Dayton
I HEAR ARGUING VOICES before I even open the door. Ezryn’s balls must be as hard as the helmet
he always wears. Even though I know Ez will take the lead on whatever is going on in there, I
hesitate. The ice crawling up the door frame is not a good sign.
Gritting my teeth, I push open the door. This is my least favorite room in the entire castle. Always
too damn cold.
Kel and Ez stand by the window, continuing their argument as I walk in. Like I’m barely of note.
It’s not unusual.
Farron is curled up on the couch, knees drawn to his chest. My heart pangs. He looks miserable. I
plop down on the armrest, and he immediately curls into my side. His hand clutches the fabric of my
pants and I instinctively let my fingers trail through the soft brown waves of his hair.
“What are Daddy and Mommy fighting about now?” I lean down and whisper.
That earns me the briefest flash of a smile before it falters, his golden eyes glassy. “This is all my
—”
“Don’t,” I say sternly and snatch his chin. “Don’t go there.”
“Ah, Dayton, it seems you’ve finally managed to get yourself out of bed. You’d be well versed on
the events if you’d arrived on time.” Ezryn’s deep metallic voice reverberates as he studies me. “I
sent Rintoulo an hour ago to retrieve you.”
“Did you expect anything less from the drunken Prince of Summer?” Kel snarls, his long white hair
framing the hard angles of his jaw.
Dayton
before I even open the door. Ezryn’s balls must be as hard as the helmet
he always wears. Even though I know Ez will take the lead on whatever is going on in there, I
Gritting my teeth, I push open the door. This is my least favorite room in the entire castle. Always
Kel and Ez stand by the window, continuing their argument as I walk in. Like I’m barely of note.
Farron is curled up on the couch, knees drawn to his chest. My heart pangs. He looks miserable. I
plop down on the armrest, and he immediately curls into my side. His hand clutches the fabric of my
That earns me the briefest flash of a smile before it falters, his golden eyes glassy. “This is all my
“Ah, Dayton, it seems you’ve finally managed to get yourself out of bed. You’d be well versed on
the events if you’d arrived on time.” Ezryn’s deep metallic voice reverberates as he studies me. “I
“Did you expect anything less from the drunken Prince of Summer?” Kel snarls, his long white hair
A broad smile graces my face as an instinctive defense. “Sorry about that. You know, it’s a lot of
work dragging a giant beast all the way up to the dungeon. A lot of stairs. A lot of thorns.”
Kel bristles and ice cracks beneath his feet. The man is too fucking easy to rile.
“Enough,” Ezryn snaps. “This is serious.”
My fingers trail further down Farron’s neck, and he flinches. There are still red marks there, but not
from me. I’d only gripped the loose skin at the back of his neck. That wound was from where Kel had
bitten him. It told just how hard that bite was that it still lingered on Farron in his fae form.
We’ve all known for a long time how unhinged Kel is, but last night was something else. And I’ll
be damned if I let Farron pay the price for it.
“You’re right. It is serious.” I stand, anger rippling off me like a wave of heat. Water seeps into my
boots where the ice melts beneath my feet. “Farron was hurt last night. He could have been killed.”
“Farron should learn to control his beast.” Keldarion steps toward me. “The pup’s had twenty-five
years to do it.”
Farron’s face falls.
“He shouldn’t have needed to!” I yell back. “You were ready to snap his neck. For what? To
protect some human?”
I’m not easily scared. I’ve seen Kel tear apart his tower, rip thorns from walls, break stone with
his bare hands. I’ve seen him kill twenty fae with his blade in the time it takes his enemy to draw their
sword. But I’ve never seen him like he’d been when he stepped over the girl and shook the entire
castle with his howl. The way he protected her...
Kel growls low in his throat and storms over, pulling me closer to him.
“It wasn’t Rosalina’s fault!” Farron shouts.
At the mention of her name, Keldarion drops my arm, and we are all still.
“Place blame on me,” Farron says sadly. “Kel’s right. There’s no excuse that I can’t control my—
the beast. All of you can.”
Kel looks at Farron, and if I didn’t know for certain that the icy bastard was void of all emotion,
I’d swear something akin to guilt flashes in his eyes.
“Why was she out of her room? I told you not to let her out.” Kel returns to yelling at Ez. One of his
favorite things to do.
“I checked the door before I retired for the night,” Ezryn states. “I’m not sure how she left.”
