Frost Fire (Frost Series #6) (6 page)

Rose noticed that she was holding a great, shimmering sword. It glimmered in the firelight as she raised it slightly. “Kneel,” she said softly, giving the group not a command but rather an invitation. “Kian and I were reading history books of Feyland last night,” she said. “We couldn’t sleep. And in one book we found an account of how the greatest heroes of Feyland were officially knighted, granted the status of Knight of the Realm. Officially, of course, we need the full Cabinet present in the Great Hall, but under these extraordinary circumstances I think we can afford to be a bit unconventional, don’t you?”

She turned to Kian, who kissed her lightly and lovingly on the forehead. He nodded.

“Then, by my power and office as the Queen of All Feyland, I name you, Logan, not only Wolf Prince, Red Wolf, but also Knight of all Feyland, one honor among so many, I am sure, but yet an honor you richly deserve.” She tapped him lightly on the shoulder with the sword. She stepped over to Rodney.

“Rodney, you have been a great soldier always, but henceforth you will be Sir Rodney, your honor in the world rising with the honor you have displayed. By the power and office I hold as Queen of Feyland, I name you, Rodney, Knight of the Realm.”

Rose beamed with pride. Even in this darkness she could see her brother’s face blush crimson.
Good old Rodney
, Rose thought. He deserved all the accolades he got – a more courageous, brave soldier she had never known.

Rose couldn’t suppress a smile, either, when Breena did the same to Alistair. Alistair had been handsome enough at their last meeting five years ago, but now he looked more like a brave and chivalrous knight than ever – and Rose could easily imagine him wearing the scarlet coat-of-arms of a Feyland knight.

And then Breena turned to Rose. She gaped in surprise as Breena approached her, smiling. Rodney, Rose could understand – he had been in service for a long time – but
her
? A Knight of Feyland? Could Breena really be interested in granting this honor to Rose?
Why, just a few months ago I was but a student of alchemy in the palace court? I don't deserve this!

“You have done much, Rose,” said Breena, as if she had heard Rose's mental objections. “You have served Feyland well. When I knight you, know that you have the honor of being the youngest knight ever honored thus in Feyland. I name you, Rose, by the power and office as the Queen of All Feyland…”

Rose's cheeks were even brighter than Rodney’s. She wanted to stutter out a thank-you, but she found that she had no words. Did Breena really think that she could be like the great Knights of old? Rose wanted to protest, but instead she felt a new courage growing within her. Breena’s faith in her gave her courage in herself – why
couldn’t
she work hard? Display bravery? Save Feyland from this new pestilence – if the knights of the old days could do it, why not her, too?

“A Knight of Feyland,” Breena finished, and Rose felt the cool metal of the sword against her shoulder. Suddenly she was not just plain, ordinary Rose but the Lady Rose, a Knight of the Realm. A hero just like the heroes she had read about in story-books.

“I won’t let you down, Breena,” Rose said, beaming with pride. “Nor you, Kian,” She turned to him. “I promise, I’ll do whatever it takes to get those suns back, no matter what I have to do.”

Breena smiled at her. Kian whispered something in her ear and her smile grew wider. Then Breena moved to the last member of the group.

“Your turn, Shasta…” Breena turned to Kian’s sister. She handed the sword silently to Kian.

“I think it’s best if I do this one,” said Kian, smiling at Shasta. “After all, you’re still my kid sister.”

“No…” whispered Shasta. She rose. “Please, not for me.”

“Shasta,” Kian began, “You cannot punish yourself forever. Your actions may have been grave, but your victory upon the battlefield, the many sacrifices you have made, our faith in you – these things cannot go unheralded or unhonored. You deserve a title, Shasta. All of you do.”

“Not
yet
,” Shasta responded. “Maybe one day – one day I will be worthy again of that title. But I have to earn it this time. When I was a child I had everything handed to me. I was a Princess – spoiled, self-assured, strong but not always kind. I knew I was smarter and stronger and faster and so I lorded it over others – but never challenged my greatest enemy of all: myself. If I get a title again, it will be one that I earn by hard work and sincere repentance of what I have done. My journey is not over yet. Perhaps one day I will gladly kneel at your feet, brother, and listen to what you say, and feel the blunt end of your sword on my shoulder, but today is not that day. When the Twin Suns return to Feyland – when the blood of those slain through my fault ceases to pollute the earth – then and only then will I accept a title from you.”

Kian looked pensive, but proud. His little sister had become a woman at last. As beautiful and dazzling as she had been as Princess, she was more noble still as a commoner, choosing principle over glory.

“I understand this choice you make, sister,” he said. “And I commend you for it. I long for the day when I may make you a knight…and I wish with all my heart that it will come quickly.”

With that they rose, and began to say their goodbyes. One by one the new knights said farewell to Breena and then to Kian. But when it was Logan’s turn to bid farewell to Breena, she took hold of his hand and led him aside, out of earshot of the others.

