Page 131 of Fated to the Frost King

A few snickers went up around, and the male shuffled self-consciously.

Shards.

I would not let them use me as bait for him. I backed away, preparing to flee, no matter the cost. I didn’t actually think theirprecious Thane had given them leave to kill me if he went to such trouble to take me to begin with.

It was a risk I would have to take.

I spun on my heel just as another shape came hurtling from the darkness, pinning me to the ground.

“I agree with Corven; it’s a stupid risk to take. I’ve got her. Let’s just go.”

He shifted to grab my arm as an argument erupted behind us.

Then everything froze.

I didn’t need to see him to feel him. The way his power raced over my skin, both a burn and a balm.

Draven.

A sharp woosh of mana erupted, a violent wind exploding outward. Frost and mana whipped through the night. Bright purple mana met it mid-air, the sound like the first clap of thunder in a hurricane.

The male who had pinned me now pulled me to my feet, crushing my back against his chest. I tried to shake my hair out of my face, but a sharp bit of steel bit into my throat.

Frost damn it all.

Tavrik cursed under his breath about all of this going to hells while the male behind me called out in a mocking tone.

“One step closer, and we carve your wife down to bone.”

The mana pulled back, but I still felt it pulsing over to me.

A gust of wind blew through, finally clearing my view.

It wasn’t pretty.

Another body in the snow. Zerina? Pierced through with a shard of ice. Another fae knelt at her side, his features startlingly familiar.

No.Those were memories I couldn’t afford to revisit right now.

Finally, I turned my eyes to Draven. He stood, barefoot and shirtless, halfway between here and the wards. Halfway to me. There was a predatorial grace evident even in his deadly stillness.

His frost green eyes glinted silver in the moonlight as he swept his gaze over me like he was searching me for injuries. A muscle clenched in his jaw, his hand fisting when he turned his attention to the male holding me.

“You would all be dead before you could try,” he growled.

“See, I don’t think that’s a chance you’ll take,” Tavrik said, stepping forward. “The way I’ve heard it, you never let anyone near your shackled bride.”

Heard from who? Who the hells were they working with?

Frost spread from Draven’s clenched fists all the way up his arm, but he didn’t move to kill them.

They were right. Whether it was for me or his kingdom, he would never risk them killing me.

“What do you want with my wife?”

The one holding me chuckled, speaking low in my ear. “Someone’s been keeping secrets.”

My mouth was too dry to respond. Because enormous wings crept closer to Draven, creeping between him and the wards.

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