The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4) Read online

  Their expressions dazed, they all nodded. Leo got up and offered his wife a hand. Once Nicki was on her feet, he did the same for Amy and Zoe. They did a quick glance around the room before joining the others, heads hung low, staring at the heartbreaking sight on the bed.

  "Is--is she alive?" Henry asked, breaking the deafening stillness that hung in the air.

  Faen looked up. His disconsolate gaze reached Henry's and he nodded.

  "What happened?"

  Faen swallowed. He hung his head and shook it, unable to form words. His king lay dead behind him, his princess lay unconscious in his arms. He had a good idea what had happened… Zaven happened. The Ambassador was to blame for this, of that, he was sure. The diamond cuff had obviously been spelled to absorb Faedra's power. The Ambassador knew if he injured the king badly enough, Faedra would use her power to try and revive him. He must have been confident that she would wear his gift again for her second wedding; it complimented her dress so beautifully. It was a risky move, but the Ambassador had always seemed very sure of himself. What Faen didn't know was if his beloved wife would ever wake up. He knew nothing of the spell or whether killing his wife was also intended. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and hugged her close. At least she was still breathing.

  "What's wrong with Faedra?" Leo asked Henry.

  Henry shook his head. "I don't know."

  "What do you mean you don't know? Would someone like to explain to me what the hell just happened and why my niece is lying unconscious and covered in blood?"

  Henry took hold of Leo's arm and guided him towards the door. "Come on. Let's go put the kettle on. I know I could use a cuppa."

  Leo shrugged out of Henry's grasp. "Who are you?" Leo snapped. "Your daughter is covered in some stranger's blood, and you're acting like it's all in a day's work. For God's sake, man. Wake up!"

  Henry cast a fleeting glance at the king and closed his eyes for a long second. "He's not a stranger," he said softly.

  Alaris stepped toward Leo, his eyes narrowing, a definitive growl breaking free from his vocal chords. Leo gave the dragon a wary look and took a step back. Draconis stepped in front of the blue dragon. "Please, excuse my...friend," he said. "He has somewhat of a short temper."

  Leo swallowed but remained silent.

  Draconis turned to Henry. "I believe I would like a cup of tea, too, Henry. Please, lead the way." He gestured to the bridesmaids, also. "Ladies, would you care to join us?" It wasn't meant as a question and everyone knew it. The three girls mirrored Leo's wary glances and nodded their acquiescence.

  Faedra groaned.

  Everyone turned their attention to the bed.

  The Custodian brought her hand to her forehead. "Urgh, my head," she grumbled. She pulled her head away from where it was resting on Faen's shoulder and blew out a long breath. Her heavy eyelids blinked several times trying to focus. "What happened?" she moaned.

  A crease formed along her brow. Feeling the stickiness on her hand, she pulled it away from her head. For a long second, she just stared at it, then, as realization dawned, her gaze traveled down to her dress. Panic took hold as memories seeped back into her consciousness. Her breathing became erratic and she glanced at the king before turning back to stare at her husband with heartbroken eyes.

  Tears of despair welled before sluicing down her cheeks. "What have I done?" she breathed.

  Her woeful gaze traveled around the room and met the saddened expressions of all who were standing there. To her shock, one by one, the otherworlders kneeled before her and bowed their heads.

  "The king is dead!" the vicar shouted. "Long live the queen!"

  "Long live the queen!" everyone repeated.

  Faedra's breath hitched as she turned back to her husband. "No...I'm not ready for this," she stuttered, her eyes pleading.

  Faen took hold of Faedra's face in his hands and looked deep into her. His eyes glistened, mirroring his wife's pain. "I will help you. You are not alone, Adkara. You will never be alone." A single tear broke free and slid down Faen's cheek.

  Leo's incredulous look morphed into an angry glare. "What the....?"

  "Let's go and have that cuppa now, shall we?" Henry interrupted, virtually shoving his brother down the stairs. "Come along, girls," he held his arm up and ushered the bridesmaids to go along, too. They gave their friend one last forlorn look before filing past Henry down the stairs to the kitchen.

