Forgotten Kingdom (The Winter Court Chronicles Book 1) Read online

  “We have a mission,” I announced, reaching for the enchanted hourglass on the table and turning it, effectively ending the spell, and returning time to its normal flow. The hourglass served as an instrument to slow time within the chambers so that he could enjoy himself longer.

  “Oh, come on!”

  I ignored his protest. “The Druid prophecy has begun. We are to retrieve a Minastra GalIsacura Arthulis crystal from the White Haunted Mountain and visit the High Priest and Priestess to pledge our alliance. We shall leave at once.” I turned to the door but stopped and observed my brother. “I’ll allow you a few more minutes since it is evident you haven’t finished. Wear your ceremonial armor. We must be presentable. I will bathe and change, then meet you in the great hall.”

  “Thank you, brother,” he answered with a grin.

  I shook my head, walking out of his chambers. Laurel was back at my side.

  “The bath awaits you, my prince, and the garments you requested are ready and lay on your bed.” She said as we entered my room.

  “I can see that. Thank you, Laurel.” The maids were still adding salts in my bath. They bowed.

  “I have also informed Prince Nyx that you’ll be leaving soon. He’s getting ready.”

  I smiled. Laurel was exceedingly efficient and helpful. In my eyes, she was the most capable among the staff in our court. She had been assigned to my care since I was born, and was a thousand years older than I—although, you would not know it by looking at her. She shared the beauty of our race, with long turquoise hair and glimmering fair skin. Her eyes a lighter tone than that of her tresses, almost transparent. She had deep rose lips and a stunning body with soft curves. She was my right hand within the castle, and I trusted her more than I did my brothers. She advised me when I was uncertain about a course of action, and tended to all my needs.

  “Avrielle, Duchess of Qalia, Daughter of Alannah is here to see you, Your Highness.” The guard announced, and I turned to find Avrielle at the door.

  “Must you announce me every single time?” She asked exasperated, pushing past him.

  “You forgot King’s High Counselor,” I told the guard.

  “Avrielle, King’s High Counselor, Duchess of Qalia, Daughter of Alannah is here to…”

  “Oh, be silent.” She stopped in front of me while I chuckled. “We grew up together, Kyr. I have lived here for centuries, he’s known me all his life, and he still announces me. Tell him to stop.”

  I turned to the guard. “Milfried, please make it a point to announce the Duchess every time you see her.” I laughed again when Avrielle’s hand connected with my chest, pushing me backwards.

  She turned to the others. “Leave us.”

  Laurel’s eyes widened, and she looked at the maids then at me. “The prince is about to bathe. We must assist him. It is our duty.”

  “I can take care of the prince. I’m here to brief him on his mission. Please, leave us, Laurel.”

  Laurel looked at me still unsure, and I nodded. “It is all right. Thank you.”

  I watched the door close, and suddenly I was thrust against the wall. Avrielle stared into my eyes as the cold blade of my dagger rested on my neck. Her lips curved into a beautiful smirk.

  “The great Commander of the Dark Army bested by a Duchess? The king would be ashamed.”

  I smirked, leaning in. “The women of the Winter Court are the fiercest warriors. A good Commander recognizes that. It is the reason my Dark Army is made of women,” I whispered in her ear. My lips brushed her earlobe, and she shuddered. It had been subtle and barely visible, yet, it had been there. I leaned closer and took a moment to smell the scent of her skin. My nose slowly traveled the length of her bare neck, and she stepped back. She blinked a few times, trying to regain her composure and smiled handing me the dagger.

  “Smart Commander.”

  “Brilliant,” I answered, and walked past her towards the bathtub. Throwing my dagger on the bed, I began removing my suit. “Are you here to brief me, Avrielle? Or are you eager to see me naked?” I asked, amused and began to remove my boots.

  Her eyes narrowed. “I have seen naked men before. I am sure there is nothing under those garments that the others don’t have.”

  I raised my eyebrows questionably. “You have seen naked men?”

  “Not in that manner, you pervert.” I chuckled. “I have seen the Dark King naked,” She added and my brows rose again.

  “Please, tell me you are not sleeping with my father?”

