Page 73 of A Bride for the Winter King
I trace the black and red scar that licks her hipbone all the way to her rib. “As long as we’re threading painful territory…” The wound hasn’t changed at all since I last saw it, despite the fact that Lori has just been swimming in the purest, most-effective healing spring in existence.
A terrible pressure squeezes my ribcage. “What kind of venom was it?”
She trembles in my arms. “A dreamcatcher spider. Like the ones we saw up on the mountains.”
Two half-crescent tears form a long line in her side, and the pattern showcases exactly how the fangs of the spider tore through her. My jaw clenches. The venom inside that wound iscounting down the days until it spreads. I can almost see the taint of dark magic swirling beneath the skin, biding its time.
By Thanatos… I will nail every last one of these spiders to my ice wall before the month is over.
“A frost apple would cure you… Is this why you agreed to do the pageant?” I ask, putting my guard back up. No matter how fierce or beautiful she is, I can’t forget she conspired with Seth to deceive me.
A tremor rocks her from head to navel. “No. I didn’t even know a frost apple would work on this venom.”
“So you came to help Seth steal my crown and yet risked your life to save me? I don’t get you, Lori.” I wrap my hand in her hair, ready to make her mine again, if only for a little while.
She slaps my chest. “For the last time, Seth and I couldn’t care less about your crown. We’re here to find Morrigan. She attacked the Shadow Court during Morheim, and we need to capture her, not kill her.”
My grip on her hair waivers.The Shadow Court… “You’re one of Damian’s spiders?”
“I prefer the termunpaid employee.”
Oh for Thanatos’ sake!
I’ve had sex with this woman—even considered killing her a few times—and she’s a full-fledged Shadow huntress acting in her king’s name? “You should have told me that before.” I slide her off me and jump out of the pool.
You’re a selfish, dumb bastard. She was never yours to save. Or to destroy.
Water streams down my body and splashes the floor of the cave as I beeline for the white towels Sara left for us, but Lori chases after me.
“I’ve caught a few glimpses of a woman with black hair wearing a dark hood. She came to meet you at the castle and observed the carnival from a distance, yet she kept her facehidden.” Lori tilts her chin up, and a spark of thunder ignites behind the clouds in her eyes “She might have fooled you into thinking she was someone else, but I’m here to bring that traitor to justice.”
I grab a towel and press it over my raging erection. Lori’s accusation slowly sinks in, and my temper flares.Of all things, she thinks I’m too naïve to recognize my own cousin? What a joke!
“Morrigan Quinn stabbed my mentor and friend through the heart right in front of me in the middle of dinner. I think I can recognize her without your help.” I throw her the extra towel, desperate to erase her body from my sight. “Come on. I will take you to her. Yourtraitor.”
Chapter 29
Heaven’s Door
LORI
The Winter King stomps around the stalagmites and heads out of the white and blue cave. I tuck a fluffy towel around my frame before following him along the natural path. The smooth, round shape of his ass steals my thoughts, and a part of me is cross that I interrupted our lovely bath. Arguing with him is about as addictive as the touch of his hands—but not quite.
At the end of the natural cave, Elio finally wraps his towel around his waist and wrenches open the platinum door fitted into the rock opening, the exit leading directly into a study and library.
Large windows offer a wide view of the almost endless white plains at the bottom of the volcano’s caldera. From the view, I figure we’re at the top of the Ice City. Firelight flickers over the blue and silver tapestries hanging on the wall. Four floor-to-ceiling bookcases flank the hearth, made entirely of white wood. The beautiful pieces match the sanded matte finish of the desk.
Sara is sitting by the fire on one of two navy blue velvet loungers. She shoots to her feet at Elio’s arrival and sets downher teacup on the ottoman. A smirk appears on her face as our gazes meet, but she quickly wipes it away. Elio marches past her without a word of greeting and beelines for the adjoining room on the other side of the study.
The woman I’ve seen with Elio in the castle gardens the night Aster died, and again at the carnival, is also sitting by the fireplace. I draw in a sharp gasp. “Ohmygod.”
She cracks a smile and sets her book aside, its small leather-bound cover catching the light as she discards it on the table next to her lounger. “Hi.”
Celebrities are rare in Faerie, but all the more revered for it. In the new world, musicians, actors, athletes, and political leaders are held in high regard, yet none command the same level of adoration as the famous singer who reigns supreme in both realms. And it’s not Morrigan.
“You’re Elizabeth Snow.”
She nods, and her long dark waves bounce around her face. “Call me Beth, please.”
