Page 53 of A Shard of Ice

“Come inside,” he says. “You may leave us,” he tells the guards, who do as he asks without question.

His head is fully shaven, as is customary for a bloodfae Primus.

“Please take a seat, my Lord.” He gestures to the spot in front of him, and for the first time, it doesn’t feel like a slight.

“You can call me Damon,” I tell him. I’ve never sat atop a throne. I’ve never been called by my title. I find that I don’t like it much.

“Apologies for taking so long to introduce myself but needs must.”

“Don’t you want to check my marking to be sure it’s really me?” As the soldiers pointed out earlier, I hardly look like a king in my current state.

He shakes his head and smiles, which is always a little disconcerting when it’s a bloodfae. “My name is Cassius.” He pauses, like that is supposed to mean something. “We met years ago at your brother’s inauguration. I remember you, even though you’ve changed over the years, as we all have.”

My heart squeezes tightly in my chest. For a moment, it feels like I can’t breathe.

The inauguration. It feels like forever ago, and yet just the other day.

“Of course, I wasn’t the Primus back then. I was an elite warrior who had just been promoted to admiral. I looked completely different. I had a full head of hair. You probably won’t recall meeting me, but I certainly remember meeting you and Kyran.” His eyes grow hazy. “Such a terrible waste of a young life.” He takes a sip from a silver goblet. Amber liquid glints inside. “Oh, how rude of me.” He takes a crystal decanter and pours another goblet, handing it to me.

I take it, taking a sip and grimacing as the fiery liquid goes down my throat.

“Not much of a drinker?” he asks, a smile tugging on his lips.

“It’s been a while.”

Cassius’s expression softens, and he nods, understanding. “I can well imagine.” He sets his own goblet down and leans back slightly, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m sorry I have to take you to her. I wish things could be different. Perhaps if I were a less ambitious male, they could be. As it stands, I have to follow orders. There is no choice. I hope you understand.”

I take another sip of my drink; it goes down smoother this time.

“If it is any consolation, Queen Snow is greatly looking forward to seeing you again.” He lifts his brows.

I’ll bet.

He must see something written on my face because he says, “No, really, she is. She speaks highly of you, Damon.”

“We were friends once.” I find it almost impossible to believe now. “Before she was corrupted. Back when she was kind and—”

“Be careful what you say, my Lord. To talk against the queen is to court death.”

So I am told.

“What does she want with me?” I ask.

“Queen Snow was distraught when her beloved died.”

“She killed him,” I snap, heat rising in my veins. How dare she?

“No…no, you are mistaken. It was her stepmother who poisoned them both. Queen Snow was…changed, and, as you know, your brother… Well…he…” Cassius dances around what happened.

I refuse. “Died. He fell down dead, and she may as well have killed him. Within a day, a spell was cast over me. Cast over all of the kings in every kingdom across the realm. We were all lost.”

“Now you are found. You can still have a happy life. You can retake the throne. She needs you, Damon.”

She needs me.

Retake the throne.

I almost can’t believe what I am hearing. My ears are ringing. I frown. My blood going from hot to icy cold. “You’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting.”

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