Everlasting Kingdom (The Winter Court Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  “I thought you were smart. If you haven’t figured out by now what I’ve been doing with Gaby in my chambers all day, not even the Goddess can help you.” He stopped beside us and rested his arm over my shoulder, leaning on me. “I’ve been having delicious sex, Brother. That is what I’ve been doing. Making love to my beautiful Star, and making her mine over and over again, so there is no doubt in our Goddess’ eyes that I want Gaby and no one else.”

  “If that were proof enough, then you’d be bonded to every woman in this kingdom,” I huffed, pushing him off me.

  Ash sidestepped, momentarily losing his balance, then pretended to laugh at my joke. Kyr chuckled at our exchange. “Fine, then I’ll be even more direct.” His eyes went to the ceiling as though he could see the sky. “I want no one but Gaby!” he bellowed. “You hear me, right? I don’t want your righteous fated. I’m keeping my human!”

  “Ash!” Both Kyr and I reprimanded at the same time.

  “What?” he asked nonchalantly.

  “Are you brain dead? You don’t defy the Goddess!” I hissed, my breathing quickening in outrage. “There are rules for a reason. Guidelines, magical or otherwise, must be followed. It is the only way to have a fully functioning society, in which each person plays a role. Fated are there for a reason, an important one, and you are no one to break that practice. Without structure, the world as we know it would probably collapse!” I fisted my hands, glowering at him.

  Ash leaned on me again. “Chill, little brother. You look like you are going to have a stroke. Besides, it’s probably too late for your lecture. I’ve been with Gaby more times than I can count. I not only defied the Goddess, by this point, I’ve also shown her the finger.”

  The deafening gasp that escaped me reverberated through the space and Ash laughed. My pulse raced as my gaze nervously roamed the cave, half expecting a bolt of lightning to strike him down and crack the temple open. I swallowed, suddenly feeling lightheaded; Ash’s behavior was going to get us all killed.

  “And I’m not here, enduring Kyr’s torture, because unlike you two fools, I have perfect control over my ability,” he added, addressing my initial complaint.

  Ash stood to his full height and smirked. The next second, power exuded out of him like an invisible wave. It fanned my skin, causing the hairs of my side bangs to fly back, and seeped through me, continuing its path until it crashed against the walls. They gently quaked in response. My wide eyes connected with Kyr’s, and I followed his gaze back to our brother. A gasp escaped me when I caught a glimpse of green, quickly traveling over his arms.

  Just as it had appeared, it was gone.

  Ash made a face. “Okay, so my ability may or may not have gone a bit haywire since the first time I was with Gaby, but I’m handling it,” he explained with a shrug. “Also, I’d like to point out to you two judgmental morons, that I’m not the only one who broke the mating rules.” He wiggled his eyebrows amusedly, focusing on Kyr, who slightly cringed. “I mean, at least mine is human, but you literally stole someone else’s fated and made her yours.” Kyr sighed, his shoulders dropping.

  I frowned, facing our older brother. “Have you learned how it was possible for Avrielle to open up to you while being fated to someone else?”

  “I haven’t.” Kyr answered, troubled. He shook his head, placing his hands on his hips as he let out a heavy breath. “I haven’t had a chance to ask our father. But I don’t care how it was possible. She’s mine. Avra performed the Mating Ceremony for us, broke the bond Zeph had to Avrielle, and transferred her tie to my essence. They are no longer connected, we are, and she is mine for eternity.”

  “He what?!” I whisper-screamed as my heartbeat faltered.

  “Can our father really do that?” Ash inquired, as though considering the possibility.

  Kyr smiled, nodding. “He did, and the Goddess blessed our union.”

  “How could you possibly know that?” I questioned, baffled.

  “Her divine light bathed us during the ceremony, and I felt it. Avra connected with her. He has the power to undo a fated bond if he so chooses it.”

  I blinked as my heart thundered within my chest. The Dragon Lord, our father, had the power to end a fated bond. The information settled in the back of my head, making its presence known. I pushed it aside, and nervously swallowed, my throat had suddenly become exceedingly dry.

