Winter

If soulstones truly are sacred then why would the half-blood Fae give me one?

I refocus on the prince, only to see he’s watching me with a still, penetrating gaze.

“My glamour didn’t work, did it?” he asks softly.

“How could you tell?” I ask.

His eyes darken. “By the way you stare at me.”

Oh my God. “How, exactly, do I stare at you?”

Hopefully not like I want to jump his bones.

A rakish smile carves his jaw, and it takes all my willpower to force my gaze up to his eyes. But that’s a mistake too, because the intention inside his feral gaze nearly brings me to my knees. “You look at me like you are right this very moment. Like you could give yourself to me completely.”

I scowl, trying to hide the truth in his words. “I don’t know what I’m capable of when I’m with you,” I admit. “Just like I don’t know why you tried to glamour away what happened between us in the Summer Court . . . when I’m beginning to think you enjoyed it too.”

“Of course I did.” His voice is gravelly, close to a growl. “There are so many things you don’t understand. We can’t—” He scrapes a hand through his midnight blue hair. “Everything I do is to keep you safe, princess.”

“Liar,” I accuse. “If that were true you wouldn’t continue breaking my heart.”

“Better a broken heart than dead.”

I release a frustrated sigh. “What does that even mean?” When he doesn’t answer, I throw up my hands. “Fine. More cryptic bullshit. Just tell me this, Winter Prince. What do you feel when you’re with me?”

Such a simple question. I hold his gaze, daring him to look away. Daring him to spout another cryptic answer so I can be done with him.

Instead, he looks me straight in the face and says, “When I’m with you, Summer, I feel like I’m drowning.”

45

“I’m thinking of winter jasmine and primrose for the Winter Formal,” Evelyn says. She somehow managed to grab the student position of event coordinator. Unfortunately for everyone around her, she takes the role very seriously.

Mack yawns. “Evelyn, if you put half as much effort into your grades, your parents wouldn’t spend their fortune paying for all your after-school tutors.”

We’re sitting outside for lunch in the courtyard, enjoying the unseasonably warm day. At the stone picnic table we’re joined by Jace and two Dawn Court shadows, Layla and Richard.

Some of the snow has melted, revealing patches of green grass and the beautiful black and white mosaic of the courtyard. Thin, stringy clouds drift in the sky above.

Jace grins. “Honey, no one cares about the flowers. Just make sure the punch is spiked with Faerie wine and the music is fast enough we can all grind our bodies together and you’ll be fine.”

His gaze slides to the table by the fountain and lands on Basil. The poor Faun looks miserable sitting next to Rhaegar. Mack said Basil stays with him out of loyalty, but after that night, he seems more afraid of Rhaegar than anything.

I don’t blame Basil. Rhaegar has changed, although I can’t exactly say how. And I catch him watching me at odd times when he thinks I don’t notice. The other night, on the way home from a late night studying session for finals, I felt someone following me.

The next morning, there were footprints below my window.

I push the chilling thought away and focus on reality, just in time to see Basil look up from his plate of fruit. When he spots Jace watching him, he grins softly.

Meanwhile, the Dawn Court girl, Layla, keeps trying to make conversation with Richard, who’s more interested in Evelyn. And Mack keeps shifting her gaze to the picnic table where the Elite Six sit, along with a certain dragon shifter.

This entire Island is one big cesspool of love. Ick.

“Richard promised to pick me up for the dance in a chariot flown by a pegasus,” Evelyn is saying. “Right, Richard? Oh my God, and you guys have to see my dress. I had it portaled in from the best dressmaker in Everwilde. Mack, have you gotten your gown yet?”

Mack and I share an annoyed look. Then she gives Evelyn the side eye. “No, I’ve been too busy studying for finals. You know, that massive test we have to pass to come back in the Fall?”

Evelyn makes a face at that, and a knot suddenly forms in my gut. The tests will be tough, but I’m prepared.

It’s the Wild Hunt at the end that scares me. We partner with our keeper for that. Just the thought of the prince warms my cheeks. As if he can feel me thinking of him, I suddenly recognize the heavy, prickling feeling that means he’s close.

At the same time, Mack gives a near imperceptible jerk of her head behind me. I turn just in time to see the Winter Prince stop by our table. Eclipsa and Asher stand on either side of him. I’m pretty sure the entire courtyard stops what they’re doing to stare.

Terrified silence falls at the table. I always forget how scared the others are of the Six.

“Can we sit?” Eclipsa asks in an amused tone, one side of her mouth quirked.

