Read Online Reign of Ice (Forever Fae series) by L.P. Dover - Free Book Online

replayed in his mind. It was like I could see myself through his eyes. They were all images of how he saw me from his past and how he felt during those times. The first one was of me at Calista and Ryder’s marriage ceremony and how he wished he could dance with me, but he also thought I was immature and young. The second one was at the Winter Solstice Ball and how he was amazed at how much I’d changed from the years prior. I could actually feel the anger flowing through his veins when he saw me dancing with another Winter Fae at the ball.
    I laughed, but Brayden squeezed my hand and growled. “It’s not funny, Princess. I could see the lust in my warrior’s eyes and I didn’t like it. I didn’t want him taking advantage of you.”
    I scoffed. “Please, give me a break. I’m not exactly the type of girl guy’s take advantage of. You obviously don’t know of my experience with men.”
    “How can I when you have your mind blocked? I think it’s only fair that you let me in. Do you have things to hide, Princess?” Actually, I did, but I couldn’t tell him that.
    I sighed. “Soon, Brayden. Right now you owe me this.”
    I couldn’t let him in fully, but if I played it just right I wouldn’t have to; I could give him bits and pieces of my life. It was already a hardship for me knowing I didn’t have much time, and the last thing I wanted to do was burden him.
    The next image that came through our bond was of me sitting beside his bed when he was injured. He loved the way I sang to him and …
    “You mean to tell me you were awake during that time? I sat there and sang to you for hours hoping you’d wake up,” I scolded him. “For hours I sat there!”
    Sheepishly, he muttered, “I know and I’m thankful that you did. For the first time in my life I was selfish. I wanted you there with me and not with Kamden. I heard you were staying with him while he healed, but I wanted you with me.”
    “ Kamden is just my friend. He and Zanna are very special to me.”
    “I know that. He was one of the Winter Court’s finest warriors. I hated to see him go, but he was closer to Kalen than anyone. I wasn’t surprised when he chose to switch allegiances.”
    With my eyes still closed and his body so close as he lay against me, I asked the one question that hung thick in the air. “Where do we go from here?” Opening my eyes as Brayden lifted up on his elbows and released my hand, I watched as he ran his thumb over the wound that was slowly healing already from the feel of it.
    “I’m not sure,” he said, gazing down at me. Out of nowhere, his eyes went wide and a slow smile spread across his face.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked nervously. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    “Well … I think we just got that question answered and it’s pretty obvious where we go from here.”
    “Which is?” I prodded.
    He ran a finger down my cheek all the way down to my hand, where he clasped it and brought it up to my face so I could see. I gasped, looking down at my arms and touching my face. “Oh wow,” I breathed. “I’m pale.”
    “And completely Winter,” he added. “I don’t see a trace of Summer in you at all. We might need to tell our families. They’re probably afraid you killed me.” He slid off of me and grabbed my hand to pull me up from the bed. His touch was gentle as he led me to the door, but I squeezed his hand and anchored my feet to the floor.
    “Wait,” I said. “I don’t want to go out there right now. I’m not ready to face them all. I need some time to process this, and the last thing I want is a bunch of questions directed at me. It’s all happening so fast, and now that this has happened …” I said, gesturing to my creamy, pale skin, “… I know there’s no way I can stay here in the Summer Court anymore. I’m not going to belong here.”
    Brayden took my face in his hands, and I noticed that his skin felt the same on mine, there was no difference. They weren’t cold