  ***

  A while later, Faedra was sitting on the top step of the staircase. She could hear anxious chattering wafting up from the kitchen below. The kettle whistled. Her father was doing what every other Brit would do in this situation...make a pot of tea.

  Faedra knew she would have to face the occupants in the kitchen, eventually, but right at that moment, she couldn't move. Every time she closed her eyes, the horrific scene from her bedroom looped over and over in full HD behind her eyelids. She looked down at her hands. They were clean now, all evidence of her father's blood washed away in the shower. The diluted watery color of red had swirled around the plug hole at her feet until the water ran clear.

  Her gaze diverted to the ice diamond cuff. The gems were twinkling in the light that hung from the ceiling above. As beautiful as it was, it may as well be a handcuff. In fact, that's exactly what it had turned out to be. Faedra was now shackled. No amount of tugging, pulling, or using soap to make it slippery had loosened the cuff from her wrist. It was part of her now, until she could find someone with strong enough magic to extricate her from it. She had an uneasy feeling that the reason she could not take it off had everything to do with the fact that it was now connected to her life energy. Oh, yes, Zaven had been very clever. Faedra cursed herself for being taken in by a pretty trinket. She glared at the elegant piece of jewelry with a hatred like no other. But hatred wasn't going to solve her dilemma. She chewed on her thumbnail. How was she going to tell everyone who was depending on her that she was now about as powerful as a newborn lamb?

  "So, you three can turn into dragons?"

  Faedra's head turned, and she looked through the balusters towards the kitchen at the sound of her uncle's bewildered voice. She could see the bottom of the kitchen door from where she sat. It was open.

  "Yes," answered Draconis.

  "And you two can turn invisible?"

  Faedra heard Etyran clear his throat. "In a manner of speaking, yes."

  "And the rest of you are - are...fairies?" Leo's voice got a little higher pitched with each question.

  "We are fae, yes," Faen replied.

  "And... Faedra?" Amy asked, the trepidation obvious in her hesitant query.

  "Her real father was our king," Faen continued.

  Faedra closed her eyes, as tears threatened upon hearing his words.

  "His eldest daughter was renounced of any inheritance, the reason of which I will not go into now. But suffice to say, that now leaves Faedra as the only rightful heir to the throne of Azran."

  Faedra hung her head and blew out a long, shaky, heavyhearted breath. Resting her forehead in her hand, she stared at the fluffy pink slippers on her feet. The ones her dad had bought her the previous Christmas. To her surprise, her lips curved at the irony. She couldn't look less like a queen at that moment. Maybe she should go and change them. She reached up to the banister and pulled herself up. Just as she was about to turn and head for her room, she changed her mind. Right now she needed comfort, and, at that moment, those slippers gave her comfort. She really didn't care what anyone else thought. Those slippers were staying on her feet.

  Hand on the banister, she let it glide over the smooth wood as she descended the stairs one at a time.

  When she arrived at the kitchen door, the sight that greeted her stopped her in her tracks. The kitchen table was surrounded by a huddle of humans, fae and dragons, all discussing the situation that had been thrust upon them. It was a sight she never in her wildest dreams would imagine witnessing. So much for keeping her friends out of her other world.

 
Alyssa and Jocelyn each had a reassuring arm around Amy and Zoe. Etyran was sitting next to Leo and was gently patting her uncle on the back in an attempt to calm him. Her uncle had his head in both hands, his elbows resting on the table. Bedowen was speaking softly to Nicki, who was staring at the floor. Alaris and Ignis were washing and drying cups ready for another round of tea that her dad and Faen were preparing over by the stove. The Messengers were chatting with the vicar and Draconis at one end of the dining table, making plans for something, but Faedra couldn't hear any detail in their deep murmurs.

  Leo sat up and drew in a slow, deep breath. "This is all too much to take in," he said to Etyran, dragging a hand through already disheveled dark blond hair. "And this army you say has taken over your world...?"