“Yes, of course,” Evelyn gushes, shoving her tray into Richard’s as she tries to make room. I hold back a grin as Asher tries to fit between Mack and Jace. I’m sitting on the end next to Richard. The prince locks eyes with me as he glides around to our side and stands behind Richard.

Richard’s face turns three shades of red, and he jerks to his feet. “I’m done anyway.” He sweeps one more longing look at Evelyn before picking up his full tray. “See you guys later?”

I watch him go before scowling at the prince.

His eyes glitter as he takes the place beside me. “Didn’t mean to frighten him.”

“Didn’t you?” Eclipsa drawls through a devilish grin.

He smirks. “Says the Fae assassin wearing seven blades. I mean, surely one will do, Eclipsa. Do you really need seven?”

“Eight,” she corrects. “I have one stashed in my boot.” Eclipsa turns and winks at Layla and the girl almost passes out.

The prince hasn’t addressed me, hasn’t even looked my way, but I feel my traitorous body rejoice at his nearness. Ever since Christmas, when he told me he felt like he was drowning around me, I’ve taken to ignoring him.

And by that, I mean I dream about him every night and can barely breathe when he’s near and turn bright pink when he touches me.

Like right now. Beneath the table, his thigh presses into mine, and I’ve never been so aware of anything in my life.

How am I supposed to concentrate on finals when my body reacts to his presence like a drug?

Thank the Shimmer, I talked Eclipsa into allowing me back to my dorm with Mack. We all agreed I’m probably safe, and that everything was a coincidence.

I still see him after lunch and combat class. Each time I leave the encounter feeling like I’m drowning. Like he’s an itch I can’t scratch. A smarmy, arrogant, beautiful pointy-eared dickwad rash I can’t get rid of.

It’s torture.

“Ready to start extra training this week?” Eclipsa asks before biting into an apple. I watch her eat for a moment, the small, quick movements almost predatory. As if the apple is a heart she’s just plucked from an enemy’s chest.

I refrain from saying something cheesy like I was born ready, and nod. But I’m excited. Our training sessions have become my favorite part of the day.

“Good, because the Wild Hunt is coming up in a few months. You’ll need all the help you can get to pass.” Her gaze shifts to the prince. “And you? Ready to get up early to train with Summer?”

What the frick?

“Why does he need training?” I blurt.

He grins, the act somehow wanton. “Eclipsa thinks we need to gel as a team.”

Bastard. He knows exactly why that’s a bad idea.

I swallow, picking at the initials someone carved into the table. How will I survive four days a week with him in tight clothes that showcase every single hard angle and plane of his gorgeous body?

“Scared?” he teases.

Yes, I want to say. Terrified. That’s what happens when you have no control.

Instead, I glare beneath my brows at him. “Puh-lease.”

My bragging isn’t all hot air. It’s been three months since the prince and I sat in front of my house in the snow, and I’ve put every bit of pent up attraction toward my training. I haven’t gone against Reina since the last time, but I’m confident I would smoke her now.

Speaking of. Inara and the rest of the Six watch us from their table. Reina and her two boy toys are there, along with Lyra, Bane, and Kimber, who wears a black veil over her face to counter the bright sun. Her shadow, a timid, pale girl with short auburn hair, holds a pink Hello Kitty umbrella over the vampire Fae.

From what I’ve read, Kimber won’t burn to cinders or anything, but her skin suffers a poisonous reaction to the sunlight. Even ten minutes in full sun could be crippling. A full hour and she could die.

Kimber winks at me, and I decide to pretend the gesture is friendly. After the taco incident, she treats me like a monkey here for her amusement. But I don’t have any illusions about our relationship.

If the situation called for it, she’d rip out my throat in a heartbeat.

The rest, however, glare without even trying to hide their loathing. If not for the prince, I have no doubt they’d be over here torturing us right now.

Inara and I lock gazes, and the hatred in her eyes sends a chill down my spine. I’m starting to wonder if there are cracks in the Six. More importantly, I’m beginning to question what could cause a rift between the most powerful group in school.

And I’m praying it has nothing to do with me.

46

“Again,” Eclipsa commands. It’s the Thursday before the Winter Formal, and classes are out early for Ostara, yet another Fae holiday. So, instead of combat class, I get my own personal private lesson.

I spring forward, my baton held high, blocking the Lunar Fae’s advance. Her sword flashes as it arcs through the air. It connects with my baton, the impact rattling my bones.