Spring Frost Read Free Page A

eh?”
     
              “Breena!” I could hear Kian’s voice – shocked and filled with pain. I could feel his agony – our telepathic connection stronger than ever. Please Breena , he seemed to be saying as he enveloped me in his arms. Please, Breena, hold on – be strong – please, Breena, stay with me.
     
                “Clariss?” I muttered sleepily.
     
              “How dare you!” Logan had rushed forward, roaring with anger as he lunged at Clariss, sword in hand. I could see the despair on his face as he slashed his sword into empty air: Clariss had turned into a pillar of dark smoke before our eyes, vanishing as quickly as she had appeared into nothingness.
     
              “No!” roared Logan. He turned to me and I could see, through vision that grew increasingly fuzzy, the hollow emptiness of his eyes. “Breena, hold on!”
     
              “Breena!” It was Kian’s voice – and Logan’s – mingling with the cries of others….Shasta, Rodney, Alistair, Rose…
     
              “Hold on, please hold on…”
     
              But their voices were only echoes. I could hear nothing more.
     
     
     

Chapter 2
     
     
     
              S uddenly, it was as if I had been split in two. My body remained upon the earth, blood – silver, now – pouring out from my inert body. But I wasn’t part of that body. I felt as if I were floating above the scene – watching from a distance. Unable to speak. Unable to move. Unable to cry out. All I could do was watch what was happening to me – take in the sight of my splayed-out body, sickening in its misshapen pose – and try in vain to stem my terror.
     
              “Breena!” Kian was crying out, falling to his knees beside me. “Please, Breena – I’m so sorry. So sorry…” Silver tears were falling upon his snow-white cheeks. His customary marble hardness was gone – now he looked open. Vulnerable. I ached to comfort him, to wrap my arms around him and tell him that everything would be all right. But I couldn’t move. I felt at once lighter than air and heavier than lead, unable to do anything but watch. “I’m so sorry, Kian…” I tried to speak, but I could say nothing.
     
              “What are you waiting for?” Logan was shouting. “Heal her – heal her now!” He shoved Kian in the direction of my body.
     
              “I am trying – leave me alone! Leave me alone!” Now Kian was shouting too, his voice booming and echoing throughout the mountain peaks. He placed his hands upon my wound, and I watched as silver and blue light appeared around his fingers. He closed his eyes, concentrating harder, pressing the light to my wounds.
     
              But nothing happened. The wound continued to gush blood; the light died from Kian’s fingers.
     
              “What’s going on?” Logan crouched down beside Kian. “Why isn’t it working? She’s not healing! What’s happening?” He too was stifling back sobs. My heart ached for both of them – for the two men I had loved. For the two men who shared my heart – both of whom would always have it. Only minutes ago we had been fighting – only minutes ago, I had been angry with both of them; they had both been angry with each other. But now Kian and Logan were each trying to hold my hand, grieving side by side, their rivalry forgotten. They remembered only love.
     
              “She’s been poisoned,” Rose said in a small voice. “I think that’s what’s happened. The magic in that dagger – it was strong magic, the kind that can instantly kill fey. It’s not just the wound that’s the problem. Poisonous dark magic has made its way into her body – you can see here, her blood’s turning black.”
     
              “By the sword of Calthon!” Kian buried his face in his hands. “Is there nothing we can do? Can’t you heal