I have fought tooth and nail to bring this to you.
Halfway done with the next chapter as we speak... somehow. Life as a writer can be tough with a two year old. Let me tell you those terrible twos are showing.
Chapter 6 pt 3
I walk in a line behind Prince Kite; Hal coming up last. I try my best to ward off the chill of the ice cave but the cold air is coming right through the cloak I'm wearing. Whether it it was a fur-lined or summer cotton, it made no difference. I doubt Hal is fairing any better but I don't ask because my teeth are chattering way too much to be coherent in anything than being cold.
At least I have the memories of yesterday to warm me. Hal agreed to be my partner/ husband. The thought is enough to make me shiver with more than just cold. A blush stains my cheeks despite the blue pallor that's settled over my skin. The finality of what this will mean for us… We've never done more than kisses. This will be a big step but we can't go back, only forward. We promised each other this.
"We arrived," Kites voice cuts through my thoughts. He gestures toward a menacing circle made of ice spikes and I find myself gulping but I don't back out. Brushing past Hal, I get closer to the spikes protruding in a crude circle. I can feel the temperature dropping the closer I get.
An almost uncontrollable urge to flee is overwhelming but I swallow it. This could go so wrong in multiple ways. I don't have long for my thoughts to take a deep root fortunately as the two men are standing beside me.
Hal and I both listen as Kite explains everything once more.
Warm hands grip mine and the coldness dissipates—or maybe I'm just not conscious of it anymore.
My eyes and thoughts are focused solely on Hal.
Kite hands us an icy blue stone. At first I'm not sure if it's rock or ice. Crystal perhaps? I wrap my hands around the smooth stone waiting for Hal's hands to join mine.
I'm nervous that the ritual might cause a side effect right in front of Prince Kite.
Three seconds into our chant I can feel the magic coursing through our fingers melding into the crystal. The feeling gets stronger by the second, becoming uncomfortable until pain surges through me. I keep going even when my hands tremble with effort.
Hal's hands grip mine hard to keep me grounded, or I'd be on the ground. Prince Kit can't see my condition. No one can.
A strange looks passes over Hal's face. It's only then I realize he's retracting the pain from my body, letting it into his own. I know exactly when it happens when his face turns waxen. Discoloring his features enough to match his snow-white locks. I can't do a thing to stop him in the middle of the ritual. I'm forced to watch him take the brute of the pain until it was me gripping his hands before his grip failed him.
(No Hal! No!) Tears seep unbidden down my cheeks as I watch the life force drain from Hal. This beastkin would do anything for me and this kingdom... even give his life. He would rather die than expose my secret.
(He can't!)
"No!" The ritual ended right as Hal crumpled into my arms. There was no color left to his cheeks. "Hal!" I let us sink to the ground, nearly falling from the weight of him.
Prince Kite was by our side in an instant. Kneeling down beside us, his expression alarmed. "Harold has used all of his power source. He must have been to the breaking point before we even reached the Ice Cave." Kite's eyebrows furrowed in bewilderment. His eyes questioned me for answers that locked in my throat. "If he doesn't get back to the castle and get help, he will die."
The blood thudded in my ears. Hal might die all because of me. He protected me from the side effects during all our rituals and even protected me from the damage Silvio kept inflicting. All this time he was killing himself and I never even noticed. I knew he'd been tired but he never let me know how much. More tears fell down my face only to land on Hal's cheeks. Not even that stirred my butler.
Time seemed to move slow as we carried Hal from the Ice Cave and traveled back to Fairy-Tale Kingdom.
The next few days would test both us.