Summer of Frost (27 page)

Drake nodded and rose to his feet. “Once
you’re dressed we’ll go to shore and head to the palace. We’ll
figure out what to do and go from there once we talk to everyone.
Then, I want to come back here and start our life together.

I grinned. “Me too.”

Once I was dressed, the water began to open
the path for us like it did when we came in. Drake took my hand,
and we started up the sandy walkway. When it fully opened up to
shore, we saw that we had some visitors waiting for us. Calista and
Ryder were both grinning from ear to ear at our approach. My
brother looked dashing in his all black attire being the smoldering
bad boy of my family. Calista, on the other hand, looked ethereal
with her wavy, blonde hair and emerald green riding dress that
matched both mine and her eyes.

“Sorcha, you look amazing!” Calista
exclaimed when I got closer.

Once Drake and I were on shore, she rushed
over and hugged me and then moved to her brother. Ryder kissed me
on the cheek—taking hold of my hands—and pulled them out from my
sides. “Well, I guess it all makes sense now why you tried going to
the tanning bed a few years ago. You must’ve always been meant to
be a Summer Fae.”

I chuckled. “I believe you’re right, dear
brother. Except now no tanning beds are necessary.”

Drake pulled me into his side and placed his
arm around my shoulder. He looked at Calista and Ryder, and asked,
“What are you two doing here? We were actually getting ready to
head back to the Summer Palace.”

“No need for that,” Calista explained.
“Everyone is coming here. When Oren showed up and explained what
happened, Father had us all summoned. Once I felt the land shift, I
knew things had changed here. I couldn’t wait any longer to see it
for myself.” She paused and glanced around in awe at what was now a
tropical paradise. Exotic trees lined the white sandy shoreline,
and the water … it was bluer than any body of water I’d ever seen.
“I never thought in my life that this would happen. We have two
Summer Courts now, or at least an extension of it. Your land is
absolutely breathtaking.”

“Thank you,” Drake and I said
simultaneously, smiling.

“How is Brayden?” I asked Ryder. “I knew he
was injured in the battle and taken back to the Spring Court. I
never had the chance to see if he was okay.” Ryder shrugged and
glanced over at Calista with a strange look on his face.

Calista snorted and burst out laughing.
“Your brother is doing perfectly fine. I think he got a little more
than he bargained for, though. Except, I don’t think he’s handling
it as well as all of us had.”

Confused, I eyed them both and asked, “What
do you mean by that?”

Ryder sighed. “It appears our brother just
had his vision with the lovely Ariella.”

“What?” I shouted, excited. “This is
definitely a momentous occasion. How did it happen?”

Calista grinned and answered, “It happened
when she and Brayden were saying good-bye at the Spring Court. They
made contact and had their vision right there in front of everyone.
I heard Brayden turned all shades of red after that, and quickly
walked away. I’d say this turn of events is very interesting.”

Drake bellowed. “Oh, I can imagine. Ariella
is a handful. I hope Brayden knows what he’s getting into.
Although, I’m pretty sure she was pissed if he just walked away
from her.”

Calista grabbed my hand and led me over to
the water’s edge. “I’m sure they’ll do just fine with each other.
Brayden wouldn’t be her match if they couldn’t.” She paused and
furrowed her brows, raking her gaze back and forth, clearly
concentrating on something. “Okay, enough about visions. I think
it’s time we built up your palace. After all, everyone’s coming to
see you. With my magic and your brains we could come up with
something spectacular. What do you say?”

Calista’s grip on my hand was tight and
reassuring, and her magic was so strong I could feel it pulsing
throughout my body. She glanced at our clasped hands. “It’s crazy,
isn’t it? When our powers combine like this it’s the most amazing
feeling I’ve ever felt. Just think of what I, you, Mel, and Ariella
could do if we all combined our power.”

“We would be invincible,” I breathed.

Drake took that time to grab my other hand
while Ryder took Calista’s other. “Are we ready?” Calista asked,
raising her eyebrows at me and Drake. “All you have to do is
concentrate on what you want, and it’ll happen.”

I smiled at them all before closing my eyes.
“Let’s do this!”

Drake and Ryder welcomed our families while
Calista helped me change clothes and get ready. “I’m sorry that
Alston betrayed you. I know it had to be hard with losing your
memories and all,” Calista murmured gently while buttoning up my
dress. The one shoulder masterpiece was sea blue … Drake’s favorite
color on me.

“It
was
really hard. I hate to think
about what would’ve happened if I didn’t get my memories back.”

“Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about
that.” When she finished buttoning my dress, she turned me around
to face her. “You know, when Ryder and I had our vision Drake swore
that he’d never be in a situation like that. He thought our love
was ridiculous and sappy. I probably need to give him hell like he
did me and Meliantha, don’t I?”

“Definitely!” I agreed.

We both began laughing. Suddenly, I felt the
connection in my mind open up, signaling that I wasn’t alone.
“Everyone’s waiting, ai dulin,”
Oren called out
silently.

“
Calista and I are almost done here. We
just need a couple more minutes. How are my parents?”

Calista watched me with a sad, knowing smile
lingering on her face. She turned her head away and walked over to
the window, keeping her back to me.

“
They’re anxious to see you, but so is
everyone else. Drake just told everyone about you being a dragon
now.”

