Page 26 of The King of Frost and Shadows

“Nothing happened between Lira and me.” He moved his hand, waving the piece of her dress like a flag.

If that was supposed to be a sign of surrender, I viewed it as an active threat. I lunged at him.

Finnian grabbed the board and lifted it. The pieces fell onto the floor. I threw a punch, and he moved the board, blocking the blow. My hand pummeled through it, cracking it in half. Lira gasped, causing my head to become level once more.

I didn’t want to bring her more distress. I yanked my hand back, but it was lodged in the wood. Finnian let the board go, allowing me to stumble several feet back.

“It might bode well for you to drop the piece of her clothing.” Caelan sighed like he was bored.

In fairness, he probably was. I would be if I were in his shoes, and that thought alone froze me in place, but I still couldn’t find it in me to care about how I was reacting.

“Good point.” Finnian dropped the fabric and wiggled his fingers, showing he had nothing in his hand. “Tavish, I swear to the gods, there wasnothingsexual going on. I didn’t expect her to be naked, so I came into your room like usual. She was struggling to put on the dress, and I merely wanted to help her. She stumbled and almost fell, and that is theonlyreason she was on your bed like that. I would’vehelped anyone in that situation, even aprince. Would you rather I had watched her fall to the floor?”

The blasted wildling was too smooth of a talker, but I believed him. Even though I was still furious, my frustration ebbed enough for me to realize how irrationally I was acting. Another thing that had changed since Lira had come along in such a short amount of time.

“Then knock before entering next time,” I rasped.

“Don’t worry.” Finnian scurried across the room toward the exit, standing on the other side of Caelan so he wasn’t next to Lira. “I will. Lesson learned.” He glanced at her and shrugged. “Next time, you’ll have to let Tavish walk in on you like that and help you.”

At that thought, my body hardened inallplaces. I was suddenly desperate to know what being between her legs felt like. I didn’t understand what had changed between us now that we were older because I’d never felt anything this intense for her when we were younger.

Bringing her here might have been a huge mistake, but I had to find a way to navigate around it. The plan had been activated and couldn’t change now.

“Thatwon’t happen again.” Lira wrapped her arms around her upper chest. “Believe me. Wealllearned a lesson here.”

I needed everyone to leave so I could process everything. Part of me still wanted to stab Finnian in the stomach. In fact, I kept my sword in my hand, ready to wield it at any moment. Unfortunately, the one person I needed space from was the person with whom I had decided to share my room. Another impulsive decision that might as well have been to skin my wings. I sheathed my sword and freed my other hand from the damaged chessboard. “You’ll be retrieving a new chessboard for me within the next day.”

Finnian rolled his eyes. “It might do you good not to spend so much time with yourbelovedcousin.”

“You should stop while you’re ahead.” Caelan shook his head.

Eldrin was the one point of contention I had with Caelan and Finnian. They didn’t trust him, and in fairness, when I was younger, I hadn’t either. But he’d done so much for me and the kingdom since my father had passed.

Not wanting to expend any more energy, I pretended Finnian hadn’t said anything. “The two of you should leave so we can prepare for dinner.” I didn’t want to attend dinner with everyone, but Eldrin had nearly danced with the sun when he’d learned that I’d moved Lira into my room. He’d demanded that we discuss it over dinner, and I wanted Finnian and Caelan there with me. They’d be on my side, putting Eldrin and me at odds, so I had to make the sacrifice to dress and attend dinner.

“Ah, yes.” Finnian pursed his lips. “I can’t wait to see how this particular conversation goes. It will be entertaining, seeing as I enjoy Eldrin’s heat when he doesn’t get his way.”

“Unfortunately, he is right.” Caelan frowned. “Having the Seelie princess remain in your room is reckless and something I never would have expected you to do.”

I forced my hand away from drawing my sword. If I did, I might attack both of my friends. The idea of Lira being somewhere that any guard, servant, prisoner, or castle visitor could access and take out their frustrations with the Seelie upon her didn’t sit well with me. It wasmyduty to decide how to execute her. “I want her protected until the right time comes, and I trust only the two guards outside and myself to ensure that happens.”

“Hey.” Finnian’s brows furrowed. “What about me?”

I gritted my teeth, trying not to lash out. “You were part of that group until a few minutes ago.”

“I can take care of myself, you know.” Lira placed her hands on her waist, emphasizing how slender she was and how the dress clung to every curve.

The dress hadn’t been as formfitting on my mother, but the way it looked on Lira had me believing it had been made for her. I fidgeted, trying to hide the growing bulge in my pants. Now would’ve been a good time to be wearing armor.

Frustrated by all the strange emotions she caused, I bit out, “Yes, sprite. I’m sure you could with the little toy you showed off earlier.”

Instead of appearing hurt, she jutted her chin, which made me want to kiss her and make her quiver. I wanted to be the one to make her fall apart.

I needed to get away from her quickly. “I’m taking a bath.” My gaze landed on Finnian. “And no helping me get dressed—or anyone else in this room, for that matter.”

Finnian hung his head. “I’m never going to live that down.”

I marched past the broken chessboard and toward my closet. But when I heard Lira giggle, anger coursed through my body. There was no doubt in my mind who’d made her laugh, and I wished I’d stabbed him earlier.

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