  I could end the bond…

  “Will you do it?” I asked Ash, stepping closer. “Will you ask him to end your fated bond, and create one between you and Gabriella?”

  “Yes,” he answered, without hesitation. “I don’t want anyone else.”

  I stared at him, taken aback by his resolve and commitment to Gabriella; it was a sight I had never beheld. Not from him. I stepped back, resuming my place and swallowed, unsettled by it all. “I don’t understand.”

  “What is there not to understand?” Ash probed. “I love her. I want to be with her for the rest of my life, no matter what anyone else thinks, especially not the Goddess. The way I see it, it is my heart, my life, and my choice. Period.”

  “The Goddess chose for us, that means something. She created us, she knows better.” I rebutted.

  “Yeah, tell that to Mother. Did you forget she’s been magically tied this whole time to a murderer, because the Goddess thought she knew better?”

  My eyes widened at the absurdity in his statement. “That is not fair! There is light and darkness inside of us all. The Goddess can’t be responsible for the paths we take, the choices we make, or where that leads us.”

  “That may be true, but did you not see the love practically exploding out of our parents’ eyes when they were finally reunited?”

  An unknown feeling engulfed my being as I remembered the words they had shared, and the tears that fell from their eyes with a single glance. The potency of their love had traveled through my being, even though I was a simple spectator. Mother had never looked at Laeroth like that. Nor had he my mother. The way Avra regarded her, was as though the whole universe existed just for her, as though he breathed just for her. My eyes stung while I nodded.

  “Then, how can you tell me that the Goddess’ choice is more important than what they feel for each other? The three of us are standing here because of that love.”

  I took a settling breath and turned away from him obstinately, emotions weren’t exactly my strong suit, and this whole subject made me uncomfortable. My eyes roamed the temple we stood in, while my chest constricted.

  “Now, if our father were here, I could ask him to break the bond to my mysterious fated, and tie me to Gaby’s essence. If he could just stop ‘enjoying’ our mother’s company, long enough to come out of the room that is.”

  “Ash!” Kyr reprimanded, but my attention had already left them when Kah appeared in one of the hallways to our right, and walked towards us.

  “Hey, I’m not judging.” Ash defended, raising his hands. “After being apart for so many years, it’s only natural he’d want to be with her and make love to her, but it’s been two weeks since they disappeared inside the temple, and we have yet to see either of them.”

  “It’s not just that, Brother…” Kyr’s words faded as my gaze followed Kah’s silent approach.

  She stopped beside me, staring at me while her lips curved into a cunning smile. I frowned at the mysterious intention behind her gaze. Something was brewing in her eyes. Her smile widened and my muscles tensed in response, nervousness seeped through my pores. I hated when she did that. What was she up to? Was I her victim this time? I glared at her, signaling her to stop looking at me that way. She was making me uncomfortable.

  A chuckle was Kah’s reply.

  Well, I was glad she was amused.

  I narrowed my eyes while hers twinkled with mischief. She winked at me. My arms folded against my chest stubbornly, and I grunted, frustrated by our discussion, which had occurred in its entirety, without a single word. Kah loved doing that to me ever since we were younger. It was like we c
ould tell what the other was thinking with a single look. I hated it… but I also loved it. Unlike what many might think, Kah had a very playful personality, one she only allowed the people closest to her to see. I huffed; I guessed that made us lucky, except she loved playing tricks on us—her unsuspecting victims.

  “It is different with the bond we form.” Kyr went on, his words brought me back to the present as I dragged my gaze from our scheming friend, and focused on him. “I felt it with Avrielle. At first, I thought she was my fated, but realized it was impossible while she was tied to Zeph.”

  He shook his head, clearly troubled by the thought.

  “Yet, even though we are not true fated, the strength of our love created a bond between us. After she opened up to me, my presence, and simply having her in my arms helped her; making love to her healed her. I cannot fully explain, for I don’t understand it myself, but it was as though we fed from each other’s energy. Once Kah brought her here and I made her mine again, the marks caused by the binds and the gag on her skin disappeared. My presence, my energy… my love healed her.”

