Rosalina
KELDARION HEAVES ME OFF his shoulder and onto his soft bed. I kick, tangling my legs in the
sheets.
“How do you get the balls to—” I pause and bring the sheet to my nose. There’s the fresh smell of
soap. “You actually had your sheets washed?”
Keldarion leans on the bedpost, ice chip eyes looking over me. “I have one night a month as a
human. I want to make the most of it.”
Frowning, I push myself off the bed. “Well, I’ll leave you to it.”
A few steps in and my legs feel like jelly, though I’m not sure if it’s from all the faerie wine, from
being heaved around like a sack of grain over Keldarion’s shoulder, or the mind-shattering orgasm
Dayton ignited within me.
My body heats thinking of it, and I stumble. Kel leans down and scoops me up.
“I can walk myself!”
“Apparently not.” He sets me back on the edge of the bed, then kneels on the floor, making us eye
level.
“Why did you bring me here, Kel?”
He keeps staring at me. I must look like such a mess, my hair splayed every which way, makeup
smudged. My dress is thankfully put back together, though I can’t help but notice my lack of panties
with the silken sheets rubbing against my legs.
Rosalina
his shoulder and onto his soft bed. I kick, tangling my legs in the
“How do you get the balls to—” I pause and bring the sheet to my nose. There’s the fresh smell of
Keldarion leans on the bedpost, ice chip eyes looking over me. “I have one night a month as a
A few steps in and my legs feel like jelly, though I’m not sure if it’s from all the faerie wine, from
being heaved around like a sack of grain over Keldarion’s shoulder, or the mind-shattering orgasm
“Apparently not.” He sets me back on the edge of the bed, then kneels on the floor, making us eye
He keeps staring at me. I must look like such a mess, my hair splayed every which way, makeup
smudged. My dress is thankfully put back together, though I can’t help but notice my lack of panties
“I asked Dayton to take me to the Summer Realm. I wasn’t trying to escape. And he didn’t force me
to do anything,” I say, not able to bear his silence anymore.
“I know. Dayton’s a scoundrel, but he’d never push himself on anyone.” Keldarion crosses to the
other side of the room. I can’t help but notice he didn’t answer my question. Kel opens the armoire
and pulls out a pale beige tunic before returning to me.
“What’s that for?”
“You can’t wear that to bed.” He gestures vaguely at me.
I cross my arms protectively over my beautiful lavender dress. “No. I love this dress.”
Kel’s eyes flash. “I can’t imagine who wouldn’t.”
My cheeks heat under the intenseness of his gaze before reason crosses my mind. “I’m not staying
here. I have plenty of nightgowns in my room.”
Kel keeps his arm outstretched.
Giving a grumble, I sigh, “Do you have anything with long sleeves? It’s freezing in here.”
Kel rolls his eyes, but then steps over the thorns toward the armoire. There are more thorns in the
Winter Wing than anywhere else in the castle. Why is that?
Before Kel returns to me, he kneels to light a fire in the hearth. Kel strikes his flint and steel
together, and sparks of orange and red leap through the air as he coaxes the crackling embers to life. A
small flame rises steadily, washing the room in a warm, glowing light.
The warmth makes my eyes droop. “Do you think Farron is okay?”
“Ez will take care of him.” Keldarion tosses a long-sleeved black shirt at me. “Spring’s magic is
soothing.”
“Will you go check?” I ask him. “Make sure he didn’t turn into his... beast?”
“He’s fine.”
“Well, at least step outside the room while I change.” I glower at him.
He gives me a look that says I could walk around the castle naked and he couldn’t care less, but
finally gives a dissatisfied grunt and leaves the room.
Why did Kel bring me here? He could have as easily locked me in the dungeon tower again if he
was mad at me for leaving. Or brought me back to my room. I’d thought maybe he was going to lay
into me for going to the Summer Realm... but he’s being surprisingly soft. Well, as soft as a man
who’s all icy edges can be. But the more important question is: why aren’t I fighting to leave? I know
the way to my room. If I left, he wouldn’t come after me.