  "They are from a realm called Alsius," Faen answered, carrying the pot of tea and placing it in the middle of the table. "It is the ice realm. Everything and everyone in it is constructed of ice. Their power is destructive and lethal. They have the power to freeze anything they touch, turning it to ice if they so desire. Though, why they would strike now is a mystery to me. The king and queen of Alsius are peaceful. I know they have been feuding with Umor, but they have never made a physical threat against another realm. There is something more going on than meets the eye."

  "But you say that Faedra is the most powerful being in all of these...how many realms?" Zoe asked.

  "Seven," Alyssa answered.

  "So, can't she just go in there and blast them all back to wherever they came from?" Nicki looked up and responded to Zoe's question.

  "No, she can't," Faedra said, stepping into the room.

  All heads turned towards her. If she could feel their energy, she would guess a mixture of sadness, anxiety and confusion would be slamming into her. But, as was her current state, she could feel nothing.

  "It's gone," Faedra said numbly. "All of it...gone."

  Murmurs echoed around the table as Faen hastened towards his wife.

  Faedra looked up into her husband's worried eyes. "He took it, Faen. All of it. He's destroying our world as we speak, and I can do nothing to stop it." Tears welled anew in Faedra's eyes.

  Faen wiped away a tear with his thumb. "We will find a way," he whispered.

  "Come and have a cup of tea, love," Henry said. "Everyone always feels better after a cup of tea."

  Faedra offered Faen a weak smile at her dad's optimism. He took her hand and led her over to the table. Without hesitation, Etyran got up from his seat and offered her his chair.

  "We will find a way, Your Majesty," Etyran said, bowing his head as she approached.

  Faedra leveled a considering stare at him. "Oh, no, you don't," she said.

  Etyran looked perplexed.

  "I want to make one thing clear before we go any further, and I don't want any arguments..." She threw a pointed look at her husband and then cast it around the table. "...from any of you."

  Curious glances swept about the room between the occupants filling the kitchen.

  "I'm still Faedra, okay?" Faedra continued. She barked out a humorless laugh and shook her head at the irony. "Even more so now." She rubbed her forehead with her fingertips and cast her eyes around the room. Straightening up, she carried on. "Everyone in this room is to continue calling me by my name."

  There was instant muttering around the table from everyone other than her uncle, Nicki, Amy and Zoe, who just looked at her with numbed expressions.

  "Is that understood?" Faedra asked.

  "But, Your Majesty..." the vicar started.

  Faedra put her hand up and made a sharp noise to stop him.

  Alaris crossed his arms over his chest, raised a sleek eyebrow and shrugged. "I can live with that," he said.

  The otherworlders turned incredulous looks on the blue dragon.

  "Why are you looking at me like that? If the girl wants to be called by her real name, that's her decision, don't you think?"

  "Thank you, Alaris," Faedra said. She never thought she'd see the day when the grouchy dragon would actually stand up for her.

  The dragon inclined his head.

  "Okay, so now that we have that cleared up," Draconis said, stepping forward. "What say you all that we focus on getting Azran back?"

  Faedra's eyes widened. "You'll help us?"

  Draconis looked affronted for a split second. "Of course, we'll help you. Why would you think otherwise?"

  Faedra hung her head. "I don't know. It's not your realm under attack. I just assumed you would want to stay out of it."

  Draconis moved over to Faedra and lowered himself to a crouch before her. "Well, usually we would. But, I've become quite fond of the new queen, and it seems to me, she could use a little help right about now."

  Faedra looked down into the dragon's eyes that shone with sincerity. "Thank you," she whispered.

  A moment of silence hung between them before Draconis pushed himself up and addressed the Messengers.

  "You were the last to see Azran. What was the state of things just before you made your escape with the king?"

  Everyone huddled closer to the table as one of the Messengers cleared his throat. He nodded towards Draconis acknowledging the questions, but he addressed his new queen with his answer.

  "Your Highness," he started.

  Faedra didn't question his formal address. At the end of the day, she was only bothered by her close friends addressing her differently. She knew the rest of the realm would feel uncomfortable if they did not call her by her title.

