The Ruthless Fae King (Kings of Avalier Book 3)

“I won’t do it, Father!” I screamed.

“Do you want the entire realm to be plunged into winter? Or our crops to fail?” my father yelled back. “When the winter king asks for your daughter’s hand in marriage, you don’t say no!”

I was so angry I was shaking. I’d never been this mad at my father in my entire life. I loved him, adored him, worshipped the ground he walked on, but I would not relent to marrying that monster.

“Well, that’s exactly what I’m going to say when he gets here. NO!” I shouted, and wind picked up inside the house, causing the papers on my father’s desk to fly into the air and form a funnel.

He sighed, as if he were used to my outbursts, but that wasn’t fair. I didn’t have them that often, only when being forced to be married off to a heartless jackass!

“Daddy…” I softened my voice and the wind died down immediately, bringing the papers to a slow descent to the floor. “I love you. I respect your decision-making. But I will not under any circumstances marry Lucien Thorne. Ever.”

My father looked up at me with sadness in his eyes and I knew then that it was already done. Arranged marriages were common among royalty, and I always knew as the princess of Fall I would one day be called on by a royal suitor, but Lucien, the winter king?

It was unthinkable.

“No.” A strangled cry came from my lips and my father could no longer meet my gaze.

“I’m sorry, Madelynn. There’s nothing that can be done,” he said. And that was that.

My fate was sealed to the most vile man in all of Thorngate. Lucien had only been king for six winters and yet I had over a dozen stories of his evil doings. He once froze the entire Summer crop when they protested his raise in taxes. I also heard that he took the tongue of his favorite chef for serving him bland food. He hated flowers, so he had them all destroyed for miles around his palace. He was dead inside. Evil. Ever since his father abdicated the throne to him on his sixteenth birthday, there had been nothing but rumors of his darkness.

“What if he beats me?” I tried to reason with my father. “You’ve heard the rumors, Daddy. He’s unkind.”

My father looked stricken. “He would not hit his wife.” He didn’t sound sure though.

Maker help me.

My father was kind, too kind, and always trying to please others. Now I was going to have to deal with this myself. I would have to be strong so that King Thorne knew I was not the type of woman to be crossed.

“When does he arrive?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“Later this afternoon.” My father’s voice was small.

“Today!” I bellowed, and the wind was back, blowing through the open window and swirling around me. My powers were the strongest seen in generations, and I knew that’s why the king had chosen me. I’d never met Lucien Thorne as an adult. We Fall Court fae stuck to ourselves mostly. I’d briefly seen him as a young boy back when his mother was still alive, but I must have been six winters old and he only eight or so. I barely remembered that. He’d handed me a sunflower and told me my dress was pretty. A sweet boy—before the darkness took him over.

I stormed from my father’s office, taking the wind spiral with me.

How dare my father tell me hours before the king was to arrive! It gave me no time to find a way out of this arrangement. And maybe that’s what he wanted.

The palace staff hugged the walls as I passed, my wind blowing their dresses left and right. I needed to go outside and blow off some of this anger before I collapsed the entire house.

Bursting out the back doors, I ran past the gardens towards the meadow I often went to when I wanted to use my power without destroying anything.

Once in the safety of nature, I let loose. I sucked in a huge lungful of air and the wind pressed in on me like an old friend. The grass bowed, dust kicked up, and the sun darkened as my little wind tunnel grew stronger.

Maybe the king was on his way right now. It was late afternoon and he might be en route. If I sent this little windstorm his way, it might blow his horses off track and he could be injured, delaying the engagement…

I shook myself from those dark thoughts, knowing such a thing would be traced back to me.

Balling my hands into fists, I looked up at the sky, into the eye of the storm I’d created, and let loose with an agonizing scream, aiming it at the sun as if it was his fault I was upset.

All at once the wind died out and I was calm again. Unleashing my power would not help me. I needed to keep a level head if I was going to find a way out of this.

“Your father told you?” My mother’s voice sounded behind me and I spun on her like a snake ready to strike.

“Mother, how could you?” I whimpered. My father was the leader of this court, it was his duty to make such an arrangement, but my mother? She gave me no warning.

