadow Court.”

“My bloodline is of the Unseelie Court,” I reminded him.

“Doesn't matter,” he said dryly. “My father was dead set against a union of an elfkind to a fey. In this realm, you do not let emotions get in the way. It doesn't matter who you are, what you stand for, or who you claim to be. All that matters is your bloodline. And no matter how good and virtuous, or kind and beautiful a person may be on the surface—” He pinched my chin. “If the blood running through their veins is born of darkness, then eventually, one way or another, that darkness is bound to surface.” His face was sullen.

“You don't actually believe that, do you?”

He narrowed his gaze then looked away. “I used to,” he said, a far off longing in his voice. “But you've renewed my hope that light can win against darkness.”

“Adrius…” I whispered, uncertain what I wanted to say.

But he was shaking his head before I could finish. “I'm no better than my father, Lorelei. I was willing to steal your freedom to attain my own.” He dropped his head, his dark eyes averting my gaze. “I admit, falling in love with you… wasn't part of the plan.”

“So, this —
us
— you wanting to be with me. It was all because I was a pawn…” my voice faded. It was too painful to say aloud.

He read my eyes, realizing the conclusion I had come to.

“Lorelei…” His finger lifted my chin to meet his gaze. “You have never been a pawn. You never could be. I may have formulated the plan, but the moment I met you, I knew. You meant more to me than I could have anticipated. I realized I couldn't steal you away and force you to stay. You had to choose it.”

“And if I didn't?”

“Then I would have to let you go. No matter the consequences.” He paused, staring absently at his hands. “No one can be forced into a destiny, Lorelei. It is a choice. I've had to settle with hoping you would decide to stay…with me. My duty is done. Mythlandria is no longer under the threat of the Ice Witch, and I have been trying to figure out a way for us to be together, without any more sacrifices.” He reached out and stroked my cheek. “You've given up so much already. And if it means following you back into your world, finishing high school and college, and living a mortal life again just to be near you, it's what I'm willing to do.”

He caught my hand before I could push him away again. His lips grazed the inside of my wrist.

I gasped softly, as my breath caught in my throat. It was as natural as breathing for him to touch me, and yet I wished for the will, just this once, to pull away. He playfully caressed each finger.

“You know, you have an unfair advantage with that bewitching thing you do,” I mumbled.

“I told you I'd be honest with you. Never said anything about playing fair.” He broke into a devilish smile and any remaining anger evaporated.

“You would stay in my world? For me?” I couldn't help feeling guilty even thinking about the possibility.

“For
us
,” he said. His mouth quirked into a crooked grin. "I'm sure I can get used to playing human. I've done it countless times before.” He leaned toward me, close enough for me to see my reflection in his olive gaze. “There's
nothing
I wouldn't do for you…To be with you.”

It was hard to imagine him back in my world, going to classes like a normal teenager. Even though that's what he was when I first met him. We would never have the same concerns. An Elven Prince didn't have to worry about homework and music scholarships and part time jobs. He'd already graduated more times than I cared to count. All at once the reality of how different we really were, descended on me. I'd never been so conflicted. Mythlandria had become my home, and yet I had a life, family, and friends to return to.

If we could be together, did it matter where we were? I sighed. Understanding the length of suffering he would endure in my world without the assistance of magic, lingered like a storm cloud hovering on the edge of my mind, threatening to wash away all hope. But I pushed it aside. I didn't want to think about any of it now. All that mattered was he wanted to find a way.

“Can you forgive me?” he murmured, his voice penetrating my thoughts.

In that moment, all other emotions fighting for center stage faded away. There was nothing but my immutable love for him. That was all there would ever be.

“I can forgive you on one condition.” I pulled him up from the ground to sit next to me.

“Name it, and it's yours.”