Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
Keldarion
I slam the door to my chambers in Keep Wolfhelm, the Winter Realm’s stronghold. Ice cracks the wooden floor as I try to control my ragged breathing.
“Careful,” a voice purrs, “or it will start to look like the Winter Wing in here.”
Caspian lounges on a plush chair by the fire. Sprawled sideways, his long legs hang over the arm, his dark hair falling in waves around his face. It looks as if he’s been walking through the snow and it only just dried.
A deep rumble sounds through my chest, and I turn away from him. “You’re back.”
“Don’t jump with joy now,” he replies.
I throw off my heavy, embroidered jacket. Pale pink light flickers through the window, the first sign of sunset amidst a light dusting of snow. Soon the sun will set, and I will be confined to my chambers as the beastly wolf.
I look around my room, though it hardly feels like mine. This place still carries the essence of my parents. Such grandeur, with rich woven tapestries depicting scenes of battle, hanging on dark wood walls. My canopy bed, draped in velvet curtains of midnight blue, stands at the center. The scent of burning wood fills the air, mingling with the faint aroma of pine from the nearby forest. I look to the stone hearth and firelight dances across the chamber, dispelling the chill of the Winter night.
But it’s none so bespelling as the man watching me.
I cross to him. “You’re alone.”
Caspian’s lavender eyes dart away, and if I didn’t know better, I’d swear there was a flash of sadness there. “My latest plan didn’t work.”
I see it then, the weariness on his face. I cross to the hearth and place a hand on the mantle. “The council advised against my request to march our army to Summer. As High Ruler, I don’t need their support, but I’d lose what little control I have here. My people don’t trust me.”
“Kel.” Caspian stands. “If you march your army out of Winter, Sira will invade. She’s watching Winter closely.”
“Then my people will think I’m allied with the Below—again.”
Caspian steps in front of me. “Now, what would cause people to tell such nasty rumors about you?”
I grab him by the collar and slam him against the wall. “You promised you’d help me find her . ”
Anger flashes in his gaze and he breaks away from my hold. “You think I destroyed Kairyn’s airship for fun? They’d already moved her by the time I got to it. Do you know what my mother did to me when she found out? Thankfully, she thought I destroyed it out of jealousy. Otherwise, I would be dead.”
I sigh, unsure what to say. I know Caspian’s been lying to Sira about helping me find Rosalina. She’s a dangerous woman, and not even her own son is safe from her wrath. “Your people have her, Caspian. How can you not find her?”
“Look,” he says, running a hand through his hair, “I’m not exactly on great terms with the new High Prince of Spring right now. If my mother even suspects I’m interested in finding Rosalina, she might just kill her to spite me. You don’t understand how careful I have to be.”
Anger rises in my chest, but I know it’s not directed toward Caspian. Not all of it, at least. He’s been trying to help, in his own way. Though I still don’t understand why he’s so fascinated with Rosalina. Is it just because she’s my mate, or is there something more?
I stayed only briefly in Castletree before returning to Winter, trying to see if there was any way to make Kairyn answer for his crimes. With more and more monsters pouring out of the chasm, and my already tenuous hold on my realm, there had been no other solution but to come to Winter.
Caspian was able to assure me there were rumors of Dayton and Farron in the Summer Realm, and I have no doubt they are looking for Rosalina as well, as neither has returned to Castletree.
“I can’t even feel her, Cas.” I shake my head. “Do you have any idea what that’s like, to know she’s out there, but not be able to reach her?”
“I can imagine.”
“I don’t know if she’s scared or hurt or—”
“She’s alive,” he says. “I know. You’d feel it otherwise. No magic suppressant could block out that pain.”
A deep growl rumbles in my chest. I tried to count on others, but again I am left on my own. I cross the room to the window.
“Kel, I know that look,” Caspian says. “What are you thinking?”
“That I need to do what I should have done a long time ago. I’ll go to Summer and find her myself.”
Caspian is in front of me in an instant, his brow furrowed. “You can’t. You don’t even know she’s there.”
“Then I’ll tear Kairyn apart piece by piece until he tells me where she is.”
“Oh yes,” Caspian snarls, “I’m sure it’ll go exactly like that. Do you remember what he was like in the throne room? His power has only grown since then.”
“I tried to wait for you. I tried to rally my realm. No more waiting. I’ll have to run as the beast.” The enchanted doorway between Castletree and Keep Soltide is closed, and since Kairyn stole my token, I have no way to use the mirror in Castletree.
Caspian stops me with a palm on my chest. “I can take you to the briars bordering the Summer Realm.”
Thorns break through the wood, tangling around us. Drawing me closer to him, his fingers clutch in my shirt. “Say you could beat Kairyn with his unconstrained Blessing of Spring. How do you intend to escape the three armies he has in Hadria?”
My chest presses against his as the thorns and shadows draw us under. My lips end up by his ear, then I lower them to his neck. “Then you better be close by.”
“I can’t,” he says, voice as silky as the shadows caressing us.
“Can’t?” Without meaning to, my teeth nip at his neck, hard enough to bruise. “Or won’t?”
“Kel,” he whispers, and the sound is so desperate, so full of want, it almost consumes me. His voice is dangerous, and it’s dangerous to trust him. But for Rosalina, I will do anything.
I let his shadows and thorns pull us through the Vale. We’ll find her.
If he doesn’t find her first.
Even though he hates me, even though he lost his power, I know there is no length Ezryn will not go to in order to rescue our mate.