Her eyes filled with tears. “The winter king can be very convincing,” was all she said.

I scoffed, stepping closer to her. She had the same bright red hair as I did, and today we both wore lime green dresses without knowing the other would be doing it. We often did this and I liked it. I’d felt a closeness with my mother my entire life, but now I just felt betrayed.

“Mother, he’s awful,” I pleaded.

She sighed. “Don’t say that. He was a boy who lost his mother and he… acted out.”

She was defending him?

“He lost his mother six years ago,” I growled. “What’s his excuse now?”

His mother died in a tragic accident. She was riding with young Lucien Thorne when she was bucked off her horse. She fell on her neck and it snapped, killing her instantly. Because they were on an innocent horseback ride, there had been no healing elf present. I did feel bad that a young boy had to see his mother die like that, but it was no excuse for some of the stories I’d heard about him.

“Mother, he eats raw meat. He’s killed with his bare hands. Not to mention what he did with the Great Freeze. He’s a monster.”

My mother sighed. “We don’t know if all of those stories are true.” She didn’t sound too sure about that.

“Is it the dowry he’s paying? Because I can raise my own money and pay you and Daddy back—”

My mother cut me off with the shake of her head. “No, honey, it’s law. When the reigning king asks for a royal’s hand in marriage, it cannot be refused.”

I frowned.

Law? A stupid little legal edict was standing in the way of my freedom? It wasn’t that I was against duty, or marriage. My parents were arranged and had a wonderful marriage. I knew my day would come soon. I was just against the idea of him.

“Why does he want me?” I crossed my arms and tipped my chin up. “I’m from Fall Court. Duchess Dunia of Winter would be a much better match. They grew up together, she knows him. Their offspring would be better suited.”

My mother sighed, stepping forward, and grasped my hands in hers. “He has heard of your power and beauty. He wants you, Madelynn, to be his wife and the mother of his children. Your son could be future king.”

My heart sank. My power and beauty were not things I thought would one day seal my fate to an evil prick, but here we were.

“I’m sorry, Mother. I can’t. Anyone but him. Help me say no. Say I am betrothed to another, or—”

“Madelynn! That would embarrass your father and our entire court. You’ve already been promised.” She looked at me like I’d grown two heads. Her perfect eldest daughter. Most powerful with wind magic. Top marks in school. Never stepped a toe out of line. Sure, I was independent and headstrong, but I never disobeyed my parents, or a royal edict… until now.

“I’ll see you later, Mother,” I said cryptically, and then ran to the horse barn to find my mare.

There was no way in Hades I was marrying Lucien Thorne.

I RODE INTO TOWN ALONE, disguised under the hood of my cloak until I came to one of my favorite courtier’s houses, Maxwell Blane. He was handsome, rich, funny, and a total lothario. It would be perfect for what I was about to ask.

I knocked on his door hurriedly, as the street beyond his house in town was bustling and I didn’t want any rumors. I’d never been alone in another man’s presence without a chaperone, but I didn’t want a witness for what I was about to ask of him.

When his housemaid opened the door, I slipped inside without being asked to do so.

She squeaked in shock, backing up, then I pulled off my cloak. “Sorry for the intrusion, Margaret.”

“Oh, Princess Madelynn.” She bowed, seemingly relieved that she knew who was barging into her home.

My lady-in-waiting, Piper, and I came to Maxwell’s house once a week for one of his famous cocktail parties. He was the courtier to know, and put on the most entertaining parties I’d ever been to. There was singing, games, and drinking. I didn’t drink of course, it wouldn’t be proper but I played the games and we always had a wonderful time.

“Is Maxwell around? I have an urgent issue.”

She nodded. “Right this way. He’s in the study.” She looked behind me at the door as if nonverbally asking where my chaperone was. I said nothing, only letting the heat of my cheeks speak for me. Without a word, she took the hint and asked for my cloak.

Maxwell’s parents came from old money, and when they died in a boating accident they left him everything. He was a spoiled brat and a dear friend. I knew he would help me with my request.

She walked me down the hallway. We came upon an open door and the maid knocked on the casing. “Sir, Princess Madelynn is here.”

His face lit up when he saw me. “What an honor. Come in, darling.”

