Grieve let out a snort. “You know as well as I do that he’ll try anything to get in your pants. But my love, you will do as you must. As you always do.” He seemed at ease with himself, no longer struggling with his inner demons since the ritual, as if a constant edge were gone. “Shower, and I will lay out an outfit for you.”

The water sang against my skin, and I embraced the heat, drawing it in, letting the stream pound on my sore muscles. It began to ease the knots in my back and my legs. Soaping up with a lavender-scented bath gel, I lingered under the shower as long as I could, until the water began to cool.

As I stepped out and wrapped a towel around myself, I wiped the fog off the mirror and stared at myself. So much had happened. So much was happening still, and I wasn’t quite sure how to take it all in. Staring at my reflection, I finally shook my head and stepped out of the bathroom.

Grieve was waiting for me, and before I could say a word, he drew me to him and silently, slowly, kissed me. But instead of moving to make love to me, he stood back and handed me my bra and a clean pair of jeans and comfortable turtleneck.

“You will not be wearing these much longer, my love. The Queen of Snow and Ice will not wear jeans.” His voice was wistful, and I realized he’d been hoping we’d return to the land of Summer. That we’d live in the perpetual warmth and light of his homeland.

“I don’t even pretend to grasp the significance of what this all means. But all my life I knew I’d return to New Forest, and that I’d return to you. And I have, and I am with you. As long as Myst lives, we’re still in danger, but now…I feel we have a fighting chance. We have the possibility of life beyond her reign.” I sat down on the bed as I dressed. “But I’m bone-weary and have no clue where we go from here.”

“Lainule was correct. The rituals must be done quickly. She will fade, and she must be out of this world before that happens. If she returns to the land in which she was born, then she and Wrath will live and grow old together. If she stays here now, she will fade into a spirit, into vapor and mist and a ghost.” He hung his head. “I have never known any other mother except for her—my own mother died when I was young. Lainule is my aunt. Her sister was my mother. And before you ask, yes, Rhiannon is my cousin as well, by Fae blood.”

“How long have you known?” I finally dared ask him the question that I’d been putting off. Somehow the answer didn’t seem to mean as much now.

“Since before you were born. Remember, there are many levels of fate working here—the one we brought upon ourselves when you were Myst’s daughter. The one brought about by Lainule and Wrath when they realized Myst was encroaching. The one by your mothers, who both agreed to bear daughters of the Seelie realm. Don’t for one minute think that Heather and Krystal didn’t realize what was going on. They knew.”

I motioned to the floor. “Hand me my shoes, will you? So…they knew? Then why did my mother run?”

He handed me my sneakers and I welcomed them after wearing boots in the recent battle. “She changed her mind. She couldn’t handle the powers she had, let alone think of a daughter who might one day be destined to rule over the Fae. Things are changing. The Courts here—they have long been insular, and inbreeding has been a problem. You are not fully of Fae blood, you bring a new life to the realm. It is time we opened up, spread out in the world.”

“What about the purity of the line? If we have children, they will not be fully Fae.” I couldn’t believe we were even talking about a family. And while I knew we had to hunt down Myst and destroy her for good, I realized, too, that I wanted Grieve’s children. I wanted to create the family I never really had.

“Trust me, the Grand Courts will always remain Fae alone, but we are of the Lesser Courts, and there has been too much isolation for too long. Lainule saw this, and while she and Wrath could not break the cycle themselves, they could ensure that our people grow and thrive into the future. We must join the world that moves around us.”

A knock on the door interrupted us. It was one of Lannan’s servants. “The Master bids you to attend him.” But the look on her face told me he hadn’t put it quite like that.

“In other words, get my ass in gear. Right?” I smiled at her, and she smiled back. For some reason, the thought of dropping the bomb on Lannan that I was to become the Queen of Snow and Ice seemed like icing on the cake. I knew he’d be pissed.

