I woke up with a sudden jolt, my heart racing in my chest as I opened my eyes to the unexpected sight of a woman standing before me. The rush of adrenaline was instant, flooding my system, and for a split second, I couldn't quite comprehend what I was seeing. Fear gripped me, a sharp spike of panic and confusion flooding my senses. My eyes darted around the room, trying to make sense of my surroundings, but all I could focus on was the figure before me.
The sight of her—someone I didn't recognize, someone completely foreign to me—was enough to make my breath catch. But what was even more disorienting was the strange familiarity that tugged at me, a deep sensation that I couldn't place. Something about her presence seemed oddly known to me, like a dream lingering in the back of my mind. It was unsettling.
The woman was tall, almost as tall as Samantha. And considering Samantha's height, that said a lot. She had a commanding presence, with a poise that was immediately noticeable. Her stature alone was enough to make me feel small, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was somehow out of my depth. There was an air of elegance to her, but that wasn't the thing that truly seized my attention. No, it was her eyes—those eyes.
They were a shade of green so vibrant, so striking, they reminded me unmistakably of Kai's eyes. The same green. The same depth. Something about that color, that haunting intensity, twisted my stomach, filling me with unease and curiosity in equal measure. I couldn't quite put it into words, but there was something about her gaze that unsettled me, like she was seeing right through me.
Her hair was dark—black, like mine—but that wasn't what had me frozen in place. No, it was her dress. The fabric caught the light in a way that made it almost glow. She was wearing a silver mermaid gown, one that hugged her curves and seemed to shimmer with each movement. The dress looked out of place here, in this strange setting. It was too elegant, too refined, as if she had just stepped out of some fairytale, some world that was far removed from the one I had just begun to understand. It didn't belong in a world like mine, and I wasn't sure whether that made it more alluring or terrifying.
But it wasn't just her dress or her figure that made my mind race—it was the crown. A delicate silver crown rested atop her head, thin and understated but undeniably regal. It was so perfectly placed, so precise, that for a moment, I hadn't even noticed it. But now that I did, the weight of the realization began to settle in my bones, sending a shiver down my spine. Did I forget to mention the crown? Gods, I was not prepared for this. Please, don't tell me she's really the queen. The thought made my stomach flip, and I had to fight to keep my composure.
"I see you're awake, honey," she said, her voice light and sweet. It was more than just pleasant—it was almost too sweet. The kind of voice that should have been soothing, but instead, it only heightened my sense of nervous tension. It was like I could feel her words brushing against me, caressing my senses, and yet all I felt was confusion and unease. My nerves were still raw from the disorienting fog of sleep, and I couldn't shake the tension that clung to me.
"I'm sorry…" I said, my voice shaky, "Who the hell are you exactly, and how did you get in here?" The words spilled out faster than I intended, and I immediately regretted the sharpness in my tone. But there was no time to soften it. I needed answers. This woman, this stranger, had appeared out of nowhere. How was she here? Why was she here?
She tilted her head slightly, still smiling that unsettling, serene smile. There was an almost playful look in her eyes, like she knew something I didn't. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said with exaggerated sweetness, "My name is Winter." The name took me by surprise. Winter? Was she named after the season? It was such an odd, almost whimsical name, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the peculiarity of it. My mind was still trying to catch up with everything, but I couldn't stop myself from trying to process the oddity of it. Before I could even respond, she added, "Mm, I am the queen."
What the hell?
My mouth went dry. Queen? This couldn't be real. I struggled to make sense of her words, my thoughts racing in circles. Was this a joke? Was she messing with me? I had so many questions, but they all tangled in my mind. "Wait, what?" I asked, the disbelief clear in my voice. "You're the queen?"
Winter seemed unfazed by my reaction, and I could see the playful glint in her eyes. Before I could process anything, she clarified, "I mean, the previous queen."
That simple addition changed everything. My mind reeled, trying to piece the puzzle together. The weight of the words hit me hard. The previous queen? A chill ran down my spine. I could feel the blood draining from my face. The realization struck me like a punch to the gut. That smile—it was too familiar. It was the same smile Kai wore when he was up to something, when he knew exactly what was going on but chose to let you struggle with the unknown. Damn it.
This woman—Winter—she was Kai's mother. Of course, she was. How had I missed that? It made so much sense now. The way she carried herself, that unnerving charm, the way she made me feel both nervous and strangely drawn to her all at once—it was all too familiar. No wonder she looked so much like him.