Darling. Beautiful. Honey. He never addressed a woman without something sweet at the end. He’d bedded half the court, I was sure of it.

The maid left us. Normally, she would stay to make sure my reputation was intact, but I think she had gathered this was going to be a private conversation.

I shut the door behind me and then turned to face him.

He wore a red silk smoking jacket and held a lit cigar along with a cup of coffee, a large diamond ring on his pinky. He was twenty-three years old. The town gossiped about his single status weekly but he’d informed me once that he had no intentions of getting married. Ever.

Out of politeness he extinguished his cigar and stood to kiss my cheek. I accepted the kiss and kissed him back in the affectionate way I would a brother or beloved uncle. I’d never been attracted to Maxwell. He was handsome, but his flagrant flirting and the ease at which he bedded women turned me off. Now I realized it was exactly what I needed.

“To what do I owe this secret pleasure?” He beamed at me, looking at the closed door and my lack of chaperone as he sat back down in his chair.

I took a shaky breath and leveled my gaze on his. “My father has just betrothed me to Lucien Thorne.”

His coffee cup stilled on his lips and he set it back down. “Oh dear, that man has a nasty reputation. But you will be queen, so that’s a plus.”

I shook my head. “I obviously can’t marry him, Max. You have to help me.”

Maxwell had long, dark-blond hair, ice-blue eyes, and his skin was softer than mine. Sometimes I studied his face wondering how he could be so… beautiful. I did this now while he considered my fate.

He nodded. “I see. I can give you money, you can pay your father the dowry—”

I held up my hand and interrupted him. “My mother said he won’t take it. It’s not about the money, it’s about reputation.”

Maxwell chewed his lip. “Well, you could take some money from me and run away.”

I scoffed. “And leave my family? My home?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know any other option, Madelynn. He’s the winter king,” he said, and took a sip of his coffee.

I tapped my fingers nervously on my legs, my cheeks going red with embarrassment. “As you know, there is a purity test before marrying the king. I was wondering if you could help me… fail it.”

His coffee spurted out of his mouth and in my direction. I barely had time to move before it covered the seat behind me.

His mouth was agape and I winced.

“Are you trying to get me killed?” he exclaimed. “Your father would kill me, then your mother, and then the king. I’d be thrice dead!”

“I’m desperate!” I sobbed. “He’s a monster. You know this.”

His gaze traveled down my body, then he reached up and bit one of his knuckles before pulling it from his mouth. “I will admit I’ve thought of bedding you, Madelynn, but you’re royalty and I don’t do drama.” Maxwell looked at me with pity. “I can offer money that does not need repayment, but it’s all I can do.”

It was a nice offer, but I wasn’t leaving my family and my home.

I frowned. “Max, I don’t want to marry him.”

Reaching across the desk, he grasped my hand in his. “Be the strong, bold, and independent woman I know you to be and maybe he will reject you.”

I laughed, but then thought maybe that was a decent idea. If I was nasty enough to him, he would realize my beauty and power were no consolation for the kind of nightmarish woman I could be.

“That’s brilliant. Thanks, Max.”

He took one more longing look at me and waved me off. “Go, before I change my mind.”

I wished him farewell and then grabbed my cloak from his maidservant. When I got to the front door and flung it open, my mother was leaning against my horse.

Hades.

That woman knew me too well. I tried to act calm, like I wasn’t just caught doing something I shouldn’t.

My mother shot me a glare as I approached. “Going off to the local seducer without a chaperone? You wouldn’t be trying to tarnish your reputation, now would you, daughter?”

I huffed. “He wouldn’t have me.”

“Madelynn!” my mother scolded, reaching out to whack me on the back of the head for good measure. “Your father has betrothed you to the winter king, the ruler of all fae. You could do no better.”

My mother and father seemed to have blocked out all of the horror stories of Lucien Thorne.

“You gave me no time to prepare for this,” I growled, suddenly feeling ashamed with what I’d just done. If word got around that I was alone in Maxwell’s house without a chaperone, I would have no marriage prospects from any man.

