Page 40 of Fire & Ice

Choice One

Freeze It All Asunder

Chapter 40

Tempest

I swallow hard, acutely aware of Charlie's proximity and the heady mix of scents surrounding us. Jealousy and betrayal, nature, and decay. I want to pull away, put distance between us, but some strange force compels me to remain.

Charlie smiles as if sensing my inner struggle. "There's something I want to show you. Something that might take your mind off all this for a while. Do you trust me?"

The offer should offer reassurance, yet something about his tone sets me on edge. As if he's hiding the truth even now, wrapping it up in pretty words and false promises, just like Beau.

I open my mouth to call him out on it, but the protest dies on my lips. What does it matter, really, if he's not being fully truthful? How could he possibly cause me more heartache than Beau and Sarrah?

I wet my lips, hesitating only a second more before giving him a watery, “Yes.”

The familiar scent of cinnamon and earth surrounds me as his arm slips around my waist. "Close your eyes."

I hesitate, a spark of unease flickering to life. But with a resigned sigh, I close my eyes.

The air around us shifts, a chill wind blowing past. The floor seems to drop away beneath my feet and my stomach lurches. Panic bubbles up my throat at the sensation of weightlessness, like drifting in open water. When the whirlwind stops, a thousand new scents assault my senses—the crisp scent of pine and snow, the musky aroma of damp earth and moss, and something else, metallic and sharp—the tang of magic in the air. I stumble as I regain my footing, still reeling from the abrupt change in equilibrium. Charlie steadies me, hands lingering on my waist.

My eyes fly open as Charlie sets me back on my feet. We're no longer in the palace forest. A sea of emerald trees stretches as far as the eye can see, snow-capped mountains rising in the distance. A glacier glints in the distance, bright under the pale sun, and everywhere there are ribbons of color—brilliant auroras dancing across the sky. "Where are we?" I breathe, taking in the impossible sight before me.

"Welcome to the Northern Kingdom," Charlie says, pride evident in his tone. "My ancestral home."

No wonder he possesses such formidable power. This land itself seems touched by magic, ancient and wild. I can feel it humming through the air, in the earth and stones, an energy both familiar yet utterly alien.

How is this possible? My mind is running a thousand miles a minute, trying to deal with my broken heart and Charlie’s hidden abilities, but all I can ask is, "How did we get here?"

"A little bit of the old forgotten magic merged with my gift." Charlie's smile turns sheepish under my questioning gaze. "I may have, ah, left out a few details about my abilities. I hope you'll forgive me?"

I frown, remembering his promise that I could trust him. "You mean you're responsible for all the strange weather we've been experiencing lately? The auroras and storms?"

"I'm afraid so." Charlie winces. "It was never my intention to deceive or hurt anyone, Tempest."

I tear my gaze away from him and step back, unease once again coiling its way down my spine. "Charlie, what is going on? Why did you bring me here?"

Charlie clears his throat, "I thought it was time we had a heart-to-heart. Tempest, I have feelings for you."

The shock must have registered on my face because Charlie rounds on me like I'm a skittish animal as I question his true intentions. "What are you talking about? Beau’s my mate."

A sour expression crossed his features, and he snatched my hand hard between his long hot fingers. "You're wrong Tempest. You're meant to be with me. We're both powerful and together we can rule both kingdoms."

I tried to jerk my hand away from his grasp, but he held firm. "Let go of me Charlie. This is madness. The mated are drawn together by the moon goddess herself.”

Charlie's lips crashed onto mine with an almost overwhelming force—his body pressed tightly against mine—the taste of him sour like acid. I bit down hard, tasting the salty tang of his blood mixed with burnt cinnamon. Charlie groaned in pleasure, his hands exploring my body possessively.

The air around us sparked with energy as I tried to ignite a flame across his skin, but no matter how much I concentrated nothing happened—just like in academy, he was immune to my abilities.

His desire pressed against me, his hot breath fanning against my face as he kissed me forcefully once more. My cries were muffled by the pressure of his lips as I begged for freedom through the whispers I could barely get out.

“Charlie, please.... why are you doing this?" But no matter how much I pleaded or begged, Charlie remained unmoved, determined to make me his own.

"Oh come now Tempest, have you truly never seen how much I love you, adore you?” He asked silkily, a smug smirk playing on his lips as he leaned back away from me and stared into my eyes, the glow of triumph visible even in the darkness of the tower. “I was with you every step of the way through our gifted years—more of a friend to you than that backstabbing Sara."

“No, Charlie.. you introduced me to Beau at the ball... I've..."

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