  “He’s healing our mother….” Ash whispered in awe, taken aback by our brother’s confession.

  Kyr nodded. “Given the state Mother was in—”

  “I’m so sorry to interrupt you, boys, but there is a matter that requires your attention.” Kah’s voice filtered through.

  Kyr straightened, finally focusing on his second in command. “What is it, Kah?”

  Her amusement was instantly gone, although her nose wrinkled as she looked at him. “I probably should have informed you of this earlier—this is not the first time it occurred in the past two weeks—but you and your brothers were finally together again, and I thought you needed time to—”

  “It’s okay.” Kyr interrupted her nervous words. “Just tell me.”

  Kah nodded. “Lynar Aspenworth, the Princess of the Autumn Court is outside on her horse.”

  Our brows gathered as we all looked at her. “What do you mean?” Ash inquired.

  “Well, she has come several times, goes around the area on her horse, then leaves.”

  “Why would she do that? It is a senseless action.” I contested. “There isn’t anything outside that could ever indicate what exists in this mountain. No one knows the temple, or us for that matter, are inside it.”

  “I agree,” Kah added. “Unless she is being pulled here by something stronger than sight. A magic bond perhaps…”

  Kyr’s breath seemed to falter as he looked at her. “What do you mean?” It was his turn to question.

  “I think she is searching for her fated. She can smell him close, maybe Nyx, or even Ash.”

  “What?!” Ash screeched. It was his turn to have an anxiety attack. “Hell no. I want nothing to do with her!” He whirled around and began to walk purposefully into the temple.

  “Where are you going?” Kyr bellowed after him.

  “To barge in on our parents ‘session of love’. If she is here for me, then I need Avra to break that fated bond right now!”

  Kyr dragged his hand over his face, exasperated, and charged after our brother.

  *

  Leaving Kyr to do what he did best—deal with unexpected developments, and fix Ash’s messes—I entered my quarters.

  My heartbeats were steady but heavy as I slowly walked to the bed and sat, letting out a ragged breath. The weight that had suddenly fallen over my shoulders after Kyr and Avrielle gave into their love, and he was forced to flee the Winter Court, continued to torture me.

  If I had only known the turn our lives would take, my life, perhaps things would be different, and I would have been prepared to handle this.

  My hands caressed the silk comforter, and I focused on my fingertip as it slowly traced the delicate flowers embroidered onto the fabric. My anxiety was barely held at bay these days, and it was taking everything inside of me not to have a nervous breakdown. I was a man that thrived with consistency. I didn’t like change. I preferred to know exactly what to expect, how things would transpire, and even how the people around me would behave or react to a particular situation. I liked predictability; there was nothing wrong with that.

  Every day in the kingdom had gone by exactly the same way for us, for as far as I could remember. I woke up at the break of dawn, bathed and dressed, then had breakfast with Kyr and the king—because Ash could never be bothered to wake before noon—and headed to my sanctuary… the library. I basked in the infinite amount of knowledge that lived just at my fingertips, while Kyr went on to take care of all royal matters and assist the king and Avrielle. Sometimes, I would spend the day in my favorite section of the archives; others, I would reorganize the tomes, or create a new category within an already existing topic, and have the librarians assist me in making new volumes specifically for its study.

  The Royal Archives were, for all intents and purposes, my home.

  I pushed my glasses over the bridge of my nose, while a small smile stretched my lips at the memory. Rules and structure were the best way to live a life to its fullest potential, I concluded. I liked rules, I enjoyed them… they made me feel safe. Yet now, everything had changed. The king wasn’t our father, we were no longer in the Winter Castle, and I didn’t even have access to the one thing that had always made me feel certain of who I was. Knowledge.

  My entire existence, I had prided myself in knowing everything there was to know about this realm and all others, about the universe itself, its people, its creatures… its history. But as it turned out, I didn’t know anything at all. I had been lied to my whole life, shown only what the king wanted me to see. I was manipulated. Not only by the people around me, but also by the one thing I thought that would never fail me. Books.