My mom rested a hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. “Because we know you too well.” She eyed Maxwell’s house as if to make a point. “Listen, honey, we raised you to be a leader,” my mother said. “At King Thorne’s side, you can make a difference. As his wife and our queen, you will influence law and carry out rulings. You can give back to your community and even talk him down from war. A woman has an important place beside a king.”

Her words touched me, touched the place inside of me that wanted to sacrifice my happiness for that of my people. I had naïvely assumed I could have both happiness and duty, but now I knew that not to be true.

I sighed in resignation. “If he hurts me, I’ll kill him. Consequences be dammed.”

My mother flinched as if I’d slapped her. “If he hurts you, I’ll kill him.”

Her shock at my mention of him being abusive made me wonder if I was being too harsh on the winter king. But the stories I’d heard—that he once dragged a courtier through the town behind a horse—they were all dark and brutal, and told the tale of an unhinged king who I wanted nothing to do with.

Tears suddenly filled my vision and a gust of wind passed over us, picking up my hair. “I’m going to miss you.”

I barely got the words out when my mother pulled me into a hug.

THE WINTER KING would be here any minute. After we negotiated my dowry, he would parade me around Fall Court like a prized hog. We would announce our engagement publicly and then go on a tour of the four courts, inviting each one to our upcoming wedding. And all of this was before I’d even met the man or agreed to it.

In the end, I relented to my father’s begging and my mother’s tears.

I was the most powerful princess in all the realm, and the king wanted powerful heirs, so it was an obvious pairing.

A part of me sort of always knew this day would come. I’d just hoped he’d marry a woman of royal lineage from his own court and leave me alone.

I didn’t want to leave Fall. Orange leaves, crisp cool air, the scent of change. I’d grown up in my father’s kingdom my entire life. We were one of the most prosperous of Thorngate, growing half the food for the realm, and even selling excess to Embergate.

I sat in my room as my beloved lady-in-waiting, Piper, finished curling my hair, and I gasped at the sudden realization that I would no longer have her company. I was nineteen winters old and she was twenty. We practically grew up together. Her mother served as my mother’s lady-in-waiting and she’d become my best friend.

We’d been quiet since we both heard the news. I wasn’t sure she knew what to think or say to me. Marrying the winter king was more of a curse than a blessing, so congratulations were not in order.

“What’s wrong?” she asked me finally.

Unshed tears filled my eyes as I looked up at her. “I just realized I would be losing you. I could never ask you to leave your family and follow me to the frozen Hades of Winter Court.”

Piper smiled. I loved that smile. She had two crooked teeth in front that pressed onto her bottom lip like fangs.

“Oh, Maddie, I would never leave you to marry that bastard alone. I’ve already asked your father to be dismissed from Fall Court. I’m going to Winter with you.”

Tears lined my eyes and I pulled her in for a hug. “I don’t deserve you,” I told her.

I released her and she nodded, her long brown hair shaking around her shoulders. “That’s true. And I hear the winter king is richer than your father, so maybe I should ask for a raise…”

I grinned, loving that Piper knew how to get me out of my rotten mood.

There was a knock at the door and I stood, squaring my shoulders and tipping my chin high.

It was time. He was here.

As I strode towards the door, Piper caught my wrist. I turned to look at her and there was a fire in her eyes. “Remember your worth, Madelynn Windstrong. You have a lot to offer. I don’t care if he is king. You’re worth more than a bag of gold.”

My heart pinched, and I thanked the Maker for such a loyal friend. Squeezing her hand, I nodded and then opened the door to find my mother waiting for me. The dowry negotiation was always done in person after the male suitor met the prospective wife. He would want to make sure I looked as pretty as he had heard, or last seen, and that I was as powerful as rumor stated. The prettier and more powerful, the more money and land my father could ask for.

Because I would be giving him power in his kingship and future heirs, he would pay my father for the right to marry me. It was a practice as old as time in our culture, one that if I stopped to think about felt a little offensive, but was necessary to keep our court funded. My father didn’t ask for many taxes from the people, and fifty percent of what we got we had to give to the ruling monarch, the winter king.

“You look beautiful, dear,” my mother said, and extended her arm so that I could hook mine into hers.

“Thank you.” I took her arm and then looked back at Piper, who gave me a thumbs-up.

