Primrose Read online

  Primrose

  Hidden Realms of Silver Lake

  The Four Sisters of Fate

  Book 2

  Vella Day

  Primrose

  Copyright © 2019 Vella Day

  Google Play Edition

  www.velladay.com

  [email protected]

  Cover Art by Jaycee DeLorenzo

  Edited by Rebecca Cartee and Carol Adcock-Bezzo

  Published in the United States of America

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-941835-85-2

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief questions embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  One shy goddess. One very hot human ski instructor. What will it take to bring these two mates together?

  Primrose Faiten couldn’t believe it. Here she was one of the goddesses of Fate, convinced she’d spend eternity alone, and guess what? She meets her dream man. The problem is this gorgeous mortal is human, and he’ll never accept her once he finds out her secret identity.

  As luck would have it, a snowstorm strands these two skiers in a warm cozy cabin. Jackpot! Primrose might be the shy one in the family, but when presented with this once in a lifetime opportunity, no way will she squander it.

  Rafe Tremont might be highly attracted to the sexy, yet naïve woman, but he can never let his heart rule—not until he deals with some unfinished business that might keep him from Primrose forever.

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Book

  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

  Excerpt from Acacia

  Other Books by the Author

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  “Taxi’s here, Primrose. Get a move on it,” her sister called.

  “Coming.” Primrose Faiten draped the winter coat she’d borrowed over her arm and then grabbed the handle of her suitcase. Half walking, half running, she rushed down the hallway through their workshop and into the back entrance of their pottery shop.

  Her sister Acacia’s boots smacked against the tile floor as she dashed through the shop to the outside, banging the front door closed. Primrose moved as quickly as she could, careful not to knock over any pots and other artwork from their shop.

  Once she stepped outside, she locked the door. Her oldest sister, Magnolia, had taken their youngest sister to the train station already, leaving the store unmanned. Keeping it open wouldn’t have been smart. It didn’t matter that no one had ever tried to steal anything from them.

  The weather was balmy in Edendale, but where she was going—to Alta, in Thedia Province—snow covered the ground. Snow! She’d seen a ton of pictures of the stuff but had never actually touched it. To make a snowman would be so cool. Come to think of it, Primrose wasn’t even sure if people in this realm even built snowmen. She’d watched so many movies from Earth about love on the slopes that she was positive this year she’d actually fall in love—and maybe even build that snowman.

  To think she’d have two whole weeks of a new adventure. Primrose hadn’t been away from her three sisters since last year during their annual time apart, but that trip hadn’t been as much fun as she’d anticipated. This year however, she was sure it was going to be a rousing success. She could feel it in her goddess bones.

  The cab driver slipped her suitcase from her grasp, jarring her out of her daydream, and then placed her case in the trunk. Primrose had never been on a plane, and her nerves were flaring. She slid into the backseat next to Acacia—her cool, calm sister.

  Acacia reached out and grabbed her hand. “Nervous?”

  “You know I am.”

  “Don’t worry. Planes are safe. Besides, it’s not like you could die even if the plane crashed.”

  “It’s not me I’m worried about,” Primrose said. “What about everyone else? We might be immortal and can teleport out of any kind of mess, but I could never leave anyone, especially if that person was injured.”

  Acacia smiled. “Suit yourself. Since you won’t be using your magic for the next two weeks, you can suffer along with the rest of them.”

  Primrose looked away. “Be nice.”

  “Sweetie, I am. I know we all made a promise to be human during our vacation, but there’s no shame in failing—especially if someone’s life is on the line—as in a mate.” She grinned.

  Acacia was right—as usual. “Do you really think that this is the year you’re going to find your mate?” She’d talked about it often enough.

  Her sister rubbed Primrose’s hand. “No, silly. I just like to dream. We might be the Four Sisters of Fate, but we’re here to help others unite. We’ve never been promised a mate of our own.”

  Primrose sagged. “That’s true.” But she too could always hope—even if she’d wanted one since the beginning of time.

  The driver returned to his seat, and as soon as he pulled away from their store, Primrose had pangs of regret. She probably should have stayed with Magnolia instead of going skiing. What had she been thinking? She didn’t like the cold nor was she particularly coordinated.

  “You look a bit concerned. Are you having second thoughts?” Acacia asked.

  “Just a little.”

  Her sister patted her hand. “You’ll be fine. Just be careful on the slopes, and do what your instructor tells you.”

  “I will. Remember, you need to be careful too. There are wild animals in the woods—and I’m not talking about the shifter kind. If one attacked you, it would upset me.”

  “Me too!” She waved a hand. “Don’t worry. I can handle a few bears or wolves or whatever is out there. Trust me, if things get really hairy, I won’t hesitate to use my magic.” She kept her voice low, not wanting the driver to overhear them.

  “You promised you wouldn’t.”

  Acacia chuckled. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t try to act human.”

