Free The Lynx Who Purred for a Sidhe Prince by Scarlet Hyacinth

bit pale, but decided. “Hello, Uncle,” he said.
    “Hello, Winter.” Sterling offered Winter a small smile. “I hear
    congratulations are in order.”
    Winter nodded, seeming just a touch apprehensive. “Thank you.
    I’m very happy.”
    “I’m glad to hear that. Like I mentioned to Mr. Cunningham, your
    suit is already being prepared. I will be making further arrangements with your hosts. As it is the wedding of our prince and future king, it needs to be done with full pomp. I advise you to discuss our rites with your soon-to-be husband and teach him his vows.”

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    Now, Winter looked fully taken aback. “Yes, Uncle. Of course.
    You don’t have to worry about that.”
    “Excellent. Congratulations again, my boy. I’ll see you in a couple
    of hours.”
    Winter still appeared to be lost in disbelief when Sterling returned
    to his conversation with Skylar. He hadn’t lied. Further arrangements needed to be made, and Sterling still had to notify the shifters of the content of his party.
    Later that day, after everything that could be dealt with here had
    been arranged, Sterling went to the Temple of the Silver Pool. It was the grand prelate of the temple that officiated all important weddings.
    Usually, the prelate was forbidden to leave Sidhe territory, but
    Sterling decided an exception needed to be made in this case. He’d
    have preferred it if Winter married in his palace, as he should have, but the shifters who’d started this whole thing were unlikely to agree.
    “But are you certain, Your Majesty?” the man asked, sounding a
    bit put out at Sterling’s order. Sterling couldn’t blame him. The grand prelate hadn’t left the palace in over three decades. Some days,
    Sterling was surprised the priest even remembered how to walk.
    “Are you questioning me?” Sterling arched a brow. The prelate
    shook his head but looked like he intended to protest further. Sterling decided to save himself the trouble and emphasize the importance of
    the situation. “Very good,” he added. “I wouldn’t want to have to
    choose a different grand prelate on the eve of my nephew’s wedding.”
    That essentially shut the man up. Now, to the more important
    business. Leaving the grand prelate to worry about living his comfortable existence, Sterling headed into the temple.
    The Silver Pool was, essentially, the core of energy all Sidhe had.
    Its symbol and the wellspring of Sidhe magic was the large pond in
    the middle of the temple. Its pure, clean waters were said to be able to heal all afflictions. It was in this temple that Winter had received most of his instruction as a healer, and here Sterling hoped to find help for whatever came.

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    Scarlet Hyacinth
    The temple adepts met him at the door, bowing at him and
    gesturing him forward. Sterling followed their silent advice and
    stepped toward the pool. As he knelt next to the glowing pond, he
    found his mind clearing and his despair melting into renewed
    decision. When he got up, he knew that no matter what he had to do,
    he would save Winter from his fate.

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    Chapter Five

    “Tell me that again. I could have sworn you just said you’re
    mating Winter Tomacelli in two days.”
    Corbin suppressed the urge to fidget under Nicolas’s displeased
    gaze. So far, his adoptive dad had been nice to Winter, and Corbin
    had hoped to find some support there for telling his father. Garth was still not quite over the injury Nicolas had suffered in Elder Adele
    Mercier’s attack. While he’d never treated Winter poorly because of
    it, Corbin doubted his father would be pleased.
    There were so many things he could say to convince Nicolas that
    he truly wanted to become Winter’s mate. However, he still didn’t
    have things one hundred percent clear in his head. Oh, he was
    convinced this was the right thing to do. His inner beast couldn’t be happier at the knowledge that Winter would