Page 122 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

Naia feltas if there had been a glass wall between her and the scene in front of her. What a scene. It was herself, asleep on her bed, and River looking at her. She knew he’d done something: he’d put her to sleep. Naia banged on that glass wall, but it made no sound. Her wish was to cross that glass and slap him for what he was doing to her. This was so wrong.

And yet she paused, noticing the way he looked at her. So much tenderness and care, such a sweet stare. His eyes always got her, but seeing him like this, she could swear he loved the girl he was looking at. To be looked at like that was something she’d always wanted, to have someone looking at her as if she were his whole world, everything.

But he had enchanted her and she didn’t understand why. He had hidden things from her, and she didn’t understand why. And then all his stare did was make her conflicted. But she had to escape this sleep, had to escape this enchantment. Perhaps she shouldn’t be as moved by the way River looked at her. After all, it was very easy to love someone who couldn’t talk back. But oh, she was going to break that spell. And then he was going to hear it all. She doubted his look would still be sweet.

* * *

20 years before

River assumedthis freezing magic was only meant for the dragon lords to catch whoever tried to steal their artifact, and not meant to kill him. Unless they kept a gallery of aspiring thieves, all frozen, ready to be displayed.

Regardless of what they did, they had to be awake to do it. And now, with the lapse stones, he wasn’t sure if anyone would find him. He wasn’t even sure if anyone could enter the circle and still move.

And now he was stuck to this dragon lair, with no way out. He pushed against the ice, but it was too thick. If only he could produce heat, but that wasn’t a type of magic Ancients had.

He didn’t want to die. He wanted to see his sister again, wanted to see his father. He did care for his people, he did care for his family, and he wanted the chance to tell them. He wanted to apologize to his brother, apologize even if he thought nothing had been his fault. And more than anything, he wanted to help the Ancients. The humans in Aluria not only had magic, they had weapons with steel, they had fire and explosions, and it wasn’t fair. He had to do something—and he was trying.

Perhaps knowing that he died trying would mean something, but then nobody would know about it. And he’d never get the chance to say goodbye, just like he had never gotten the chance to say goodbye to his cousin. River would do anything for another chance. A chance to do it different.

His body extremities were already numb when he saw a light outside the ice—a flame. Perhaps some dragon lord had overcome their spell and was coming. He didn’t like that idea, but at least it could mean that he wasn’t going to be frozen to death. The person had a torch or something, as they were melting the ice with it. When the last part cracked, he saw that his savior was a young woman with black hair, brown skin, and brown eyes, staring at him in curiosity. River didn’t want to owe a life debt, but owing it to such a gorgeous girl certainly wouldn’t be the end of the world.

“I… guess you caught me,” he said. “Well done.”

“I have nothing to do with this…” She looked at the puddle formed by the melted ice. “Very wet spell. I just came to save you.” She then glanced at the top of his head, as if surprised by his lack of horns, which made no sense—and was embarrassing.

Yikes. Fine, gorgeous or not, in reality he wasn’t in the mood to owe her a life debt. He pointed at her. “That’s debatable.”

She rolled her eyes. “River, please, let’s not start, shall we? It gets kind of ridiculous.”

He wondered how she knew his name. And he didn’t like being called ridiculous. “You know my name and I don’t know yours. We should fix that.”

With a stunning smile, she said, “We will.” He waited for her to introduce herself, but instead, she added, “Go. Your stones won’t hold the dragons for long.”

Great. She knew his name and all about his secret magic. He tried to change the subject. “You do realize they’re not real dragons, right?”

“That highly depends on your definition of real. Go.”

He glanced at the staff.

She stared at it, her eyes sad. “Take it.”

“That’s a trick, right? What’s gonna happen next? I’m going to be encased in fire?”

“Take it.” There was a certain hesitation in her words. “Perhaps it’s been meant for you.”

“Who are you?”

“Just go. And stop asking questions. Or maybe I will encase you in fire.”

It was as if his brain melted, thinking about that beautiful girl and a different kind of fire, imagining his lips on hers, his hands on her body, wanting her even more than that staff. He smiled. “Maybe I won’t mind it.”

She exhaled and rolled her eyes. “I didn’t know you were that perverted.”

“I’m not… Hey. You shouldn’t know anything about me.” And yet he still wanted to kiss her. “Are you enchanting me?”

“All right. I just came to save your life, and I had no idea you’d be all weird. I mean, perhaps I should have guessed. Anyway, I’m leaving, River.” She turned around and started walking away.

“How do you know my name?” he shouted.

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