"My son is one hundred percent single, just for your concern," Winter said, her voice light, almost teasing. It was as if she were making a casual observation, but my blood froze in my veins. I hadn't asked. Hell, I hadn't even thought about Kai's relationship status, but here she was, acting as though she knew exactly what I was thinking. How did she know? Was she reading my mind?
"Okay, good for him," I said quickly, my tone sharper than I intended. My heart was racing, my mind a chaotic mess. Why was she so casual about this? Smiling at me as though everything was some kind of joke. I couldn't help but feel that there was more going on here, more than I was ready for. Winter wasn't just any ordinary woman. She was powerful, dangerous in a way that didn't require her to raise a finger. Whether she smiled or not, I knew better than to underestimate her.
"I'm sorry," I muttered, trying to steady myself. "I'm still trying to get used to living around real people again." The words were sincere, but even as I spoke them, I realized just how true they were. This place, this world, felt overwhelming. Living among fae and strange creatures had been one thing, but this? Real people—human-like beings—were a completely different kind of challenge. And here I was, sitting in front of a woman who seemed to know so much more than I did.
Winter's smile never faltered. "Don't you worry, honey!" she said, her tone overly warm, almost too reassuring. Her words should have put me at ease, but instead, they only added to my unease. I couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was at play here, something that I wasn't seeing yet. "So, what's your name?"
The question came with an air of genuine curiosity, but there was something about it that made me hesitate. She seemed so youthful, no older than a girl in her twenties, but I knew better than to trust appearances. Winter, if she was Kai's mother, had to be much older—far older than I could even comprehend. In this world, age meant little, at least not in the way I understood it.
"I thought you already knew it, but it's Avain, your majesty," I said, forcing politeness into my voice. It wasn't easy to keep my composure, but I knew I had to. Winter was unpredictable, and I wasn't about to make her angry. I couldn't afford to.
"Just call me Winter, honey," she said, moving closer to the edge of the bed, sitting down as though we were old friends. Her sudden proximity made me tense, and I could feel my muscles stiffen, but I did my best to hide it. I managed a calm smile, even though it felt like a thin mask, barely holding back my mounting anxiety.
"Call me Ava, then," I said, the words slipping out before I could think better of it. I wasn't sure why I said it, but the moment felt strange, and my usual guard didn't seem to be enough to stop it. Something about Winter made me drop my usual defenses, even if just for a moment.
Winter's eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned back, clearly enjoying the exchange. "I like calling you 'honey.' Is that okay with you?"
"Oh, yes," I replied, forcing a smile, even though inside, I was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. "Feel free to call me whatever you prefer." The words came out easily, but beneath them, I knew Winter wasn't someone who would let things go. There was always an underlying meaning in her words, always a hidden agenda. And I wasn't sure how much of it I could handle.
"You're not as savage as he said," she commented suddenly, the sincerity in her voice making my stomach churn. "That's a relief."
I couldn't hide the incredulous look on my face. "Are you talking about that bast—Kai?"
Winter chuckled, a soft, melodic laugh that made me want to grit my teeth. "Yeah," she said, her smile widening as she looked at me. It was almost like she was reading my mind, like she could see through my every thought.
"I already told him that when the moment demands it, I know how to behave politely—or kind of," I muttered, trying to brush it off with a nonchalant shrug. But even as I said it, I knew it was more than that. Winter was a force to be reckoned with, and I wasn't sure I had the strength to match it.
"And you're really pretty," she added suddenly, her tone shifting to something softer, more contemplative. "I thought they were exaggerating, but you are a rare diamond. The witch's beauty always surprises me. From your long black curly hair and your light blue eyes to your light skin and your height. Your parents were inspired when they made you, mmm."
Oh my gods.
Was she really talking about this? About me? Was this how Kai had turned out so insufferable?
The compliment caught me off guard, and I didn't know how to respond. Was she really talking about me? Was she comparing me to some ideal of beauty that I didn't even know existed in this world? I hadn't asked for any of this, and yet here I was, sitting in front of this woman—Kai's mother—who seemed to know so much more than she let on.
It was unnerving, to say the least. She was smooth, confident, and dangerously perceptive. And I had a sinking feeling that this conversation was just beginning.