Melting the Snow King's Heart

Chapter 2: The Hunt Begins

Skylar stared at the portrait of Snow King Malus in the hall of family portraits. The former Snow King had been a legend among his people, leading a conquest that covered three of the four kingdoms. No other fae in history had achieved that before or since, though he'd tried.

After Malus had become ill, Skylar had led the Snow Soldiers against the other nations, but he'd been unsuccessful. A magical forcefield had prevented him from advancing with any amount of force. He'd sat by the king's bed and asked how that was possible. Malus had told him of the spell cast by the autumn fae and suspected that one of their bloodline still lived, which kept the spell alive.

All Skylar had to do was find the wayward prince or princess and kill him or her . Malus stared at him from the portrait, his silver eyes shimmering and lifelike. It was like he was blaming Skylar for failing.

Skylar sighed and bowed his head. “I promised you on your deathbed that I'd complete your work. If it takes my whole life, I will complete it."

“Sky!" Sabriel's echoing voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He turned down the hall, his sister running towards him, a smile brightening her pale skin, her silver hair rippling around her like a waterfall.

“What is it?" Skylar grumbled. He turned away from her approach.

“General Zane wants to see you. You were supposed to meet with him this morning, remember?" she asked.

“Right," Skylar muttered, pressing his fingers to his temple.

“Cole and Zane are already in the council room. You better get there before they start without out," Sabriel teased lightly.

“I'm going," Skylar grumbled. He pushed past his sister, brushing her with his shoulder.

Sabriel grunted. She threw her shoulder into Skylar, pushing him right back. “Don't push me around!" she snapped.

“You want to be one of the boys," he mocked, tapping his pointer finger on the breastplate of her armor.

Sabriel was one of the few fae women that had ever been persistent enough to join the winter army. She was tough. If she wasn't his sister, Skylar never would have messed with her and the curved sword that hung at her waist.

“Just get to the meeting," Sabriel snarled.

“Fine, fine," Skylar said, shrugging casually. He left the portrait hall, his sister hot on his heels, much to his distaste.

Zane and Skylar's younger brother, Cole, were seated at the council table. Skylar walked to the head of the table and slowly took his seat. His brother watched him with silver eyes, restless and full of contempt.

“Wishing council meetings were optional again, Sky?" Zane asked, chuckling.

“Unless there have been any new developments since last week, I don't see the point," Skylar said grumpily. He leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out and crossing his arms over his chest. He bowed his head slightly, long, white bangs shielding his ice-blue eyes.

“No, there are no new developments," Zane sighed.

“Great, is that all?" Skylar asked.

“If you have somewhere you'd rather be…" Cole snapped, jumping to his feet.

Skylar scoffed. “Don't challenge me again. You might lose more than your pride next time," he said, never even batting an eyelash.

Cole swallowed audibly and sat back down. Skylar's younger brother had always been quick to challenge him but never followed through. He wasn't built for it. Skylar had the broad shoulders and muscular chest of a warrior but Cole was thinner, athletic. He could never overpower Skylar.

“Would it kill you to pretend to show interest in military matters?" Zane asked, tapping the top of the table.

Skylar smirked and opened his left eye, catching Zane's sapphire gaze. “Maybe."

Zane rolled his eyes and looked away, but Skylar caught the twitch in the general's lips as he attempted to hide his smile. The general had been a good friend of Skylar's since they were young. Skylar considered him more of a brother than his own flesh and blood. They'd trained together, fought together, and plotted how to overcome the magical forcefield that prevented them from dominating the rest of the realm.

“General Zane!" someone called, pounding on the door to the council room, the closed doors that were supposed to be unbothered during a meeting.

Skylar snarled. “What are your soldiers doing?"

“I'll handle this," Zane assured.

“General Zane, please open up!" the desperate voice called again, pounding even harder.

The thick wooden door pulsed, causing the ice walls to tremble and shudder like glass. The icicle chandelier rattled, a few ice spears breaking loose and falling on the table, shattering into a million little pieces.

Skylar growled under his breath. He waved his hand over the shards, his elemental magic drawing them back together into their original shapes. He raised his hand up, the icicles rising in the air and returning to the chandelier where he reattached them with the flick of a wrist.

“Showoff," Cole muttered, crossing his arms.

“What is it, Sergeant?" Zane asked when he pulled the door open.

“General, sir, I have a young fae that has vital information from Autumn Forest," the sergeant said.

Skylar raised his head and looked out the door. News from Autumn Forest was exactly what would make this meeting more interesting. No matter how many scouts were sent into Autumn Forest, they always came back empty-handed. The irony of some young fae having crossed the border to enjoy a solar bonfire celebration wasn't lost on him.

“Come on, then," Zane said. He stepped back allowing the sergeant and the young fae to enter.

The young winter fae twisted his hands, eyes darting around rapidly. He chuckled dryly as he approached the council table.

Skylar raised an eyebrow at the trembling youth. He himself was only twenty-three, but this fae was just a child. It was common knowledge among the winter fae that any and all news pertaining to the Autumn Court was to be brought to General Zane immediately. But this fae was so young, what could he know?

“Tell us what you have," Skylar ordered.

The young fae swallowed, eyes still darting around. “Umm, I went to the solar bonfire festival in Autumn Forest and I think I ran into someone of the Autumn Court."

“Really?" Skylar asked, holding a hand out and beckoning for the winter fae to continue.

“I… um… danced with an autumn fae and she…" he paused, his pale cheeks flushing.

“Continue," Skylar demanded.

“Right," the young fae said, swallowing audibly. “She had something on her face, at her eyes. I didn't see the whole thing, but it looked like a purple leaf birthmark. She mostly had it covered with makeup."

“Hmm." Skylar leaned back in his chair, stroking his angular chin. So, the last of the Autumn Court bloodline was a princess, and if the youth's reaction was any indication, an attractive one at that. Not that he'd be drawn in by a pretty face.

“Give me a complete description of this fae," Zane said. He pulled a chair out from the table and nodded to the young fae.

Skylar listened to the description. Her features were unique enough that the snow soldiers would be able to track her down among the other redheads of the autumn fae. He was itching for a good hunt.