Page 5 of This Frozen Heart

“Are you capable of meeting the expenses of seven prisoners?”

We can barely meet the expenses of the five of us between Smalls’ and Wolf’s appetites. “What makes you think we won’t slaughter you all?” I glance toward where Wolf has thrown off both the other men and is about to eat her victim’s face off. I tug her tail.

Snarling, she whirls to face me and pants menacingly.

But she knows my scent in this form, so I turn back to Kay, unconcerned.

He is watching us like a casual observer. “Because you haven’t taken a life yet, and it would be illogical for you to begin now. You have displayed great skill in protesting without bloodshed.”

Is that . . .admirationin his voice? “I thought this was your first mission.”

“It is, but I read debriefs about every mission in this region for the past year to prepare. Not that it helped me.” He stuffs his gloved hands into his trouser pockets in a way that I think is meant to look sheepish. But since his posture is still perfect and his expression is blank, the gesture makes him look like an unusually posed ice statue. “I’ll admit that while I fancied the notion of having the chance to meet and possibly reason with a rebel, I did not expect one to fall into my lap. It has put me quite out of sorts.”

I’m not sure this man has been out of sorts a day in his life. Or maybe this is him being out of sorts and he actually operates like a normal mortal when he’sinsorts.

“If only you would tell me your name . . .”

I narrow my eyes. “Call your retreat.”

Kay turns from me immediately and bellows loudly enough that I fear an avalanche. “Take the horses and return to Ewigkeit Proper.” He turns to me. “You don’t mind if we keep the horses, do you?”

Not sure what to do with such a compliant enemy, I just shake my head. “Go ahead.”

The men who faced Wolf help each other to their feet and hurry to join their comrades in gathering the horses that did not spook.

Kay remains by my side, removing his steel helmet. Strangely enough, his hair beneath, though a military cut, is Gaelic blond— it’s just a shade or two darker than mine. “I may not be of much value yet to the Constantinium with this being only my first mission since I joined the ranks, but I can assure you that I am of great value toyoualive.”

I point to where his men are untying the horses from the wagon. “As you have said, I have no need for pris—”

“My father is a wealthy man,” Kay continues like he can’t hear me. “He will pay a king’s ransom for my return.”

My mouth closes. When I open it again, I point at his sword. “I will have to confiscate your weapons.”

“Of course.” He unclasps his belt, and the sheathed sword he almost used against me clatters to the snow.

His men who were not nearly mauled by a werwölfe—those are already galloping back the way they came— glance back at their captain in concern.

Kay nods to them. “Retreat and send word to my father. Tell of what has come to pass and ask that he prepare a ransom.”

The men salute. Then they ride between Prince and Biggs, who glance at each other in confusion and then turn to me.

At least Smalls isn’t down here to barrage me with questions I’d rather not answer in front of the prisoner.

Kay’s gaze moves beyond me to Wolf, who is staring at him like she is considering pouncing on him next. She doesn’t know his scent, after all.

I whistle at her and gesture away from us.

Wolf lowers her tail. Then she sulks back toward her bushes by the curve in the road, where she stashed a fresh change of garments for when she morphs back.

Kay exhales when she leaves— his first sign of being unnerved by this situation in any way. Then he turns to me. “I also have a knife in my left boot.”

“What?”

“If you wish to fully disarm me, I have a knife in my left boot.”

If there were any doubt in my mind that this man was lying about his father being wealthy, it’s gone now. There’s no way he took the rank of captain without his father paying for that right.

I turn to Prince and Biggs, who are comparing injuries. Then I gesture for them to come forward.

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