Page 58 of Frost and Death
I clench my jaw, hatred seething through my teeth. “Don’t call me that.”
His onyx hair blows in the wind, softening his features. “Then, get a hold of your magic and breathe like a normal person, or I’ll be forced to distract you.”
I sneer underneath his gaze, perplexed by what he could mean by “distract me.”
My magic continues to manifest along my skin, and even the tinge of frost causes more pain. I fight against his hold still trying to warm me, unsure of how he is doing this.
Fury and fear intermingle with one another, pairing together in a dance with my magic that could actually kill me if I do not get it to stop appearing on my skin.
I glance down at my arms, my breath visible. Slowly, I struggle to calm my anger, my fear, and fight through the pain.
Sections of my arms thicken in frost, causing panic to take root, sending memories rushing to the surface. I flinch, closing my eyes to the memory of snow turning into ice and cracking as it expands.
“Get a hold of yourself,” Jerrick commands.
Panic grips my heart as the cold refuses to quiet, slowly taking over.
My visible fear meets Jerrick.
He springs into action, shooting forward and clashing his lips to mine.
My eyes widen in shock, his hold on my arms squeezing tightly, but his forced kiss warms my cheeks. Heat streamlines across my face, drifting underneath my skin as more warmth envelops me. Lightness takes over my body, relaxing.
I close my eyes, falling into the kiss as the pain ebbs away. It’s warm and soft and deepens as his cologne intertwines with the bitter cold of my breath.
Sensation returns to me as Jerrick peels away, lingering for a final peck before withdrawing completely. My skin burns up, and it isn’t until Jerrick releases me that the feeling lessens.
I open my eyes, stunned and staring into beautiful ice-blue eyes.
Jerrick winks as reality comes crashing in.
“Did you just fucking kiss me!?” I exclaim, bringing my good hand up to rub his lingering essence from my mouth as it remains open in shock.
“It worked, didn’t it?” Jerrick flicks his eyes down to my sides.
I glance down at myself in wonder.
My arms are no longer coated with frost, and the well of power has completely vanished. My magic has always had its moments, but this is the second time it has directed its powers internally instead of outwardly.
Could it be because of this man?
My eyes linger on my wedding gown. A wedding gown that was tailored and designed for my wedding day. My wedding day to Niko, my fiancé.
And here I am with my enemy kissing me.
Guilt swirls and gnaws in my core, and I might vomit at my own realization.
I can’t believe I did this to Niko. Kissing another man on my wedding day.
Deities, take me now.
Damn him for stealing that when it could have been Niko’s mouth on mine all day today. I reach for my mouth, tempted to force myself to vomit and remove his scent still lingering on my clothes.
“I warned you I would be forced to distract you,” he taunts as he rests on one knee, still too close to me.
“Kissing me was your version of distracting?”
I am furious that whatever he did worked. I roll my eyes in annoyance when his smirk turns wickedly delicious, and a damned dimple appears, making him stupidly more attractive.
