Prince Charming

As a powerful lord of the Court of the Springtime Fae, Finn Darragh’s job is to renew the land and bring forth the colors of spring. At the Feast of Ostara, his liege, the Oak King, will mark the turning of the Wheel of the Year and welcome the sun’s light. But this year, the Oak King has a new demand—a mortal woman must coordinate the feast within the mortal realm, and Finn has no idea why. 

Hayden Beal has just landed the biggest client of her career as an event planner. With the help of her two best friends, Ava and her flower shop and Emma with her catering business, she’s sure they can handle any task set before them. Even better, her contact for the event, Finn Darragh, is the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. Hayden is used to putting her heart into her work, but the more they work together, the more she realizes that her heart is yearning for him. He just might be her Prince Charming, if she can only satisfy the demands of his boss.

The Oak King’s interest in the mortal woman has Finn on edge, especially when he realizes it’s an interest he shares. Can they navigate the tests set by the Oak King and hold on to each other? Or will they lose their chance at a once-in-a-lifetime fairytale love?

Excerpt:

“You know Ava can’t possibly manage this all herself.”

“Of course not. She’s only mortal. But that’s why she has you.” Finn took a step closer. “It’s so… novel of you to help us with our sacred ritual. Has she really tamed you so thoroughly?”

Frost smirked and cocked his head to the side. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. But what I need to understand is this.”

Spears of ice suddenly shot up from the floor and across from the tables, stabbing through Finn’s suit and holding him in place. The ice grew, spreading over his body until it encased him completely.

Did Jack Frost really think he had enough power to hold a Fairy Lord? Finn had to admit, it was a daring move. Frost didn’t even have the backing of a court to keep him safe.

Finn called on his magic and dropped his physical form, transforming himself into a vortex of petals. The spears of ice within his prison became mere obstacles that he could swirl around as he made his way… As he burst through…

Finn tested the ice enclosing him, trying to find a weak spot. There was none. The ice was more like steel. Panicked, he rammed himself against his cage. The spears that crisscrossed the space shattered, though somehow, the barrier held. He willed himself to calm, then with utmost care, resumed his physical form within the confines of his cell.

Frost stood before him, the fingers of both hands outstretched. Lines of strain carved deep grooves around his eyes—eyes that glowed with a white light that was nearly blinding.

He should not have this power.

“Now that I have your attention,” Frost said, “you’re going to explain to me exactly why you’re testing my woman.”

“I’m not testing anyone,” Finn said.

“Bullshit. You have Ava running around making all these impossible flower arrangements, doing your job, for the Feast of Ostara. These aren’t mere tasks. They’re tests.”

The idea was ludicrous. Setting impossible tasks for humans was a hobby for some Fae. The Oak King had never shown an interest in it before, but eternity was a long time, and everyone eventually became bored. Tasking a mortal implied a risk of punishment and a promise of reward. Usually, riches or power that would somehow corrupt the human and ruin their lives. The fear of that—reward or punishment—for Hayden and her friends had driven Finn to help them more than he should. But if these were actually part of a test…

A test would mean that the Oak King was judging Hayden, not toying with her. He was trying to see if she was worthy. Except, in this case… worthy of what?

“I’ll ask you again,” Frost said. “What do you want with my woman? Emphasis on ‘my,’ because if you think you can take her from me, you are in for a world of hurt.”

Spears of ice once more formed within the prison, slowly inching forward, their sharp points pressing against Finn’s suit. How the hell was Frost so powerful? He wasn’t in the Court of the Yuletide Fae, so he couldn’t be drawing from their new power. The only change that Finn knew of was that he was now living with this human and her son. They had bonded.

The Winter Queen and her Fairy Lords have bonded with humans as well.

No. No, the concept was ludicrous. There was no way that bonding with a human could add to a fairy’s power. Especially a courtless rebel like Jack Frost.

“I don’t want your woman,” Finn said. “And I’m not even the one setting the tasks. I’m just following the Oak King’s orders.”

“The Oak King?” The fury in Frost’s face intensified, the shards of ice pressing closer, stabbing through the fabric of Finn’s suit. “What does he want with Ava?”

“The tasks aren’t for Ava,” Finn said. “They’re for Hayden.”

Finn’s eyes went wide at the realization. His heart seemed to stutter for a moment, then began pounding furiously in his chest. A chill that had nothing to do with Frost’s powers tore through Finn’s body. Frost’s brows rose in surprise, then his features relaxed. He dropped his hands and the frozen prison surrounding Finn shattered, little pellets of ice showering the ground around him.

“Well then,” Frost said. “It looks like you and I don’t have an issue after all. Judging by your expression, I’d say you definitely have a problem of your own. Feeling a little out of sorts lately? Kind of warm and tingly whenever a certain mortal someone is near?”

“No, no, I don’t—”

“Please,” Frost said. “Been there, done that. Absolutely loving it, by the way. I’d totally recommend it. But I’d guess that I’m not the only one thinking that might be a good idea.”

“The Oak King… He wants her.” Finn could barely believe the words he was uttering. Except, as he heard himself speak, their truth rang through his being. “He wants Hayden for himself.”

“It would seem so,” Frost said. “The question now is, what are you going to do about it?”