Frost Kisses (Bitter Frost #4: Frost Series) (21 page)

“The laws of magic are not always easy,” she said. “But they are always fair.” She looked at me. “But your heart has not always been undisturbed. There has been another.”

“Logan...” I whispered.

“Kian's heart and love were pure. But your heart is torn, divided. If you wish to restore your love, you must make the ultimate choice.”

As I looked down at Kian's face, still beautiful even in death, I knew that the choice had already been made. I cared for Logan, as I always would, but my feelings for Kian were greater still. What I felt for Logan was attraction; what I felt for Kian was true love. It was Kian I would die for. I had always loved him. I had always been part of him, and he had always been a part of me. My whole life I had dreamed about him, my fairy prince, my intended. I had painted portraits of his face before I even met him. I could communicate with him telepathically, my soul with his.

I only regretted that we would never share the life we had dreamed of.

“Yes,” I said at last. “I am willing.”

“Then it shall be done,” said the woman, coming closer.

“Only...” I took a deep breath. “Tell him – when he wakes up. Tell him not to forget about peace. Tell him he must live on – to make sure Feyland survives with us.” I took one final look at Kian's body, so smooth and still. I took a hesitant breath and said, trying to keep my emotions steady, “Tell him that I will always love him, had always loved him. And please do not be sad when I am gone. He will be a great king one day, and the love he had for me will aid him, not hinder him.” I pressed my lips to his forehead. “Goodbye, my love,” I said.

“Come,” said the woman. She led me to the edge of the mountain, where a precipice jutted out. I looked down and for a moment, terror gripped me, as I saw the great heights to the bottom – the endless drop from the center of the sun to the depths of the earth. I had always been afraid of heights – now I will die from it. I closed my eyes, said a prayer, and looked up again. “I am ready,” I said.

“Very well.” The woman laid her hands upon my head, and instantly I felt the full force of her magic rush through me – a magic greater and more powerful than any I had ever known, filled with the primal force of the ancient ways, the magic older than that of Fey or pixie, older than Feyland itself the great magic that was at the root of all things. A cloud of white surrounded me.

I felt a sudden jerk backwards and I opened my eyes. The white glow had disappeared and I was alone, my back arched, falling backwards, my body plunging faster and faster down the mountainside, into the abyss.

Epilogue

I
could feel myself falling, and my lips and tongue grew numb with terror – but the terror faded. I felt rather as if I were slipping into a dream, into a peaceful mist, where the troubles of war could no longer reach me. I was safe. I was secure. I was free. I thought of my mother, painting in her overalls, and of my father sleeping on his pile of furs, of Shasta and Rodney, who had loved each other so much they were willing to die – or to kill. I thought of Logan, and his last, sad kiss, and of the love I could not give him, and of Kian, who held my love in the palm of his hands.

I closed my eyes. I wanted that image of Kian, pure and perfect; to be the last thing I saw when I hit the ground.

And then I stopped moving. I felt my body rage against gravity, rage against the certainty of its own death. I felt a pain erupt from my back, and then I wasn't falling anymore. I was moving upwards – higher and higher until I was high above the very sun itself.

What was happening to me?

And then I saw, reflected on the mountainside, two great, broad shadows on either side of my body, moving back and forth in perfect rhythm with my heartbeats.

Wings.

***********************************

Breena, Kian, and Logan’s story continues in

Book 5 of The Frost Series

Midnight Frost

Fall 2011

Sneak Preview of the New Dystopian Series

DESIRE

Book 1

kailin gow

Prologue

P
erfection. That was how best to described the day. Blue skies with the hint of lilac and buttercream, fat fluffy white clouds gliding by added to the beautiful day. It was the perfect way to end a sunny school day. With my hand nestled warmly in Liam’s, I walked at his side, my face tilted up to the sun, my nostrils breathing in the fresh air that smelled like Spring lavenders and fresh linen. The fragrant air made me think of Spring formals, garden parties, and outdoor barbeques. The day could not be more enjoyable if it’d been planned that way. If I had not grown up anywhere else besides the state of Arcadia, I would have thought this was the way it always was everywhere.

School had gone well, tests and exams had been passed with flying colors and the birds seemed to be singing perfectly. Like every day in Arcadia.

As we approached Nellie’s Diner, I caught a glimpse of myself in a store window and was pleased with the reflection I saw. My long blonde hair cascaded down my back, freshly brushed and tidy. The lustrous locks fluttered in the breeze in a way that always made Liam smile, and it all added a bounce to my step. 

That morning I’d chosen to wear my pale green smock dress, the one that he always complimented me on.

“That dress sure does make those hazel eyes of yours pop,” he’d always say.

Always told I was a pretty girl, I never really believed it until Liam and I began dating in high school. At his side I felt beautiful. Was it his striking features that enhanced my sense of beauty or was it simply the look of adoration I saw in his eyes every time he looked at me that made me feel so beautiful?

“How’d you do on your math test?” he asked.

