Betrayals of Spring Read Online Free PDF Page A

Meliantha.
     You are a princess and you should act like one.”
    “Oh, by being the helpless pretty girl
     that relies on everyone to take care of her? No, thanks. I plan on changing
     into a gown before the ball, so get the sword out of your ass and calm down,” I
     tease.
    He lets out an annoyed breath and speaks
     aloud, “I do not have a sword up my ass, but it’s my job to make sure you’re
     protected, and by the way you’re dressed, I’m assuming you plan on riding with
     the warriors?”
    “That’s the plan, and I promise to stay
     right by your side…Achilles,” I laugh.
    I give him a huge smile and he shakes
     his head and rolls his eyes. He hates it when I call him that, but he does look
     like the actor who played Achilles in the movie Troy. Calista and I had watched
     that movie in the mortal realm a while back. Ashur is very tall with his
     six-foot four frame and warrior body. His dark blond hair touches down below his
     shoulders and his eyes are the greenest I have ever seen, they’re almost as
     bright as Calista’s. He’s a very good-looking man and I mean it as a compliment
     when I tell him he looks like Achilles. He happens to be over two centuries
     old, but his body only looks to be in his late twenties. That’s one of the
     advantages to being a faerie. Thankfully, he has no romantic feelings for me,
     but I have seen in his mind how he feels about my friend, Elissa. Needless to
     say, I have seen my friend unclothed in his mind one too many times.
    “You know I hate it when you call me
     Achilles,” he groans.
    “And I will keep calling you that until
     you give in to me. Either way, this is how I’m going to the Winter Court, end
     of discussion,” I argue.
    He throws his hands up in the air and
     relents, “Fine, Princess, but when the king decides to scold me I’ll happily
     point him in your direction. Are we clear?”
    I give Ashur a huge smile and say,
     “Thank you, and don’t you worry, I can handle my father.”
    Ashur looks around at my bags and begins
     to pick them up. I help him with the remaining bags and we head down to the
     foyer of the palace where everyone will be waiting. On the way down, Ashur
     speaks silently, “Are you going to be OK going to the Winter Court,
     Princess?”
    This stops me cold, and he must notice
     because he shifts around hesitantly before meeting my eyes. He continues, “I
     only ask because I’ve felt the torment inside of you all these years, but I’ve
     never said anything about it. I just want to know what Kalen did to you that
     made you close your heart. I know you’re with Finn now, but you still keep your
     heart guarded.”
    “That’s the thing, Ashur. Nothing
     happened between me and Kalen,” I say aloud. He gives me a disbelieving look,
     so I continue more forcefully. “I’ll be fine. I’m strong now and nothing and no
     one is going to hurt me anymore.”
    His eyes go gentle when he murmurs, “I
     know you’re strong, but you are mine to protect, and I don’t want to see you
     get hurt.” Hearing his words softens my heart a little, and I can feel a slight
     burn behind my eyes; however, I quickly brush it away and smile. He’ll make
     someone very happy someday, maybe even Elissa.
    “Thank you, Ashur. Elissa would be very
     lucky to have you,” I respond, waiting for a reaction.
    He just smiles and shakes his head. I was
     expecting him to say something, but instead he leads me on our way. We make it
     to the grand staircase and I see everyone down below standing around waiting on
     me. I did take a little extra time in preparing for departure, but I’m not
     exactly in a hurry to get to the Winter Court. I look at each one individually
     as I make my way down the marble steps. I see Elissa giving Ashur a timid
     smile, and I sneak a peek to my side to see Ashur return it with one of his
     own.
    “Do not say a word, Meliantha,” he warns
     silently.
    “I’m not Ashur, but I think you need to