Page 83 of A Bride for the Winter King
Sara salutes my confession with a gentle smile. “Thank you. I have just the idea on where to look next.”
Chapter 33
Bitten
LORI
“Welcome back,” Daisy greets me from her cot. An intricate French braid pulls her long blond hair away from her face, and she’s wearing a pink, strapless ballgown. She braces her hands on her hips and scours my body from head to toe. “You don’t look quite as beaten up as I expected.”
“They have good healers here. I heard I almost didn’t make it.” My lips twitch. “Happy to see you in one piece, too, partner.”
It’s easier to act as though I’ve just woken up from my injuries rather than explain what I’ve been doing with the Winter King in the Ice City, but it’s weird to be back in the Spring dorms.
Daisy’s gaze drops to the ground between us. “I saw the tape from the mountains.”
“You did? I thought they weren’t big on replays around here.”
“You risked your life to save me, Lori. Thank you.” She looks down her nose at the clothes I borrowed. “You should hurry and change. They’re supposed to announce the three finalists in half an hour.”
My throat shrinks.
“With only five of us left in the running, it should be quick,” Daisy adds.
The tingles at the back of my neck spread to my chest. “Five? I thought only one Red had died?”
“Yes, the quiet one didn’t make it, but her companions pulled out of the pageant, leaving you, me, Wendy, and the two other Winter seeds,” she explains. “But don’t fret. He’s all yours.”
“Oh?”
She shifts in her seat and adjusts the thick tulle of her crinoline. “After seeing him jump after you inside that avalanche, no one would doubt it. To be honest, I’m looking forward to going home. Maybe with a frost apple, if I’m lucky.” She licks her lips. “What about you? Aren’t you freaked out that he’s going to kill you, too? Or is he that good in bed that you’re willing to take your chances?” she says, wiggling her brows.
By the spindle… Am I really going to marry Elio?
I never thought this charade would go as far as that, but with everything that’s happened, I’m not sure I can stand the alternative, either.
“Definitely freaked out,” I answer under my breath, the weight of it all piling on my shoulders.
Seth enters through the door leading to the dressing room. “Lori, you’re back!” He leaves the door ajar as he jogs to my side, his face heavy with relief—and maybe a hint of fear. “I need a word with you.”
Daisy rolls her eyes. “Come on, guys. You can trust me. I’m the only Spring seed left, and I already know Lori’s a spider.”
“I’m sorry, Day. This is need-to-know only.”
With a huff, she stomps toward the door leading out to the gardens. “Fine. Be that way.”
Seth waits for the door to slam shut with a loudbangbefore he asks, “Where were you? Byron said you were alright, but they wouldn’t let me anywhere near you?—”
“The Ice City. They plunged me into a healing spring to keep me alive after the avalanche, but it’s all a big secret,” I whisper.
It’s only the two of us, and the big dorms and adjoined dressing room feel so empty compared to how it was at the beginning.
Seth slips a hand inside his white tuxedo’s pocket and hands over my mask. “Here. Put this on.”
I pause, a nervous hiccup caught in my windpipe. “Where are we going?” I plaster the mask in place over the bridge of my nose, and the familiarity and safety of its size and weight soothes my nerves.
Seth walks to the door Daisy just stormed through and clicks the lock. “Nowhere, but my mother wants to meet you.” He moves to close the intimacy drapes framing the windows, and the bright sunshine dims into a pleasant glow.
“Your mother, Freya, the Spring Queen? That mother?”
