Page 105 of A Shard of Ice

Grigor nods. “I certainly will. Truth be told, I was a touch sore-headed this morning. Nothing like a group of brutes to curea man.” He belly-laughs. “I feel right as rain and up for the task, even though night shall be falling soon.”

“I need to go,” I tell him, running to the nearest fae steed. I grab the reins and leap onto the beast, who is already moving.

I crouch low and kick the horse into a full gallop. I need to warn Kyrie. I pray that I am not too late.

36

Kyrie

The door shuts behind me, locking me in with a madwoman.

I can do this.

The queen stands there for what feels like an age. I look around her suite. It’s opulent. The most extravagant space I have ever seen.

Aside from another throne, just as grand as the one from before, there is a large four-poster bed piled high with soft furs and cushions. Above, hanging from the high glass ceilings, are a multitude of sparkling chandeliers. In an enormous hearth at the center of a room, a fire crackles, except the flames are bright blue. I realize with horror that they are giving off cold instead of heat.

I shiver, pulling my fur coat more securely around myself. Then, my eyes land on a rectangular glass shape against the ice wall.

I gasp, horror filling me.

It can’t be.

And yet, it is what I think it is.

The queen turns, and I gasp again. I’m not sure what I was expecting. A witch, perhaps? A vile human corrupted by magic? I somehow thought that her eyes would be milky white or that her skin would have black veins running across it. Something vile and grotesque. Not this.

Snow is utterly and devastatingly beautiful.

She has porcelain skin and plump, naturally wine-stained lips; her hair is black and glossy like a raven’s wing. Her smile is like that of an angel. Her cheeks are a healthy, rosy pink. Her waist is narrow, and her breasts are high.

“You’re here,” she says, her voice carrying a hint of victory. “How wonderful.” Her eyes rove over me, inspecting me like I am some kind of curious new creature. Once she is done with her perusal, she locks eyes with me.

I force myself to stand tall and try to meet her gaze with confidence, although my heart is pounding heavily against my chest.

“Yes, I most certainly am,” I reply. “Although I am not sure why, Your Grace.” I curtsey. Perhaps I can still get out of this. I have to try.

“Kyrie, is it?” She doesn’t wait for my response. “I wanted to see the woman Damon is in love with.” She says it with disdain, like I don’t match up to what she had in her head.

I need to try to get out of this.

I must.

“Who is Kyrie?” I frown. “I’m Sindy. Elsie is my cousin and—”

“That is the first and the last lie I will abide. There will be consequences if it happens again, Kyrie. You worked in the salt mines for two years. You and Damon were best friends. According to Hali, Damon was in love with you. Simone and Zeegar agreed. Everyone could see it but you.”

Zeegar and Simone are here, too? This is worse than I ever thought possible.

My eyes must widen in surprise because she says, “I had a long conversation with all of the guards. Hali was especially helpful. He told me all about the two of you, including the snowstorm in the middle of the desert and how you escaped together. I’m sure he was the last person you expected to see at the Ice Court.” She lifts her brows. “Did you really think that he wouldn’t recognize you?”

I don’t respond. I don’t know what to do.

She laughs; even that is husky and melodic. “That’s fine; it wasn’t a question but an observation. Now, tell me, do you love Damon? Or is it one-sided on his part?”

“No, I don’t love him.”

“Caught out on another lie, Kyrie.” She tsks a few times, shaking her head, looking disappointed. Then she lifts a single finger, and the air is cut off from my lungs. I grab at my throat, but of course, there is nothing there. My eyes go wide as I try to fill my lungs. It won’t work. I am suffocating. Try as I might, I can’t bring even a single drop of air into my lungs. I make these little noises. The edges of my consciousness start to fade when she finally lowers her finger, and air rushes to my lungs.

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