Page 37 of The King of Frost and Shadows

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Torcall bowed his head. “We’ll stand guard since you’ll want to attend dinner.”

“I won’t be leaving tonight.” I hated the way those words settled over me. I struggled to leave her every day and lay awake at night, watching her sleep from my bed. “I can’t risk our little sprite sneaking out again. Between that and a brazen attacker in the castle, I need to ensure she remains well so everyone can see her in the gauntlet.”

She huffed and stomped her foot, then cringed.

Good. It served her right for being so reckless. She had caused a ton of issues by escaping and attacking my people. I’d underestimated her, and that alone infuriated me. I’d accounted for seduction, trying to find a way to kill me, and escaping down the castle hall. I’d never dreamed she’d climb out the window.

“Go,” I reiterated, my entire focus locked on her.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Finola replied, and the two guards left us alone.

When the door shut, I forced my feet to remain still. “What were you thinking, climbing out the window like that?”

She crossed her arms, blocking a portion of her chest. “Oh, I don’t know,nightmare. Maybe I don’t want todie.Maybe I want to get out of here so I can find a way back to my family and live out my life!” Her voice shook, but it wasn’t from fear. Her nostrils flared, conveying every ounce of anger she’d harnessed. “And is Nightbane okay?”

I couldn’t let her weaken me, but I still didn’t understand her connection with the cù-sìth. “Nightbane is being taken back to his bed so he can be taught a lesson. He wanted to aid you in your escape and attacked other Unseelie. That is unacceptable.”

“He was protecting me.” She tugged at the ends of her hair. “Punish me instead of him.”

“Oh, you’ll be punished soon enough.” I forced myself not to flinch, instead focusing on the goal I needed to accomplish. I pulled up the memory of my dead parents, blood soaking through their clothes and the Seelie guards hovering over them. My heart hardened, and some of the urge to comfort her slipped away. “And letting you go isn’t possible.” A lump formed in my throat, but I ignored it, making sure I enunciated every word. “You won’t get to live out your life in Gleann Solas or back on Earth, sprite.”

“And I don’t have the option of living here either.” Her bottom lip trembled faintly before she pressed her lips together firmly.

The one thing I wanted most in the realm could never happen—to close the distance and hold her in my arms. That would only further strain things between us. “No, you don’t.” There was no point in giving her false hope. “In fact,you’d better bathe and get some sleep so you can heal as much as possible for what lies ahead.”

“Are you going to tell me what the fuck the gauntlet is?” The snow had melted in her hair, and the few flakes still speckled on her chest had mixed with her drying blood. “Are you lining me up for lashes? Hanging me in front of the crowd?”

“If only it were that quick and painless.” That would be easier to witness than the hell she’d be experiencing. There was no doubt her death would be prolonged and painful. “Sprite, you have no idea what you got yourself into. You’ll wish I’d slit your throat.” I forced myself to smile, needing her to fear me and keep her distance.

Her jaw dropped, and her eyes narrowed.

I stepped toward her, though I hadn’t meant to, and ran a finger along her cheek. That damn jolt sprang between us, but I bared my teeth, leaning down toward her. Her chest heaved, and I wasn’t certain if it was from fear or attraction … maybe both. Either way, it invigorated me.

I moved my lips to her ear, ready to tell her what she desperately wanted to know.

12

LIRA

His musky amber scent filled my nose, making me dizzy. Those damn butterflies took flight in my stomach again, and I forced myself not to lean into him. After everything, I hated how attracted I still was to him and the way I longed for his touch.

Bastard.

“The gauntlet is three different games in which your only goal is to survive,” he answered, his lips brushing my earlobe and his breath flitting across my skin.

I couldn’t hide my shiver, but it clearly had to be from what he’d told me and not from his touch or proximity. Stepping back, I shook away my daze and focused on the words,gamesandsurvival. “What exactly does that mean?”

“You’ll take part in three obstacle courses with dangerous challenges that include the other prisoners.” Tavish leaned back and closed his eyes. “The prisoners will use the opportunity to kill each other without repercussions. Eldrin and Caelan will lay out the rules and the obstacles while I continue to handle the kingdom’s issues.”

I tried to swallow, but the lump in my throat wastoo large. “They’re all going to attack me, and I don’t have wings or magic.” My pulse quickened. I’d been determined to escape so I wouldn’t die at their hands, and here I was, being handed over to them.

“Oh, I’m aware.” Tavish opened his eyes, the color so dark it could have passed for onyx if I hadn’t known better.

“All this time, you said you would kill me.” I didn’t know why, but out of all the options, Tavish would be my choice. I wasn’t sure what that said about me. “Instead, you’re going to stuff me and put me on a silver platter?”

His brows furrowed, and then he grinned cockily. “If you being stuffed by me is something you’d like to experience, I’m not opposed to making that happen. In regard to the silver platter, that’s an odd request, but I’m sure we can come up with a solution to satisfy both your criteria.”

My body warmed at his sexual innuendo, but I ignored it. There was no way in hell I would allow myself to lose my virginity to a cold, broody asshole who’d kidnapped me and put me in this mess to begin with. I lifted my chin and wrinkled my nose. “Not what I meant. I was comparing what you’re doing to me to a turkey on Thanksgiving.”

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