“I asked Dayton to take me to the Summer Realm. I wasn’t trying to escape. And he didn’t force me
“I know. Dayton’s a scoundrel, but he’d never push himself on anyone.” Keldarion crosses to the
other side of the room. I can’t help but notice he didn’t answer my question. Kel opens the armoire
My cheeks heat under the intenseness of his gaze before reason crosses my mind. “I’m not staying
Kel rolls his eyes, but then steps over the thorns toward the armoire. There are more thorns in the
Before Kel returns to me, he kneels to light a fire in the hearth. Kel strikes his flint and steel
together, and sparks of orange and red leap through the air as he coaxes the crackling embers to life. A
“Ez will take care of him.” Keldarion tosses a long-sleeved black shirt at me. “Spring’s magic is
He gives me a look that says I could walk around the castle naked and he couldn’t care less, but
Why did Kel bring me here? He could have as easily locked me in the dungeon tower again if he
was mad at me for leaving. Or brought me back to my room. I’d thought maybe he was going to lay
into me for going to the Summer Realm... but he’s being surprisingly soft. Well, as soft as a man
who’s all icy edges can be. But the more important question is: why aren’t I fighting to leave? I know
I let my lavender dress slip to the floor and pull the black tunic over my head. Oh, yep. No
underwear. Stupid Summer Prince. The tunic is long enough to cover my ass, barely. I need to find
some pants before Kel comes back. I skip over the thorns to the armoire.
Something beside the table catches my eye: clear tumblers and dusty square bottles with different
colored liquids. Keldarion has some fancy drinks.
Hey, he forced me here. I’m going to help myself. I pour a little into a glass and give it a sniff.
Yikes, that’s strong, all right. I already tried fae wine tonight—why not a little of their liquor? I need
all the liquid courage I can muster if I’m going to spend the night in the Winter Prince’s room.
Tipping back my head, the liquor shoots down my throat. It’s cool and crisp, a little like
peppermint. A faint warmth spreads through my chest. I have to be careful, or I might drink too much.
I’d hate to end up passed out on the icy floor.
But a part of me knows that won’t happen. My eyes drift back to the bed: four elegant silver posts
draped with a white canopy. Thick fur blankets lay atop freshly pressed sheets. It’s too big for one
person, and I flush.
I turn with the glass in my hand to find Keldarion standing in the doorway watching me. I quickly
put the glass down and try to look like I was doing something other than drinking.
“What did you have?” Keldarion crosses the room in two steps.
“Just a shot.” I smirk. “Chill out. Or I guess, you’re already chill. Like all the time.”
He snatches the bottle off the table. “Rosalina, this is fyrana.”
“Relax, Kel.” I smile, suddenly not feeling even a little bit afraid of him. “I already tried fae wine,
but that’s out of my system. Dayton was a bore with all the water he made me drink.”
“One shot of this,” Kel squishes my cheeks with one hand, “is equal to you drinking two bottles of
fae wine. In an hour.”
“That seems much more efficient,” I mumble against his hold. “You have really pretty eyes.”
He drops his hand and steps back as if even the thought of me looking at his eyes is insulting.
“What’s that in your hand?” I quirk my head.
“The others are fine, by the way,” Keldarion says lowly. “I found something you left behind.”
My vision is a little sparkly, but I still manage to focus on what Keldarion holds out. Light blue
lace. My broken panties.
I snatch them from him. “Don’t touch those!”
“Would you rather Marigold find them in the morning?” He gives the slight hint of a smile.
I let my lavender dress slip to the floor and pull the black tunic over my head. Oh, yep. No
The tunic is long enough to cover my ass, barely. I need to find
Something beside the table catches my eye: clear tumblers and dusty square bottles with different
Hey, he forced me here. I’m going to help myself. I pour a little into a glass and give it a sniff.
