Page 66 of Fire & Ice

He stopped before the pedestal and sank to his knees, gazing up at the statue. "Great mated Selene," he began, his voice trembling. "I come before you in desperation, begging for your aid. The woman I love has been placed under a dark spell, and I was told you alone have the power to save her."

He clasped his hands together, his knuckles turning white. "Please, I implore you. Help me break this curse so I can be with her again. I will give anything, do anything, if you will only tell me how to save my Tempest."

Beau waited, his heart pounding. At first, all was silent. Then a voice seemed to echo from the stone lips of the statue, filling the grotto.

"Rise, Prince Beau. I will give you the answers you seek."

Beau stared in wonder as the statue's eyes glowed with a soft light. He rose slowly to his feet, stunned into silence.

The statue's lips did not move, yet the voice continued, gentle yet commanding. "You have been prepared for this day since your birth, you already know what you must do to save what you love."

Chapter 54

The scent of cinnamon and ash assaulted Beau's senses, and he froze in his tracks. His heart clenched as images of Tempest flooded his mind—her black hair dipped in fire, milky brown skin, full lips curved in a teasing smile.

He stumbled and dropped to his knees, barely noticing the sharp stones biting into his skin. Grief threatened to crush his chest, squeezing the breath from his lungs. How had he let her slip through his fingers AGAIN?

"Tempest," he rasped, fingers curling into fists. He should have been more vigilant. Regret and sorrow warred within him, ripping him apart as surely as a wolf devours its prey. He gasped for air, lungs burning, but found no relief.

The earth seemed to tilt beneath him, and he squeezed his eyes shut. Her musical laugh echoed through his mind, a ghostly torment. He could see the mischievous glint in her eyes as she teased him and felt the softness of her skin under his hands.

He bit back a groan, shaking with the force of his anguish. Tempest had slipped into his blood, become a part of his soul. Losing her had left a ragged hole that could never be filled.

Selene's whisper brushed against his mind like the caress of silk, soft yet startling. "Do not lose hope, my son. Your destiny is written but not how you think."

He jerked upright, eyes flying open. The garden was empty, moonlight dappling the path. Yet her voice lingered, a balm to his battered spirit. As his mind filled with Selene's voice and memories of long ago.

His mother's voice joined hers from a memory so long ago when he was just a child. His mother read to him, reading from the ancient tome as she had so many times before.

"Fire becomes one with ice. Memories lost are regained. Caught between death and life, Fire is revived by the power of essence taken in protection. Kisses of blood will reignite the flame and fire and Ice will merge to split in two.”

The familiar words stirred memories of curling up in his mother's lap, lulled by the rise and fall of her voice. She had believed that the story passed down generation to generation in their family was always more.

Beau stared at the ancient tome in shock. Selene's words seemed to fill the room, ringing with power and ancient secrets. He could hardly believe what he was hearing; that Tempest might still be alive!

He sat down on the chair, thoughts whirling as he tried to make sense of it all. How could a kiss of blood bring someone back from the dead? But if there was a chance that Tempest was alive, anything was possible.

His mind traveled back to his last conversation with her. She had spoken of reincarnation, of powerful essences taken in protection... Could this be what she meant? Beau felt a spark of hope ignite in his chest and he shook his head in wonder.

Selene's voice faded away and Beau looked at the statue. in her he saw his mother, her eyes were aglow with emotion, filled with love for her son and faith in their future together. "This is our destiny Beau," she said softly. "We must take this fire and ice into our hearts and use its power to restore Tempest."

Beau nodded, determined to make it happen. He stood up and embraced his mother, feeling her strength surround him like a shield against danger. Taking a deep breath, he turned away from the past and faced the future: A future where Fire was stronger than dragon's breath.

His hands tightened into fists, determination burning through the haze of despair. He would not fail Tempest. He now knew exactly what would save her. His path was clear at last. Beau strode through the gardens, a new purpose guiding his steps. The familiar path wound past beds of moonflowers and night-blooming jasmine, their heady scent clinging to the air.

Chapter 55

Beau raced through the hidden inner garden, his heart pounding as fast as his feet. He had to get to Tempest. He had to wake her.

His mate was trapped in a cursed slumber, and he was the only one who could save her. He jumped over fallen logs and pushed past branches that whipped at his face, fueled by a desperate need to reach her.

Nothing would stop him. Not the raging river he swam across. Not the pack of werewolves that tried to attack him. He fought them off with a ferocity borne of love and terror, sending them fleeing into the night.

When he reached where Tempest lay, he fell to his knees beside her still form and took her cold hands in his. "I'm here, darling. I'm here."

Summoning the power in his veins, he focused on the ice of his blood, the depth of his love, the unyielding strength of his devotion. The power surged through him, gathering in his chest like a flame.

When he leaned down and pressed his lips to Tempest's, that flame erupted. He slid his tongue across his fangs and his blood flowed into her mouth, igniting her body and soul.

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