Page 49 of Fire & Ice

“Tempest.”

Chapter 46

Tempest

My heart pounds as I watch the sea of guards surrounding Beau below, their swords glinting under the pale moonlight. The tension in the air is palpable, a suffocating blanket of danger that threatens to choke the breath from my lungs.

Beau stands tall and defiant amidst the chaos, ice magic crackling at his fingertips as his gaze locks onto mine. Our connection ignites a fire within my soul, one that threatens to consume me whole. I grip the stone railing, knuckles turning white under the pressure as I struggle to retain my composure.

One wrong move and this could all end in bloodshed.

“Surrender now, Prince Graysen, or face the wrath of the Northern Kingdom’s army!” The guards roar in unison, a menacing promise that echoes through the courtyard.

Beau’s lips curl into a sneer, icy contempt etched into the sharp planes of his face. “The only thing I will surrender tonight is my ice through your traitorous hearts.”

The guards surge forward as one, weapons glinting under the pale moonlight. Beau stomps his feet into the ground, ice magic erupting outward and encasing his enemies in a prison of frost.

My heart leaps at the display of power, desire igniting in my veins like molten lava. Beau has always been dangerous, a force of nature untamed, but there is a raw power within him now that threatens to break the hold Charlie has on my heart. I realize with starling clarity that if he were mine, I would burn the world to ashes if only to stand by his side.

As if reading my mind, Beau’s gaze lifts, finding mine once more amidst the chaos. There is a question in his eyes, a silent plea that threatens to undo me.

Do you remember me?

I tighten my grip on the railing, the stone crumbling to dust beneath my fingers as my head and heart erupt in pain, bringing me to my knees.

“Tempest.” He whispers my name and it's as if I can hear him loud and clear. My name is a benediction on his lips, filled with promises of forever.

“Beau.” Why do I feel as if this halfling I have only danced with once, is my beginning and my end, the light that will guide me home.

Beau takes a step forward, one hand extended up to me in offering. His eyes shine with determination and something more, a flicker of warmth that steals my breath away. "Come to me."

I sway towards him, helpless against the pull of our connection and the song of my heart. The guards fade from view, their shouts and curses dimming beneath the roar of blood in my veins. There is only Beau, resplendent and magnificent, haloed in starlight and possibility.

A sharp crack splits the air, fire circles me on the balcony. I gasp as the added warmth seeps into my bones, jerking me back to the present.

Charlie stands at my side, pale eyes narrowed in challenge. His grip on my arm is bruising, magic twisting around us in a parody of an embrace.

"I won't allow it," he hisses, fangs gleaming. "You are mine, Tempest, and I will not give you up so easily."

Beau

Seeing Charlie grip Tempest's arm and snarl that she is his, brings out a frightening rage in me. Ice crackles under my skin, awakening as my anger grows.

Ice erupts from me. It surges and I clench my jaw against the chill. It spreads from my hands, coating the stone walls in a slick glaze. My power thrums through the castle, seeking out every living thing and entombing it in ice.

All falls eerily silent, frozen in time. They brought this upon themselves. No one keeps me from her. The whole castle groans under the weight, frost creeping over every surface as everything and everyone in its path, including the guards, are frozen. I summon the mist again to carry me to the tower.

I materialize on the tower balcony, ice crystals glittering on the balustrade.

"She will never be yours," I hiss to Charlie, who's observing his frozen kingdom in shock. My breath comes out in icy puffs, the temperature of the atmosphere plummeting.

Tempest stands amidst the frozen chaos, a vision in red and gold, the only spot of warmth in this frozen wasteland. Her hair spills over her shoulders like flames, her dress clinging to her curves.

Our eyes meet, red meeting blue, and my heart clenches. She's even more beautiful than I remember.

A familiar ruby adorns the necklace around her neck, the deep red gem glowing against her skin. The sight of it fills me with jealousy and rage in equal measure.

She's mine. She always has been. And I won't rest until Charlie admits it or dies.

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