Yikes, that’s strong, all right. I already tried fae wine tonight—why not a little of their liquor? I need
Tipping back my head, the liquor shoots down my throat. It’s cool and crisp, a little like
peppermint. A faint warmth spreads through my chest. I have to be careful, or I might drink too much.
But a part of me knows that won’t happen. My eyes drift back to the bed: four elegant silver posts
draped with a white canopy. Thick fur blankets lay atop freshly pressed sheets. It’s too big for one
I turn with the glass in my hand to find Keldarion standing in the doorway watching me. I quickly
“Relax, Kel.” I smile, suddenly not feeling even a little bit afraid of him. “I already tried fae wine,
” Kel squishes my cheeks with one hand, “is equal to you drinking two bottles of
My vision is a little sparkly, but I still manage to focus on what Keldarion holds out. Light blue
“She would never let me live that down.” I scowl at him, then cross to the fire before tossing them
in. They’re certainly not salvageable.
“If you must know, I brought you here to make sure you didn’t have a bad reaction to the fae wine,”
Keldarion says. “But now you’ve had that liquor, I’ll have no choice but to stay up all night to make
sure you don’t choke on your vomit.”
“You’re lying.” I turn to him. “You just thought of that now. It’s an excuse.”
“An excuse?” He balks. “Look, there is one night—”
“You’re a man, I know. How do you usually spend it? Moping alone?” I spread out my arms. “I
don’t know why you brought me here. Maybe you’re lonely.”
I’m not sure if we’re talking about tonight or forever.
Kel crosses his arms and leans against the wall. “Trust me, it’s better to be alone than—”
Kel had a great love. Dayton told me that. Someone has hurt Keldarion, and I’m not sure if there’s
any connection to the curse, but it’s still affecting him.
“I’ll stay,” I say.
And I’m not sure if I’m talking about tonight or forever.
“But I’m not, you know, doing anything with you. So don’t get any ideas,” I say. Though I wish my
body would get on board with my head. Because Keldarion looks way too good cast in the firelight,
arms crossed over his broad chest, that stern expression on his handsome face. I would have thought
I’d be satisfied from Dayton, but I’m left wanting more.
Liquid heat pools in my core as I squeeze my thighs shut.
“I’ll be sleeping on the couch, obviously.”
It’s startling how fast that man can sap the heat from everything. Including me. Icy prick. “Right
then.”
Something catches my gaze, flickering beneath his bed. I bend down to it because anything is better
than withering under his cold stare.
At first, I think it’s a long icicle, but then I spy the hilt. I grasp it before straightening, and a cold
breeze blows over my bare ass.
Oh no.
I look across at Keldarion, who is giving me another one of those looks of absolute horror. “Oh
shit, sorry. I totally didn’t mean to do that.” My whole body is probably the color of a tomato. “You
see, all shirts are pretty short on me—”
“Drop that right now, Rosalina,” Keldarion says.
let me live that down.” I scowl at him, then cross to the fire before tossing them
“If you must know, I brought you here to make sure you didn’t have a bad reaction to the fae wine,”
Keldarion says. “But now you’ve had that liquor, I’ll have no choice but to stay up all night to make
“You’re a man, I know. How do you usually spend it? Moping alone?” I spread out my arms. “I
Dayton told me that. Someone has hurt Keldarion, and I’m not sure if there’s
anything with you. So don’t get any ideas,” I say. Though I wish my
body would get on board with my head. Because Keldarion looks way too good cast in the firelight,
arms crossed over his broad chest, that stern expression on his handsome face. I would have thought
“Right
Something catches my gaze, flickering beneath his bed. I bend down to it because anything is better
At first, I think it’s a long icicle, but then I spy the hilt. I grasp it before straightening, and a cold
I look across at Keldarion, who is giving me another one of those looks of absolute horror. “Oh
shit, sorry. I totally didn’t mean to do that.” My whole body is probably the color of a tomato. “You
Okay, so good to know a little accidental mooning means nothing to him. I hold up the object in
front of me. “This?” It’s a fucking sword. It looks like it’s been crafted from ice, the blade as clear
and cold as glass. But it’s been smoothed to be more reflective, like a mirror. At its base, the blade
flares out and is wider than the slender hilt, which has been wound with gilded vines and a jeweled
rose where the cross-guard meets the blade. The sword itself is a story...
