Page 52 of This Frozen Heart

Some struggles exist as an entity all their own, and those trials are what ought to be blamed, not the mortals who come alongside you to help in their own foolish ways.

Turning toward the palace, I feel her hand touch my elbow.

I glance down as Gerta takes a blade to my binds.

“This is where we part,” she whispers, just as I once said to her. “You have no need to fear me; just know that what comes next for you will be a consequence of your own choices like the freedom you love so much demands.”

For a long moment, I stare down into the sorrow filling her gaze, not sure what to say.

Since I find no words, I turn away just as Gerta leans closer, stretching as high as she can. In my peripheral vision, I watch as she presses her lips to my cheek, just brushing the corner of my lips.

There is no passion in her touch now; only bittersweet farewell as she sets me free from her expectations.

Gerta pulls away and turns her back to me. I turn back toward the palace and take a step before staggering a sudden pinching sound pierces my chest. Then a new sensation follows like heat, but not quite. No, this is a gentle warmth like I once knew before the Snow Queen stabbed me.

Glancing down, it almost looks like the blue circling my chest is fading. Am I . . .thawing?

Before I can ask a second opinion, though, the palace doors fly open.

The Snow Queen strides out— walking on the actual snow instead of floating like she seems to prefer.

“Where is he?” she demands of the elements. “Where is he?Whereis my future king?!”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Gerta

Istumble backwards with the Snow Queen’s appearance? Horror quickly displaces my sorrow.

Both Smalls and I are wearing outfits found in her palace, stolen from her servants, who are tied up in their beds. Will she demand both our hearts in repayment? Have I made Kay’s irrevocable sacrifice vain and dragged my dearest friend down with me?

Poor Biggs might have escaped, but it’ll be without any of us, just like he feared.

However, the Snow Queen doesn’t even glance at me once she sees Kay. “There you are! I thought the werecat carried you away while I was distracted withthatmonstrosity.” She gestures toward Prince, who is trotting after her in a daze. His coat is torn in several places, but the skin beneath the tattered layers is whole.

Kay studies Prince. “What is the issue?”

“No matter how many times I try to freeze his heart, it doesn’t work!” The Snow Queen glares at Prince for the audacity of being invulnerable to her somehow.

Prince grasps his chest. “It is because my heartalreadybelongs to you.”

“I don’t want it! I want nothing todowith you.”

Kay steps forward, partially shielding me from the Snow Queen. “Do you know this man?”

“She’s never met me,” Prince answers, not looking away from the object of his obsession. “Though I have longed for this moment my entire life.”

The Snow Queen just narrows her eyes. “I know hisface. And even if it isn’thimback from the dead, any descendant of his is an enemy of mine.”

“Descendant of whom, my love?” Prince asks.

Straightening, the Snow Queen keeps her gaze on Kay, like she fears she will lose her composure again if she looks back at Prince.

I mean, he is unusual, but the amount of screaming earlier was disproportionate to evenhislevel of annoyance.

“I was interrupted before I can make my announcement,” the Snow Queen adds, stepping toward Kay, “but I choose you to be my King Consort.”

Even though the Snow Queen shoots no magic from her hands, I feel as though she has pierced me through.

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