As it all comes together, I give a deep sigh. “She wanted to rescue Farron. Damn, in the baths, she
kept asking about him. Said you were handsome.” I ruffle his hair as red darkens his cheeks. “I didn’t
A broad smile graces my face as an instinctive defense. “Sorry about that. You know, it’s a lot of
My fingers trail further down Farron’s neck, and he flinches. There are still red marks there, but not
from me. I’d only gripped the loose skin at the back of his neck. That wound was from where Kel had
We’ve all known for a long time how unhinged Kel is, but last night was something else. And I’ll
“You’re right. It is serious.” I stand, anger rippling off me like a wave of heat. Water seeps into my
“Farron should learn to control his beast.” Keldarion steps toward me. “The pup’s had twenty-five
“He shouldn’t have needed to!” I yell back. “You were ready to snap his neck. For what? To
I’m not easily scared. I’ve seen Kel tear apart his tower, rip thorns from walls, break stone with
his bare hands. I’ve seen him kill twenty fae with his blade in the time it takes his enemy to draw their
sword. But I’ve never seen him like he’d been when he stepped over the girl and shook the entire
“Place blame on me,” Farron says sadly. “Kel’s right. There’s no excuse that I can’t control my—
Kel looks at Farron, and if I didn’t know for certain that the icy bastard was void of all emotion,
“Why was she out of her room? I told you not to let her out.” Kel returns to yelling at Ez. One of his
As it all comes together, I give a deep sigh. “She wanted to rescue Farron. Damn, in the baths, she
kept asking about him. Said you were handsome.” I ruffle his hair as red darkens his cheeks. “I didn’t
tell her anything because... Because, shit, Kel. You never tell us anything.”
Keldarion glares at me, and I know he’s fixated on my words. Yeah, I’d seen her in the baths, and I
can’t dwell on it because my cock will harden just thinking of that moment.
The servants had all been whispering about the woman Keldarion had imprisoned. Which was
fucking weird. Kel didn’t take prisoners. He’d never even taken a second glance at all those gorgeous
—usually half-dressed or naked—fae that Caspian insisted on baiting him with at the castle gates. So
why would he have imprisoned her? It couldn’t be purely because of her loveliness, which is what all
the staff had been gossiping about.
But I’d had to see her for myself. I mean, how pretty could a human really be?
Turns out... fucking beautiful.
Maybe I was biased, but she looked incredible in the Summer Wing’s hot springs, those light
brown eyes and dark hair against her pale skin. Dripping and naked, the way her cheeks had flushed
the most delicious shade of pink, the little peep of surprise she’d uttered...
Fuck, I’d wanted to throw her on the sand and take her, just to see what other sounds she could
make. I hadn’t been able to see much of her body. She’d stayed deep in the water, but through the
ripples, I’d made out her heavy breasts, the swaying curve of her hips. My cock had turned iron at the
first sight of her, and I knew her lips would taste like salt, that her whole body would make me want
to lick every inch of her.
Though knowing she was Kel’s prisoner, I’d suspected her to be off-limits. I’d be lying if it didn’t
make me want her more.
“Day,” Farron whispers. His golden eyes look me up and down, lightly freckled cheeks flushed.
Kel’s giving me a death glare. Damn, thinking about that girl got me aroused, and they can smell it.
Let the bastard smell. He’s nursing the iciest fucking balls of the century after his last disastrous
foray with love, and I have zero sympathy for him. When you trusted who he did, you deserved
everything you got. Ez had warned him. So had Farron and I. His whole fucking realm had.
Ezryn gives a dissatisfied sigh and steps between us. “As much as I loath to admit it, Dayton is
right. Kel, you need to tell us why she’s here.”
“I told you,” he growls, and those ice chip eyes burrow into me. “Her father is a thief, and she
traded her freedom for his.”
We must all have the same suspicion. That can’t be the reason. There’s something more he’s not
telling us.
Keldarion glares at me, and I know he’s fixated on my words. Yeah, I’d seen her in the baths, and I
The servants had all been whispering about the woman Keldarion had imprisoned. Which was
fucking weird. Kel didn’t take prisoners. He’d never even taken a second glance at all those gorgeous
—usually half-dressed or naked—fae that Caspian insisted on baiting him with at the castle gates. So
why would he have imprisoned her? It couldn’t be purely because of her loveliness, which is what all
Maybe I was biased, but she looked incredible in the Summer Wing’s hot springs, those light
brown eyes and dark hair against her pale skin. Dripping and naked, the way her cheeks had flushed
Fuck, I’d wanted to throw her on the sand and take her, just to see what other sounds she could
make. I hadn’t been able to see much of her body. She’d stayed deep in the water, but through the
ripples, I’d made out her heavy breasts, the swaying curve of her hips. My cock had turned iron at the
first sight of her, and I knew her lips would taste like salt, that her whole body would make me want
Though knowing she was Kel’s prisoner, I’d suspected her to be off-limits. I’d be lying if it didn’t
“Day,” Farron whispers. His golden eyes look me up and down, lightly freckled cheeks flushed.