“Yes, that.” He reaches out his hand.
The sword glows, glittering gold at the base and a sapphire blue at the blade. Magic radiates
through me, pulsing in my ears. Maybe it’s all the fae alcohol, but this is the coolest thing I’ve ever
seen.
“Whoa.” I stagger away from Kel. “This is so neat.”
“It’s not a toy, Rosalina,” Kel growls.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Put it down.”
“It doesn’t seem like you’re taking very good care of it.” I examine the sword. I didn’t realize you
can feel magic, like the waves of heat on a desert horizon or the taste of clouds swooped too low.
“Drop it.” Kel stalks behind me. But for whatever reason, he doesn’t take it back. I’m sure he could
snatch it from my drunk, stumbly self in a moment if he really wanted too.
“You’re always so grumpy, Kel. And why not? Surrounded by these things all day and night?” I
gesture to the thorns. “That guy was a total creep. A hot creep. But a creep all the same.”
If looks could kill, the one Keldarion gives me would send me straight to the grave. But thankfully
they can’t, so I turn back to the thorns. “Why don’t you prune them?”
And with all the stupid confidence a shot of fyrana gives one, I swing the beautiful sword right
across the brambles. At the same moment, Keldarion screams, “Rosalina! No!”
The thorn turns black then breezes away in a cloud of ash. “Hey.” I blink. “That actually worked.”
A rumble shudders through the castle, and a great crack forms along the wall. There’s the shifting of
rock and suddenly a whole section of the ceiling crashes down.
Keldarion grabs me around the waist and throws me to the side. We roll together on the hard floor.
My vision blackens then spins, and I blink, trying to get my bearings. Keldarion is braced above
me, breathing like a wild animal. A new purple vine slithers up, right where the last one was.
“We can’t remove the thorns,” he says roughly, then reaches down and grabs the sword from my
trembling fingers and sends it skittering across the icy floor.
Okay, so good to know a little accidental mooning means nothing to him. I hold up the object in
front of me. “This?” It’s a fucking sword. It looks like it’s been crafted from ice, the blade as clear
and cold as glass. But it’s been smoothed to be more reflective, like a mirror. At its base, the blade
flares out and is wider than the slender hilt, which has been wound with gilded vines and a jeweled
The sword glows, glittering gold at the base and a sapphire blue at the blade. Magic radiates
through me, pulsing in my ears. Maybe it’s all the fae alcohol, but this is the coolest thing I’ve ever
“It doesn’t seem like you’re taking very good care of it.” I examine the sword. I didn’t realize you
“Drop it.” Kel stalks behind me. But for whatever reason, he doesn’t take it back. I’m sure he could
“You’re always so grumpy, Kel. And why not? Surrounded by these things all day and night?” I
If looks could kill, the one Keldarion gives me would send me straight to the grave. But thankfully
gives one, I swing the beautiful sword right
A rumble shudders through the castle, and a great crack forms along the wall. There’s the shifting of
My vision blackens then spins, and I blink, trying to get my bearings. Keldarion is braced above
“We can’t remove the thorns,” he says roughly, then reaches down and grabs the sword from my
But his gaze lingers on the tunic raised high on my waist, exposing the soft swell of my stomach and
the aching mound between my legs.
Keldarion braces himself on either side of me, his white hair a wild halo around his face as he
gazes down with raw hunger.
The air between us is heavy, and the moment stretches until I can’t take it anymore.
