Taken by the Storm Prince

Taken by the Storm Prince Haven Academy: Book 2 Ariel Renner Copyright © 2023 by Ariel Renner All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Epilogue Special Preview - My Fated Protector Chapter One Hopelessness hung in the air like a thick fog through the vast halls of the Ice Castle. As sunlight gleamed through the translucent blue walls of the tower that had been home for my entire life, a biting cold crept into my skin and bones like never before. All around me was nothing but a haunting silence, like time had stopped, broken only by my own desperate pleas. “Mother, please,” I begged, my voice trembling. “There must be another way.” My mother, the Ice Queen, stood regally before me in a gown of shimmering frost, her frigid blue gaze as cold and unyielding as steel. Her pale face expressed nothing. A crown of spiked icicles rested atop her long white hair, similar to my own, that cascaded like a frozen waterfall down her back. The air around her smelled of winter, like the smell of freshly fallen snow or the crispness of a breeze. There was no warmth in my mother’s embrace, just a statue of cold marble and the icy mask of indifference. Her reserved voice echoed through the grand hall like a death sentence. “Your marriage to the Storm Prince has been settled,” she said, resolute and unmoved. “It’s time for you to go to your new family.” Tears streamed down my face as my happiness slipped away. While my parents approved of my betrothal, my older brother, Fannar, warned all of us about the Storm Prince, that he was a monster—violent and ruthless. The fate before me was unbearable. Being forced to marry a tyrant like the Storm Prince was akin to being held captive forever. I knew I had no choice but to obey my mother, but still, hope lingered in my heart. With utmost sincerity, I looked at my mother and asked her one last time, begging her to find another way—some other form of salvation for us both. “I can’t marry him, Mother!” I cried out desperately. “He is cruel. He will beat me and treat me like a slave. Please, don’t make me go!” “I’ve already explained this to you, Gwyneira,” she said, exasperated. “Tensions between the kingdoms of the Enchanted Realm have never been greater. Our kingdom needs allies if we want a chance at surviving a war with another kingdom. We need to form an alliance with the Storm Kingdom, and this is the only way.” The despair that descended upon me was almost too much to bear, crushing my soul underneath its overwhelming weight. I wailed and collapsed to my knees in surrender. No matter how much I pleaded, there was no escaping the dire future that awaited me. “Your behavior is unbecoming of a princess!” my mother scolded. “It is an honor for you to fulfill this duty to our kingdom.” She turned to my ladies-in-waiting, who were silently lined up against the wall. “Adis, take Gwyneira to her room. Get her cleaned up and pack her belongings. We leave for the Storm Kingdom in an hour.” Adis stepped forward. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She came over first, followed by my two other ladies. They gripped both of my arms and led me like a rag doll out of the room and up the stairs toward my bedroom. The quill quivered as I pressed it to the paper. I wiped the tears from my cheeks as quickly as I could. After cleaning me up, Adis had just applied fresh makeup. I didn’t want my mother to make her do it again. The letter was already dotted with little spider webs of ink from where saltwater hit the page. If I wanted to send Fannar a letter, he needed to be able to read it. I read it one more time: My dearest brother, This might be the last letter you receive from me. Mother and Father have finalized my betrothal to the Storm Prince, and I’m moments from being sent to the Storm Kingdom—maybe forever. I wish they would at least wait until you were back from the academy so I could say goodbye face to face. I am so scared. I am so scared of my new fiancé. I know about his reputation but fear how much worse he will be behind closed doors. You always said to be strong. I will be as brave as I can, but I need your help. Fannar, please save me from this monster! Praying that we see each other again soon, Gwyneira A knock sounded at my door. “Yes?” I asked. Adis opened the door, curtsied, and clasped her hands in front of her. “Princess, it’s time.” “Thank you, Adis. I am coming.” She hurried into my room to grab the last few items on my bed and waited near the doorway. I folded the letter and handed it to her. “Please ensure this reaches my brother.” “I will, Princess.” She paused to look at me one last time. “You look lovely, Your Highness.” Adis had dressed me in a beautiful ice-blue gown for my first meeting with my betrothed. It sparkled like diamonds as the thousands of crystals sewn into the dress reflected the