Page 84 of Frosted Torment

“What angels?” Lex scoffed. “This place is a fortress, and I’m pretty sure they left you here to die.”

Vallen took deep breaths with each word and gestured his head toward the pool of water in the middle of the cave. “Ifyou,” he exhaled again, straining this time. “Want answers. Then water.”

I wavered, not wanting to give him any comfort. But Lex saw the opportunity and took it. He grabbed the silver ladle from the crate, then dipped it into the icy water on the ground. He poured it into Vallen’s mouth with precision, and Baz’s eyes flashed to mine. I shook my head and gave a little shrug.

“He’s right, Noa,” Lex agreed as he continued to quench Vallen’s thirst. “If we want to get anything useful out of him, water can’t hurt.”

“Better?” My eyes turned to slits as I stared down the imprisoned angel. “Talk, Vallen.”

His voice was only somewhat stronger after he drank. “Remember, princess, you might not like what you hear.”

“I’ll be fine,” I replied, clenching my fists with sparks of electricity dancing between my fingers.

The cold air in the cave seemed to sharpen as Vallen’s voice, low and gruff, broke through the tense silence. “Don’t worry. We’ll talk about the sparks you’re igniting between us later.”

Baz stepped between us and pulled me to the side. “Noa, he’s baiting you, and you’re taking it.”

I yanked my arm from Baz’s grip. “Do you realize the strength it is taking for me not to fry him where he hangs?”

“Yes, but—” he started.

“No,” I interrupted him with a raised palm. “I won’t let him have any kind of power over me.”

“But he does,” Baz insisted, looking over at Vallen. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of hurt with his comment. Then Baz turned his head back to me and whispered, “In order for you to do all the bad things to him, you need to live.Weneed to live.”

I looked up and saw Vallen watching us with a smirk playing on his lips. Even though I knew Baz was right, my emotions got the better of me, and I pulled a dagger from the belt around my thigh and lunged toward Vallen. He didn’t flinch as I held the dagger against his throat.

“You should save the romantic chats for later,” Vallen snickered.

“He’s my guardian angel, jackass,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Signati,” he growled. “You fell for her!” Vallen fought to escape his chains.

I pulled the dagger away, then folded my arms across my chest with a raised brow. Stepping back, I quipped, “Did we strike a nerve or put a dent in your plan?”

“Nothing I can’t handle once I’m out of these chains.” He tossed his hair out of his eyes and stared over at Baz and Lex, a twisted smile on his face.

“That’s not happening,” I stated with certainty. “But how about this? For each answer, you’ll get water,” I offered, hoping he would agree.

He raised his hands, still chained to the wall, in mock surrender. “Ask your questions, princess.”

“We’ll unpack and wait over here,” Lex offered and pointed to the wall across from us. He glanced at Vallen and said, “I know I’m hungry.”

I watched until they were far enough away, and hung their torch back up on the wall, then looked back at Vallen. “Tell me what happened with my mother and why you called me here?”

“One question at a time.” Vallen’s eyes studied me, and my chest clenched in fear. He shifted slightly against his chains, thenbegan, “Your mother… Scarlett. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

I whistled, then shook my head. “You mean our home? Don’t give me that crap, Vallen. You killed her!” I roared, shaking with fury.

He continued, unfazed by my outburst. “I saved her,” he stated in a genuine tone through his scratchy throat.

“You sent her to hell, Vallen.” I eyed him, my free hand itching to dagger his chest.

“It’s not what I wanted.” He looked at the ladle, then made his demand. “Water.”

I didn’t move, waiting for him to give me more than what I was willing to give him.

“So impatient,” Vallen noted beneath puckered brows. “Water,” he insisted.

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