Page 20 of The Ruthless Fae King
I tugged on it, pulling it open.
When I read the first few lines, my stomach dropped.
“They want to divide the realm,” I mumbled.
Lucien turned to me, looking over the document. It said that the Summer prince, Marcelle Haze, was petitioning the realm for separation. He wanted to be king of his own realm, which would include Spring Court, and he proposed the name Hazeville.
Every second Lucien read, the temperature dropped. Snow began to fall from the sky and clouds blotted out the sun.
Oh no.
“He can’t do this,” Lucien growled.
So this was what Sheera had been talking about.
The lead guard looked terrified. He cleared his throat and stared at the king. “He can, Your Highness. Bylaw states that the entire realm has to vote, and if at least two of the four courts are in agreement, it passes.”
Summer and Spring.
No.
The coldness seeped into my skin then and my teeth started to chatter.
I quickly hooked my arm with Lucien and pulled him aside. I grasped the sides of his face and forced him to look into my eyes. “Calm down. This isn’t the way to handle it.” My hot breath puffed out into white fog before me. I’d heard of the winter king’s power but until I looked into his eyes and could have sworn I saw snow falling in his irises, I wasn’t sure just how connected to the elements he was. In that moment it was as if he was made of winter: stone cold skin, snowy eyes—even his lips looked coated in frost.
Lucien held my gaze. “If they want to separate, then they will become my enemy. I will bring war to their gates, kill Prince Haze, and take them back!” he roared.
I understood his anger. Half of his kingdom had just declared treason. The betrayal would sting, especially after he’d protected them for the past six years. The snow was dumping now, falling in huge clumps that landed on everything, including my eyelashes.
I blinked them away and focused on the storm before me, the storm brewing in Lucien’s eyes. “Everyone here hates you,” I told him honestly. “You killed over thirty of their people and never apologized. If you want them to hate you more, then sure, send another storm their way, but I think we should go home, get married, and prove that you are stronger than ever with a powerful and loyal queen at your side.”
At my words, his eyes cleared, the clouds parted, and the snow stopped. The sunlight came back out, the heat melting off the snow and turning it into water that ran into the gutters beside the road. I was amazed at how quickly he was able to turn things around.
My chest was heaving. I had been two seconds away from using my wind magic to push his snow back, but I was glad I’d not done that. It was clear to me now that Lucien didn’t trust many people and I didn’t want him to put me on the list of ones he couldn’t count on.
I pulled my hands from his face and Lucien adjusted his tunic, reaching up to smooth his damp hair. “No, we will go in and show the people of Summer that they have a strong king and soon-to-be-queen right now. No need to separate.” Then he simply walked back over to the guard and looked him in the eyes.
“I recognize your request for separation and will hold a realm-wide vote when I get back to Winter Court,” Lucien said calmly. “Until then, it is your duty to host your king and future queen. Failure to do so will be a declaration of war.”
Future queen.
I knew that was to be my title, but hearing him say it made warmth spread throughout my limbs. It was a powerful position, one I’d never imagined holding.
The guards all looked at each other in confusion, and finally the lead guard nodded and leaned into a messenger. “Bring word to Prince Haze that the winter king and Princess Windstrong are on their way.”
The messenger got on his horse and the gates opened. He disappeared behind them, taking off at a gallop.
The guard then indicated we get back in our carriage, and so Lucien and I walked over to it. When we reached the door, Lucien looked to me, bending down close to my ear. “If Prince Haze tests my patience, I will not hesitate to challenge him right here and now.”
I swallowed hard, my eyes widening. “Is now a bad time to mention he was my first kiss?”
The color drained from Lucien’s face, his mouth popping open in shock before uncontrolled anger crossed his face and every single muscle tightened, snapping his jaw shut.
I burst into laughter. I couldn’t help it, he was so easy to upset. Doubling over with giggles, I had to grasp his forearms to keep upright. When I finally stood, there were tears leaking from my eyes.
“You weresojealous,” I managed to get out between fits of laughter.
He looked amused. “I can’t wait to pay you back for that one.”
