Page 69 of A Lord of Snow and Greed

My mother appeared in the hall, her back to us as she spoke to Lord Riis, who had to be standing inside his room.

“Stars! You’ve got to be kidding—Vale, I have something to tell you,” Neve breathed and pulled me forward. “In here!”

She opened the door to Lord Roar’s old suite and yanked me inside, then shut the door softly behind us.

I glanced at the door, then at her, confused. “What’s going on?”

“I-I didn’t tell you everything I saw in the hidden palace last night.” Neve’s teeth dug into her bottom lip. “But I should. Before you go talk to Lord Riis.”

“What is it?”

“I found Queen Revna’s diary back there. She wrote about your mother and Lord Riis.”

“That’s hardly surprising, Neve. They grew up in the midlands together and have been friends since they were younglings.”

“No,” Neve exhaled, “she wrote that they lookedromantic.”

I sucked in a breath. But that would have been when Mother was already married to Father. I’d have been around five turns.

“I wasn’t sure if telling you was smart. Or appropriate,” Neve admitted. “But seeing her come out of his rooms, and she didn’t mention him when she told your father about our wedding and—I don’t know. I realize thatin her own home, the queen has a right to be wherever she wants, but you should know before you say anything to him. What if something is going on between them?”

This might have nothing to do with the Ice Scepter, but it threw a sword into the plans. Was there something between my mother and Lord Riis? Something more than friendship?

Father was not loyal to Mother. In fact, save for official functions or matters in which he needed her council, he barely spoke to her.

My stomach twisted, and I found myself in a position of not knowing how to proceed.

Chapter 18

NEVE

Two days of quiet had passed since we’d seen the queen leave Lord Riis’s rooms.

No Courting Festival events had taken place. No one had sought me out. Nor Vale.

We spent each morning practicing with weapons and then spent the afternoons either together or in a private lounge with Saga, Sayyida, and Vale’s friends, laughing, playing nuchi, getting to know one another, and lying low. I loved those hours. In that time, I felt free, like nothing bad was coming for me.

What a joke.

We’d recently finished our morning training session. I’d already showered and dressed, and now Vale was showering while I lounged on the bed.

On the nightstand next to my stack of books was the Mind Rönd potion. Remembering that I hadn’t taken my daily dose yet, I lifted the flask to my lips and took a swallow. Every time I drank the potion, it reminded me ofanother brew flowing through me. One that continually weakened and put me and Vale in jeopardy.

In six days, I’d be able to feel my magic, but at a cost. I’d no longer be able to lie—a quality that had saved my life many times since being at court. Would I be able to twist truths in a way that other fae did naturally? If not, and I said the wrong thing, I was dead.

As it had every time I’d considered such a terrible outcome, my heart raced. Though it was the last thing I wanted to do, I’d considered asking Vale if he could procure the same potion for me. That meant I wouldn’t know what magic ran through my veins for yet another moon cycle, which would be devastating,butI’d feel more secure. More safe.

The door to the bathroom opened, and Vale stepped out, a fluffy towel wrapped around his hips and his bare chest glistening from his shower. Steam followed him, bringing a fresh scent into the suite.

I swallowed. For the three days, we’d remained platonic, but it was growing more difficult. In stolen glances and moments of flirting that seemed to just happen when we spoke, it had never been more obvious that wewantedone another.

“Should I request a painting be commissioned?” He ran a finger down his tattooed chest. “That way you can gawk whenever you’d like.”

I hurled a pillow at him. “I was not gawking.”

“Could have fooled me.” He caught the pillow one-handed, and I silently cursed him for being so effortlessly handsome. His long black hair was still wet, and he lookeddelicious. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I looked like a drowned bandicota.

“I was daydreaming. About this,” I lied as I held up the book on the top of my pile, the one that had been Roar’s brother’s favorite. I hadintendedto read it while he showered, but I’d become lost in my thoughts instead and hadn’t even cracked open the storybook.

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