  Acacia seemed to always have all of the answers, but Primrose constantly wondered, how much of it was a front for some kind of insecurity? “Do you even know how to light a campfire?” At least Primrose had hired a ski instructor for a few days to help her on her vacation. Not only that, she was staying in a nice ski lodge that promised lit fires and hot cocoa all day long. None of the sisters had ever slept outside before. Why should they when they could teleport back home in a second?

  “How hard can it be? I light the kiln all the time.”

  “The kiln doesn’t run on firewood.”

  Acacia laughed. “You worry about not breaking a leg or losing some toes to frostbite, and I’ll worry about fending off my wild animals by lighting a fire.”

  Primrose shivered at that gruesome thought.

  Less than ten minutes later, the airport loomed in front of them. Since Primrose’s plane took off an hour before Acacia’s, they would have to part ways once they checked in.

  The cab driver delivered them to the airport and then dropped them off at the main entrance. After they paid him, they each spotted their airlines. Primrose hugged her sister goodbye. “Have fun.”

  Acacia smi
led. “Oh, I intend to.”

  Primrose wished she had the self-confidence her sisters had, but Primrose was the shy one. Magnolia said there was always one in every family.

  After she checked in and then waited in a long line at security, she hurried to the gate. Yikes, the plane was already loading. Primrose hoped the person next to her was the chatty type. She always enjoyed listening to what people had to say.

  When she stepped inside the plane, the commuter flight only had a single row of seats on either side. Oh well. At least she could look out the window. During the few dragon shifter flights she’d taken, she hadn’t traveled far. Now she’d get to see more of the world.

  After she strapped in, Primrose sighed. She would finally be able to cross off another item on her bucket list—that of seeing snow. Poppy, their youngest sister, thought Primrose was silly for not teleporting to the top of some mountain, experiencing the cold and snow, and then teleporting back. For Primrose, that was kind of cheating. To see snow as a human was her real goal.

  The engine caught, and she braced herself for the adventure.

  Rafe Tremont was about to head out on late afternoon ski patrol when his cell rang. It was his best friend, Trevor Whitmore. “Hey, dude. Shouldn’t you be teaching some teenage girl how to ski or something?” Rafe asked as a way of a greeting.

  Trevor coughed. “I wish I were, but I caught something last night. I have a fever and the chills. I feel like crap.”

  Rafe set his keys on his dining room table and leaned a hip on the edge. “Do you need me to get you anything?”

  “Nah. Trish has me covered.”

  At the mention of Trevor’s sister’s name, pain raced through Rafe’s gut, reminding him of the loss of his own sister. “What about any other clients? Do you need me to cover for you?”

  “As a matter of fact I do, but I only have one—a beginner by the name of Primrose Faiten. Her first lesson is tomorrow.”

  “Primrose?”

  “Yeah. The name alone implies she’s some sixty-year-old lady who is trying to have one last hurrah.” Trevor actually sounded better for a moment.

  Rafe chuckled. “I trust it lists her as a novice?” Rafe actually enjoyed helping someone who didn’t think they knew everything.

  “Yes. It says she’s never skied before.”

  “Cool. Wagner owes me some time. I’ll ask him to fill in for me for patrol duty for the next few days. What time is her first lesson?” Rafe asked.

  “Tomorrow morning at nine.”

  He could swing that. “No problem. Just rest.”

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  Rafe disconnected and headed out to the slopes for his afternoon run. The skies were clear, and there hadn’t been any seismic activity in weeks, implying that no avalanches had occurred for a while. Most of Tarradon was pretty stable, but the Alta Mountain range was the one exception. Random storms would appear out of nowhere, making this one of the more treacherous regions in the realm. But it also was one of the most beautiful.

  Once at the lodge, Rafe headed out with his usual partner, CJ, to make sure everyone and everything was as it should be.

  “Any preference which side we do first?” CJ asked.

  “Nope. We just need to check all the cabins to make sure the supplies are good. Other than that, I don’t care where we start.”

  CJ nodded. “I just checked in with the station master. All of the guests have been accounted for.”

  The slopes closed fifteen minutes ago, which made checking on everyone easy. It didn’t take into consideration anyone who worked there, but Rafe was sure a ski instructor or someone on patrol could handle himself. Besides, everyone carried a radio for emergencies. “Fantastic.”

  Rafe was trained as a search and rescue worker, but with no one lost or in need of his help, he could relax and enjoy what was left of the beautiful day. When he wasn’t rushing to help a downed skier, Rafe loved nothing more than to race downhill, occasionally practicing his flips and slalom maneuvers. CJ was more conservative, which was why they made a good pair.

  No sooner had they checked all of the cabins than dark clouds moved in. CJ pulled to a stop next to him, sending a pile of snow in Rafe’s direction. “We should probably head back down.”

  The last thing they needed was for the rescuers to be stranded. “You’re right, but I want to try one more flip. I’ve been practicing.”

  “Just hurry up, and I’ll meet you at the end of your run and watch.”

