Reign of Ice

4. Brayden

4

BRAYDEN

“I can’t believe you let her go,” Sorcha scolded, approaching me from behind. I couldn’t believe it either.

Without turning around, I kept my gaze on Ariella’s retreating form as she rode off down the beach with Kamden by her side. As much as I wanted to hate the warrior with her, I couldn’t. He used to be one of my warriors in the Winter Court until he decided to follow Kalen to Spring. He was a strong fighter and I knew he’d keep Ariella safe.

“You know as well as I do that she wouldn’t have listened to me. It would only push her away even more. I am not stupid, Sorcha.”

Sorcha scoffed. “Umm … I hate to break it to you, dear brother, but I think you’ve already pushed her away. It took all I had not to kick your a*s inside.” She came around to stand before me with her arms crossed over her chest and with a scowl on her face. “Do you want to know something, Brayden?”

Even if I said no she was going to tell me anyway so I said, “Yes.”

“Loving someone doesn’t make you a weak person. I know you’re the leader of the Winter Army. You’re strong, extremely stubborn, and closed off. A lot of us Winter Fae are like that. I tried to be an ice cold b***h like mother, but it wasn’t in me to be like that. It’s not easy to tell someone how you feel and believe me, I know. Drake isn’t exactly passionate like Ryder, or a complete moron like Kalen, but we all know what love is and we feel it. Stop fighting it and go to her. I can see it in your eyes that you feel something for her. You’re only fooling yourself if you think otherwise.”

She turned on her heel to walk away, but then stopped and her lips tilted up in an evil smirk when she said, “Oh yeah, by the way, you better be glad it was me who came out here to talk to you and not Drake. He’s really fond of Ariella and he isn’t too happy with you right now. So do me a favor and make things right with your princess. You don’t have to profess your feelings to the whole world if that’s what you’re worried about. Only Ariella needs to know how you truly feel.” And that was where I had my problem. There was never a time when I needed to express how I felt with words. It wasn’t something I did … ever.

“When does she have her guardian ceremony?” I asked curiously. I had an idea brewing in my mind, except I wondered if it would even be possible. There was only one way to find out.

A glint sparkled in Sorcha’s eyes and she smiled. “Tomorrow, why?”

“You’ll see,” I remarked slyly. “I have an idea, but I’m sure it’s going to anger Ariella more.”

Throwing her hands in the air, Sorcha groaned and mumbled to herself as she walked away. Ariella said she’d be ready to face me, and I was going to make tomorrow be that day. I just needed to talk to her father first and prayed that he would approve of my request.