Page 30 of The King of Frost and Shadows

“I’m assuming you haven’t noticed anything, Torcall?” Tavish asked curtly, his fingers digging into my skin.

I flinched but swallowed the whimper. He wanted to prove a point to everyone, but that didn’t mean I would help him. If his people revolted against him, even a few of them, that would give me a chance to break free.

“No, Your Highness,” the other guard, a bulky guy, said from his spot in front of me. He had startlingly blue eyes that continually searched the area for threats. Between that and his dark skin and white hair, the man was very striking. “Finola and I haven’t moved from our posts.”

“Good.” Tavish strolled by them, opening the door. “You two are dismissed for the night. Send your relief to take your station. I need you both back here in the morning.”

He tugged me more gently, but my feet ached so much that I stumbled again on what I suspected to be broken toes.

Tears burned in my eyes, but I blinked to keep them atbay. I wasn’t sure if Tavish wanted to prove something to himself, to me, or both, but he was being awful.

I couldn’t believe we’d basically kissed just an hour ago. My lips still tingled from the way his mouth had felt on mine.

“What’s wrong, sprite?” Once the doors banged shut, Tavish eased his hold and slipped his arm around my waist. He took some of the weight off my foot even though he continued, “Are you not fond of mistreatment?”

Any butterflies I’d been feeling for him disappeared. I didn’t need to get confused about my feelings for him, and his being a cold asshole helped.

Not wanting him to continue touching me and messing with my head, I limped away. “Nope. Crying because you smell so bad. Maybe you should put me back in the holding cell so I can actually get some sleep.”

He laughed, and the sound was warm and genuine.

His hot-and-cold demeanor gave me whiplash. “Oh, are you back to being somewhat humane now that we’re not around your besties and cousin?”

“Besties?” His forehead wrinkled. “What is that?”

“Your close friends—Caelan and Finnian.” Even though we both spoke English, we had different vernaculars that hindered us from time to time.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, making it messy.

I hated how my heart skipped a beat.

“Everything they said is true.” Tavish exhaled. “And I fear our past is clouding my judgment. I can’t allow that. My people have suffered so much because of your family. My hands are tied, and whatever we’re feeling can’t happen. I have to kill you, sprite. Have no doubt about that.”

His admission that he felt something for me made me want to close the distance between us. I couldn’t do that. He’d made it clear where his loyalties lay, and it wasn’t with me. I refused to bring up again that I’d had nothing to do with the attack. We’d already had that conversation. “You’ve made it clear.”

He sighed and went to the bed, grabbing a pillow and the large comforter. He placed both on the floor. “This is where you’ll sleep tonight.”

“Why not just send me back to the holding cell?” I crossed my arms to prevent myself from shaking.

“Because I harmed a guard today on your behalf, threatened another, and informed the guards that you’ll be sleeping in here since I can’t trust them.” Tavish’s wings fluttered. “If I take you back, I’ll look indecisive, which is unacceptable. And the truth is, I don’t want you to be harmed until the time is forced upon us.”

Not wanting to continue this conversation, I made my way to the makeshift bed on the floor. I wanted to close my eyes and go over everything I’d seen tonight before I forgot anything.

Preparing for another uncomfortable night, I wrapped myself in the comforter. It felt like silk on my skin, and as I nestled into the pillow, I could’ve believed it was a cloud. It was almost as comfortable as my bed back home … and smelled like Tavish.

I wanted to stare out the window, but I turned to face the bed in case Tavish tried to kill me during the night.

He climbed into bed, and I couldn’t see him anymore.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly, like he feared someone outside would hear him. “I won’t hurt you until I’m forced to. Rest well.”

A sob built in my chest, but I forced it away. I had tofocus on a plan … a way to escape. Dad had told Eiric and me over and over again that if we ever got into a dangerous situation, we shouldn’t waste energy on being upset but rather focus every last ounce of concentration we had on surviving until he could find us.

He was right. That was exactly what I had to do.

I had the two daggers, and I knew how to climb and how to fight. Now, I just needed to figure out how to use those three things to get out of here without flying fae catching me.

I faced the windows and examined them and every corner of the room I could see until I passed out.

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