In my head, I laughed.
“I knew he
couldn’t wait to tell everyone about that.”

“
I guess it’ll be you protecting me from
now on. My, my, how the tables have turned. I don’t think I’ve ever
had to protect you.”

“
That’s not true,”
I argued.
“You’ve always been there for me, and anyway, what’s wrong with
protecting each other? I can’t help that you’ve been sworn to
protect a girl who has the brains to get her out of sticky
situations on her own. You don’t always have to be the protector,
you know.”

“
Yes I do, ai dulin,”
he insisted.
“Now get yourself down here before your mother comes looking for
you.”

“
Will do.”
When I knew he was done
talking, I focused my attention back on Calista. Her back was still
to me, but her shoulders were hunched over and quaking.

“I envy you, and Meliantha,” she cried, her
voice quivering when she spoke.

I sauntered up beside her and watched the
tears flow down her cheeks. I’d never really spent much time with
her before, but being so close to her made it feel as if she was
truly my sister. It was a feeling I’d never had before growing up
with only brothers. Calista was always so strong, but anyone could
see that she still held the pain in her heart of her lost
guardian.

Knowing she needed the comfort, I wrapped my
arm around her waist and let her lay her head on my shoulder. “I’m
sorry, Calista. I don’t know what I’d do without Oren. I know it’s
a great sadness you bear on your heart.”

She shrugged half-heartedly. “It’s just hard
sometimes when I see all of you with your guardians, it reminds me
of what I lost. I can feel Merrick’s essence inside me, giving me
strength, but I still miss seeing his smiling face. He was my best
friend.”

While listening to Calista talk, I had an
idea form in my head. I wasn’t too sure how far my capabilities
could go or what kind of limit I was bound to, but what I had in
mind was definitely worth a try.

“Calista, look at me,” I said, circling
around to face her. She sniffed and took a deep breath before
lifting her gaze. Her tear-streaked cheeks were flushed, but she
gave me a half- smile anyway. I asked her, “What would you do if
you could see Merrick again?”

“What wouldn’t I do would be the question.
First, I’d thank the heavens and the stars for allowing me that
honor, and second, I’d tell him how much I missed him.”

I nodded, swallowing hard and trying not to
cry from her pain. I would’ve done anything to see Oren if the
situation was turned.

“Why did you ask me that?” she asked.

I paused, then softly said, “Because I think
I know a way you can see him again. I never thought about it before
until now, but with my dream walking abilities I can try to find
him.”

Calista fell into the seat behind her while
the tears flooded like rivers down her cheeks. “Are you really
saying I can see him again?”

I knelt down in front of her, taking her
hands in mine. “Yes, Calista. I’m pretty sure I can find him. Would
you want to try tonight?”

She squealed and flung her arms around me so
tight I could barely breathe. “Yes!” she exclaimed happily. “I
would be forever in your debt if you could grant me this.”

I laughed, but then struggled to breathe
from her excited grip. “Let’s just say it’s a belated wedding gift
to you and my brother. How about that?”

“That sounds perfect.” She let me go and
hastily wiped the tears from under her eyes while I sucked in a
deep breath. “Oh, Sorcha, I’m so sorry. I guess I got a little too
excited.”

“It’s okay.” I laughed. “I know how exciting
this has to be for you.”

“You have no idea. Now let’s get you to the
throne room. I know everyone’s dying to see you, especially your
parents.”

I strolled alongside her until we got
halfway down the corridor. “Wait, I forgot something! I’m going to
run back and get it from my room, and I’ll be down there in just a
second.”

She grinned and squeezed my hand. “Okay,
I’ll let them know.”

Back in mine and Drake’s room, I found what
I was searching for, and quickly made my way to the throne room. I
could hear everyone speaking to each other as I sauntered up to the
door. Once I opened it and came into view, everyone went silent.
However, it didn’t take my mother long to break that silence.

My mother, Queen Mab, rushed over to me and
took my hands. “Oh, my heavens! You don’t even look like the same
girl anymore,” she cried.

“It’s because I’m not, Mother.”

She waved her hand flippantly in the air.
“Oh I know, just don’t let the Bitch Queen taint you. After all,
you’ll be spending more time around her than me now that you’re
here with all the sun and heat. I just don’t see how anyone can
stand it.”

“Most of us aren’t made of ice,” Queen
Tatiana interrupted with a sneer. “It’s just a shame you don’t
melt.” When my mother opened her mouth to make a snide comment, I
cut between them and held up my hands.

“Stop!” I commanded forcefully, glaring at
them both. All eyes pivoted to the altercation with curiosity, but
I didn’t care. “Can you for once play nice with each other? I don’t
know why you two are like this, but it’s got to stop. Look around
you … look at our beautiful families. It’s growing and becoming
stronger. Put your differences aside and keep it that way until we
defeat the dark sorcerer. You can always go back to your bitching
after that. Can you do that, for everyone’s sake?”

It was a bold move, but someone needed to
step up and say something. Surprisingly, it was Queen Tatiana that
folded. She placed her golden skinned hand on my shoulder and
squeezed. “You’re right, Sorcha. This is a wonderful day, and I
don’t want to spoil it for you. It brings me joy to see my son so
happy. We’re family now, so if you ever need anything you know you
can come to me.”