Page 119 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

The vines got looser, allowing him to catch a breath, but now they were growing thorns.

He was in disbelief. “You’re going to torture me?”

“How many times do I have to explain that I don’t control my magic? Now, while we’re both still alive, please explain yourself. You say I betrayed you. I didn’t, but let’s assume you really think so. How dare you? How dare you accuse me of that? Three months after the gathering, your children with the disgraced Ironhold princess were born. I know how babies are made—obviously. And I know how long it takes. So funny that some people comment how much you loved Princess Ticiane. Poor Azir, never married again. Poor Azir, risked his reputation for love. Well, no. You betrayed her with me. I was never even your first choice. So don’t come at me making up these stupid, offensive excuses. You were lying to me the whole time you were courting me.”

“I wasn’t lying. I didn’t even know Ticiane. That happened after.”

“Azir.” She rolled her eyes. “Again, we’re both adults, we both know how children are made, and we both know how long it takes. Just own it. Say it. Say I was just a distraction. Don’t give this ridiculous ‘you betrayed me’ lie. You know in your heart it’s not true.”

Azir closed his eyes. Perhaps he did know in his heart that Ursiana and Sebastian didn’t make sense. But the Wolfmark princess had told him… Could it have been a plot to separate him from Ursiana? But then again, he’d seen it with his own eyes. He’d seen it.

“Silent?” Ursiana said. “You can’t explain Ticiane, can you?” She rolled her eyes. “I mean, the explanation is obvious.”

“It’s a complicated story, yes.” Way too complicated, and not something he wanted anyone to find out. Ursiana was glaring at him and he decided it was better to try to appease her. “And I’m sorry. If it’s really true you were never with Sebastian—”

A vine slapped his face. “If it’s true? How dare you?”

She was furious. But it didn’t make sense that she’d never been in that garden. It couldn’t be that this whole time he’d been deceived by a lie. It couldn’t. The vines were again wrapping him tight. “I guess this is where your magic kills me.”

She shook her head. “Hopefully not. Trust me, Azir. I really don’t think a fast, easy death suits you.”

“Aren’t I lucky?” A strange laugh came out of his throat, perhaps because of the absurdity of it all, the absurdity of being stuck here while Ironhold attacked, while his kingdom could be in danger. And yet here he was, unable to do anything, being attacked by green magic from someone he once had loved. Once? Or still? “At least all you do when your magic goes berserk is conjure some cute vines.”

“Creepy vines, Azir. Don’t insult them or they might get angrier.”

“As you say.” He didn’t think there was anything creepy about her magic—or about her. True that the vine around him was getting tight. “I think it likes me, you know? It’s hugging me and won’t let go. I mean, if you want to hug me, you can do it, no need to use your vines.”

His words did the trick, as the vines receded.

“What about you?” Her eyes were full of loathing and derision. “What does your magic unleash, deathbringer?”

This was not something he wanted to think about. Not in this place. “Let’s hope we never find out, shall we?”

* * *

Leah heldher breath as she watched the guards around her panicking, many of them running away, except that they were falling down, as if that death mist, whatever it was, made them unconscious—or dead. She looked at the railing to check if there was a way for her to climb down, and felt an arrow flying past her. There were guards at the bottom too.

She ran back to her room, now that the guards were dispersing. Her idea was to close the door and put sheets around the cracks to block the gas, to give her some time—hoping there would be time.

Then someone grabbed her wrist. It was a brown-haired young man that she didn’t think she’d seen before.

Leah felt darkness closing on them, then she was in an office with some shelves and books, a desk, and two armchairs.

“Believe it or not, I’m here to save you,” he whispered. “Don’t scream or make any noise.”

“Where are we?”

“Still in the Ironhold castle. But they won’t check here. Just don’t try to go anywhere.”

She was about to thank him, when she realized he had horns and pointy ears. “You’re fae.”

“Oops.” He touched his head, then closed his eyes. “Indeed.”

It didn’t make any sense. “Why are you helping me?”

“Isofel. I had a deal with him.”

His words put her at ease. She didn’t think Fel would wish her harm, but to make a deal with a fae? It was all strange. “Why would he do that?”

---