But I couldn't. Not yet. I had vengeance to pay. I swept down, bent at the waist from my place in the treetops, as a whirling twister sprang up between my fingers. I set it on the ground, in front of the ice troll and the Shadow Hunter, and watched impassively as it thundered toward them, a terrifying tornado filled with ice shards and biting snow.
The Shadow Hunter screamed and the troll just looked confused as the icy twister rolled over them, ripping them up and into the center of the maelstrom. A shout of glee echoed from my lips as I watched the vortex rip them from limb to limb.
As Ulean pleaded with me, I thought—for just a moment—how easy it would be to give in to the power and allow it to carry me away. To become the heart of the storm and forget everything else.
But then Grieve's face flashed before my eyes. My wolf howled with worry. Placing my hand against my tattoo, I remembered why I had to remain Cicely Waters—magic-born, and Uwilahsidhe. Tentatively, and then with a firm hand, I reined in the storm, pulled the winds back inside me, and returned to my body.
I turned to find Fearless and Check staring at me. They said nothing as we returned to the Barrow, but I had the sense that they'd never look at me the same way again. They seemed almost…afraid. And I didn't much care for that feeling.
Chapter 3
Grieve was right inside the portal. Lainule stood directly behind him. Her eyes flashed as she gave me a look that made me feel two inches tall. She was pissed. She'd been concerned enough when the power over the winds had first transferred from a magical fan into my soul. And she'd already warned me against using the storms.
"Every time you use the power of the winds like that, you come closer to permanently shifting yourself into the Elemental plane of Air. And there, you would go mad. Yes, you'd be Queen of the Winds, but Cicely…I am not joking when I tell you that should that happen, no longer would you control your own mind or your destiny. You would belong to the wind itself." Lainule's voice echoed like thunder and I dropped to my knees, cowering at my feet from the force of her words.
"I'm sorry—I was so angry…"
Lainule let out a deep sigh. "Get up, girl, and listen to me."
I stood, hanging my head, too embarrassed to look at Grieve or the guards.
Lainule crossed her arms, watching me intently. "Cicely…anger unchecked leads to the forces that created Myst. If she hadn't been so jealous, she wouldn't have ever agreed to Geoffrey's plans. But she was furious at the world. Furious at her lot in life. She wanted to be the Winter Queen so badly that she was willing to put her soul on the line for her desires."
I'd never heard this part of the story. Cautiously, I looked up at her impassive face. "I didn't know that."
"Myst would have changed, yes, had Geoffrey turned her unwillingly. She might have been driven to madness. But…I do not think she would have become so ruthless. There is no way of knowing for certain, of course, but look at Grieve—he has found a way to harness the Shadow Hunter within. He wanted to harness it. Myst's fury, her jealousy and her anger drove her to become the monster she is." Lainule was more agitated than I'd ever seen her.
Angry with myself that I was the cause, I slowly knelt in front of her. "Lady, please, forgive me. You warned me about the powers of the wind, but I didn't think. I acted on impulse." I bit my lip, feeling like a chastised child who'd been caught with her hand in the candy jar after she'd been told No.
Lainule paused, taking a deep breath. She let it out slowly. "Child, understand. I am not scolding you to be contrary. I am trying to save your life and your sanity. The last thing we need is a crazed queen of the winds on our hands. It's bad enough with one monster out there. We need you as the Queen of Winter. You have obligations and responsibilities now, and if you ignore them, you put everyone in danger. I'm fading. I'll be leaving soon, and then…only you and your cousin will remain to cope with Myst and her Shadow Hunters."
She placed a gentle hand under my chin and tipped it up. I gazed into her eyes, which were as old as time. She was beautiful, and ageless, but the tips of her golden hair were now fading into an auburn red, and the faintest of lines marred the flawless skin on her face. Summer was fading into the autumn of her years.
A tear squeezed out of the corner of my eye. I hated disappointing people. "I really am sorry." I tried to look away, to look down at my feet, but she would not let me.
"And another lesson to learn. A queen, even should she be required to apologize, must never lower her gaze. Never again, Cicely Waters, will you lower your gaze to me, although I expect your obedience until the day you take the throne." Without waiting for my reply, she dropped her hand, turned, and, without another word, swept back to the Barrow.
Left alone with Grieve, Fearless, and Check, I wasn't sure what to say. They were all waiting for my word, and I realized that this would always be the way. Although Grieve would be my King, the queen of the realm held the reins of power. From now on, even when I was speechless, I would have to speak. Even when I was uncertain, I would have to make decisions. Because an entire realm would look to me for leadership. And that meant showing some measure of wisdom. I'd always felt responsible for keeping my mother and me alive, and now—when I thought I was free of that—I was responsible for an entire kingdom.
"I apologize to you, Fearless, and to you, Check. I put you in needless danger." I gazed into their faces, as Lainule had told me, and smiled softly.
"We act upon your will, my Lady. As you order, so we shall obey. Whatever you need, we are there." Check bowed, but I caught his gaze and his eyes were smiling.
Fearless merely bowed and murmured, "As you will, Lady Cicely."
Grieve waved them back to their posts and held out his arm. I took it, resting my hands on his elbow, and we made our way back to the Barrow. I'd learned a valuable lesson, and I didn't plan on forgetting it. The fates of others rested on my shoulders. It was time I wrestled my impulsive self under control. Because if I didn't, my actions would eventually kill someone—and not just the enemy.
In that moment, as we walked under the fading summer night, I felt like I'd aged a lifetime.
Grieve led me to our bedchamber. The bed was a giant four-poster affair, but the mattress wasn't from Macy's, that was for sure. It was handmade, and perhaps the most comfortable bed I'd ever slept on. The quilt was thick, heavy, and hand-stitched. In varying shades of blue, purple, silver, white and black, the pattern formed a winter silhouette of the forest and stars.
As the lanterns softly illuminated the room, I turned to Grieve. "Are you angry at me?"
"Angry, my love? Why?" In the blink of an eye, he was naked. The full Fae were able to adapt their clothes from the energy in the air. I couldn't do it, but I admired the ability.
"Because of what I did. I put the guards in danger." I slowly unzipped my jeans and slid out of them, along with my panties. As I pulled off my turtleneck and unfastened my bra, Grieve raked my body with his gaze, his dark eyes soaking in the sight of me.
"You did what you will forever and always do—act on your own mind. I have accepted that about you, Cicely. You're going to shake up the throne, and take the Winter to a place it's never been before."