Though I’d always managed to get good grades, I never failed to get nervous and edgy when test time came around. “I think it went well,” I said, smiling at him and adoring him all the more for the concern he always showed for me and my studies.

“I think I pretty much aced that History exam this morning,” he said with pride.

He was so handsome, his fair curls so angelic. It never failed to amaze me how sweet, kind and generous he could be. A guy as handsome as Liam could easily break a thousand hearts, yet he was thoughtful and considerate in the way he treated every woman he met, and he was particularly attentive, loving and caring with me.

“Maybe my Life’s Plan should have been to become a history professor,” he added as he opened the door to the diner, his bright blue eyes twinkling with laughter and amusement.

I shared his hope and promise, and questioned what my own Life’s Plan would be. With my eighteenth birthday quickly approaching, I would know all too soon. It was as though I had been waiting all my life to find out what my Life Plan would be. All of us under the age of eighteen waited with anxiety and anticipation to find out what our Life’s Plan held: our profession, who we would marry, where we would live, and how many children we would have. It would all be written in our Life’s Plan.

“Kama! Liam,” Sarah called from across the crowded diner.  “Hey, you love birds, over here.”

I couldn’t count the number of eyes that watched us as we made our way to our table. We’d been voted the best-looking couple in school for two years, and some even said we were the most attractive couple in town. Some claimed I had pale violet highlights that shined in the bright summer sun, though I can’t say I ever really noticed them myself. Some even hinted at the added degree of elegant glamour my recently fashioned bangs gave me. Others were envious of what they call my porcelain skin.

It was all flattering, but it was also incredibly embarrassing. I felt scrutinized and watched all the time. Added to this was the expectation that Liam and I would soon marry. The thought both pleased and pressured me. I’d known Liam since I could remember, but the pressure to marry was sometimes difficult to swallow. I wanted to do this on my own terms, not by everyone’s expectations.

“After you.” Liam gestured to the booth.

“Have you been waiting long?” I asked Sarah as I slid in.

“Just long enough to down one of these.” She held up a tall, long glass of soda then turned to Liam. “You know, I was thinking, next week we could do the party down by the lake if the weather holds up.”

“I’m famished. Have you ordered yet?”

“Two mini burgers with coleslaw and a mammoth burger with fries for Liam.”

“Thanks,” Liam said, obviously anticipating the great meal to come.

“So, what do you think? Sarah asked him.

“I had thought about that, too. Streamers on the trees, flowers everywhere, and maybe even a live band?  Or we could do something elegant and classy at my place.  The grounds are beautiful this time of year with everything in bloom.”

“I think she would really love that.”

“I just love how you guys go about planning my birthday party as if I wasn’t even there.”

“It’s as close to a surprise party as we can get. You always guess what we’re up to anyway.” Sarah pointed her straw at me for emphasis.

“But the night of my birthday is the same as the Arcades last game of the season.”

“That’s if they make it to the finals.” Liam seemed unconcerned with the turn out of the evening.

“They always make it,” Sarah added.

“Even if they do, everybody’s going to want to come celebrate Kama’s birthday.”

It was just like Liam to be so optimistic. I suddenly thought of the secret wedding plans I’d conjured up for us.  As annoying as the pressure to marry could sometimes be, the thought that marrying Liam might not be in my Life’s Plan often scared me to death.

“That’s pushing it a bit, don’t you think?” I knew I was popular at school, but for the student body to skip the Arcades’ victory party for my eighteenth birthday wasn’t likely to happen.

“Look,” Sarah said with finality. “The game is at two, will probably end before five, everyone will celebrate ‘til seven and then they can all slide on over to our party for eight. Voila. It’s all settled and everyone is happy.”

I tried to concentrate on what she was saying, but I felt every sense in my body awaken to something I’d never felt before. It was electric, almost painful. Was this what closing in on my eighteenth birthday felt like?

No, it was more than just that. I stared out the window, looking for the source of my sudden distraction. The feeling intensified until the conversation between Sarah and Liam was completely blotted out and all that existed was that odd sensation.

“Kama, did you hear what I said?”

I pulled my gaze away with difficulty and concentrated on Sarah who wove a lilac colored sheet of paper at me

I knew what it meant and instantly felt that jolt of envy. Having turned eighteen a few weeks back, she’d finally received her Life’s Plan.

“I finally got word from the Committee. Can you believe it? I hold in my hand my Life’s Plan.”

“And you managed to hold that bit of information back this long?” I said, teasing her.

“I love you and want this birthday to be special for you, but now that everything is practically settled, we can talk about
moi
.”

“So, what does the future hold for
toi
?”

Before she could answer, the waitress arrived with our order.

“Everything looks delicious as usual. Thank you,” Sarah said with a quick, polite but dismissive smile. She was eager to tell us about her Life’s Plan and it showed.

Beaming with pride, she pulled out her electronic pad, inserted the small chip she’d received from the Committee and turned the screen to Liam and me.