Page 27 of The King of Frost and Shadows

I dug through my clothes, looking for a tunic and slacks. We’d be eating in the formal dining hall, something Eldrin had insisted upon tonight, which meant we had to be dressed as royalty.

The doors to my bedchamber closed, and I selected a black outfit that would serve the occasion. I marched out the door to find Lira picking up the chess pieces that had fallen on the floor. The top of her gown gaped, revealing herample cleavage and my gaze settled on something that appeared fresh … a wound.

I dropped the clothes and took her arm, pulling her toward me. The cold magic of frost swirled within me as darkness clung to me. However, I couldn’t remove my gaze from the cut on her chest. “Who did this to you?” I snarled then focused on her face.

Her bottom lip quivered. “I … I can’t tell you.”

“Was it the guard?” Cutting off one wing hadn’t been enough of a punishment for what he’d done.

She averted her gaze to the floor. “No.”

“Then who?” I had to restrain myself from squeezing her more.

“Why does it matter?” She lifted her chin. “You keep saying you’re going to do worse to me anyway.”

The words were equivalent to her kneeing me in the testicles. “Just tell me who it was.”

“I won’t tell you.” She glared. “Beat me, torture me, do whatever. You’ll still never learn.”

She doubted me. Good. That was what I needed. I leaned forward, allowing my lips to brush her earlobe as I said, “Don’t worry, sprite. I’ll figure it out on my own.” A dark, dangerous sensation flooded me, telling me to harm everyone in the castle until I discovered the culprit, and the thought had merit. But that would have to begin after dinner. I had to get through that first.

She shivered, and that little action had me wanting more. My head screamed that I was being foolish, but I slid my lips from her earlobe to her lips. Her scent filled my nose as our lips touched, sending a jolt straight to a dark, cold place inside me that had been that way for so long … ever since I’d lost everything. The strange sensation heated up something that needed to remain untouched and hardened so I could save my people and right the wrongs against us.

“I know whatever this is between us, you feel it too,” she whispered, her eyes searching mine for something.

Her words brought me back to the present, and I pulled away. Whatever game we were playing wasn’t safe. I had a mission. One she couldn’t distract me from.

With every ounce of willpower I had, I forced myself to pick up the clothes I’d dropped and march into the bathroom.

With my handon Lira’s arm, I forced her to join me for dinner. Her only salvation for me not growing annoyed with her was that her foot was still bothering her, but she tested my patience with her inability to remain quiet.

“I’d rather die from eating poisoned food than sit down with you and your minions,” she grumbled, trying to yank free of my grip.

Part of me admired her bravery, while an equal part wanted her to obey me like everyone else in this blasted place. I’d hoped that being raised in the human world would make her more pliable and moldable. Clearly, I’d been wrong.

We strolled into the dining hall where the long rectangular table sat sixteen. Four places had been set at the end near the windows overlooking the kingdom since no one had expected Lira.

Eldrin, Finnian, and Caelen were already there, and Eldrin frowned at Lira.

Two servants flanked the window, waiting to serve us. I glanced at the woman I’d grown up thinking of as almost asecond mother. “Sine, please set another spot for the prisoner.”

“What is she doing here?” Eldrin seethed.

I hated the way she tensed. When I reached my place at the head of the table, I gestured for Eldrin to move down a spot. “I brought her here to ensure no one attempts to poison her.”

Beside Caelan, Finnian pressed his lips together.

Begrudgingly, Eldrin stood up and reached for his plate of fish and mushrooms to take with him.

“No, that’s hers.” I had purposely not told anyone she was coming with me because I didn’t want them to know which plate would be hers. Too many people wanted to kill her.

I pulled out the chair for her to sit down.

“I’d rather have a fresh plate.” Lira huffed and sat ungracefully in the chair. “I don’t want his germs all over my food.” Her gaze landed on the mushrooms, and she tilted her head. “I’ve never seen these before.”

“They’re unique to our realm,” Caelan said solemnly.

He wasn’t thrilled about Lira’s presence here either.

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