I loved her for saying she would go with me. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure I would be able to survive in Winter without at least one friend.

As my mother and I traversed the hallways of my family home, I felt reality settle in. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. The man who was rumored to have killed a servant for not making his bed correctly was about to be my husband.

Could I marry a man who would make me miserable for the rest of my life just to honor my duty and make my family happy? Was duty above happiness?

Unfortunately for me, it was.

“Maddie!” My little sister’s voice came from behind me and my entire body went rigid. If I saw her right now I would fall into a puddle of tears. I couldn’t imagine leaving Libby.

“She doesn’t know yet,” my mother whispered, and relief rushed through me.

I spun, plastering on a fake smile, and let her rush into my arms.

“I got top marks in archery! Master Bellman says I’m as good as the elves!” she shouted excitedly.

I grinned, smoothing her frizzed red hair with my palms. She had mine and our mother’s red hair coloring but my father’s texture. She looked like a wild lion half the time. “I imagine you are.”

“You look pretty.” She took in my gold embroidered dress and fancy hair and makeup.

“Thank you. I have… a meeting, so I will come by after and talk with you, okay?” Saying goodbye to her would kill me. I couldn’t even think of it right now.

“‘kay!” she shouted, and then ran to our mother to hug her before she was bouncing off down the hall to her room with her nanny running behind her.

I shared a heartbreaking look with my mother but said nothing.

Libby and I had a special relationship. I’d watched as my mother had cruelly gone through seven miscarriages before Libby was born eight years ago. When she came into our lives, it was the breath of fresh air we all needed. She kept things fun and light in the palace. She was the joy in my mother’s heart after so much sorrow.

When we reached the door, I looked at my mother to hit her with the truth. If I was going to marry this man with the heinous reputation he had, I wanted to have control over certain things.

“I want to negotiate my own dowry,” I told her boldly.

She almost choked on her own spit, coughing and clearing her throat. “Honey, that’s not done. It’s between King Thorne and your father.”

I tipped my chin high. “If I’m going to be sold to a monster, I will state the price I am worth, no one else.”

My mother’s cheeks burned with shame and I felt awful for saying it that way. Her curt nod was all I needed before I opened the door.

When my gaze fell on Lucien Thorne laughing near the fireplace with my father, I knew I was in trouble.

I’d built up a deep hatred for this man. The things he’d done were inexcusable, and yet when my gaze fell on him, I couldn’t help the tightening of my stomach and the warm wash of pleasure that rushed through me.

He was the most attractive man I’d ever seen. I faltered as he turned to look at me.

Oh, Maker, have mercy.

Lucien Thorne was nothing like the boyish paintings hanging in meeting halls. The man before me was chiseled perfection: steely gray eyes, a sharp nose and strong jaw. His lips were pursed and thick. He wore the hairstyle of royal warriors, his long black tresses shaved at the sides and then pulled into a ponytail, braided at the very edges. His charcoal-gray tunic hugged his muscular body, leaving little to the imagination. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but not this, not to feel attracted to the man I hated. It threw me for a second, as the king and I just stood there and stared at each other. His gaze raked over me slowly and I felt my breath hitch.

He was evil incarnate, and yet wrapped in the most delicious package I’d ever seen. I wasn’t sure I could resist whatever he would offer as a dowry.

I can’t marry this man.

Shaking myself, I pulled out of whatever spell he’d cast over me and remembered his reputation.

“My king…” I curtsied the least amount possible to still be considered polite and then stepped closer to greet him.

My mother curtsied next to me, deeply and overly respectful.

He watched me like an animal tracking prey, and I swallowed hard.

“Madelynn Windstrong, you are far more beautiful than the songs written about you,” he stated, and stepped forward, reaching for my hand. I offered it to him and he kissed it lightly, a zap of cold traveling up my arm as he did.

A charmer too. Great.

I gave him a curt smile. He then kissed my mother’s hand as well. Because he was so handsome, I took this time to remind myself of every horrible story I’d heard of him, and then turned to my father.

“I’ve spoken to Mother about wanting to negotiate my dowry myself and she agrees,” I told him right in front of the king.

