Page 48 of This Frozen Heart

“Kingconsort!” I grip his cuffed sleeve. “You can be so much more.”

He glances back at me, his icy eyes seeming to freezemyheart. “That isn’t what you believed as a child.”

“I was foolish and meanspirited! Forget what I said then and listen to what I’m sayingnow.”

“That after two days of being each other’s prisoners, you think you love me and want to run away with me?” He shakes his head and strides toward the door. “You don’t even believe Gaelia and Constantinium can unite in peace. How can you consider the much more ridiculous notion of you and me?”

I swallow hard and have no answer to give. At least none someone as coldly rational as him would heed.

“Go home, Gerta. This is no place for the free-spirited.” Kay runs his hand through his short hair that needs no comb at its length. “And be thankful you didn’t get that kiss.” Grasping the icy door, he glances back at me. “Otherwise, you could never move past your silly notions of true love.”

“But—”

“You don’t want me, anyway. I have become exactly what you foretold during childhood days you were colder to me— carved from ice and badly pretending to be mortal. Except, I’m no longer pretending. I simply am what I was destined to be.”

With that, he pushes the door open and steps out, nearly colliding with Biggs, who is standing on the other side witha handful of fine clothing he must have collected during his search.

Biggs watches Kay leave before turning to me. “I found our runaway prisoner.”

I nod mutely, staring after where Kay disappeared.

“I take it you didn’t kiss him yet?”

I shake my head.

“What? Why not? You didn’t just grab him and break the spell.”

“No. I’m pretty sure true love’s kiss has to be consensual.”

Wrinkling his brow, Biggs actually looks at me. “What is it, Gertie?”

“Kay is betrothed to the Snow Queen,” I whisper, the words almost too foul to say.

Apparently, he’s a pleasant prisoner toeverywoman and not just me.

Biggs’ brows climb to his temple. Then he turns to stare after Kay. “That’s no good. That’s no good at all.”

I desperately blink back tears. “You’re telling me.”

The half-elf turns back to me, his eyes still wide. “Who’s going to tell Prince?”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kai

When I stride into the ballroom, free at last from Gerta’s nagging, I notice several things at once.

One, though the floor looks solid, it is more transparent than the ice used in the walls. It gives the illusion that one dances on air above the rest of the palace.

Two, every other man here is dressed in the same uniform that I am with the open collar. The only differences are the shades of blue. Mine is the darkest shade in the room.

Three, though the women present are dressed in thick furs over glistening gowns with their own range of blue shades, none are worth noting. At least, not compared to the Snow Queen, who watches us from a balcony in a gown of purest white. She wears no furs; only her golden hair falling over her shoulders and a gleaming white gown.

Unlike my fellow gentlemen, who study each other warily, and the other ladies, who morosely draw away from us to twirl their skirts over the ice, the Snow Queen looks quite smug. If she were closer, I suspect I would see a small smile on her lips.

“I look forward to sharing my exciting tidings with you this eve,” the Snow Queen calls. “But first, I long to see your joy on thedancefloor!”

There isn’t a single soul in this room who remembers what joy feels like. However, we evidently all know how to dance that is required. Instead of moving into a circle like with a carole, we all line up for a chain dance with gentlemen on my side— including a very tall fellow just to my right— and ladies facing us.

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