Page 28 of The King of Frost and Shadows

“Interesting.” Her cobalt irises sparkled as she lifted one. “I have so much to learn about the vegetation here.”

Her interest shocked me.

“Tavish, have you lost your mind?” Eldrin remained, standing behind the chair I’d told him to take. “She’s a prisoner, not a guest.”

“If this is how a guest is treated, then y’all should learn some manners.” Lira leaned back, crossing her arms.

I sat down, wishing she would be quiet. I needed her to be seen and not heard, but of course, that was impossible with her.

“Oh, forgive me,Princess, that you aren’t wanted orliked since your people are the reason we live here today.” Eldrin’s jaw twitched. He glared at Tavish. “What happened to you on Earth? Because my cousin isn’t the same person sitting before me tonight. The person who returned is impulsive and rash, and that’s something even your friends can’t deny.”

Both Caelan and Finnian picked up their forks and began playing with their food.

They agreed with him. I’d brought them here to be on my side.

“I’m not being impulsive and rash.” I grabbed my goblet of water and took a sip. “All I’ve done is make sure our prisoner isn’t mistreated until the time comes.”

“Oh, she’s not being mistreated.” Eldrin crossed his arms as Sine brought out another plate and set it before him.

She hurried back to her spot beside the window.

Eldrin snagged his knife and pointed it at Lira. She flinched, which seemed out of character from what I’d witnessed of her.

“She’s wearing your mother’s gown, for the gods’ sake.” Eldrin grimaced.

I set the glass on the table. “It’s not like any of us wear gowns. Where do you propose I find her clothes to wear?”

“What’s wrong with the ones she arrived in?” Eldrin waved a hand at her. “She’s supposed to be miserable.”

“Oh, believe me, I am.” Lira glowered. “I have to sit here with you, for one.”

Finnian chuckled, and Caelan coughed to hide his laugh.

The two of them together would make this situation worse. I didn’t need them to encourage one another.

“She’s rude, including to members of your own family,and you allow it.” Eldrin placed a hand on the table. “This is unacceptable.”

My back stiffened, and I waited for Caelan and Finnian to come to my aid. They normally would have jumped in and supported me by now.

“Tavish, Eldrin has a point.” Caelan grimaced. “I understand that you don’t want people punishing her, but you had her stay in the holding cell for only one night.”

“And he carried her out of it after attacking a guard for wanting to scar her like he was,” Eldrin added and sighed.

My stomach churned, but before I could say anything, Finnian interjected, “And you protected her against Nightbane. You even threatened the guard with death after he shoved Lira away from the beastly mutt.”

“And you took her straight to your bedchamber, proclaiming she would sleep in there with you,” Caelan added. “Let’s not forget what happened when we came back after you threatened every guard in the palace about harming her.”

All three of them were siding together, whichneverhappened. But as they pointed out instance after instance of my odd actions since Lira’s arrival, I hated to admit they were right.

“And now you’ve brought her to dinner with us, wearing the queen’s gown. The very queen her parents killed!” Eldrin wrinkled his nose. “You’re treating her like she’s your betrothed, not your prisoner, and if you keep this up, your people will turn on you. Your irrational actions will get us all killed.”

I sucked in a breath while forcing my expression to remain indifferent. I hated how right they were. Whatever was brewing between Lira and me was turning me into someone I wasn’t. I needed to put some distance between usto clear my head. I had a plan, and I couldn’t let anything interfere with it, including myself.

I wanted to stab myself in the gut. “Your opinions and advice are noted.” I’d made one mistake after another, but I’d already declared she was staying with me. Every other nicety ended now. “Everything I’ve done has been to make her uncomfortable, but I hadn’t considered it from my people’s perspective, so thank you for bringing up your concerns.”

“Yes, we wouldn’t want the king to be seen as forgiving and graceful.” Lira sneered and placed her fork on the table. She hadn’t taken a single bite.

Good. Let her starve. I didn’t care. I forced myself to harden toward her. “Forgiveness will never be given until your people have paid for their sins against us.”

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