But of course, someone had to ruin the moment.
“Well, this is an interesting welcome.”
FIVE
Thorn
Icespreadovermybody as my irritation grew. “Think of the benefits!”
Father glided down the halls of our ice palace, and I forced myself to take longer strides to keep his pace.
If I wasn’t barefoot, I’d slide all the way down the hall.
I loved growing up in a palace built of ice, soaking up the magical energy of the ice and bitter cold. It was only after attending Fate Hollow Academy that I realized how impractical this would be for other species of supernaturals in Kalista… except my Kit.
She would love it. I couldn’t wait to bring her to the Ice Kingdom once everything settled.
He huffed out a breath and rolled his eyes, eyes I’d inherited from him. “What benefits could there possibly be with making a peace treaty with those… those...ash wielders!”
“Father,” I hissed, reaching out to grab his arm and force him to stop walking. “If you would just tell me what happened, then—”
“It is not your business, son!” His voice whipped through the air, and a few icicles hanging above us came crashing down.
I threw up a hand to redirect them into the wall, and they shattered on impact. “Itwillbecome my business.”
He inhaled through his nose before expelling the air. “I’m sorry, but there is more to this than you realize. It’s best to stay out of it for now. In the meantime, why don’t you bring your mate home to meet us? Your mother hasn’t stopped talking about it.”
My heart throbbed as longing spread down the matebond, and I tore my hair out of the ceremonial updo so it spilled down my back. “I won’t bring her here until it’s safe. The palace is a target because of the war. I’d love to bring her. She would love it here.” I smiled softly. “But only after things are settled. Both in Kalista and our kingdom.”
He brushed a lock of blue hair from his eyes and tucked it into the pile of hair on top of his head with a frown. “We can’t help with Kalista because it’ll leave us vulnerable with the Fire Kingdom.”
“I know. That’s why I want to offer a treaty—”
“Thorn,” he snapped, and a dust of snow exploded from his skin. “Drop it.Please.”
“I’ll drop it for today. But if I’m to rule this Kingdom, you must tell me the reason.” I calmed my magic before phasing out of our palace and into the forest where the portal to Kalista stood surrounded by trees.
Trees in the Ice Kingdom were encased in ice, naturally. Their trunks were solid ice, as were the branches, and the leaves were made of a delicate ice entombed in fluffy snow. Snow covered the ground of the forest, but our walkways were ice. We had ponds frozen over all over our land.
Many in Kalista were confused when they realized we were the Ice Kingdom and not the Water Kingdom due to their four recognized elements being earth, fire, water, and air. Ice and water were the same though. Water’s ice form was superior, and the fae resonated with ice more than water.
The fae realm differed from Kalista in that each kingdom’s natural biome was made of their respective element.
I’d visited each one when I learned about the ways of our world, but it had been years. I remembered the Fire Kingdom most prominently since Nate and I were always together up until a few years ago. Our parents were even close. Something detrimental must’ve happened for us to go to war, but nobody knew the reason why.
The Earth and Air Kingdoms were neutral. I could go there and beg them to help Kalista with the war, but my parents wouldn’t take kindly to the future king asking another kingdom for help outside the fae realm’s jurisdiction.
I held out my hand and shot a few shards of ice through the portal before it began to swirl.
Wren’s bearberry scent wafted through the portal, and I sensed her presence was close. I ran through the portal, the magic buzzing across my body as I rushed through.
As I stepped into Kalista, relief swept over me. Lachlan was pinning Wren down in the snow, right in front of the fae portal. Her hair fanned around her, and the way Wren smiled up at him made my heart swell as she sent longing down the bond.
She’d grown so much after coming here and meeting her potential mates. I loved her more than anything in both worlds. Our matebond snapping together was a dream come true. I hadn’t wanted to get my hopes up, but I had wanted her from the first moment I saw her.
Sinking into her that day in the forest when we completed our bond was the most exhilarating thing I’d ever experienced. We’d made love a few times since, but my need for her now was intense.
“Well, this is an interesting welcome,” I mused.