  Rafe skied over to a few moguls on the side of the trail, needing to build up some momentum before he did his trick. Even though Rafe had no intention of competing in any kind of ski jumping event, he enjoyed the heady adrenaline rush of it all. By the time he reached the area where he could do his trick, CJ was already halfway down the slope. Rafe raced down the hill, bending his knees just at the right moment to soar over the mogul and land without tearing up his knees. Near the end of the run was a large ramp where skiers performed their jumps. Rafe increased his speed, pumping hard until he reached the precipice. Once he took off, he popped straight up, and looked toward the sky. Bringing his knees to his chest, he checked behind him to spot his landing. Bam. Touchdown. Perfect execution.

  CJ hooted a few calls as Rafe skied to a stop next to him. “Okay, showoff, we’re about to get some serious snow. I hope you’ve finished your stunts for the day,” CJ said.

  Rafe looked up and sobered at the impending storm. He probably had been foolish to waste time. “Totally.”

  They’d made it two-thirds of the way down the mountain when the winds intensified and the clouds exploded, dumping some major snow everywhere. That sure had been fast. In fact, for the last few hundred feet, the visibility was almost nil.

  The snow was the wet kind, which when it wormed its way through any crack or crevice, made for a cold run. When they reached the lodge, Rafe breathed a sigh of relief. They took off their skis and stored them in the building designed for the workers. Driving home would be rather treacherous, so he decided to wait out the storm in the lounge. Nothing was nicer than sitting by the fire drinking hot chocolate to warm up. CJ was lucky enough to have found a place only two blocks from the lodge.

  After Rafe found a spot to relax, he called Dar Wagner to ask if he could pair up with CJ for the next few days while Rafe taught some lessons for Trevor.

  “Sure. I owe you some time anyway. Once this storm passes, the powder should be awesome,” Dar said.

  “I agree. Just watch out for ice patches.”

  Dar laughed. “Don’t worry about a thing. Have fun teaching.”

  Dar didn’t like working with the beginners. He readily admitted he didn’t have the patience for it.

  Primrose made it! Finally. The best part was that the flight hadn’t been nearly as bad as she’d expected. The shuttle to the lodge was the worst part. In fact, it was downright scary despite being breathtakingly beautiful. Out of nowhere, the sky had turned cloudy and then dark. Snow began to fall sideways, and the wind was so strong it rocked the bus. Even though their vehicle skidded a few times on some of the mountain passes, the views of the ranges—when she could see them—were phenomenal.

  Her shuttle carried two other couples who chatted with each other the whole time, making her feel a bit out of place. That however was not new. Regardless, Primrose was determined to forge a few new relationships and have a good time during her stay.

  Most of her days in Edendale were spent at the Four Sisters Pottery shop, tending to customers or making pots and artwork. At night, she would read and chat with her sisters. Even though Poppy and Acacia would occasionally go out to bars, Primrose usually opted to stay in. She just wasn’t any good at flirting or making interesting conversation. The couple of times she had gone out this year, few people seemed to take notice, and those who did were basically looking for a hook up. While Primrose had some experience in the sex department, she was no expert.

  The bus finally pulled to a stop under an overhang in front of a large t
imber lodge. “Everyone, get checked in and we’ll deliver your luggage to your rooms,” the driver said.

  Ooh, such great service. A person could get used to this. The two couples continued to chat as they got off the bus, so Primrose headed on in by herself. The moment she stepped inside, the warmth hit her, as did the enormity of the room. She’d never seen ceilings so tall before. Square beams lined the roof. In the center stood a five-foot wide column that rose from floor to ceiling. Around it were huge padded seats where several people were resting. But what really attracted her was the ten-foot wide fireplace with lounge chairs set up in front. She could picture herself after a hard day of skiing, relaxing in front of the fire with a book. Oh, yes. This was going to be the perfect vacation.

  As she headed toward the reception desk, a wave of something akin to lust struck her, causing her body to pulse. Primrose shook it off assuming the cold air combined with the scent of the fire had caused this very odd reaction. Lust indeed! Just in case she missed something, she glanced around. While there were about twenty people seated or milling about, she didn’t see anyone who would cause that kind of reaction. It must be nerves.

  Once she checked in, she just might have to come down to the bar and order that hot chocolate she’d been dreaming about.

  Chapter Two

  Rafe was leaning back in the lounge chair, warming up by the fire, waiting for the storm to pass, when he happened to look up and see the most innocent face—or should he say angelic face? The woman with gorgeous chin length auburn hair might only come up to his chest, but she had the longest legs he’d ever seen, along with a waist that was meant to be held. Rafe shook his head at that inappropriate thought. As much as he wanted to cut short his perusal, he couldn’t.

  Her eyes went wide as she studied the main room. Rafe had to smile. He too had been fascinated with this lodge the first time he’d seen it. That was three years ago—the same three long years that marked when his sister had gone missing.