  And then, there was her…

  My chest constricted as the image of her inundated my sight, and I was no longer here, but in the past. Reliving the moment I saw her as though it was the first time, when I first smelled her, and felt her on my skin. This was what the Goddess wanted for me, she was who the goddess wanted for me, and if I honored the words I had admonishingly shared with Ash, I would gladly accept her. Except, I wasn’t exactly sure she wanted me.

  I slightly jumped as the knock at the door interrupted my reflection. I had been so deep in thought, that I hadn’t even noticed anyone calling for me. Guiding my glasses back in place, I stood and walked to the door. The moment I opened it, my eyes settled on Kah.

  Her lips curved into an amused smile, knowing very well she had startled me; and was enjoying every second of it. She stepped in, without waiting for an invitation. Closing the door, I turned to face her.

  She sighed; her expressive gaze told me that she was sorry to interrupt my meditation.

  I nodded, relaxing, and gazed at her with a small smile that conveyed she was always welcome. She grinned, pleased by my response. “Has the situation with the Autumn Princess been sorted out?” I inquired, breaking the silence.

  Kah snorted. “Kyr stopped Ash from disturbing the Dragon Lord and the queen. He’s assumed she is here for him, so he is freaking out. You should see him; he’s running around like a crazed Gnome. Thank the Goddess that Avrielle is keeping Gaby entertained, or who knows what would happen.” We chuckled. “I like her, you know. I know it is unusual to say the least, but I think she’s been good for him.”

  “I agree.”

  “In any case, Kyr is taking care of it, as usual.”

  I nodded. “He always does.”

  Kah smiled and turned, her gaze roaming the room. She remained quiet for a few moments as I looked at her, then let out a heavy sigh and finally turned to face me again. “I was wondering if perhaps you would have a moment to talk?” Her voice became small and unsure, which conflicted with her personality.

  “Of course.” I nodded, suddenly sharing her nervousness and motioned her to the sitting area in the corner of the room. I tensed, following her.

  Kah sat on the bed instead, and held her hands over her thighs a
nxiously, waiting for me to sit beside her. Once I did, her inquisitive eyes looked up, seeking mine, and I answered her silent question.

  “Yes, I can smell you, Kah.” I whispered the words we had both feared to say.

  My muscles relaxed and I allowed myself to accept what I had felt since I saw her after the Blooming Ceremony. My nostrils flared as her sweet scent filtered through me, triggering my body into action, whether I wanted it or not. My heartbeat accelerated, my pulse throbbed along my veins, and need flooded my being, making me harden for her. We turned to face each other as I searched her eyes, I could see the same reactions in her. Responses we had both blocked since we first felt them.

  I tentatively leaned into her as nerves flooded my being, mixing with the desperate necessity to dissect this development in my mind. Kah’s chin lifted, reaching for me, and her hand gently rested upon my chest while I stopped an inch from her lips. Our eyes met. We are fated, hers timidly conveyed, and I nodded, feeling the reaction to her scent. My lips softly closed over hers and lingered as she responded to me. My hand rested on her neck while our lips moved against the other. We shared a small, sweet kiss and pulled away, our gazes locking again.

  Kah’s fingertips caressed my chest while I searched my mind for a decision, she waited as it measured the pros and cons and all the possibilities within this discovery. We remained silent. Kah was younger than I, only by a thousand years, but her and I had formed a connection since she was a child. When all of us had become close, her and I had formed a special friendship, one that many times barely required words. She was beautiful, funny and fearless, pretty much my opposite, but she understood me in a way my brothers could not. She was my friend.

  “I never thought it would be like this.” I confessed. “I’m having trouble reconciling whom you have been to me all of my life, and whom you are supposed to be from now on.”

  She took a deep breath and nodded, understanding my dilemma. “Being fated is not something we are meant to control or rationalize, Nyx.”

  I stared at her, taken aback by her words. Therein lied the problem. How could she ask me not to think this through, did she not remember whom she was speaking to? I looked deeper into her transparent mint green eyes and suddenly realized she was as nervous by this as I was. I wrapped my fingers slowly around hers, holding her soft, warm hand in mine. The need that had awakened before, sparked within me once more while her scent filtered through me, but I pushed it aside.