Winter's Dawn

Winter's Dawn Read Free Page B

Book: Winter's Dawn Read Free
Author: Kele Moon
Tags: Romance, Fantasy
Ads: Link
look.”
    Rolled up so tight Max was worried she was hurt, even though Maggie assured him she wasn’t, Max pressed forward to see the bundled baby as Maggie sat on the edge of the bathtub. He was disappointed her eyes were closed, but he studied her, noticing her hair really was so pale it was nearly white. Her features were scrunched up and her face was red but Max decided there was still something about her that was beautiful. He wasn’t certain what. Perhaps her hair that was like snow.
    Max loved snow.
    He touched her cheek, finding it soft and feeling the hum he had enjoyed so much lying next to Aunt Susan. He smiled when the baby opened her eyes.
    “Oh my!’ Maggie gasped. “They are like yours. I didn’t think another pair like yours existed, but here they are.”
    Max’s smile grew broader. “We match.”
    She nodded. “You sure do, Maxwell. She’s a beautiful queen.”
    Max was still staring at the baby, now content in Maggie’s arms when the door to the bathroom opened. He saw his cousin Adam peer in with tears rolling freely down his face.
    “We lost Susan.” He walked into the bathroom, staring at the baby. “It was just—too much.”
    Maggie nodded, quickly wiping at her wet cheeks. “She said this baby took all her strength. Do you think that’s true?”
    Adam cast one long look at Maxwell before he whispered, “Probably. We never thought the same thing could happen to her.”
    Max looked at the baby, before he lifted his gaze to Adam. “We match.”
    “It’s true.” Maggie forced a smile. “Come look. Her eyes are just like Maxwell’s.”
    Adam walked over to look, staring in amazement at the new queen, who blinked heavy lidded bright eyes at him. “Gods, but they do match. Just like the old ones. This is truly a miracle.”
    “My mother died too,” Max told both of them. “I took her strength too.” He focused his attention back on the baby. “But, I didn’t mean to.”
    “I know, Maxwell.” Adam rested a hand on Max’s head. “She’s a magnificent queen. The Gods blessed you. They blessed all of us.”
    “Yeah.” Max nodded, finding that his eyes were watery and he wiped at them hastily. “She didn’t mean to kill Aunt Susan.”
    “Of course she didn’t,” Maggie said quickly. “We don’t think that.”
    “I wanna stay with the baby,” he said firmly, wiping away more tears.
    “You’ll get to see her all the time, Maxwell, don’t worry.”
    “If her father takes her, I’m going.”
    “Her father won’t take her. We’ll make sure he forgets Susan or the baby ever existed,” Adam said evenly. “We would never let your queen be raised by humans. She needs to be with her people.”
    “Then I can stay with her?” Max asked hopefully.
    “As much as you’d like,” Adam assured him. “She’s your mate, Maxwell. Now and forever, you will always be near her to keep her safe for your people.”
    Max nodded. “I will keep her safe—now and forever.”
    Maxwell Wellington didn’t make pledges lightly. Even at three years old there was something in him that knew his word was sacred.
     

     

Chapter Two

    Late Fall 1949
     
    “Maxwell, come on,” Maggie yelled as she came out of the local store, bags in both arms. “Your father’s guests will be waiting.”
    “Five more minutes,” he shouted back, before he turned his attention back to the stickball game he was watching.
    He sat on a bench in front of the small store where Maggie liked to shop, looking longingly at the human children playing in the park across the street. He stuck his hands deep into the pockets of his fur-lined coat Maggie had buttoned up to the collar before they had left the family estate aptly named the Winter Palace. People in town believed its name steamed from its gleaming white exterior. They would have never believed it was actually a royal residence.
    “Hal, take these.” Maggie handed her shopping to the chauffeur before she grabbed the hand of a small girl standing

Similar Books

A Little Bit Wild

Victoria Dahl

A Claim of Her Own

Stephanie Grace Whitson

Catch a Falling Star

Lynette Sowell

Tell Me a Riddle

Tillie Olsen

Anastasia Forever

Joy Preble

Flirting with Danger

Carolyn Keene