Page 46 of Frost and Death
Coldness drapes over my features as the men and women surrounding us bow to their partners.
Rick and I hold each other’s gazes.
I don’t know whether to react or stay silent.
Instead, I break away harshly, returning to Niko and not giving Rick another glance.
I had not expected our conversation to end that way. I had hoped to make a friend, but I should have known Rick would be like the rest of them.
I don’t dwell on the thought for long because the entire world blurs when Niko’s face comes into view.
Niko tilts his head in concern as I rush to him. But when I reach him, I rise to my tiptoes to kiss his lips.
It catches him off guard.
He hesitates, unsure of how to react, but I have already lowered back down as he asks with a shocked breath, “What was that for?”
I take his hand, guiding him from the guests to sit with me. “You. You just make everything better.”
Niko’s eyes flash as he leans in, caressing my hand. His lips are soft against my knuckles.
“You makemebetter,” he says.
Niko scoots his chair closer to the throne, and pure joy erupts.
I am compelled to keep touching him for the rest of the night.
10
Marriage is what
brings us—
“If you keep up with that pacing, you’ll run down the stone, Tove,” Betina chimes when she enters my bedchamber.
I ignore her. I barely slept, fearful Niko would change his mind at the last minute.
Every person dreams of the day they get married, but here I am, crippled with doubt and believing I will fall face-first onto the marble floor.
Sweet Makers.
Every sensation devours my nerves, making me incapable of calming my own racing thoughts. They drift to the other reason I couldn’t sleep. Images of how today might have gone with my family.
My mother would have picked the perfect crown and jewelry accessories to wear while she and Runa would argue over how I should style my hair.
They both would be filled with joy as I revealed my wedding gown.
Then my father would check in, and his entire face would light up with excitement at seeing me.
I can almost feel his arms wrapping around me now as he would whisper,I am so proud of you.
A teardrop cascades down my cheek, followed by another and then another. They blur my vision as my head slumps, my hands covering my face.
“Deities, why can’t I feel the one emotion I’m supposed to feel on my wedding day? Why can’t I stop thinking of them?”
A warm hand touches my arm, Betina easing me to her. Her aura lights up the entire room. Her dark skin glows in the sunlight from my bedchamber window as her voluminous black hair, pulled half-back, frames her face with tight curls.
I don’t resist wrapping my arms around her and squeezing tight.
