Free Hold Tight (The Embrace Series) by Cherie Colyer Page B

to live here? Why’d things change?”
    “Some faeries—a lot of them, actually—liked to play tricks on humans. Innocent pranks, really: hiding a set of keys, stealing trinkets, taking the last of the cream.”
    “I bet that’s why humans think faeries work for cream,” I interrupted. “But none of those things warrant banishment.” Humans played pranks on each other too, but they weren’t exiled to another realm.
    She looked away, sheepishly. “Well, it was probably the stealing of babies and the tainting of human food with victus nutrimens —faerie food—that caused the uproar all those centuries ago. Humans weren’t completely without blame, though. There were those who trapped faeries and did awful experiments on them. That was long before I was born.”
    “So our ancestors didn’t get along and totally ruined it for us.” I brought my knees to my chest and rested my chin on my pillow.
    She ran a finger over the stitching on my comforter. “Not all Fae are as charming as I, and not all humans are as accepting as you.”
    “I suppose.” I stifled a yawn. “What are the guys like in…what’s the name of your home?”
    “Sanctus, and the boys are stubborn, egotistical, and can be quite vindictive.” She paused. “Ha! Adorable, gentlemanly, and benevolent I’d like to see.”
    I laughed. “I take it you aren’t seeing anyone right now.”
    “What?” Her eye snapped to mine. “Right now? Of course I don’t see anyone!”
    “Really? I find it hard to believe that a princess isn’t dating anyone.”
    “Dating? Oh, no.” She waved her hand from side to side. “Definitely not.”
    “The guys in Sanctus can’t be all be bad.” I closed my eyes for a moment.
    “You’d think differently if you met a male Fae.” She paused. “You’re tired.”
    “It’s been a long day,” I admitted. Then I wondered if I was supposed to offer her my bed. After all, I couldn’t ask a princess to sleep on the floor. I wasn’t even sure if offering up the couch downstairs would be appropriate.
    Before I could say anything, though, she stuffed her feet into my boots, snatched the jacket from the closet, and waltzed to the door. “I think I’ll visit the Hammond Castle. I’ve never been. You?”
    “No.” I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. It was almost midnight. “But they’re closed.”
    “That’s not a problem.”
    “If you say so.” I yawned and crawled under the covers. “Thanks for the bouquet.” I breathed in deeply, savoring the delicious fragrance. “It’s amazing.”
    She winked and glided gracefully into the hall as I drifted into a dreamlike state. I walked through green meadows surrounded by beautiful flowering trees. Shades of creamy white and vibrant pink could be seen for miles.
    A cold chill brushed the back of my shoulder. Snuggling further under the comforter, the scene in my head switched to a winter wonderland. A sheet of ice coated the branches of the trees and the fragile petals of the flowers. I shivered, breathing in a woodsy scent. Pine, I decided in my fog. I nestled further under my cotton cocoon and fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter 9
    Optimistic
    My mind was hazy when I woke on Monday. The blankets twisted angrily around my legs as if I had tossed and turned all night.
    In Brea’s absence, the spring bouquet on my dresser had developed a coating of frost to mimic the world outside. With my deep purple comforter wrapped around my body, I slid out of bed and examined the flowers. Beneath the crystallized frost on the petals and leaves was a thin layer of ice, and each stem was encased in its own frozen tube. As I marveled at how perfectly preserved in time the irises and daisies were, I noticed a few sprigs of pine mixed in. It was an incredible arrangement.
    “Madison!” Dad yelled upstairs, startling me and kicking my butt into gear all at once. A quick glance at the clock let me know my ride would arrive any minute.
    I shimmied into a pair of skinny