Page 74 of The Alien's Cruel Starfrost Domain

Before I can respond, she slips past me into the ballroom, leaving me alone with the lingering chill of my anger and the bitter taste of her contempt.

I should not have intervened. Should not have revealed even that much regard for her welfare. Svalkat will report it to Jonyk, adding another complication to an already precarious situation.

I tell myself it doesn’t matter, since Jonyk will die soon.

And so will Lara.

Still, the thought of Svalkat’s hands on her, his eyes undressing her...

Frost crackles across the ceiling as my control slips again, spreading further, crawling across the wall like creeping vines. It spirals and swirls, creating patterns like the ones that decorate the Starfire crown. The crown that will help me reshape everything, once I have both sisters in my possession.

Taking over the kingdom. That is what matters.

But first, Jonyk must die. Here, in my home.

If not at my hand, at least by my order.

I’ve arranged everything too carefully to allow my emotions to run rampant, to ruin everything.

I force the frost back, smoothing ice into stone until no trace remains.

As I turn away, though, I catch a glimpse of Lara moving throughthe ballroom. Even from here, I swear I sense her power lying dormant in her blood. What will she think when she sees what I’ve set in motion? Will she understand that everything I’ve done, everything I’m about to do, is necessary?

Will she hate me more for the monster I must become to save my world?

It won’t matter, I tell myself with a harsh internal laugh.She’ll be dead soon enough.

I turn away before the sight of her can weaken my resolve further. I have preparations to oversee, plans to finalize. I cannot afford to be distracted by one girl, no matter how she calls something in my blood.

No matter how much I wish things could be different.

Jonyk will arrive, secure in his power, never suspecting that his death approaches on wings of flame.

And I will sacrifice whatever—whoever—I must to achieve my goals.

Even if that means sacrificing my own heart in the process. Sacrificing my own soul.

I straighten my shoulders and continue my rounds, ice spreading and retreating with each step. I am the Duke of Starfrost. I have a role to play.

And the real performance is only beginning.

CHAPTER 22

LARA

Once I decided to go to the firelords for help, I spent days trying to get Adefina to tell me more about them. The first time I asked, she gave me a suspicious look. “I hope you’re not thinking of doing something foolish.”

“Of course not.” I turned back to rebuilding the fire. “I’m just curious. I’ve never heard of them before. They’re just completely new to me.” I stood up and dusted my hands on my jeans.

When I glanced at her again, Adefina still stared at me through narrowed eyes. “I hope that’s your only motivation. The firelords are vicious, cruel. They will not hesitate to use you and discard you. The Ice Court is positively gentle by comparison.”

“Nope. Just curious.”

I dropped the topic for a full day and didn’t bring it up again until we were sitting by the fire that night as Kila told a Caix version of a campfire horror story.

I’d been drowsing, barely paying attention, when Kila said in a shrill voice, “And that’s when she saw the scales on his neck andrealized this was no Starcaix. It was afirelord.” She practically hissed the last word.

I did my best not to perk up too obviously, given Adefina’s reaction when I’d asked about them before. But I couldn’t let this moment pass me by without trying to learn something. “Scales on his neck? That’s how you can tell someone is a firelord?”

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