My father made a choking sound and my gaze flicked to the king to see what he would say or do, but he just watched me with amusement. His hands were clasped behind his back calmly and his eyes crinkled as he assessed me.

“That’s not done. It’s men’s work,” my father said, and then gave a nervous peal of laughter before looking at the king. “I’m sorry, my lord, I think I raised her to be a little too independent and headstrong.”

The king was still watching me, his steel gray eyes boring into mine. “I think I’d pay extra for independent and headstrong.”

His comment shocked me. What the Hades did that mean? Was he joking? I didn’t like it if he was.

My father didn’t even know what to do with that, so he remained silent.

“I would be happy to negotiate your dowry with you, Madelynn,” the king said to me, and I gulped. Saying I wanted to negotiate my own payment was one thing, doing it was another.

I hadn’t actually expected him to accept. I’d hoped he would have seen the move as too pushy and domineering and called the entire thing off.

I looked to my father and mother, knowing that if I were about to actually agree to marry this man I needed to have a private conversation with him first.

“Mother, Father, if you will excuse us, I need to speak with King Thorne alone before I can agree to marry him.”

A panicked look flashed across my father’s face. He knew me too well, and was probably imagining all of the horrible things I would say or do.

“You cannot be alone with an unmarried man. It’s not proper,” my mother reminded me, giving a nervous laugh.

I nodded. “Go fetch Piper. She can chaperone.”

My father was frozen by the fireplace as if unsure he could break protocol and allow this. We all stared at the king for guidance, but the king appeared to be perfectly calm and enjoying himself. He leaned against the brick wall of the drawing room casually.

“I look forward to our private chat,” he stated to me.

My mother scurried off then to look for Piper, and I started to grow uneasy with the winter king’s accommodating personality. Surely the monstrous king I had heard of would forbid such a thing. A woman negotiating her own dowry was unheard of, yet he looked as if this amused him, which infuriated me.

What was he playing at? It seemed if I’d hoped to turn him off with this behavior, I was mistaken.

A moment later my mother appeared with Piper, who bowed deeply to the king and then stood in the far corner of the room to be a silent spectator.

My father cleared his throat, obviously out of his element.

“You may leave us,” I told my father. My mother was already standing in the doorway.

My father looked to the king, who nodded, and then my parents reluctantly left. As soon as the door shut, I stepped closer to Lucien Thorne. I decided to be as honest as possible so that he knew where I was coming from.

“I’ve heard the stories about you,” I told him. “You’re a cruel man who is unkind to staff members, and severely punishes people for the smallest infraction. I would be lying if I said I was excited to be your betrothed.”

There, I’d done it. I was completely honest to him, and allowed there to be no pretenses between us that I was going to be some doting wife who was in love with him. It was a bold thing to say to a king, and I awaited his angry response.

Instead, the bastard just smiled at my verbal account of his reputation.

I crossed my arms and pinned him with a glare. “And furthermore, I’m not interested in giving you children right away, so you will have to wait until I am ready.”

His gaze went half lidded and he licked his lips as if imagining having children with me.

Heat traveled to my cheeks and I flushed. “And I will not bed you unless we are making a child. You can take a mistress, or a whore, I don’t care.” I tipped my chin high, then a bark of laughter erupted from his throat.

The sound shook me. It was deep and gravelly and filled the entire room.

“Are you laughing at me?” My hands balled into fists and a light gust of wind filled the drawing room, causing the fire in the hearth to increase its flame.

A sudden flurry of snow drifted into the hearth, down the chimney and dropped onto the fire, causing it to crackle.

Was he displaying his power because I had? What the Hades was this? Were we in some sort of showdown?

He just watched me, smiling and seemingly entertained as I wrestled with all of my emotions.

Reaching up, he grabbed his heart. “I think I just fell in love.”

I rolled my eyes, groaning as the wind died out in an instant. Was this man going to be an insufferable charmer the entire time?

“I tell you that I think you are a horrible person and you fall in love with me?” I asked. “You sound unstable.”

He stepped forward quickly, causing my heart to quicken as he suddenly strode to within two inches of me. “I’m not known for being stable, am I?” he whispered, his warm breath washing over me.

Holy Maker.

