Page 74 of The King of Frost and Shadows

Normally, his goading didn’t bother me, but he provided an easy target for my frustration.

His eyes widened as he realized he’d pushed me too far, but the sound of the door creaking open came from below.

Lorne walked through the doorway with Lira in his arms. Finola and Torcall stood at the door, and when Finola took her from Lorne, some of the strange sensations in my chest eased, though I now had a new hatred for Lorne I suspected I’d never shake.

Wings flapped as Finnian hovered next to me. He patted my shoulder and whispered, “She’s out of danger.”

Even though that was true, her safety was temporary. She’d be involved in the next gauntlet, the gruesome game I had created. If she survived, it would fall on me to kill her.

That agonizing pain burst through my chest, remindingme that, no matter what, her death had always been the fate I’d given her.

I hadn’t considered the possibility that I’d carry the guilt of my decision for eternity.

I rubbed the spot on my chest directly above my heart to ease the discomfort. “But for how long, really?” The future weighed on me, and the need to rush to her and mend her wounds overtook me.

I had to be smart about it and not let Eldrin know. He already focused on her too much, and if he did more, I risked killing him.

Moira and Rona were the next pair through and I couldn’t wait any longer, especially with Dougal and Bran just a few feet behind them.

Tearing my gaze from the door, I scanned the stadium. More than half of my people were grinning, enjoying every moment of the pain inflicted upon the traitors. That didn’t startle me. What did was the quarter of the watchers who were frowning like they weren’t happy with everything that had happened.

As soon as the last pair made it through the door, I turned to my group and said, “I have something I need to attend to now that the game is over.”

“We all do, King Tavish.” Eldrin rolled his eyes and flew toward the open sky above the arena. He called over his shoulder, “Our real day is just beginning.”

All that prevented me from following him and punishing him was my intense desire to check on Lira. Torcall and Finola knew to bring her to my room, and if I argued with Eldrin, especially in front of my people, he’d want to discuss the state of things between us, thus keeping me from Lira.

“Caelan and I will find volunteers to do the work theprisoners normally do,” Finnian offered. “Meet us for dinner, and we’ll catch you up on everything.”

Maybe not killing Finnian had been the right decision after all. Instead of responding, I flew upward. I’d need to take the long way back to my room.

I heard Caelan mutter, “Where is he going?”

I knew better than to fly to Lira, but I couldn’t stop myself. The way her golden blood had trickled down her face and her wings had hung limply sprang back into my mind, pushing me to reach her faster.

After taking the longer way around the castle, I flew into the window closest to my bedchamber, noting Torcall standing guard outside the door alone.

My wings suddenly felt as if someone were pulling me to the ground. I landed right before him, searching for Finola and Lira. Had they run into issues while coming here? Surely, the other guards knew better than to cause problems. “Where are they?”

The corner of Torcall’s eyes tightened, and something strange formed in the back of my throat.

As I readied to head to the prison, Torcall cleared his throat and said, “They’re both in the bedroom. The Seelie is struggling.”

I hurried past him and shoved the door open. I found Lira crawling to the wall and propping herself against it. She reached for Nightbane, who crouched between Finola and her. Drool dripped from his teeth as he snarled at Finola, making it clear he viewed her as a threat.

“Nightbane, calm down.” Lira reached forward, her face twisting in worry. “She helped me, so don’t be mean.” Her fingers reached his tail, and she ran a hand along it. “It’s okay.”

Seeing her broken gutted me. I was quite sure I’d ratherbe stabbed repeatedly than see her this way. I couldn’t keep my distance from her anymore, and my feet began moving before I gave them permission.

“You can leave, Finola,” I rasped while squatting next to Lira, not bothering to look at anyone but her. Even bloodied, beaten, and injured, she was still the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen.

“Yes, sire,” Finola said with relief and darted out the door.

Heart clenched so tight I feared it might burst, I touched her shoulder, hoping it was a safe place.

She flinched and whimpered.

I jerked my hand back, and the wordsI’m sorrysat on the tip of my tongue, but I forced myself to swallow them. Instead, I settled on something else. “Where does it not hurt?”

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