Page 9 of This Frozen Heart

Kay studies me as I continue to press kisses to his knuckles until he relents. Then he sets the ale down, his gaze too sharp for someone who’s been drinking from my cup. “I think you’ve had enough of that, actually.”

“But that’s what’s going to warm me tonight!” I cry, though I am already warm. Yet I still thirst for it, so I try to climb over Kay to reach it.

Unfortunately, the log isn’t as steady as it used to be, and I lose my balance and crash against him. The ale remains far from my grip.

Groaning, I blow a stray blonde hair out of my face. As embarrassed as I should feel for being on top of Kay for the second time today, I can’t deny it feels nice. “I guessyoucan keep me warm tonight.”

He blinks at me, looking flustered for the first time since I met him. “I-I—”

I stare at him and wonder if I said the wrong thing. What was therightthing to say, though?

Wolf dances by in the corner of my vision, spinning between two dance partners, and I grin. “By dancing, of course!” I hold up my manacled hand that feels suddenly so heavy. “I can’t dancewithoutyou, after all.”

“No, I suppose you can’t.”

Strong hands wrap around my waist and lift me into the air before setting me on my feet. I waver unsteadily for a moment before the hands return and Kay is standing before me.

“Will you dance with me, lassie?”

I flush like he’s not my prisoner. “I will, Captain.”

“Excellent. Should we engage in a waltz? Or should we see if your friends would like to join us in a carole?”

Throwing my head back, I laugh. “We don’t give names to our dances and force them to conform to rules up here.”

Kay stares at me, looking horrified. “Then how do you know what steps to take?”

“We let the music guide us!” Grabbing his hands, I pull him closer to the fire where the others dance.

“What music?”

“The rhythm of the north, of course.” I cup a hand around his ear so he can better hear. “The whistle of the wind, the crackle of the fire, and if you really listen, you can hear the Snow Queen’s song.”

Prince sighs and dances farther away from the fire, seeking his muse’s voice.

Yeah, he’s definitely cursed.

Kay just studies me with furrowed brows. “I hear the fire and the wind, but I still don’t know what the steps are.”

I roll my eyes and spin as far away from him as I can with the chain in place. Then I spin back. I’m dizzier than usual and have to catch myself against his chest. “It’s not aboutknowing. It’s aboutbeing.”

Pushing away from him, I lift my hands into the air and sway them in synchronization with my hips. The Snow Queen’s song doesn’t float on the night air, which is just as well. She may decide she wants Kay for herself— at least, she would if she saw his torso like I did.

But the wind and the fire are enough for me to feel the rhythm of Gaelia in my soul and let it fuel my steps.

Kay watches me stiffly for several moments. Then he moves with me, if only to keep me from getting tangled in our chain.

Then one of his icy hands finds mine, entwining our fingers together.

A new warmth tingles down my arm, and I grin.

He smiles back, his body awkwardly trying to mimic my sway.

I laugh and use my free hand to gather the chain between us and pull him closer.

Kay arches a brow but says nothing as we continue to sway in a circle. His steps even out the longer he looks at me and not on his feet.

“Now you’ve got it.” I grin. “Let’s dance until dawn.”

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