With another kiss from Grieve, I headed out the door and down to Lannan’s study. The mansion was bustling now that the vampires had woken up, and I saw several groups of them arming themselves. Regina was organizing them. She waved me over.

“You had quite a little adventure out in the woods, I hear.” She was walking down the line of vampires, adjusting a strap here, a weapon there. They stood at attention and I realized these were the guards that the Crimson Court had sent out to replace those who’d died. “We were hoping for a bigger piece of the action, but there are still Shadow Hunters to be found and so I send my men out to battle them. Lainule’s warriors are tired and weary. These men will take their place.”

I waited. Regina didn’t make small talk. She had to have some reason for calling me over, and until I knew what it was, I didn’t want to chance saying the wrong thing. After a moment, she turned to me and with those glassy obsidian eyes, she held my gaze.

“I have heard what is in store for you and your cousin. Don’t ask how—I have my ways of finding out what I need to know. I think it a good thing. The Cambyra have cordoned themselves off from society too long. You will bring a much-needed infusion of reality to the Courts. I’m not sure if you can handle the job. You and your cousin are young by many standards, though if we’re speaking in yummanii years, many a woman has become queen far younger than you. Whatever the case, the Crimson Court will wish an audience with you both, to forge new treaties, to discuss alliances.”

I stared at her. For once, she was treating me with respect, instead of like a toy or a plaything.

“Cats have your tongue?” She flashed a crooked smile at me, with those perfect pearly fangs showing.

I found myself opening up to her. Not a good thing, perhaps, but vampire or not, Regina was an astute and savvy diplomat. “I have no idea what to say, though I suppose you’re right about the allegiances. But as far as handling the job—we have no choice. I should have realized—Lainule dropped hints when we went to retrieve her heartstone. But without it, she would have died.”

“Sometimes you simply work with what you’re given.” Regina drummed her fingers on a console table. “My brother is waiting for you. I wanted to warn you: He is not in a good mood. Do not provoke him. He’s not stupid, but sometimes he’s impulsive, and right now the last thing we need is another complication.” She gave me a long look.

I sucked in a deep breath. “Yeah, that’s the truth of the matter.”

“You’d best attend him. If you need me, I will be right here outside the door…listening.” And that little offer scared the hell out of me.

I gave her a curt nod, then turned and entered Lannan’s study. He was behind his desk—the desk that had been Geoffrey’s—brooding. As I entered the room, he looked up at me, a scowl on his face.

“You took your own sweet time answering my summons.”

Oh yeah, this was going to be a barrel of laughs. “I’m exhausted. I was covered in blood and dirt.”

He pushed himself up from behind his desk and wandered around to stare at me. “So, I hear you are to become the new Queen of Snow and Ice. I suppose you expect this to negate my contract with you.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. He was up to something, that much I could see, and he was angry, very angry.

“Nothing to say to me, lovely Cicely? Not even a thank-you for offering my house to you and your friends, for doing my best to keep the people of New Forest safe? Not even a kiss of gratitude?”

“Thank you, if I haven’t said it.” And I realized I hadn’t. Lannan was a prick, but he had been of invaluable help to us.

“A begrudging lip service, if ever I’ve heard one.” He swung around behind me and leaned in close, whispering in my ear. “A little bird whispered that you are to marry the Fae Prince. You’ll truly be the ice princess you pretend to be. But I know you better.”

I let out a long breath. I had no clue of how to answer him. I doubted that anything would calm him down.

“And don’t think that I don’t know about the ritual you did here—in my house. Bringing silver into my home? Not a good choice, Cicely. But I know you would do anything to save him, wouldn’t you?” He rested a hand on my shoulder and the lust emanating from him soaked through my body.

I shivered. It seemed to be a real question. “What are you getting at, Lannan?”

He brushed my ear with his lips. “Just that should it become necessary, I want you to think about what you would pay in order to save your lover’s life. What would you be willing to do?”

