Court of Winter (Fae of Snow & Ice, #1)(57)

The corner of his mouth kicked up as he inhaled. “Are you feeling okay?”

My head snapped back. “Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

He inhaled again, the movement slow as though he was savoring something. “No reason.”

That smile stayed on his face, and I suddenly had the urge to wipe him clean of it. He looked so . . . smug.

But I hadn’t done anything to make him appear so arrogant, so I crossed my arms and arched a questioning eyebrow.

He stroked his chin. “Do you remember last night?”

My cheeks reddened when it occurred to me that he’d seen me completely intoxicated. “I remember that we made a bargain.”

“And do you remember anything after that?”

My heart thrummed harder. “No,” I said cautiously. “Should I?”

His eyes shuttered, and his strange small smile disappeared. “No, as long as you remember the bargain, that’s all that matters. You’re to replenish the continent with orem.”

I groaned. “So I did agree to that.”

“Correct, which is why your training begins today. And the first thing we’re doing is getting you away from the castle’s prying eyes and going somewhere discreet so you may practice your affinity without anyone judging you.”

“Oh.” Some of the nerves in my stomach loosened. If I actually had an affinity, he was right that I didn’t want to begin practicing it only to fail while others watched me. “Thank you . . . for that.”

He shrugged, and for a moment, it felt as though I was conversing with any other male. Not the male who’d murdered my family.

I shook myself. I was definitely still drunk.

“So where are you taking me?” I asked.

“Harrivee Territory. I need to do some business there anyway, and the fields outside of Barvilum have been dead for six months.”

“And what am I to do?”

“You’re to restore the orem in the fields.”

“You act like I know how to.”

He waved toward the courtyard. “You do, although you might not be consciously aware of it yet, so this week, I’ll be taking you to Harrivee daily so you may practice your affinity. I would like to see for myself where it’s currently at before you begin training with the castle’s most prestigious tutor next week.”

I twisted my hands. “But what if I can’t do any of what you’re asking?”

“You’ll be able to.”

He sounded so confident. Much more than I felt.





CHAPTER 18





The prince led me from my bedroom chambers to the courtyard’s garden. When I cocked my head at him amidst the warm air, budding flowers, and bright leaves, he pointed upward. “We’re flying out.”

“Under one of your illusions?” I figured if he was still trying to hide my imprisonment, then that would be the only way to conceal our departure. I just thanked the Mother that I remembered the details of our bargain, because I had a feeling the prince would have been fine with me forgetting the fact that I could now freely leave the Exorbiant Chamber.

Prince Norivun nodded, and in the same breath, a cloak of magic fell over me. This time I felt it, unlike when he’d cloaked me on the flight into Solisarium or last night when he’d hidden my hair again. Both times I’d been too distracted to sense it.

His illusion was subtle, like a light cloth settling over my skin, before it disappeared. Nothing like the heavy magic that Vorl’s illusions created.

But before I could ready myself for what was to come, the prince’s arms were around me, and we were shooting into the sky.

I swallowed a squeal, and my eyes closed automatically as a rush of wind blew over my skin. We climbed fast, and the prince’s tight hold had my belly quickening. Reflexively, I gripped his neck with both arms.

He chuckled. “Are you still worried I’ll drop you?”

I forced my limbs to loosen as I opened my eyes to peer up at him. “Well, I don’t know. You did threaten me with that last time.”

His chuckle deepened, and since he didn’t tease me further, I pried my attention away from his square jaw and that cleft between his chin.

Around us, the castle grounds sprawled in a complex array of connected buildings, open courtyards, jutting turrets, and soaring towers.

The prince flew us right past the highest tower, passing only feet from its balcony.

I caught sight of a figure sitting in a chair, just the briefest flash of a female with long black hair, wings hanging limply, and a green gown.

“Was that your mother?” I asked, my heart beating harder. I’d never met another Solis with hair like mine.

For a moment, he didn’t respond as his giant wings flapped, but then he said quietly, “It was. That’s her tower.”

“But her hair isn’t hidden.”

“That’s because the wards around her tower only allow a few of us within viewing range. When she’s alone, she doesn’t like to hide who she is.”

I wondered if I’d imagined the pained ache in his voice or the way the queen’s wings had hung so limply.

“Is she unwell?” As soon as the question left my mouth, I wondered why I’d asked it. It was nothing to me if his mother wasn’t of good health.