Page 36 of The King of Frost and Shadows

The anger etched into every one of their faces turned to pure delight. I lowered my sword but continued to push mymagic into Sablean and the world around us. Somehow, calling for the gauntlet made me feel more ill than the first time.

I clung to the lesson my father had beaten into me several times growing up.The best way to control your people is to lead with fear. Ruthlessness is essential if you don’t want someone to take the crown from you.We hadn’t been ruthless with the Seelie, trying to bridge peace at my mother’s request, and because of that, my parents had died at the Seelies’ hands.

“Take him to his home.” I gestured to Sablean, refusing to relinquish control of his mind until later. This would be a punishment for him, and all would see what sort of state he’d be in after I released my hold on him.

Not bothering to wipe off his blood, I sheathed my sword and turned to Lira.

I didn’t expect the way my heart skipped a beat when I saw her.

Her cheeks were golden from the cold, and her blonde hair was wild with snow in it. Her cobalt eyes looked hard as she stared at me with distrust and malice, and my heart stuttered. Her cleavage was on full display, her nipples taut, causing my dick to harden and my pants to get a little too tight at this very inopportune time. She was wild, feral … and downright gorgeous.

“I’ll take her back up,” Torcall said, readying to carry her.

My hand inched back toward my sword at the thought of her being close to him. Clenching my jaw, I forced my hand to relax. I couldn’t act irrationally.

I forced myself to nod at him, and as he took her away, I turned back to my people, knowing if I continued to watch him touch her, I’d lose my composure. Nothing hadchanged tonight between Lira and me. Her death had always been the goal. What I felt for her was irrelevant, and hopefully, when she died, the strange emotions would die with her.

Heart squeezing, I lifted my chin and slipped a neutral mask back into place. “Next time anything like this happens, you all will be placed in prison. I won’t tolerate this behavior ever again. Do you understand?” I allowed the edges of darkness to swirl around me as the snow picked up.

As the Unseelie king, I had the most power over darkness, illusions, frost, and dreams. No one could do as much damage as I could, and they needed to remember that. Not even Eldrin could blend completely into darkness; he cast mere shadows.

“Anyone who threatens me also threatens the survival of our people.” I spoke clearly, allowing the rocks to echo the message to the entire village. “And they shall be killed.”

Two men flanked Sablean and took his arms while the oldest resident of the village flew high from his spot next to the door. “Yes, King Tavish.” He bowed his head, his dark-blond hair gleaming faintly in the thick fog that hovered over us. “We won’t doubt you again.”

Some of the tension eased from my shoulders, though I kept my stance tight. “Good. Now hurry home and rest. It’s late. Tomorrow, you’ll need to double your workload since the gauntlet will start in two nights.” I glanced at the guards by my side and at Nightbane, who lay miserably on the ground, tormented by dreams. “And take the dog to his cell and punish him. Do whatever it takes for him not to do something like this again.”

The men who hadn’t seemed appeased relaxed. They’d probably suspected I wouldn’t set a date, which was exactlywhy I had. I had to give them every reason not to rise against me again.

Not wasting any more time, I expanded my massive wings and soared above them. I stared down at them until I blanketed myself in darkness and lifted into the fog. I wanted to hear what they had to say about their actions, but something yanked at me to go after Lira. I needed to reach her and check that she was all right, which was foolish. In two days, she’d likely be dead unless her memories came back, along with her wings and magic. There was no doubt the inmates would team up and work against her.

Acid inched upward in my throat, making me feel as if I would vomit.

I flew past my bedchamber and was heading to the holding cells when my attention landed on a window that had been lifted several feet high.

My mouth went dry.Thatwas how Lira had escaped? Earth must have done a number on her, making her ignorant.

“Let me go,” Lira snapped from inside my room. “I’m back in place. And where is Nightbane?”

“If you think we’re going to leave you alone afterthat—” Finola started, only stopping when I flew through the window.

Lira stood in the middle of the room, her back to me, with her hands on her hips. I made sure to remain soundless, but I knew the moment she felt my presence.

Her body tensed, and she pivoted so she could see both me and the guards.

Excellent. She knew better than to keep her back turned to an enemy. Whether I wanted it to be that way or not, that’s what we were. Her parents had made sure of that, and there was no way back.

“Your Majesty, we weren’t sure where you wanted us to take her, so I brought her here.” Torcall folded his wings behind his back and averted his gaze. “If you want us to take her to the cell to prepare, we can do that.”

“Prepare forwhat?” Lira huffed and winced, touching her chest where she’d been cut. “And where is Nightbane?”

Two of her toenails were cracked and bleeding from being barefoot outside, and her hands were tinged blue from the cold.

“Leave her here,” I rasped, a dangerous edge to my tone. “And go.”

Her head snapped up toward me, and she clenched her jaw.

My stomach suddenly felt funny, and it wasn’t from the bile anymore.

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