Three Days Later

When he woke up, the pain was gone. He was warm, but not in the same way when he had been feverish. He could feel his leg again and even his foot didn’t hurt anymore. As his awareness came back, so did the understanding that he was moving. No, he wasn’t moving, something else was moving. His eyes blinked awake and he was staring up at an intricate pattern decorated in white against black. His body felt heavy and Prince Aspen’s scent was still strong.

“I’m glad to see you’re awake, My Prince.” 

Phoenix blinked again before looking up into Jex’s smiling face. Now that he wasn’t feverish, he could get a better look at the male. He had fire red hair that was shaved on one side of his head and the rest pulled back into a quick ponytail. He wasn’t wearing his armor anymore as his head was laid across the male’s lap. There was a noise of disgust and Phoenix turned his head to the side to see Prince Aspen sitting across from them, elbow on a window sill, mouth buried in his palm. He was in a carriage, and a luxurious one at that. Behind Prince Aspen’s head sat the coat of arms of the Winter Court and Phoenix felt nervous. Had they made it past Winter’s borders? But how?

Jex brought his attention back. “We had no choice but to fly you to the closest town within Winter’s borders for treatment or we were going to lose your leg. Don’t worry, I won’t leave your side while you’re here.”

That got Prince Aspen’s attention and he glared at Jex with a low growl. The red headed Alpha only grinned at Prince Aspen before looking back at Phoenix. “Once you were healed enough to travel, Prince Aspen contacted the palace and they sent a carriage to take you the rest of the way.”

The bumping of the road beneath the carriage was becoming painful and he groaned, sitting up. Big mistake. The cloak fell from his frame and the cold was so painful, it sucked the breath straight from his lungs. Jex was quick to wrap the cloak around him again and he felt the heat from his magic from his hands penetrate the thick furs. 

“Might want to stay under there.” he warned him. “Winter Court is known for their cold for a reason. Once we reach the palace, you’ll be okay to remove it. For now, keep it on. I’ve been using my magic to add to your warmth.”

Phoenix didn’t understand why Jex was being this nice to him when… He glanced over at Prince Aspen who had returned to looking out the window as if he were an annoying stray Jex had picked up off the side of the road. His heart hurt a moment but he turned his gaze away. Instead, he focused on Jex, the only person, aside from Ezra, who showed him even the barest hint of compassion. 

He took in his scent; it smelled of tea leaves and citrus, a strange mix that reminded him too much of Eva preparing breakfast for the nobility of Spring Court. It didn’t make him warm and comfortable as Prince Aspen’s did, but it was enough of a distraction to not have Winter Prince’s rejection hurt. They were to be mated and yet, he showed him such cold indifference. 

A trumpeting of fanfare and Phoenix’s eyes went wide. He pulled back the curtain that covered the carriage and, there on the horizon, atop an icy mountain, was the palace of Winter. It might have been a fortress from where it sat atop the icy glacier. Sheer cliffs and deep snow drifts could keep any army from attacking. Only one small path led up the mountain, bordered on each side by those sheer cliffs and no doubt, well guarded. An invading army would stand no chance. However, the threat of war was long over and now it stood solemn and dark. Its outer walls were made of dark stone that Phoenix wondered was either Obsidian or Onyx. Massive glittering icicles hung from the roof’s overhangs, giving the palace a very frozen dragon sort of aura. 

The carriage turned onto the steep, slender road that led up to the palace and Phoenix closed his curtain. Only a sheer rock face could be seen now. Instead, he turned his attention to Prince Aspen who had been also looking out the window he had had opened but now returned his chin to his palm, looking even more cold and distant than ever. Knowing what Phoenix did about his mother, it didn’t surprise him that he put on this thick outer shell to protect himself. Of course, he hadn’t seen much of the real Prince Aspen beneath that outer shell but he doubted the man across from him now, would have cared enough to treat his foot. Even Jex seemed to have fallen silent beside him as the carriage exited the sheer cliff road and headed straight for the main gates of the palace. 

