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The Beginning

So in time, the Court of Rivers and Rushes and the Court of Snow and Ice rose once again Their beginning was bathed in blood…The blood of the innocent, the blood of the guilty The blood of the holy and the blood of the da, as new traditions and alliances eed Enemies became allies, and the Lost Ones came in out of the Wild to dance at the feet of the new Queen of Snow and Ice It is thought that by joining with the civilized world, the Courts of Fae became more feral and prirouping her forces, for the final battle yet to come…

—From The Return of the Summer and Winter:

A Historical Study of the New Courts of Fae

Chapter 1

As I stepped out from the forest, under the open stars, the dark silhouette of the Veil House warmed my heart, but it was a bittersweet ns abounded that it was slowly returning to life The walls had been rebuilt, the roof repaired, and it was beginning to look like a house again rather than the boain be my home After too many years on the road as a child, I’d returned to New Forest, Washington I’d come home to my aunt Heather and the Veil House, only to lose both of theood

So ed over the past feeeks since I’d rolled into town And so ht up by a ind, I barely recognized ht about e had been turned upside down

A light flurry of snow fell softly, drifting flakes clinging to my shoulders like frozen butterflies My breath hovered, a pale fog in front of me Over the past weeks, I’d learned to hate the snow Myst had destroyed my love for the icy months of the year

“You’d better learn to love the cold,” I whispered to h, winter will be your permanent home”

Standing on the precipice of a transformation, I would soon enter the realm of snow and ice forever Today…today I was still Cicely Waters, Wind Witch and owl shifter But soon, I’d be…

Who a, Ulean?

Are you afraid? Do not worry The initiation will change you—er

Again, I shivered That’s what I’m afraid of Will I still be me afterward?

Ulean’s laughter surrounded entle breeze that swept by, almost warm in its touch The Wind Elemental had been with uarded my back

You will always be who you are You’ll just knowpowers better You’ll be you, but you’ll also be a queen And I will always be with you Lainule bound me to your service before you ever kneho or what you were to becouided her I will not leave you