I stepped back a pace, looking towards Piper in panic, but she was statue-still, an observer. She played the role well when she needed to, but we would no doubt be talking about this for days when we were alone.

He took another step, closing the distance I had just gained, and lowered his voice. “I have a confession to make,” he murmured.

My heart was in my throat and I swallowed hard. “What?” I breathed.

Why did he have to be so handsome?

He looked down at my lips, and then at my throat before finally meeting my eyes. “I saw you in the meadow by your house last full moon. I was traveling with some of my soldiers in the woods. We were searching for a lost hunting dog. You were dancing in the garden with your sister and…” He took in a deep breath, reaching out to catch a lock of my red hair. “I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I knew then I had to have you.”

It was as if all of the air had been sucked from the room. I couldn’t breathe. What was happening? The evil king was… complimenting me?

“Name your price, Madelynn Windstrong, because there isn’t a piece of gold in the realm I wouldn’t pay to be able to wake up next to you each morning.” He smiled sweetly then and I had to swallow a whimper. It was the sweetest thing a man had ever said to me and… it was coming from the bastard who’d caused my family so much pain in the past. I didn’t know what to say or feel. I was… at odds with myself. What I had initially assumed were a charmer’s flirtations had quickly become a serious confession.

“When you first became king and you brought the Great Freeze across the entire land, my grandmother died,” I blurted out.

A darkness cast over his face and I almost regretted saying it. I was already getting used to his smile.

I was now staring at a man devoid of all emotion. He’d retreated somewhere, a place I couldn’t follow, a place I didn’t want to follow.

“I’m sorry I killed her,” he stated. “Others too. Thirty-seven people died in Summer Court that night. Twelve in Spring. They weren’t prepared for that kind of cold.”

My brows knotted together as he confessed the horrible things he’d done without an ounce of emotion.

“You admit it?” We’d never gotten an apology or explanation. Just an extreme cold that ripped across the land and the next day it was back to normal.

“I do.” He stood tall, his back erect and his chin up, his smile gone. “My powers are tied to my emotions. Same as yours. I couldn’t control them.” He was speaking about a moment ago when I couldn’t keep the wind from entering the room.

What kind of emotions did this man have that he would end up freezing the entire realm for a full day and night? I was thirteen at the time, and it had been one of the scariest nights of my life. The cold crept into the house like a shadow and lingered no matter how high we built the fire. I didn’t sleep; my teeth chattered all night. I stood outside with Mother, pushing the frost back with our wind power. My grandmother came out to help us, but she was too old for that kind of exposure. She passed the next day. A weak heart, the healer had said, but we all knew what weakened her.

The Great Freeze.

Since he was being so open, I wanted to ask him what had happened that night to make him lose control, but I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer. I didn’t want to know what kind of man I was marrying. A scary man who could freeze me solid if I made him angry.

I didn’t know what to say. This was supposed to be a dowry negotiation and it had somehow turned into something else.

The king stared at me then and there was something deep in his eyes that brought a pain to my heart. He looked… sad. Like maybe deep inside of him there was a desolate little boy who just wanted to be loved.

“I know arranged marriages are not ideal anymore, but they are tradition,” King Thorne said. “That being said, if you do not want to tie your fate to mine, I can cancel the whole thing. I will tell your father we are simply not a good match. No harm will come to your reputation.”

I frowned, my heart thudding into my throat. He was giving me an out? A seriousness descended onto the room and I warred with what I wanted before I’d met him, how I felt now, and what my mother and father expected of me.

“Honestly,” the winter king said, “I feel like I should be asking you to pay a dowry to be married to this.” He gestured up and down his body and laughter erupted from my chest.

He was funny.

Funny.

Charming.

Sweet.

Slightly unhinged. What could go wrong?

His offer to allow me to back out of the arrangement was noteworthy, but my father had already told the elders of the Fall Court. Not to mention the king rode up here with a full contingent of royal soldiers. Half the town probably already knew what was going on. If we were to cancel, rumor would spread and people would say that there was something wrong with me, that I was impure or too independent. This would tarnish any potential future suitors.

No, I had to do this now. My family’s reputation was on the line. This would impact Libby’s prospects as well. As much as I’d wanted him to back out before, now I saw the ripple effect that would have on my family.