  “What? No!” She shuddered. “He’s over ten thousand years older than I am. Gross. Not to mention your mother—the reigning Queen—would probably have me hanged.” I laughed. “I am his High Counselor. I am with him when he needs me, regardless of where he is. Trust me. I’ve had nightmares after that.”

  I reached for my pants, chuckling. “Last chance to leave the room,” I said, unbuttoning them. She stared into my eyes and crossed her arms. She wasn’t going anywhere. “Have it your way.” I pulled down my pants, uncovering myself to her and heard a small gasp escape her lips. She cleared her throat to cover it, and I repressed a laugh. “So what are you here to brief me on?” I asked, getting into the steamy water. It instantly relaxed my muscles, and I lay back closing my eyes.

  “The High Priestess’ name is Brina Anwell. She is the Great Priest’s Granddaughter. The Great Priest, Nels, was unfortunately killed a few months back. He died protecting her.”

  I opened my eyes at the news. “I’m truly sorry to hear that. Nels was a great man.” I noticed Avrielle’s eyes quickly turn away from me. She was trying her best to avoid looking at my naked body. I smirked. “You may look if it pleases you. I won’t be offended.”

  “Pervert.”

  I laughed and reached for the soap, lathering my body while she walked towards my bed, sitting on it. “Cynwrig Bressall is the High Priest at the moment. Brina is his mate. The Minastra GalIsacura Arthulis crystal will aid her in following her true path. It is imperative for the prophecy to come to pass.”

  “I haven’t seen Cynwrig in almost…”

  “Two millennia, in human years,” She said, completing my sentence. I nodded.

  “Is that all?”

  She nodded and stood, walking towards the window. My eyes took in every detail of her while the light bathed her skin. Her violet eyes seemed to glow as the sunrays hit them. The small symbols along her temples which denoted her noble blood appeared to swirl every few seconds. Her pale shimmery skin looked so soft I was tempted to caress it. She touched the glass while my eyes continued to admire her. She had long, lustrous light violet hair. Her nose was small and refined, and she had stunningly plump rosy lips. Slightly pointed ears peaked through her violet strands. The light blue gown she wore accentuated her body beautifully.

  The top was a see-through mesh-like material, it was thin, and it molded to her figure flawlessly. The silver thread embroidery resembled frosted branches, which started on her waist and moved upwards spreading over her chest. It both covered her breasts and highlighted them. The skirt was long and brushed the floor, yet, when she walked her right leg peeked through the slit in the material. Damn, I loved that. She looked breathtaking next to the stone columns of the castle. The grayish white marble covered in frosted ice veins seemed like the perfect frame for her beauty. The ice crystals sparkled just as her eyes did.

  “I presume it is only fair that I see you naked too,” I added, only half joking.

  She turned and huffed. “You are an animal.” I chuckled while she whirled around and stormed out of the room.

  We came out of the portal with our horses and into the freezing cold of the mountain. Although we were Winter Fae and our skins were used to the cold, the temperatures here still caused a chill to crawl over my skin. We dismounted the horses and entered the mountain.

  The cave we sought stood at the highest peak of the White Haunted Mountain, and it garnered the purest and most potent, mystical crystal our race had. The Minastra GalIsacura Ar
thulis.

  We reached the cave and stood just beyond its entrance. “All right, brothers. We must find the perfect crystal for the High Priestess. This gift must seal our alliance and assist her in mastering her abilities. It is why we have been summoned, and why it is crucial that we don’t fail.”

  Nyx and Ash nodded and proceeded to find their way into the cave.

  *

  “Kyr!”

  Nyx called, from somewhere in the depths of the cave. We had been searching for the perfect form of the stone, and although we had found many, none were good enough for the High Priestess.

  “Yes, brother?”

  “I have found it.” He announced.

  His voice sounded closer, although I could not yet see him. I found Ash on the way, and we stood in the middle of the cave to wait for Nyx. The multiple beams of rainbow-colored light reached us first. They bounced all around the darkness; igniting the rest of the crystals and making them project beams of their own. Ash looked at me smiling. The white glow that shone from the center of the stone illuminated the path as Nyx approached us. When I finally saw his face, his eyes sparkled almost as brightly as the crystal did. He stood before us. The several clusters formed an obtuse shape in his hands. The light emanated from deep inside it due to the high concentration of magic in the cave.

