Garrin picked up Lex. His arms weren’t much warmer than her body after going without his coat for so long, but it didn’t matter because they had a way out.
He ran up the ice stairs—and found Zirel standing there, half-naked and holding a handmade rope.
Garrin frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Attempting to rescue Amund so that we could rescue you. What has happened?” Zirel looked from Garrin to Isle standing beside him.
“Zirel, meet Isle Meinrad, Lex’s mother.”
“Mother?” Zirel said.
Isle looked down her nose. “Put on clothes, child, or you will freeze.”
There was no time to explain to Zirel all that had happened inside the ravine, and Zirel must have realized that too, because he quickly began to unknot his clothing. He looked across to where Amund lay stranded. “What about him?”
“I’ll retrieve him,” Garrin said, and gently set Lex down.
With the help of new ice ledges that extended farther than the old ones, Garrin reached Amund in one swift leap, though the ledge cracked ominously on his descent.
Amund was in bad shape. He opened his eyes, and the effort appeared difficult. “Leave me. Get the girl to the kingdom.”
“There is hope, my friend.”
Amund shifted, and Garrin helped him roll over.
There was no way Amund could rise, so Garrin sat him upright then slung the burly Fae over his shoulder.
He used his powers to reinforce the ice ledges, including the section that had cracked, and extended them farther than he’d originally dared. He wouldn’t build a bridge and risk complete failure, but if he was quick, two ice ledges and a strong leap should give him enough momentum to make it across with Amund on his back.
Garrin was more tired than he’d been in his life, but the jolt of power he’d drawn from Lex was more than he’d dared hope for. He didn’t understand how he could draw from her ability to charge his powers, but he’d wonder about that after he’d gotten Lex to safety.
He secured Amund more squarely on his shoulder and took off toward the edge of the ravine at a run. He planted his snow boot on the ice ledge and leapt.
His toe had just made it over the ice ledge on the opposite side when Amund slipped from his grasp and went tumbling into the snow.
Garrin rushed over and knelt beside the soldier. “Are you all right?”
Amund nodded, his breathing labored.
Garrin lifted Amund and brought him to where the others stood with Lex. “Amund cannot walk.”
Isle’s mouth compressed. “Unless you plan to get my daughter out of here using a snowstorm, let us hope Amund’s abilities are more useful.”
Isle was definitely related to Lex. No one spoke to Garrin with such fearlessness. “Amund is a portal creator—when he is healthy. And when Zirel is strong enough, he can heal others.”
“Zirel first, then,” Isle said, rubbing Lex’s gloved hand as though to warm it, while her own body shook from the cold. “You’ve left my daughter on the brink of death, Dark Prince.” She glared. “For which you will pay.”
Garrin didn’t fear Isle’s wrath. He feared losing Lex. And not because his people needed her. He cared about her. If something happened to Lex, Garrin wasn’t sure he could forgive himself.
He gestured for Zirel to move closer to Lex.
Isle instructed Zirel on how to regain his abilities, and like Garrin, the Fae faltered at first. But not for long. After a couple of attempts, Zirel straightened, his face flush with power.
Zirel leaned over Lex and placed his hands on her temples, above her heart, and lastly, he ran them down her arms and legs, exchanging the power she’d given him to heal her.
Lex’s skin went from pale blue to just pale. Finally, her eyes opened.
“Zirel?” she said. “Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
The rush of relief that filled Garrin was like nothing he’d experienced. If he’d lost her, he didn’t think he could bear it.
He moved to her side. “How do you feel?”
She shifted slightly. “Like I could sleep for a month.” She raised her hand and delicately touched his cheekbone with the tips of her gloved fingers. “Are you okay? You don’t look well.” And then she peered past Garrin. “M-Mom?” She shook her head and her eyes watered. “What…? Am I dead? What’s going on?”
A wash of guilt ran through him. “You are not dead.”
She blinked several times. “Am I hallucinating?”
“No, darling.” Isle moved closer and gripped her daughter’s hands, smiling. “I am here. I’m sorry for not warning you about what was to come. Had I known I’d be trapped in ice for so long… Well, I would have come up with a different plan.”
Lex went to hug her mother, and sank back, her eyes crossing. “I’m dizzy.”
Isle pulled Lex closer and wrapped her arms around her protectively. “There, there. All will be well.”
Zirel tugged a shirt that he’d rescued from the knotted rope over his head. It was torn in several places, but the Fae fabric would help to keep him warm. “Lex is weak. She may need to be carried the rest of the way.”
“But she will live,” Garrin said, needing to hear the words.
Lex’s eyes went wide. “Live? What the hell?”
“She will live,” Zirel agreed.
“Are you sure?” Lex said. “Because now that I think about it, I feel like crap.” She rubbed her temples and looked around, her gaze landing on her mother again. “Mom, what is going on? You were dead.” Her voice quavered. “I saw it, didn’t I? The avalanche? But Jas said I wasn’t there…” She shook her head as though confused.
“Not dead,” Isle said. “Sleeping, one could call it, until I was reunited with you and Jasper.” She looked around. “Where is he?”
Lex sent Garrin a cynical look.
“I left him in the Earth realm,” Garrin admitted.
Isle dropped her daughter’s hand and stood. “You what?”
Both Lex and Isle were intent on making him explain himself. It was an odd experience. “We sought the prophesied one, and Jasper got in the way.”
Isle moved close enough that her toes nearly touched his. He cocked his head, curious at her temerity. “I don’t care whose son you are.” She pointed at him. “How dare you take my child from her guardian?”
“Guardian?” Lex said, trying to stand and getting nowhere. “Uncle Jas?”
“Not your uncle,” Isle said, still staring at Garrin. “That was what Jasper told you until I could return. With your powers…it was safest to hide you.”
Lex’s face tensed. “I don’t have powers! And you should have stayed with me, Mom. Do you know how awful things have been?”
Isle flinched, and Garrin did too. He was partly responsible for her troubles. “No one suffers more than a mother kept from her child,” Isle replied. “The king came after me, but not before I had Jasper hide you until I could return.”
Garrin paced nearby. “Why would my father do this? It is madness.”
“Yes, it is,” Isle agreed. “Your father is an evil man, Dark Prince.”
Zirel’s eyes sharpened. He was fully clothed now, though much like his shirt, his coat was torn in several places. He must have attempted to lengthen the durable Fae fabric by tearing it. “The prince deserves your respect, madam.”
Isle’s smile was bitter. “Indeed? What do you know of the son of Casone?” She scanned Zirel. “You are not royalty. Your magic is useful, but you do not possess our strength.”
“I have fought and bled alongside our prince as he risked his life for our people’s freedom.”
Isle laughed. “The Dark Prince is fighting for your freedom, is he? Oh, that is rich.” She studied Garrin. “I wonder, have you any idea what your father is up to? He had the entire kingdom brainwashed the last time I breathed fresh air.”
Garrin sighed. For all he knew, these were the ramblings of a madwoman who’d been entombed for two hundred years.
Isle stared out at the land. “Casone couldn’t kill me without bringing down more punishment from the angels. So he did the next best thing; he entombed me in ice and made me impossible to find.” She looked at Garrin. “Your father is the Ice King, just as you will be one day.”
