Page 17 of The King of Frost and Shadows

I couldn’t help but notice that he’d flinched.

“Yet you protected her from him,” Finnian countered with an arched brow, glancing between us.

“She won’t make the same mistake twice, or she’ll deserve it.” Tavish pointed at Nightbane.

Finnian struck me as genuine, so I decided to trust him … more so than Tavish. I inhaled to center myself then reached my hand out to the animal.

Nightbane growled, his eyes turning a lighter, glowing green once more. The closer my hand got, the more threatening the noises he made.

Pulse racing, I closed my eyes, not wanting to see him bite me as I touched his nose. I expected it to feel like a dog’s, wet and cold, but it felt warm, his hot breath reminding me of a fire, yet inside, he felt frigid and empty.

I wasn’t sure how I knew that just from touching him.

Something sparked inside me as Nightbane inhaled deeply. The noises temporarily disappeared as a faint thrum pulsed through me. The pulse seemed to brush under my skin and travel to the hand that touched him, but it didn’t feel foreign—it felt like part of me.

Great. I had lost my mind. Yet the thought comforted me. If I was crazy, all of this would make sense.

“That’s adequate.” The guard came over to the animal. “He has her scent now.”

Nightbane pressed his head into my hand, so I slid it beyond his nose and opened my eyes to find his locked on my face. His irises had returned to a darker green, and his mouth was closed.

“You can lower your hand, Lira,” Tavish said tightly. “Before he attacks you again.”

The three men watched me, each with a different expression. The guard scowled like he wanted to hurt me while Tavish held his wings firmly behind him, his arms crossed. I wasn’t sure if he wanted to eat me or sacrifice me. It was as if he was trying to decide which would seal my fate when it was time.

Finnian smirked like I’d been brought here to entertain him, and somehow, that worried me more than the other two because I had no clue about his intentions.

“Lowering your hand means you don’t have to touch Nightbane anymore.” Finnian raised his arm like mine was, then lowered it as if I couldn’t comprehend his words.

Jackass, but in a way, he reminded me of Eiric.

Not wanting to be the center of attention anymore, I started to lower my hand, but Nightbane whimpered and moved closer so I would remain touching him.

The strange feeling sputtered inside me as if the sensation were warming Nightbane from within.

“She’s doing something to him.” The guard rushed over and shoved me toward Tavish and Finnian.

I tried to stop my fall and hit my funny bone. Sharp pain sprang up my arm, and my body jerked. Nightbane snarled and moved in front of me.

“You stupid, sun—” the guard started, but Tavish removed his sword from his side and pressed it against the man’s throat just above the armor. The guard’s eyes widened as blood trickled down his neck.

Tavish’s nostrils flared. “You harmed her.”

I gritted my teeth, trying not to let the guard know he’d hurt me, but I stopped the tears from filling my eyes. My vision blurred, and I blinked rapidly to hold them back.

“She was doing something to Nightbane,” the guard spoke slowly. “He’s never acted like this before, and you know how hard it is to find a cù-sìth.”

“Do not touch her.” Tavish pressed deeper, the blood running faster down the guard’s throat. “Why don’t any of you understand?” Rage laced his voice, making it deep and raspy.

My body warmed, and I sat upright. Nightbane was still hunkered in front of me and growling, blocking the guard from reaching me.

I didn’t need to see his eyes to know they were glowing.

“Your Majesty, she’s a prisoner. You’ve never protected one before, and—” The guard leaned back.

Tavish countered the move, pressing the edge of his sword deeper into the guard’s throat. Tavish spoke so low that the hairs on my arm stood upright. “She is the Seelie princess and the very person who will bring the Seelie to their knees.Idetermine if and when she’s hurt. Do I make myself clear? I’d hate to lose another guard today because you can’t control yourself.”

The guard nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

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