Crowns of Ice (Fae of Snow & Ice, #4)

by Krista Street

While I still was and always would be Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory, the female who believed in kindness and justice for all fae, I was also the true victor of the Rising Queen Trial. And a queen knew when to let her vengeance rise.

Because not even a king was above the gods’ wrath, and it was time I enlightened my father to that.

Wings as black as the night, with obsidian talons at their tips, scraped along the ceiling’s stone. Eyes glittering with savage victory zeroed in on me, and a surge of the prince’s devotion zoomed toward me on our bond.

“After you, my love,” the prince said with an amused bow.

“I know, and I don’t want them to. I want to fight by your side as I was destined to always do.”

You truly are a warrior queen.”

“If my father hears that we’ve returned to Solisarium, he’ll demand Ilara’s capture.” Nish sneered. “Over my dead body.” Haxil nodded and crossed his arms. “He’s not getting her again, Nori. I’ll go down fighting to keep that from happening, even if my life ends with a sword through my heart.” “I as well,” Ryder said with a gleam in his eye. “He’s not taking her.” “We’ll keep our queen safe, my prince.” Sandus’s nostrils flared, and he clapped me on the back. “We won’t fail you or her again.”

“To the new king and queen!” another joined in. “King Norivun and Queen Ilara! King Norivun and Queen Ilara!”

Eeekkkk

The queen’s voice whispered in my mind, “Thank you, my sweet darling. Thank you!”

Crying

The queen clasped my hands. “Yes, Ilara darling. It’s my illusion. This is how I feel right now. Because of you, because of what you just did. I’m free.”

“Now, my darling Rising Queen, go claim your throne.”

Mother in law goals

“Perhaps not, but what if I killed her?” In a flash, the king was next to my mate with a knife to her neck. Ilara yelped in surprise just as the king drove a dagger right through her throat.

Damnnnnn

And before my eyes, the king and queen of the Solis continent both burned in flames so hot that not even my mother could withstand her own power. My parents’ screams filled my ears until the fire melted their features. Before my eyes, their bodies turned into piles of ash.

What the shit

The land vibrated around me, robbing me of breath and hope as the tormented cry of a destroyed son burned through the realm.

Omg

“I’ll always love you, and I’ll always be at your side until our end comes and we venture to the afterlife. I’m so sorry this happened, my love. She was a great queen. A devoted mother. Her spirit lit up this realm, and always, we will remember her.”

A tear slipped out of his eye, and then another. He crumbled in my arms, and then he wept and wept for the mother he would never see again. For the mother who had loved him until the end. For the queen who had ultimately saved our realm.

I knew they likely wouldn’t. For too many seasons they’d hated me, but seeing her resolve and unwavering faith in who I was . . . for me, that was enough.

But the prince merely went to the piano and sat, then placed his fingers upon it. “I’ve been wanting to play this melody since that first night you came to me, the night you joined me in my chambers and declared that you saw me for who I really was.”

Im in love

A song of rapture and love, loss and hope, redemption and acceptance. Tears shone in my eyes when his hands finally quieted. He turned to me with an apprehensive look. “Now you know, my love.”

“I love you.” He kissed me tenderly. “My light. My wife. My eternal mate. My love. My queen.”

“And I, you. My darkness. My husband. My eternal mate. My king. We shall always have each other. No matter what the future brings.”

Goals

“All hail the new king and queen of the Solis continent. King Norivun and Queen Ilara. Let a new era of reign begin!”

YEEAAAHHHHHHHH

“I’m so proud of you. Of both of you. My darling boy and the daughter I never had.”

How proud I am of you both. I knew the stars would align, and my vision would come true. You just needed to stay together to beat the tyrant on the throne.”

And that . . . that would always be enough.

So good