“You saved me,” I whisper, and his gaze intensifies.
“Of course I did,” he says gruffly, and his eyes fall to my mouth. He leans closer. His breath is like
a promise on my lips.
I close my eyes, and in that moment, I feel like I’m flying, like I’m completely free, like I’m exactly
where I belong. Then, in a flash, he pushes himself up and away from me. The moment is gone,
leaving me breathless and dizzy.
“The thorns appeared a few days after the curse began,” Keldarion says, looking away from me. “I
tore every one of them from the castle. But twice as many appeared the next day and removing them
increased the decay of Castletree. Somehow, he’s tied his foul magic to our home.”
“Cunning bastard,” I say, pushing myself up and pulling my top back over my thighs.
“Don’t you mean hot bastard?” A pair of pants hits me straight in the face.
“I mean...” My words trail off as I slip the pants on.
Keldarion grips me under the armpits and lifts me to my feet. “You need to go to bed.”
I don’t complain this time as he carries me across the room. Instead, I bask in the feeling of his
closeness, letting my head drop to his shoulder. “I’m sorry I ruined more of your wall.”
“I appreciate the sentiment.”
“My shoulders are sunburnt,” I mumble, my cheek resting against the exposed skin of his neck. “I
was only in Summer for a little bit before sunset too.”
He plops me down in the bed and returns a moment later to place a glass of water in my hand.
“Drink.”
I take a couple sips before putting it on the bedside table. He collapses onto the couch, so tall his
feet hang off the end.
“Are you going to be okay there?”
“I sleep on the floor every other night.”
“But you’re a wolf then.”
“Go to sleep, Rosalina.”
But his gaze lingers on the tunic raised high on my waist, exposing the soft swell of my stomach and
Keldarion braces himself on either side of me, his white hair a wild halo around his face as he
“Of course I did,” he says gruffly, and his eyes fall to my mouth. He leans closer. His breath is like
I close my eyes, and in that moment, I feel like I’m flying, like I’m completely free, like I’m exactly
where I belong. Then, in a flash, he pushes himself up and away from me. The moment is gone,
“The thorns appeared a few days after the curse began,” Keldarion says, looking away from me. “I
tore every one of them from the castle. But twice as many appeared the next day and removing them
I don’t complain this time as he carries me across the room. Instead, I bask in the feeling of his
“My shoulders are sunburnt,” I mumble, my cheek resting against the exposed skin of his neck. “I
He plops me down in the bed and returns a moment later to place a glass of water in my hand.
I take a couple sips before putting it on the bedside table. He collapses onto the couch, so tall his
I stretch my arms above my head, relishing the silken sheets against my fevered body. My mind
feels sparkly and light. I’m not ready to sleep yet. “I had such an amazing night. The Summer Realm is
so warm.”
Keldarion gives a grunt of acknowledgment.
“Dayton was so nice too. He cut off a man’s hands for touching me. That’s why there was blood on
his chest.”
“He did what?”
“I’ve never felt like that before.” I can’t help but feather my hands over my body, down between
my legs. Thinking of Dayton’s mouth there, and Kel a few feet away... It makes me even wetter. “Will
you bring him here?”
“I will absolutely not bring him here,” Keldarion says, cool and fast.
“It’s okay,” I say dreamily. “He’s with Farron.”
“How do you know?”
“I...” My words trail off, and I’m having trouble finding them in my blurry mind. “I can feel it.
They’re together. They love each other a lot, but they’re bad at saying it.”
Maybe it’s a hunch, but it’s almost like I can feel them, passion radiating through me. Or maybe I’m
only imagining how great their makeup sex would be. But I know Kel needs me more.
I slip my hands beneath the band of my pants, feeling my aching heat, and a little sigh escapes my
lips. Shit, why does my body feel like this?
There’s a flurry of movement and Keldarion is above me. He yanks my hands up and locks both my
wrists above my head. Holy crap, he’s fast.