  “A small cluster of Minastra GalIsacura Arthulis was found in the human world around the 1800’s, human time,” Nyx informed us smiling as he rotated the stone. “Probably, left behind by a careless Winter Faery that traveled through the realms. Once the humans found the cluster, they began to search their entire realm for the origin of it. Nevertheless, it was never found. After they had given up on the chance of finding the formation, they decided to recreate it. Since then, they have used a white quartz stone, which they submit to an arduous process, it consists of mixing it with liquid silver in the hopes of mimicking its beautiful rainbow glow. The result was beautiful, and they gave it the name of Angel Aura Quartz. Although it is but a shadow of our Minastra GalIsacura Arthulis, the humans highly revere it, and they pay great amounts of their currency for a single cluster.” Nyx fixed his glasses and looked into my eyes. “Did you know that, brother?”

  I smiled. “I didn’t know that, Nyx. Thank you for enlightening us.”

  “My pleasure,” He said, pleased to have shared his knowledge with us, and placed the crystal in my hands.

  “Yeah, very nice, brother. I’m sure you get many women laid using that.”

  “Ash…” I warned, and he chuckled.

  “The pursuit of knowledge of all realms, races, and civilizations is far more important than sex, brother. It is education that advances our race. We are Fae, all knowing, all seeing. There is a reason we have been around since the beginning of time itself.” Nyx chided.

  “Yeah, sure, okay. When was the last time you had a naked woman in your arms, dear Nyx?”

  I sighed while Nyx fixed his glasses and frowned, obviously uncomfortable with the topic.

  “Precisely, brother. You know, you should stop by my chambers tomorrow afternoon. I’m having a gathering of sorts, and I happen to know a certain lady that wouldn’t mind spending a few hours with you inside her.”

  “You do?” Nyx asked, startled.

  Ash nodded, resting his arm on our little brother’s shoulder. “In fact, she has asked about you.”

  “She has?”

  “Oh yes, brother. She wants you, and I must say she has the most beautiful round breasts and tiny waist I have ever seen on a woman, and that includes human females.” He bit his lip appreciatively. “I’m dying to lay with her, but she doesn’t want me, Nyx. She wants you,” Ash added, and I rolled my eyes.

  “She does?” Ash nodded. “What time exactly should I stop—”

  “Enough,” I said, making them both turn to look at me. Ash grinned triumphantly, while Nyx seemed flustered.

  My eyes roamed the large stone. Although it was exactly what we had hoped we would find, its shape wasn’t adequate for its use. “Place your hands on the crystal, brothers.” Once they did, I closed my eyes, invoking the magic of the Fae and spoke in our ancient language.

  “Tirayan narensata faeossa mir, taros uthaeren taerineth starevlae far”— Transform to your true self.

  The stone’s glow increased until it became almost blinding, then it receded leaving the cave in near darkness once again. We looked at our gloved hands to find a large crystal sphere. The rainbow light was barely visible as it concentrated inside. Its magic had been contained. Satisfied with our accomplishment, I opened the velvet sack I carried on my hip and placed the white crystal sphere inside.

  “Time to go visit the High Priestess, brothers.”

  We rode back towards the castle to meet with Kah and Gallai, my personal guard, who were to accompany us. Kah rarely left my side. I gave her the crystal for safe keeping, and we galloped to the back of the castle, although remaining away from prying eyes. I pulled the charmed portal key from my pocket and brought it to my lips.

  “Numinous gate of the realms, I Kyr Gaerrath, Prince of the Winter Court ask you to appear before us. Laethay Une Sata Curayossa Sae”—grant us safe passage.

  The energy in the air began to change instantly, the cold increased until frost and ice vines protruded from the ground forming an archway. They began to solidify, transforming into stones in different shades of blue, it resembled one of the gates of our castle. The next second, the portal stood before us fully formed. Its center shimmered, opening as it connected our realm with the human one, granting my request.