Finally, Prince Aspen spoke. “It’s best you keep your head down.” he told Jex in a clipped tone. “My mother doesn’t take kindly to outsiders without her personal invitation. I will take the Omega to meet her immediately and then, and only then, will we settle this matter of bloodlines.”

He flashed Jex a terribly challenging look but the Autumn male only smiled beside Phoenix, one leg crossed over the other and hands clasped together on his knee. “Of course, Your Highness.” His voice was different now, far more professional than before. 

The carriage stopped and the door was thrown open. Prince Aspen didn’t hesitate to climb out, speaking in a different language to the man who bowed towards him. All along the walk up to the palace’s main doors, guards lined the way. Weapons sheathed but clearly trained to be ready at a moment’s notice. Phoenix hesitated, but Jex gave him an encouraging smile and he was quick to scramble out after him. 

Prince Aspen had waited and, when Phoenix was at his side, he began to walk up to the Palace’s front doors that were now wide open and welcoming. He held the cloak tight around him, aware of the frigid painful cold that simply came up from the ground beneath it. No one made a move to grab him, to demand his presence with the Prince but he could feel the unnerving stare of each guard that he passed and made sure he didn’t stray too far from the Winter Prince for fear of what would happen. Strangely enough, he was thankful for the collar around his neck, protecting him from any Alpha stupid enough to get his dick wet. 

Once through the Palace’s front doors, they closed behind them and a wave of warmth immediately penetrated through the cloak and from the floor. So much so that he was forced to take the cloak off for fear of becoming faint. Whatever was keeping this icy palace warm, was powerful. 

Prince Aspen didn’t stop to wait for him and Phoenix handed the cloak off to an older man beside him who held out a hand with a smile, and hurried after him, his feet nearly silent on the shiny dark floor. He gaped at it as they walked, marveling at the fine cuts and the exquisite shine. 

“Is this onyx or obsidian?” he asked, before suddenly realizing he’d spoken his thoughts out loud and froze, his face paling. 

Prince Aspen had stopped before turning to look at him, his cold gaze hard and annoyed. “Let’s lay down some rules before I present you to my mother.” he growled, stalking right up to him and fisting his hand into his shirt and yanking him towards him. It was easy enough for the Prince to nearly haul him off his feet. He still hadn’t gained any weight since leaving the Spring court and he was sure he’d lost even more weight after suffering from the effects of the Muskweed. 

“One, you don’t speak unless she asks you a question directly. Two, we will find out what your true bloodline is and be done with all of this so don’t get cozy here. And three, I’m not going to be your babysitter and I’m certainly not going to be treating you any differently!”

He released him and Phoenix stumbled backwards as his feet hit the floor once more. Phoenix’s heart was pounding so hard, he had to rub the place on his chest where he felt uncomfortable. Right. He was nothing more than a bastard, low bred Omega being forced to mate with a Winter Prince simply because of a cheeky little wording in a fae promise. With a twirl of his fur cloak, Prince Aspen continued down the vast corridor without looking back. 

Phoenix took a few moments to catch his breath, using the male’s scent to calm himself before he hurried after him. He wondered what Prince Aspen would do if he discovered what his scent did to him. Would he hate him even more? Throw him out into the cold to die? During their travel here, he had stated to his men that he had “stunk” still and that he needed a bath. Had he been referring to his own scent? 

But he didn’t have time to consider any longer as Prince Aspen was already moving off once more. At the end of the massive hall, grand double doors stood open and waiting. Guards were stationed at the doorway and they each saluted as he walked past them, though he barely gave them a glance. Phoenix scurried after the Prince, not wanting to be left behind. He didn’t like the way the guards watched him. 

The throne room was massive, with arching pillars and the same dark shiny stone adorning the walls and floor. White banners hung from the ceiling and a long white carpet stretched from the open door to the throne where, sitting as gracefully as she could in a throne made of ice, was the Winter Queen herself.