“You need to go to sleep, Rosalina.” His voice is raspy, untethered.
A mixture of fear and something else swirls in my body. “Is it true you haven’t had sex in twenty-
five years?”
He takes in a long, shuddering breath. “Dayton says a lot of things, as you well know.”
“Well, is it true?” I drag my eyes down his body. Through the thin fabric of his night pants, I see a
long outline. “It’s obviously not from—”
“I’m a beast, Rosalina.” The grip on my wrists tightens. “The others might be willing to forget that
fact, but I cannot.”
He’s so handsome: the long nose and dark brows, his eyes so full of pain. I should agree with him.
He’s the one who imprisoned me here, who’s keeping me from my home. But a swell of different
emotions rise when I look at him.
I stretch my arms above my head, relishing the silken sheets against my fevered body. My mind
feels sparkly and light. I’m not ready to sleep yet. “I had such an amazing night. The Summer Realm is
“Dayton was so nice too. He cut off a man’s hands for touching me. That’s why there was blood on
“I’ve never felt like that before.” I can’t help but feather my hands over my body, down between
my legs. Thinking of Dayton’s mouth there, and Kel a few feet away... It makes me even wetter. “Will
“I...” My words trail off, and I’m having trouble finding them in my blurry mind. “I can feel it.
Maybe it’s a hunch, but it’s almost like I can feel them, passion radiating through me. Or maybe I’m
I slip my hands beneath the band of my pants, feeling my aching heat, and a little sigh escapes my
There’s a flurry of movement and Keldarion is above me. He yanks my hands up and locks both my
A mixture of fear and something else swirls in my body. “Is it true you haven’t had sex in twenty-
“Well, is it true?” I drag my eyes down his body. Through the thin fabric of his night pants, I see a
“I’m a beast, Rosalina.” The grip on my wrists tightens. “The others might be willing to forget that
He’s so handsome: the long nose and dark brows, his eyes so full of pain. I should agree with him.
He’s the one who imprisoned me here, who’s keeping me from my home. But a swell of different
“He also said you were in love before,” I whisper.
A calamity flickers over his face, and he lifts off me to sit at the end of the bed.
“You shouldn’t be ashamed to have loved, Kel,” I say softly. “Love isn’t a bad thing. You know
what’s bad? Hating someone, judging someone. Loving someone is actually quite nice in comparison.
Love is good.”
His breath shudders in his throat and he runs a hand through his hair. “Not when it comes to me.”
As muddled as my mind feels right now, I know he’s never going to find his mate with that kind of
attitude. “I don’t believe that.”
He glances over at me, then my bedside table. “Drink your water.”
I grab the glass and slide closer to him, close enough my thigh brushes his. “I’ll make you another
deal. Fae like bargains, right?”
“Only the evil ones.” He brushes a stray piece of hair away from my face.
“I’ll drink this water if you go to the ball.”
He laughs, a low, soft rumble in his chest. “Even for a human, that is terrible. You want me to
return to the realm I have not visited in twenty-five years for an event I will loathe, for you to what?
Drink a glass of water before bed?”
“Exactly.” I smile up at him. “I want you to come to the ball. You want me to drink this. See? We
both win.”
He stares at me for a long moment before he whispers, “Drink.”
Cool liquid pours down my throat. I’m not sure this will stop me from suffering the hangover of a
century tomorrow morning, but it can’t hurt.
I place the empty cup on the bedside table and stare at him expectantly. He brings his hands to my
lips and wipes away the excess droplets with a brush of his thumb.
Clasping his hand with my own, I hold it against my cheek. “Come to the ball, Kel.”
“No one wants me there.”
“I do.” I stare into his eyes, willing him to believe it. “Isn’t that enough?”
“It is enough.” He drops his head against mine in a sort of surrender. His lips brush my ear as he
whispers, “I will go to your ball, Rose. But I will not find my mate there.”