Page 50 of This Frozen Heart

I attempt one of the moves I was trained to do should a larger opponent ever put me in this same hold. But with the ice, it is hard to maintain the stance necessary. Especially while I’m being slid backward with Gerta hurrying to keep up.

The Snow Queen pays no heed, as she points a shaky finger at Prince. “Y-you’redead. You perished a century ago!”

“I assure you, my Queen, that I have never died once in all my life.” Prince earnestly steps closer to her, clasping a hand over his heart. “Except with longing for you.”

The Snow Queen’s resulting ear-splitting scream covers the sounds of my protest as I’m dragged backward down the icy stairs. I consider throwing both Smalls and me over the side. My injuries would heal far faster than his, and I could escape.

That line of thought dissipates when Gerta fists one small hand into my open collar while her other hand clings to the icy railing. Not that her feeble strength could prevent me from following, through. But I spent so long keeping her alive and whole; how could I risk injuring her now?

And so, at the risk of forfeiting my promotion, I adhere to my last mission and let Gerta abduct me for a second time.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The Enemies

Gerta:

Smalls and I successfully drag Kay out of the ice palace even though he starts resisting the moment we reach the ground floor.

Biggs is waiting for us with the rope.

Kay frowns when he sees it. “If you think that’s going to elicit true love’s kiss from me, you’re sorely mistaken. The handcuff earlier was merely a necessity; not an accessory.”

Keeping a hold of Kay while Biggs ties his wrists, Smalls frowns at me. “Do I have your permission to trounce him once we’ve escaped?”

“I’ll consider it.” I glance back at the palace. The trickiest part of this plan was Wolf being able to disengage Prince since the Queen will likely be on their heels.

“Done.” Biggs moves away from Kay. “Now let’s go.” Without a backward look, he hurries down the stairs.

I turn back to Kay, more bound now that I’m rescuing than when I captured him. But in his own words, failure isn’t permitted.

So, this is what we have to do. Catching Smalls’ gaze, I nod for him to follow.

Before he can obey, though, Kay suddenly pivots, knocking his head into Smalls’ jaw.

My dearest friend cries out and yanks away. Kay uses his imbalance to trip him, so he falls forward, face planting in the snow instead of falling off the mountain.

Kay steps back when Smalls doesn’t rise. I hurry to the latter’s side, trying to roll him over so he doesn’t suffocate on snow.

Suddenly a pair of bound hands are next to mine, helping me to heave Smalls to the side and then onto his back. The man’s snores slice through the air.

I frown as I glance between him and the palace. There is no way I can get him down the mountain, even if I call Biggs back up. We’re trapped here until he awakens— especially since I’ll have to make sure he remains warm enough despite the too-small dress clothes he’s wearing. Though, my stolen gown is surprisingly warm beyond just the fur shawl.

“Now, what do I do with you?”

Turning, I find Kay still crouching in the snow beside me. He studies me like I’m the puzzle that needs to be solved and not our escape. His bound hands are in front of him, even though I’m pretty sure Kay had them secured behind his back.

“We were trying to help you,” I whisper, horrified over the consequences that will rain down once the Snow Queen comes for us.

Kay holds up his bound hands. “Thisis helping me?”

“I wanted to free you.”

“Thisis freeing me?!”

I huff. “I thought . . . I thought—”

“You thought you loved me.” Kay shakes his head at me as he stands. “You didn’t love me while I was your neighbor. Why would you think that changed now that I am your enemy?”

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