  I had seen the doorway appear many times, but it never ceased to impress. It was eighteen feet tall and twelve feet wide. Two equally massive columns framed it, and on its center, it had a double archway. The white tribal snowflakes that represented our court seemed engraved on the stones around it, bearing the initials to our kingdom on the top “W.C.” The frost didn’t completely disappear though; it settled along the bottom of the columns.

  When my eyes returned to its opening, the Druid Village was visible on the other side. I smiled at Nyx and Ash, and we galloped into their world.

  We crossed into the middle of the Druid Village. The warriors before us relaxed their stance and broke formation as realization sunk in of who we were. The protective magical boundaries they had placed along the village couldn’t be trespassed by a mere human, but Faery magic was much too strong. My eyes settled on Cynwrig Bressall, the new High Priest of the Order, he looked just the same as the last time I saw him—he was immortal after all—and his beautiful new mate.

  Brina Anwell, the new High Priestess Avrielle had mentioned. She was taller than the women around her, and I could feel the mystical energy exuding from her pores. Long red strands framed her freckled face; she had fair skin and a slim body with soft curves. Her big sky-blue eyes were enchanting, and they almost seemed to sparkle. The potency of her mystical abilities radiated from her. It was equivalent to that of Cyn’s—the Goddess had performed a perfect match.

  Ash whistled appreciatively as his eyes landed on the Priestess and the Latin beauty beside her. Her skin seemed made of caramel; long golden-brown hair cascaded over her shoulders onto her large breasts and the curves on her body. There was no denying her exotic charm. I sent a censuring glance to my brother nonetheless. He smirked, and I silently grunted, hoping Ash would behave, but it was futile. Seducing women was as natural as breathing for Ash, they gravitated towards him, and I knew there was no instance in which he would leave this place without at least attempting to lay one of them.

  Cyn reached for his mate’s hand, while the warriors kneeled before us, offering their respects as our black horses stopped in front of them. I looked at them taking everything in, and I could see we had arrived in the middle of a celebration.

  The Priestess’ eyes and her friend’s widened as she looked at us and I repressed a chuckle. We didn’t make a habit of mingling with humans. In fact, it was severely frowned upon, but in the few instances
I had encountered them, their strange reaction to us was priceless. To the humans, we were cute, and small magical creatures that could fit in the palm of their hands and flew with a wand leaving shimmery trails of Faery Dust everywhere. The concept made me laugh. Although the mystical dust was real, if they were to meet Beith, the six foot tall guardian of the mystical, sparkling substance they would not be charmed. The man had the social skills of a rock, and his heart was as cold as our lands.

  Brina’s eyes roamed my form, and I allowed her to take her fill as we walked closer. She was forced to look up at me as I stood at seven and a half feet tall. Her eyes traveled over my long, sleek sable hair, which fell over my shoulders, then admired the Warrior braids I usually styled my tresses with, at both sides of my head. Her appraising gaze moved to my eyes and filled with wonder. I was sure she’d never seen eyes like mine. My brother’s and I shared the same color eyes, a frosted blue so light that it seemed like it was glowing. Although, that was not all we shared.

  Ash, Nyx and I bore a very strong resemblance, even though I was two thousand years their elder, we could easily be mistaken for triplets. Same dark as midnight hair, same pale skin, curved lips and chiseled jaws as well as strikingly light eyes that contrasted harshly with our hair. But that was where the physical similarities ended. They were seven feet tall, which made me slightly taller, they both had short hair, but Ash styled it back while my little brother Nyx let his bangs slightly fall over his forehead, and wore black-rimmed glasses.

  Ash had a small tattoo right below his right eye, it was an ethnic symbol of some sort, but I could never remember from which culture or what it meant. Hard muscles stretched over our bodies, built over the years from training and the physical endurance we had achieved within the Dark Army. I kept my brothers on a rigorous, daily routine of physical development.

  My brothers and I waited amused, as Brina and her friend analyzed our every detail, obviously appreciating our bodies even under the white leather armor suits we wore. We even dressed similarly, most of the time, except for my Dilrunarta Galothnae Kuru—Dragon Wings’ Cloak, which rested over my shoulders—I never went out without it—while my brothers wore regular white cloaks.