Page 38 of The King of Frost and Shadows

“Turkey?” He rocked back on his heels. “Thanksgiving. I’m unsure what you mean. Are we speaking the same language?”

NowthatI understood all too well. It’d taken me a little bit to get used to the slurs here, but it was easy to catch on when insults were tossed only in my direction. “Never mind. I just meant you’ve been adamant thatyouwould kill me, and now you’re handing me over to be attacked by …” I trailed off. I wasn’t even sure how many prisoners they had here.

His jaw clenched. “Ididn’tdo anything. You escaped, despite the nice things I’ve given you, and attacked severalof my people. Not only that—but I was forced to kill yet another one of my people to protect you after you attacked me, trying to get away.”

“You’re still the one who made the decision.” I wouldn’t let him justify his actions like I’d caused this problem. “So don’t blame me.”

He closed the distance between us and moved me so that my back pressed against the wall. He lowered his face to mine and placed his thumb against my lower lip, pulling it down. The buzz shot through me, and I had to restrain myself from licking his finger to find out what he tasted like.

“If I hadn’t announced the gauntlet, my people would’ve revolted against me, and you would’ve died tonight. At least this allows you a chance to prepare and survive.”

I snorted, and before I could stop myself, I moved my head so that I had his finger between my teeth.

He smirked, stepping into me, and a velvety, earthy taste filled my mouth from his skin. I could feel him hard against me, and I had to fight my legs to keep them from wrapping around his waist, desperate to feel him between them.

“I should bite your finger off,” I snarled, bearing down a little more on his skin.

“Nowthatis a sacrifice I’d be more than willing to make, sprite.” He chuckled.

Goose bumps spread across my skin, and my breathing accelerated, but I couldn’t tolerate him getting any more arrogant … especially not due to me. I placed a hand against his chest and pushed him back.

He didn’t fight me, and a part of me screamed in disappointment, but the sane part sighed with relief. When his finger left my mouth, I missed his taste as much as his touch.This connection between us didn’t make sense, but at least it affected us both.

“If you’re expecting a thank-you, it won’t happen.” At the end of the day, he’d set my future. The only question now was who would kill me. “You still sealed my death.”

“Yes. I did.” His irises darkened. “The moment I located you and brought you back here. I’ve been honest about that since you foolishly separated from your sister.”

The words knocked the breath out of me, forcing the walls to close in. My parents had always warned me that one wrong decision could alter my life and to never go off with strangers. I’d never been tempted until I had been by the person who’d brought me here. If I could go back in time and make some other decision, I would, though I understood he’d been determined to bring me here and that Eiric could’ve been caught in the cross fire. “It wouldn’t have mattered.”

His face morphed from arrogance to a deep scowl, and his frigid demeanor slid back into place. “You’re right. Fate intervened and allowed me to find you. There isn’t an alternative. The past is set, and the wrongs must be righted.”

“Is that a mantra you repeat to yourself day after day, or only when you spend time with me?” I’d barely been around him, but I’d heard that line or something similar to it any time we remained in each other’s presence. It was like he had to remind himself that this was the way things had to be. “Because if you’re doing it for my benefit, message received.”

He ran a hand through his hair, and the slight curls fell over his face. He opened his mouth to say something but paused. “The towels have been replenished, so you have what you need to bathe for now.”

In other words, our conversation was over. That was forthe best. But I flinched and touched the faint scar from Eldrin’s attack. The quick movement caused my tailbone and chest to ache from the injuries I’d sustained tonight. Yet the last thing I wanted was to soak in the bathtub. I didn’t want Eldrin to ambush me again.

Tavish’s attention homed in on the spot I was touching, and he huffed. “What’s wrong?”

I opened my mouth to sayNothing, but no sound came out. Damn the rule of fae and no lying. I hadn’t struggled on Earth, buthere,when I needed to lie to save my ass, I became speechless. I settled on a partial truth instead and touched the area, which still felt hot from where the fae had stabbed me. “My chest hurts.” I glanced down and realized my dress was hanging open and barely covering my chest.

The muscle in his jaw twitched, and his attention landed on the spot where Eldrin had stabbed me.

I had to do something before he asked more questions. We had enough tension and worry between us without adding more. I slipped from my spot and headed toward the bathroom door. I turned the knob and opened it, ready to get away from him and clear my head. “A bath would be good.”

“I’ll get a servant to bring a gown—”

“No need.” They’d already put a new gown in the closet when they’d come to spot-check the room for things the king might need. “I have something already.” Before he could say anything else, I shut the door and faced the tub.

I exhaled, wanting to make this quick. I didn’t want to bathe, but it had been days, if not a week, since the last time I’d gotten clean, and I didn’t want the new wounds to become infected.

I turned on the water and, as the tub filled, opened the closet door to snag a pale-blue towel. I scanned the room,focusing on the darkest corners but didn’t see anything there.

With haste, I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the water, allowing it to cover me. As soon as I submerged myself, the water tingled all over my body, relaxing me and easing the pain from the wounds I’d received. Still, my brain ran wild, seeing flashes of shadows in the shadows. I blinked, and nothing was there. I was allowing Eldrin to mess with my mind, and I wasn’t sure how to fix it.

I sank further into the water, allowing the dirt and grime of the night to wash away. My hands, feet, and chest tingled more than the rest of my body. They were cracked, scraped, cut, and bleeding.

After getting clean, I dried myself quickly and slipped the new dress over my head. I ran my fingers through my hair to untangle the knots to the best of my ability then hurried back into the bedroom, not wanting to be in the bathroom alone.

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