But, to her surprise, Rose could still hear them. She could hear their footsteps echoing in her ears, she could feel Breena’s hands on
her
wrist instead of Logan’s. Rose looked up with shock. Was her ability to communicate with animals, so long dormant, causing her to sense what was happening with the wolf in Logan? As they spoke, Rose could feel Logan’s pain more palpably than ever. She experienced his longing. She felt how much Logan wanted to lean into Breena, to feel her smooth skin beneath his rough fingers, to caress her hair; most of all, to kiss her. He wanted so badly to be with her – he wanted it so badly that it brought tears to
Rose's
eyes – and each second that he sat beside her was a second of unimaginable torture. And yet it was a torture that he would gladly undergo: for Rose knew that every second he spent without her was torture more painful still.

Breena was showing Logan the map she had drawn, explaining to him precisely how she had managed to get to the Kingdom of the Dead. “It won’t be easy,” she was saying. “You may run into old enemies – those whom you thought you had killed and who will yet return, trying to trick you. They don’t just use weapons to hurt you: they use their words. They’re clever. They’ll try to convince you that you’re crazy – demonic spirits trying to turn you against those you love; they’ll play on your insecurities – you might hear voices pretending to be people from your life, pretending to be
me
– but you can’t listen to them, okay? You can’t let them win…”

There was silence between them. They both knew what the demons would say to Logan in Breena’s voice. Make him believe that he was unworthy of her – torment him with his failure.

“Logan,” Breena took his hand, her voice dropping down to a mere whisper. “I don’t want you to go away hating me…”

“I could never hate you,” Logan replied, his eyes shining with unwept tears.

“I don’t want you to go away thinking that I didn’t love you – or that I loved you any less than Kian. Because that’s not how it was – that wasn’t it at all. I’ve always loved you, too, ever since I was a little girl. But I’m not a little girl anymore, Logan. I had to make my choice. And I know I never wanted to hurt you. If I could be with you, I would. But the bond I have with Kian is…there are some magic that are stronger than anything else…”

“Your bond with Kian?” Logan’s voice cracked. “
We
have a bond, Breena. We’ve had a bond for almost eighteen years. I understand you more than he….more than anybody does.”

“I know,” Breena said, her eyes downcast. She too was crying, and her eyes were glistening as the tears ran down her cheeks. “I know you do,” she said softly. “I don’t doubt that. I never doubted that. I feel it still. But I had to make this decision – I had to choose one of you…and I did. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t care for you. That I don’t…love you. I hope one day…” She choked on the words. “I hope that one day you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

Her tears were shining and Logan couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to her, gathering her slender frame into his arms. How good it felt to comfort her, to hold her close and smell the smooth jasmine scent of her hair. “I hope so too,” he said. He squeezed her tighter, feeling the warmth of her flesh beneath his touch. “Should have served me right,” he said bitterly, “Thinking that a Wolf like me could get with a Princess – a Queen – like you.”

“No!” Breena pulled back. “No, don’t think that, Logan – I promise you this, it isn’t that at all. Please know that you did everything right. There is nothing else that you could have done or been…nothing to do with you being a Wolf at all. Believe me, Logan, when I say that you are the strongest, the most courageous, the most honorable and loving and loveable person I’ve ever been lucky enough to know. No matter what, I want you to believe that. I want you to know that to be true. Believe in yourself, Logan. My destiny was my destiny, but you have your own to fulfill. I believe, Logan, that yours is even greater than mine, bigger than you being with me. And you are
so
good. And you will succeed, Logan, I promise you that. It is destined. You are Feyland’s new champion, and I have faith that you will bring Feyland back to the light. You will lead us out of the darkness.” Her lips lightly brushed his forehead – the softest, saddest kiss she had ever given him. Rose's heart ached for Logan as he closed his eyes, wishing that the moment could last forever.

“Please, don’t be sad – not any longer. I want you to be happy – so much. How much you’ll never know. And I see so many girls – young women – in love with you, so many girls who dream that you’ll give all your love, all that incredible power I know you have, to them.”

Rose blushed scarlet. Was Breena talking about
her
?

Logan gave a bitter laugh. “You’re just saying that, Bree,” he said.

“I’m not!” Breena took his hand. “If you weren’t so blinded by your…bias, then you’d see it. Everywhere you go, girls fall straight head over heels for you. All the time. Clariss from Gregory, Josephine’s she-wolves, some of the girls at the Summer Court even when we were engaged, and now… It used to make me jealous – but I have no right to be. At least, not anymore.”

“Bree…” He couldn’t hold himself back any longer. “It doesn’t have to be this way…you’re not married yet…” He stopped abruptly and bit his lip. “Sorry,” he said hoarsely. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Don’t worry,” said Breena. “We can’t deny it – we will love each other, in some way, for the rest of our lives. No matter what. Friends forever?” She leaned her forehead against his?

“Friends forever.”

They embraced once more and then Breena led Logan back to the rest of the group. Rose looked down intently, afraid that Breena or Logan would see the recognition on her face. How was she able to hear their conversation? Was it just Logan’s animal nature – or something more? Rose had heard of fairies experiencing telepathy – but only rarely, and even then only with those they shared a magical bond.

Could it be…?

Rose shook her head. She was just telepathically connected to the wolf in Logan, nothing more! Certainly nothing special!

Still, Rose couldn’t help but feel a twinge of relief when they left the castle and Logan’s beautiful Breena – and set off on their onward journey.

Chapter 6