Page 21 of The Alien's Cruel Starfrost Domain

“Oh, it is. And I paid a hefty price for her, as well.” I cast about for some way to change the subject—but the baron was determined to learn more.

“Please tell me she is not merely a kitchen drudge. That would be a waste.”

I went still. “A waste?”

“Oh, absolutely.” He took another long drink from the goblet. “I wouldn’t keep someone like that in the kitchen.”

With that, I was no longer struggling to find the right words to say. “Oh, no?”

My voice had gone quiet, but Svalkat wasn’t paying attention. He jerked his chin toward the door, now closed, and spoke loudly. “A girl that beautiful is made to be used for pleasure.”

Frozen anger swept through my veins, bringing my frost magic surging to the surface with all the strength of my bloodline, connected to the power of this land for a thousand cycles.

Svalkat didn’t notice my reaction initially, having drunk far too much of my wine to keep his wits about him. “If you don’t plan to do anything with her yourself, I’d be happy to find a use for her.”

He waggled his eyebrows and turned toward me, then froze as he finally noticed my reaction.

My jaw tightened and my nostrils flared as I leaned forward, staring directly into the baron’s eyes.

Without so much as twitching, Svalkat tracked my movements .

I held his gaze. Ice crackled under my words. “That girl is mine.”

“I see.”

“I’m warning you, Svalkat.” My voice dropped lower. “Donotspoil my purchase.”

Slowly, he raised both hands as if to surrender. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

For a long moment, we held that position. Finally, I nodded andleaned back in my dining chair, taking another deliberate slug of wine from the goblet.

Only then did I glance toward the door again—where I found Lara standing rooted to the floor just on the other side of the doorway as it swung open again to allow the next footman through with another course.

Her eyes went round as she realized I was watching her. I drew in a deep breath, and in that moment, I wanted her more than I ever have. Part of me wished I had bought her for my pleasure, that I had no other agenda. Then I would have been able to follow these urges, making my way to the kitchen and fucking her senseless right there on the hearthstone.

I pinned her in place with my gaze while I imagined making her scream. A low growl rumbled in my throat, and a slow, wicked smile curved across my lips.

Oh, princess. The things I could do to you.

Almost as if she could hear my thoughts, her eyes widened even further. With a gasp, she finally unpinned herself from the floor and spun on her heel, racing toward the kitchen.

Away from me.

A fear-scent floated across the room in her wake, and my cock hardened at the piquant spice of it.

It was all I could do to rip my attention away from her—to stop myself from rising and following her without any care at all for what Svalkat might decide such an action could mean. But after a long moment, I turned back to my guest, forcing myself to smile politely and return to normal dinner conversation.

To act as though I hadn’t just threatened that guest’s life over a servant girl. One I had every intention of killing myself within a matter of a few ten-days.

I was halfway sure I was losing my mind.

And yet… a single thought echoed through my mind.

No onecan touch her but me.

Since that night, Baron Svalkat has avoided mentioning Lara at all. Otherwise, though, his behavior since his arrival has only served to confirm my suspicion that he’s spying for Prince Jonyk.

The morning of the third day of the baron’s spying visit, we go hunting in the forest, riding conjured horses I’ve provided—the expenditure of power both a courtesy and a show of strength—and he begins questioning me.

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