Page 157 of Frost and Death
Jonas clears his throat, breaking the silence. “I know magic can be tricky and difficult, but from what Jer told me—”
“Don’tbring him up right now,” I groan.
Jerrick’s words and features are still strong in my mind. I am in a knot of feelings toward him, the biggest being my attraction,along with the regret for believing a fight was the best way to go home.
I need another option.
It is Jonas’s turn to sigh, and the squeaking sound of him standing from the lounge chair grabs my attention. He approaches my bed, perching a knee up to climb on and join me in the middle.
The bed sinks down with the added weight, and he lies on his back to join me in staring at the ceiling. I rest one of my hands on my chest, and the other Jonas takes and locks with his.
The comfort is calming and reassuring, and I take what I can get as my mind roams on how to fix everything.
“When we were kids, I remember Jer always wearing the mantle of big brother, taking it seriously by taunting me, bullying me. You know, the whole shebang. It used to annoy the shit out of me,” he says.
A light chuckle escapes at the thought of Jerrick and Jonas getting into it as kids, seeing glimpses of that whenever the two are in the library with me. And yet I don’t know why he is offering me this information.
Jonas is closed off when it comes to his brother, but I remain quiet as my gaze turns from the ceiling to Jonas, the waves of his dark hair hiding his ears while he works his jaw.
“When our mother died, we were only teenagers, and my father took her death hard and blamed it on us. Jer did everything he could to keep it from affecting me. Sometimes, he would succeed, and other times… not so much,” he forces out.
The thought of a parent doing such a thing to their children hollows out my stomach. I clutch my chest, hurting for Jonas and Jerrick.
I shiver at the memory of Jerrick mentioning his father reprimanding them for speaking out against his wishes.
“He told me about how he got his scar,” I confide, earning a soft exhale from Jonas.
“Good. I am glad he told you. He doesn’t let anyone in. Not even me that much anymore.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “Responsibility? Guilt? I’m not sure. But whenithappened, something shifted in him. And I just—” Jonas breaks off and palms his head in defeat.
A long breath escapes from him, and I squeeze his hand.
“I can’t help him. I try to, but I’ve let him down,” he confesses, turning to me with tears in his eyes.
His confession is something Runa would confide to someone about me. A hopeful grin comes from the thought as I meet Jonas’s gaze, understanding he needs comfort right now more than I do.
I lean in, pecking him on the cheek, relating to Jerrick and Jonas so much. It makes my heart swell when I see a small blush form.
“You haven’t let him down, and you are a good brother. Deities, you’re the best brother I could have ever asked for.”
A sweet chuckle escapes from him, warmth spreading as I know I spoke true. I am undeserving of them both.
“What I mean to tell you, Tove, is I know he can be a cocky asshole. I know he can be mean and cruel. I’ve seen all sides of him. And while I don’t know what happened between the two of you earlier, webothneed to help him. Underneath all that hardness, underneath his magic, his curse, there is a light within him.”
“I know there is.”
I remember Jerrick’s charm when we first met in Axidoria, the amusing faces he’d crack when waking me up in the library, the gifts he’s given me, and the tenderness he offers the more I am around him.
The riddling guilt of not helping break his curse constricts around my heart. Maybe if I cancel the plan to invade and dedicate my time to helping Jerrick, he will grant me freedom and safe passage home.
A thought crosses my mind, and it is too tempting to not voice.
I tread into slippery territory. “Do you think if we broke the curse, Jerrick would divorce me and let me return home?”
Jonas shifts uncomfortably.