“We can proceed with the arrangement.” I smoothed my dress in a nervous gesture. “I just wanted you to know where I stood.”

He nodded, assessing me coolly. “You don’t want children right away, will only bed me for children, and I can take a whore. Got it.”

I winced when he said it like that, and then gave a nervous peal of laughter. “Okay, the whore comment was a little strong. I’m sorry. This is… a lot for me all at once. I was only told today.”

He regarded me with a grin. “Does this mean you are taking away my promised whore?”

I reached out and slapped his shoulder like I would an old friend, forgetting for a second I was in the presence of the king. But he caught my hand, holding my fingers lightly, which caused my mind to race.

“I would never do that to you… take a whore, or a mistress, or anything in between,” he promised, and my stomach flipped over itself.

He was so… not what I thought he would be.

“How much dowry did your father pay your mother’s family?” I asked him, pulling my fingers from his and trying to get a feel for what was a good amount to ask for.

The mention of his deceased mother caused his face to fall a little before he regained composure. “A hundred gold coins, ten acres of land, and a dozen horses. But that was a simpler time.” His voice was monotone, and I wondered if speaking of his mother after so long was something he didn’t like to do.

A hundred gold coins was how much my father made in a year, and King Thorne would be taking me from my father for life.

“I want a thousand gold coins,” I told him, ready for him to whittle me down to five hundred.

“Done,” he stated without missing a beat.

I froze, and then swallowed hard. He was awfully agreeable. “And I want my beloved lady-in-waiting to come as well.” I nodded to Piper, who stood erect in the corner.

“Done,” he said again.

My heart hammered in my chest. “Also, I think a hundred acres of farmable land for my people is a fair price for the two heirs I will give you.”

The king looked my body up and down slowly, his gray eyes caressing my skin so that I could almost feel it. “I was hoping to have more children than that, especially since you stated you will only lie with me when making children.”

Piper’s snort-laugh came from the corner, and I turned over my shoulder to glare at her. Heat traveled up my cheeks and I knew that they probably resembled the color of my hair.

“The number of children can be discussed later.” I fanned myself and stepped away from the fire.

“A hundred acres. Done,” he said.

“As far as horses, we have twenty elders in Fall Court. I would like you to gift each one a new stallion. They do most of our farming and this will help—”

“Done,” he interrupted me. “Anything else?”

I looked at him incredulously. That had been way easier than I thought. He was saying yes without hesitation. “Will I be able to see my family?” My voice broke as I thought of Libby.

“Of course.” His lips pulled into a frown. “Whenever you like. They are welcome at Winter Court anytime. We have a lovely guest house I can have ready at a moment’s notice.”

I had planned to tell him that if he ever hurt me I would tear his body in two with the strongest wind imaginable, but now I felt that might be too unkind of an assessment. Had he done bad things in his past? Yes—he admitted to the Great Freeze. But there was something else there, a gentleness I couldn’t describe, an eagerness to please, to be loved. It held me in confusion and tempered my anger towards him.

I knew that dowries were sealed with a handshake, so I stepped forward and extended my hand.

“I look forward to the upcoming nuptials and serving our people as queen,” I told him.

He smiled then, taking my hand into a strong, firm grip and shaking it. “I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you, Madelynn. I hope I can make you happy.”

I stopped breathing for the umpteenth time. The way he spoke was… so intense, so real. He leaned forward and pressed a small kiss to the top of my hand before gently dropping it, and I was almost sad to see it go. The winter king then crossed the room, tipping his head to Piper as he went. When his hand rested on the door handle, I called to him. “King Thorne!”

He turned back to look at me, and I met his steely gaze.

“I could have asked for more, couldn’t I?”

The slow halfcocked grin that spread across his face made my knees go weak. Good night, he was handsome. “There is nothing I would have denied you.”

He turned then and shut the door softly. Probably to go in search of my father and put all of this in writing.

I stood there stunned as Piper peeled herself away from the wall and stood before me.

“Do we still hate him?” she asked with a frown. “I’m so confused.”

I shrugged. “What the Hades just happened?”

She chewed her bottom lip. “I kind of liked everything about him.”

So did I.

So. Did. I.