  "The situation is desperate," the Messenger continued. "Zaven had taken much of the castle by the time we got your father out. It was swarming with an army of Alsians, we were lucky to escape when we did. Everything they touched turned to ice before our very eyes. I would imagine he has turned most of the city by now..." He looked down at his hands that were clasped together in front of him. "...including her residents."

  Faedra clenched her hands together, her knuckles turning white under the pressure. She had to stay strong, these people were looking to her for answers. The fact that she didn't have any could be hidden for a little while. "And you are sure the king locked down all of the portals?" Faedra asked.

  "Yes, Your Majesty," the second Messengers answered. "He said that Azran was the only thing standing between Zaven and the World of Men."

  "Why did you not escape with the ruby staff?"

  "We could not get to it, Your Highness," Messenger one said.

  "But if Zaven gets his hands on it, we're doomed here, too. He can go anywhere with that thing."

  "We do not believe he has found it within the castle yet, Your Majesty," Messenger two said. "We have not seen any evidence that he has made his way into the World of Men."

  "Thank you, Messengers."

  The Messengers bowed and took a step back from the table.

  She looked over to Henry. "Dad. I think I'll have that cup of tea now, please."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Hands cupped around a hot mug of tea, Faedra relished the warmth that soaked into her skin. Adrenaline and delayed shock was settling into her soul, and it was taking everything she had to keep from shaking like a leaf. She never thought she would miss the internal furnace that used to roar within her, but she couldn't remember ever feeling this cold before. She drew the blanket that Faen had draped around her shoulders closer to her.

  The entire group had migrated to the dining room and seated themselves around the much larger table. Faedra and Faen were seated at one end, flanked by Etyran, Jocelyn, and Henry to either side. Draconis sat at the other end, flanked by Alaris and Ignis. The rest of the group squeezed themselves around the table, some sitting on chairs they had brought in from the kitchen, others scavenged from various rooms within the cottage. All eyes were on Faedra, as though she were an old hand at plotting battles and saving realms.

  Faedra mentally ran through her 'to-do list':

  Retrieve ruby staff

  Rescue half-sister who hates me and probably
is the cause of all this

  Take back Azran

  Do away with Zaven...All while having no powers, so I'm a sitting duck who is next to useless. Yep, things are looking good so far.

  She took a long look around the table at the expectant faces and said the only sensible thing that came into her head.

  "We need to get the ruby staff. If Zaven gets his hands on it, we are all in big trouble." Faedra looked down the table at Draconis. "May we borrow the emerald staff?"

  Without hesitation, Draconis lay the emerald staff on the table and pushed it towards her. The emeralds twinkled under the dining room lights. Amy let out a mewl of appreciation as the staff slid past her along the shiny mahogany surface of the table.

  "You may," Draconis said.

  Faedra reached out and cupped her hand over the head of the staff. Its large emerald hummed under her skin. "Thank you," she said, sliding it off the table and leaning it against her leg.

  Faen and Jocelyn eyed Faedra's hand that was tightly gripped around the emerald staff and shot each other a nervous look. They both put a hand on each of Faedra's shoulders.

  Confused, Faedra looked up at her new Guardian, then at her husband in turn. "What?"

  Jocelyn and Faen exchanged glances again before Jocelyn cleared her throat. "Um, we thought you were going to take off to Azran."

  Faedra's eyebrows launched themselves into her hairline. "On my own? With no powers?" Faedra had the urge to go check herself in the mirror to see if she looked that insane.

  Jocelyn dropped her gaze to the table.

  "Well, Adkara. You have been known to be a little impulsive in the past," Faen soothed.

  "There's a big difference between being impulsive and downright stupid," Faedra grouched under her breath, then announced, "Besides, I have an idea, but it means you getting all up close and personal with your best mate again."

  Etyran groaned. Henry rested his forehead in his hand.

  "Faen, Etyran can wrap the light around the both of you. The emerald staff will take you directly to the ruby staff. Get in, grab it, get out. When we have both we can move around the realms and go and ask people if they will help us."