“Though the view is fine, the chamber is cursed cold, for the openings were wrought too large for glass and the wooden shutters pose no barrier to the wind, especially when a storm is rising. That was why no one had spent much time in the room. This maiden, however, had done so and she had noted that one window did not grant the view that it should have done.
“Clouds crossed the sky in that window, but never were framed by the others. Uncommon birds could be spied only in the one window, and the sea never quite seemed to be the same viewed through that window as through the others. The difference was subtle, and a passing glance would not reveal any discrepancy, but the maiden became convinced that this third window was magical. She wondered whether it looked into the past, or into the future, or into the realm of the Fae, or into some other place altogether.” Alexander paused. “And so, like so many intrepid maidens of my acquaintance, she resolved that she would discover the truth.”
He sipped his wine, and Elizabeth recognized that he let expectation build. “The maiden slept in the chamber for several nights and when she was asked what she had seen, she only smiled. She insisted that she had seen naught, but her smile…her smile hinted at a thousand mysteries.” Alexander shrugged. “And then there was no opportunity to ask her, for on the morning after she had slept in that chamber for three nights, the damsel could not be found.”
Mairi shivered with delight. “I love this part,” she said to no one in particular.
Alexander spared her a glance before he continued. “I do not have to tell you that they searched every nook and cranny for the maiden. Though they fair tore Kinfairlie apart, there was no sign of her. In fact, she was never seen again.”
“But…” Mairi prompted, bouncing in anticipation.
“But—” Alexander acknowledged with a smile and a raised finger “—on the sill of one window—I suspect I know which one it was—on the morning of the maiden’s disappearance, the castellan’s wife found a single rose. It appeared to be red, as red as blood, but as soon as she lifted it in her hands, it began to pale. By the time she carried it to the hall, the rose was white, and no sooner had the castellan seen it, than it began to melt. It was wrought of ice, and in a matter of moments, it was no more than a puddle of water upon the floor.”
Alexander rose from his seat and strode to the middle of the hall. Mairi and Astrid squirmed from their seats and followed him. Alexander pointed to a spot on the floor. It shimmered beneath his finger, as if stained by some substance that none could have named.
“It was here that the water fell,” Alexander said softly. “And when an old woman working in the kitchens spied the mark and heard the tale of the rose, she cried out in dismay. It seems that there is an old tale of Fae lovers claiming mortal brides, that the portal between their world and ours is at Kinfairlie. A Fae suitor can peer through the portal, though they all know they should not, and he could fall in love with a mortal maiden he glimpses there.”
Elizabeth kept her gaze locked on her hands, even as a shiver rose on her spine. She knew too much of Finvarra, the king of the Fae, to ever hear these tales without a reaction. Still she wondered what price she would have to pay to him for daring to speak in the Fae circle and then being permitted to leave.
She had thought she would not be allowed to depart, but had been willing to make the sacrifice for Malcolm. Now, she feared that Finvarra merely toyed with her.
But to what end?
Alexander smiled at the two girls. “And the bride price a smitten Fae suitor leaves when he claims that bride for his own is a single red, red rose, a rose that is not truly a rose, but a Fae rose wrought of ice.” He scuffed the floor with his toe. “Though its form does not endure, the mark of its magic is never truly lost.”
There was a moment of silence at the end of the tale, then the company broke into applause.
“We must see the chamber!” Mairi insisted, her eyes alight.
“I dare not allow any maiden to visit it,” Alexander said solemnly. “It is my responsibility as laird to keep you safe.”
“But we must see it, we must!” Astrid said, adding her entreaty.
“I will take them,” Elizabeth said, slipping from her place at the table. She took the girls by the hand and they nigh tugged her from the hall in their enthusiasm. The company clapped and the musicians struck a tune. When she glanced back, she saw Alexander offering Eleanor his hand that she might join him in the dance.
She also saw Rafael slip from the brightness of the hall and into the shadows behind her. Her breath caught for she knew he followed them, and she knew naught what he desired of her.
Nay, Elizabeth would not pretend. She knew full well what Rafael wished of her. She had seen the fire in his gaze when he looked upon her. She only wished she had not been so curious about it.
Did she dare a single kiss? Such a dangerous choice would encourage him, to be sure, but it might also sate her curiosity.
Unless, of course, one kiss from Rafael did not nearly suffice. Elizabeth knew she was foolish to wish to know for certain, and yet, in the security of her brother’s hall, she had difficulty believing that any ill could truly befall her.
That would prove to be her mistake.
* * *
The Warrior’s Prize
by Claire Delacroix
Book #4 in The True Love Brides series.
Coming in December 2014!
About the Author
Deborah Cooke sold her first book in 1992, a medieval romance called The Romance of the Rose published under her pseudonym Claire Delacroix. Since then, she has published over fifty novels in a wide variety of sub-genres, including historical romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, fantasy romance, time-travel romance, women’s fiction, paranormal young adult and fantasy with romantic elements. She has published under the names Claire Delacroix, Claire Cross and Deborah Cooke. The Beauty, part of her successful Bride Quest series of historical romances, was her first title to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books. Her books routinely appear on other bestseller lists and have won numerous awards. In 2009, she was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time the library has hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. In 2012, she was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America’s Mentor of the Year Award.
Currently, she writes the Dragonfire series of paranormal romances featuring dragon shape shifter heroes under the name Deborah Cooke. She also is writing the True Love Brides series of medieval romances as Claire Delacroix, which continues the story of the family introduced in her popular title The Beauty Bride. Deborah lives in Canada with her husband and family, as well as far too many unfinished knitting projects.
Connect Online!
Deborah’s Website and Blog
Deborah’s Newsletter
Deborah on Facebook
Claire on Facebook
* * *
Books by Deborah Cooke
Paranormal Romances
- The Dragonfire Series -
Kiss of Fire
Kiss of Fury
Kiss of Fate
Harmonia’s Kiss
Winter Kiss
Whisper Kiss
Darkfire Kiss
Flashfire
Ember’s Kiss
Kiss of Danger
Kiss of Darkness
Kiss of Destiny
The Dragon Legion Collection
(including “Kiss of Danger”, “Kiss of Darkness” and “Kiss of Destiny”)
Serpent’s Kiss
Firestorm Forever (2015)
Paranormal Young Adult
- The Dragon Diaries -
Flying Blind
Winging It
Blazing the Trail
Contemporary Romance
- The Coxwells -
Third Time Lucky
Double Trouble
One More Time
All or Nothing
* * *
Books by Claire Delacroix
Time Travel Romances
Once Upon a Kiss
The Last Highlander
The Moonstone
Love Potion #9
- Harlequin Historicals -
The Romance of the Rose
Honeyed Lies
Unicorn Bride
The Sorceress
Roarke’s Folly
Pearl Beyond Price
The Magician’s Quest
Unicorn Vengeance
My Lady’s Champion
Enchanted
My Lady’s Desire
- The Bride Quest I -
The Princess
The Damsel
The Heiress
- The Bride Quest II -
The Countess
The Beauty
The Temptress
- The Rogues of Ravensmuir -
The Rogue
The Scoundrel
The Warrior
- The Jewels of Kinfairlie -
The Beauty Bride
The Rose Red Bride
The Snow White Bride
The Ballad of Rosamunde
- The True Love Brides -
The Renegade’s Heart
The Highlander’s Curse
The Frost Maiden’s Kiss
The Warrior’s Prize (2014)
Urban Fantasy Romance
Fallen
Guardian
Rebel
Abyss
Short Stories and Novellas
Beguiled
* * *
Table of Contents
Dear Reader
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
Excerpt from The Warrior’s Prize
About the Author
More Books by the Author