Let the bastard smell. He’s nursing the iciest fucking balls of the century after his last disastrous
foray with love, and I have zero sympathy for him. When you trusted who he did, you deserved
Ezryn gives a dissatisfied sigh and steps between us. “As much as I loath to admit it, Dayton is
“I told you,” he growls, and those ice chip eyes burrow into me. “Her father is a thief, and she
We must all have the same suspicion. That can’t be the reason. There’s something more he’s not
The curse of the Enchantress rings as it always does in my mind: This spell may only be broken by
winning the true love of your destined mate; and having them accept the mated bond that has long
been fated among the stars.
Absolute bullshit. I’ve known two, maybe three, people in my entire life who have found their
mate. I wouldn’t doubt she’d cursed us knowing it can never be broken.
“If you insist on keeping her here,” Ezryn says, “then we have to figure out what to do with her. She
must have established rules, and we will tell her—”
“We will tell her nothing!” Keldarion snarls. “You want to house her in the Spring Wing? Fine. But
she stays in her room permanently. The staff can bring her food and—”
Ezryn doesn’t back down. He says in a menacing, low rasp, “You’re being as unreasonable with
Rosalina as you were with Caspian.”
Farron grasps my hand. We’ve entered the end game. This whole castle is going down.
There’s a beat of silence, like a stall in a song. Keldarion rises to his full height and winter
explodes around him. Icy shards shatter into the air. I push Farron and myself to the ground and throw
my arms over his head.
The beast inside me fights to come out, but I suppress it. The golden wolf would piss Kel off more.
Farron trembles beneath my touch, and I bring my lips to his ear. “You’re okay. You don’t need your
wolf. I’ll protect you.”
He nods, body trembling beneath mine.
Rocks fall from the ceiling as I look up to see Kel slam Ezryn against the wall. He’s frozen all the
thorns in the room. They’re slowly dying, though I know they’ll grow back quickly.
“I could rip your tongue out for those words,” Kel growls, pushing the Prince of Spring hard
against the stones.
Ez tilts his head, ice glinting off the metallic helmet. “No offense, Your Highness, but you’d have to
get to my tongue first.”
Fuck this guy. One day, he’s going to push Kel too far and we’re all going to watch his metal guts
get strewn across the castle. And the worst part is that his body will be so mutilated, we won’t ever
know what he looks like, even after his death.
But Kel lets out a long breath and drops Ezryn to the ground. “Do what you think is right, Ezryn. I
want nothing to do with the girl.”
“Then let her go.”
He whips around, white hair falling across his face. “Never.”
This spell may only be broken by
winning the true love of your destined mate; and having them accept the mated bond that has long
Absolute bullshit. I’ve known two, maybe three, people in my entire life who have found their
“If you insist on keeping her here,” Ezryn says, “then we have to figure out what to do with her. She
“We will tell her nothing!” Keldarion snarls. “You want to house her in the Spring Wing? Fine. But
Ezryn doesn’t back down. He says in a menacing, low rasp, “You’re being as unreasonable with
There’s a beat of silence, like a stall in a song. Keldarion rises to his full height and winter
explodes around him. Icy shards shatter into the air. I push Farron and myself to the ground and throw
The beast inside me fights to come out, but I suppress it. The golden wolf would piss Kel off more.
Farron trembles beneath my touch, and I bring my lips to his ear. “You’re okay. You don’t need your
Rocks fall from the ceiling as I look up to see Kel slam Ezryn against the wall. He’s frozen all the
“I could rip your tongue out for those words,” Kel growls, pushing the Prince of Spring hard
Ez tilts his head, ice glinting off the metallic helmet. “No offense, Your Highness, but you’d have to
Fuck this guy. One day, he’s going to push Kel too far and we’re all going to watch his metal guts
get strewn across the castle. And the worst part is that his body will be so mutilated, we won’t ever
But Kel lets out a long breath and drops Ezryn to the ground. “Do what you think is right, Ezryn. I
“If you refuse to keep order in this castle, then I’ll have to,” Ezryn says. “I will inform Rosalina
enough to keep her safe here. Obviously, she’ll not be privy to our innermost dealings. But this castle
will be her home, as it is to all who dwell here.”
Slowly, I stand, drawing Farron up with me. The only sound in the room is the thorns, already
growing back, snaking along the walls and ceiling of Kel’s room. Damn, that fiend’s magic is
relentless.
Keldarion’s chest rises and falls, breath heavy in his throat. “Tell her what you must. Feed her.
Dress her up. Do as you will.” Then that piercing ice-like gaze locks into all of us. “But none of you
will touch her.”
He stalks away into the shadows of his room, and the power of his words radiates through my
body. Fuck. Why do I get the feeling that out of all of Kel’s crazy rules, this one is going to be the
hardest to follow?