Page 34 of A Requiem of Fire and Ice

“I know,” he says lamely. “But when I saw her, my heart fluttered. However, I doubt I will see her again. They’re tourists because her friend acted as if she had never seen a prince.”

“They go crazy, don’t they?” I smile tightly. “It’s fucking annoying.”

Walkyer barks a laugh. “It gets tedious.”

As I rise, I place my hand on Walkyer’s head and ruffle his ice-blue hair. “If you think there’s a connection, why don’t you ask the taxi drivers?”

“Pardon?” Walkyer brushes my hand away from his hair and stands.

“Well, you said her friend caused a commotion in the cab. I’m sure many taxi drivers would remember a moment like that and go back through their logs so you can find her.”

“Can I do that?” Walkyer says, his brows shooting up with a desperate look.

“Yes,” I say. “I’ll contact Alad in the morning and tell him to send the details to you so you can find this woman who makes my dear brother’s heart flutter.”

“I hear the sarcasm, Reen,” Walkyer mutters.

“You were supposed to.”

Chapter 16

Timeline Change

Pandora Hart, Saturday, July 9th (11:00 am)

We returned home after he had tethered with the water element woman. He whispers his desperate, sloppy pleas when we’re alone.

Xavier lacked the word “talk” when the door closed to his room. Instead, he forced himself on me to prove his love, believing that having sex with me would show his unwavering devotion without a doubt.

“I’m not in the mood, Xavier,” I say. I turn to my side, hoping he’ll leave me be.

He grabs my shoulder, pins me on my back, and glares down at me. “It meant nothing, baby,” he says, and his kisses trail down my neck, across my collarbone. He grips my shirt to lift it over my chest, and I instinctively open my legs. “I love you so much.”

I stiffen at the pop of his jeans buckle. “Xav, I’m not in the mood…”

“But you’re so fucking wet for me, Pandora.”

I stare at the ceiling until it bleeds.

The water at the pier is still. Silence hangs in the air, and the brisk cold brings no wind. The pale, white-as-snow surroundings lack vibrancy, and thick chunks of ice cover the water.

I stand at the edge of the dock and see a colourless world. Millions of stars burn brightly in the sky, scattered amidst the darkness. It’s beautiful to be away from streetlights and homes glowing with yellow warmth, and the stars shine brightly when I’m far from the Kingdom of Crystal.

With my eyes closed, I take in the crisp, thin air. The coldness travels down my throat and spreads into my lungs until the frost burns.

I miss the kingdom’s atmosphere, but the memories are tough to shake off—a dreadful reminder of manipulation, pain, and deceit. I should’ve run away when I had the chance.

As my eyes open, he’s standing beside me. It’s becoming a recurring theme. Whenever I’m in this place, he arrives as a companion. And as much as I want him here, each time my eyes open, it brings fresh pain and longing.

I should make the most of my time here.

“Do you remember when we went ice-skating?” Desmond asks, a smile filled with cherished memories on his face. “You were bloody hopeless.”

“Shut up,” I say, nudging his shoulder. “I learned, didn’t I?”

His fingers brush against mine. “Do you want to?”

I lower my gaze to the thick layer of ice, my hands tightening into clenched fists. “It’s been a while—two years, Des.”