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Grieve was dressed in black trousers and a shirt matching the color of my dress. It set off the platinum of his hair, and I leaned into his arms as he pulled me to him.
“Are you happy, my love?” His voice shook, just a little, and I realized he was terribly afraid I’d regret my choice.
I wasn’t sure how to answer. “The learning curve scares the hell out of me. And so does Myst. I’m dreading the next few months—except for our wedding. But…I’ll get used to it, and I’ll learn to love it. I just…so many changes in such a short time. It’s overwhelming.”
“Then be overwhelmed in my arms, my love.” And he kissed me, long and deep, and I noticed his scent had shifted. The bonfires and apples had vanished, and now he smelled like frost and crisp, northern nights. Like spruce and pine, and bayberry and cinnamon.
I snuggled into his embrace, not wanting to go anywhere, see anyone. But Rhiannon was waiting and I would be there, supporting her all the way.
Check and Fearless were waiting for us, and they bundled us into a sledge pulled by a team of white horses with silver bridles. We went sailing across the snow toward the portal. Once there, another ten guards were waiting to escort us through. On the other side, we began to run, although they held themselves back to keep pace with me, and we danced over the snow, feet barely touching the drifts. I reveled in the feel, though I had a sudden urge to turn into my owl-self and fly there, but I knew that would throw the guards into a tailspin and so decided to restrain myself.
Now that I could change form even in my clothing, I envisioned a lot more trips up yonder. Especially on days when the Court got to me, and I had the feeling there would be plenty of those.
Ulean, are you with us?
Yes, I am with you. It was a beautiful coronation. Congratulations, Cicely. I’m glad that you made it through.
You were with Lainule when she took the throne, weren’t you?
Yes, I was. And I will be with you as long as you need me. When you have a daughter, if she takes the throne, I will eventually guide and help her.
A daughter. Children. The concept had entered my mind, especially when Grieve and I were together, but now it hit me that I would be expected to have an heir to the throne. And if I didn’t give birth to a daughter, perhaps Grieve would have to do what my father had done. That thought hit me in the gut. I pushed it away, not wanting to think about it right now.
I’d better think about that some other time.
As you wish. Be cautious in these woods—there are dangers about, Cicely. You would do well to tell your guards.
I started to turn to Check, but as I did, a low growling filled the air as shadows moved out of the forest to attack us. What the hell? I couldn’t see who our attackers were at first, but then the snow cleared for a moment. We were facing a group of Shadow Hunters.
Damn! I’d left my dagger at home. I looked around wildly for a weapon, but Grieve shoved me behind him, where Check and three of the other guards surrounded me, dragging me away from the fray. Frantic to help, I tried to make them let me go, but they held firm as the remaining six guards and Grieve moved to attack.
“I can call the winds—I can summon—” I’d barely managed to get the words out when one of our guards went down.
“We’re closer to Marburry than Eldburry! Get the Queen and King-Elect out of danger!” Fearless glanced over his shoulder at us. The Vampiric Fae attacking him began to loosen his jaw and was quickly shifting form.
“Watch out! Behind you!” My scream cut through the air as the Shadow Hunter launched himself at the guard. They went down in a scuffle, blood flying.
I managed to break away from the guards and through the haze of swirling snow, I whispered, “Gale Force.”
As the wind swirled around me, catching me up, I reveled in the power, but when I felt myself slipping, I forced myself to focus solely on the Shadow Hunters, aiming directly for them. I fought the seductive siren song of the wind, and when Ulean blew around me, I reached out to her for help.
I need to control this thing. I need to use it rather than be used. What do I do, Ulean? How do I rein it in?
She whistled by, buoyed up by the swirl of air. Focus on the core of the storm. Can you see it? Look for it, it will be a sparkling note—a brilliant chord in the middle of the symphony.
I looked. When I was caught up by the thrall of the winds, I could see into their realm, and now I looked this way and that, and then—I saw it. A white-hot core, a light so bright I could barely look away once I’d seen it. The heart of the storm. The heart of the wind.
I see it! What now?
Do not dive into it—no matter how much it calls to you, resist. Instead, reach out, touch it, and demand it obey you. Tell it what you want it to do.
I hesitantly obeyed, and when my fingers met the light, a shiver raced through me, like a lover’s seduction, and I wanted nothing more than to give myself over to it. But I remembered what Ulean had said, and instead I steeled myself against the call.
Obey me. Follow my command.
The wind did not respond. I tried again, forcing as much strength and control as I could into my words as they filtered through the slipstream. After a moment, the wind began to bend, and the light responded.
I pointed to the Shadow Hunters. Attack them and only them.