I steeled myself. I’d had enough, and though I took Regina’s words to heart, I didn’t want to deal with any more of this crap. I shook him off and turned around. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but right now, there is no need to save his life. Grieve is fine, and since the Crimson Court is interested in forging new alliances with the coming realms of Summer and Winter, there’d better not be anything disrupting his health from your quarter.”

He let out a low growl and grabbed me, pulling me to him. “I will do as I see fit and I need no upstart bloodwhore telling me what to do.”

“But I’m not your bloodwhore, and I’ve never been one.” I grimaced as he shoved me against the wall and forced his knee between my legs. “Think before you act. I know you’re angry, and I don’t understand why. You have Regina, you have the Regency and this mansion. You will soon be freed from having us under your roof. We do thank you—seriously. As much as I hate to admit it, I have to give you credit. You’ve helped us survive, and I’ll never forget that.” Nor would I ever forget him manhandling me, but that I left unsaid.

Lannan pressed against me. I could feel him harden, and for a moment, I thought he might lose control. Once again, I’d put my foot in my mouth. He slipped his hands under my sweater, squeezing my breasts, and I gasped despite myself.

“You don’t understand at all, do you, little girl? I always get what I want, and I want you. You’ve thwarted me, you’ve been oh so polite and oh so obedient. You’ve begrudged me every touch, every kiss, every offer I’ve made. You almost let me fuck you, you call me your angel of darkness…and then you run just out of reach the moment it might become real between us. You’re using him as much as you’re using me, you little cock tease.”

He had me pinned. I struggled, trying to break free, when a knock on the door took us both by surprise.

His face a mask of anger, he barked out, “Who is it?”

“Regina. We have to discuss several edicts from the Crimson Court.”

She was lying. I could feel it in her voice, which flowed along the slipstream, as sure as I knew that she was also saving my butt. But why would she? She was devoted to Lannan and wanted him to be happy, even if it came to using me as a piece of meat.

Lannan gave me a long look, his eyes narrowing. “You are free from your contract. Go to your throne. Take your crown.”

By the look in his eyes, it was obvious that he knew he couldn’t enforce a contract over the Winter Queen. He had to let me go, like it or not, but he wouldn’t give up that easily. And by his next words, I knew I was right.

“But know this, Cicely: I will never rest until I have you in my bed. I don’t care how long it takes, you will be mine. Queen or not, you’ll never be free from my presence.” He let me go then.

I quickly straightened my sweater. I stared at him for a moment. “Why do you want me so much? Is it just because I’ve said no to you?”

He turned away. “Get out of my office. Go do whatever it is you have to do, Your Highness.”

As I exited the room, I passed Regina. One glance at her and I knew she’d overheard everything. As I silently passed her, she leaned down and whispered, “You little fool. You really don’t see, do you?”

I stopped. “See what? All I know is that Lannan is determined to humiliate me, to use me, and then toss me aside.”

“Lannan humiliates everyone. But that is not his goal. He’s right. You have no clue, do you?” She paused, and her voice shifted from irritated to bemused. “My brother has taken a fancy to you. Love would be too strong a word but…call it infatuation. You’ve bewitched him, Cicely. He’s obsessed with you and you refuse to give him what he wants. I’ve known my brother for thousands of years. He always gets what he wants in the end. Trust me, he’ll stalk you till the day either you give in, or he dies. Now go, while I can still calm him down.”

And then, without waiting for an answer, she swept into the study and shut the door behind her.

I ate dinner in my room, and then, locking the door, Grieve and I slept through the night. Lannan did not bother me, nor speak to me again, and by the time morning came, I’d pushed aside what Regina told me. I had enough to deal with now, I didn’t have time to focus on a lust-obsessed vampire. I’d cross that bridge when—and if—it became an issue.

The morning moved swiftly. After breakfast, our little group gathered in the drawing room that Lannan had assigned for our use. Ysandra joined us. She looked tired. We all did.