The Winter King (Weathermages of Mystral, #1)

by C.L. Wilson

usurper’s

“Don’t fight so hard against things you can’t change, child. You’ll batter yourself to death. Learn to change what you can and accept what you can’t. Be the palm that bends in the wind to withstand the gale.”

harridan

obsequiousness

He was the Winter King, her enemy, a man feared for his killing coldness, yet when he’d touched her, she had not frozen. She’d burned.

anathema

flouted

Even now, just watching him spread melting butter on bread sent an unnerving flood of heat sweeping through her.

Her passion had far less care than his, more savagery. She was a child of the elements, a mage of storms. Rarely gentle. And never well behaved.

Use the care to your advantage, Khamsin, but never lose sight of the enemy.

Regicide

“Love can melt the Ice Heart?” “It’s the only thing that can.”

gainsay

wiles.”

Don’t worry. I’ve got you. I won’t let you go.”

Reika Villani is an old family friend and Valik’s cousin. She has never been any more than that to me, nor ever will be. You, on the other hand, are much, much more and have been since the moment I first set eyes on you.”

His wolf had recognized Khamsin as its mate. She might betray him to her family, torment him unto madness, bring his kingdom to ruin, but come good or ill, love or hatred, trust or betrayal, Wynter of the Craig would never take another woman to wife. Because when snow wolves mated, they mated for life. “Whatever you do, Khamsin, don’t betray me,” he whispered. “Don’t ever betray me.”

She’d started to love him the day she’d entered the Atrium and found herself looking directly into his heart.

Somewhere along the way, she’d begun wanting to be not just his wife, but his love. And she’d begun to dream of giving him the child he so desired, not to save herself, but to see warmth and joy replace the icy remoteness in his eyes.

fealty

“I love you. Angelica Mariposa Rosalind Khamsin Gianna Coruscate Atrialan. Rorjak will never have a hold on my heart again, because it belongs wholly and completely to you.”