Page 51 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“Ever since I stepped into these lands, I started to dream… of a man and a woman,” I say. “They look very similar, but they aren’t siblings or twins. The man’s name is Favian, and the woman’s, Favia. It’s… like they are imprisoned somewhere. The moments we can talk are always very short. I’m not sure if I’m talking to their spirits or if they are real. They are always in the same room. They don’t look well,” I recount. “Almost like they are fading.”
Gillean frowns. “What do they look like?”
“They have silver, almost white hair. The man is tall and strong but looks like he has lost weight. I haven’t seen much of the woman yet, as she is sleeping most of the time. The thing is…” I furrow my brows. “Last night when I talked to them, he was talking about fire and snow, and about the woman in white. He seemed to be scared of her. Then, he told me that our lives are connected: the princess of the sun, the two sides of a coin, and the triplets without a fate.” I pause. “That’s all I know.”
Gillean stares at me, his eyes wide in shock. “Two sides of a coin?”
“Yes, does this mean something?”
He frowns. “I’m not sure, Azadeh, but there is something no one knows, aside from my mate, Sine, Quinn, the palace witch and I. And now, I will fill you and Royan in. I alpha-commanded Royan to not utter a word to anyone, but as for you, I can only trust you to keep this to yourself.”
I tilt my head. “My promise goes as far as it protects everyone. But I refuse to lie to Endellion, Caelan, and Flinn.”
“I see,” he smiles. “You have already built a connection to them.”
“Something draws me to them,” I admit. “It’s hard to explain.” I frown when I see something flash through his eyes. “There is more you aren’t telling me.”
“There is,” he admits. “But this, I truly can’t reveal to you. It would mean intervening in the very peculiar and tender threads of fate. Very well,” he gets up. “Your promise is good enough for me. I will wait for my sons to return, and then we will visit the witch.“
“Will you tell me about the prophecy?” I ask.
Gillean looks at me in surprise. “I should stop being surprised by your words,” he sighs before straightening his back. “Yes, I will.”
seventeen
Fates
*FLINN*
My brothers and I combed the whole area, for further signs of the werebears that attacked Azadeh when she arrived here. But there are no signs whatsoever.
Endellion dismounts his horse, his brows furrowed as he stares into the thick forest. “There isn’t a werebear sleuth in this area.”
“Maybe someone tipped them off,” I say.
“But this doesn’t make sense.” Caelan tilts his head and glares at the forest like he can magically make the werebears appear and talk to us.
“Goddess, Caelan,” I groan. “Use your brain cells for once!”
Endellion tosses me a glare and I feel a wave of hurt washing over me from my bond to Caelan.
“I know I’m not the brightest,” he says. “If you want me to understand, then explain it to me.”
“Sorry,” I wince, feeling guilt overwhelming me. “I didn’t mean to lash out at you, and I don’t think you are in any way stupid. It’s just… all of this sucks, and you are right, it doesn’t make sense, which makes it so frustrating!”
“The woman in white,” Endellion says. “Azadeh saw her.”
“Do you believe her?” I ask.
“Why would she lie?” he asks, and there is a hint of hostility in his tone.
“That’s not what I wanted to imply,” I soothe him. “But, do you truly think it’s been her? It could have been a person in the distance. A blizzard was surrounding them, after all.”
“If she says she saw the woman in white, then I believe her,” Endellion says with finality in his voice.
Well, then… Caelan and I exchange a glance, then Caelan just shrugs. “Alright.”
“Alright?” I blink. Trust one of my brothers to just turn possessive over a woman and the other to just accept it. “Don’t hate me for playing the devil’s advocate.”
