Page 153 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

This time she took in the authority of someone who was owned something, as if he were her servant. “Take me home.”

There was relief in his face, which she hoped was because her request had worked, and not that he was about to take her heart. Indeed he wrapped her in his arms, and then they were in that dreadful darkness, then in the clearing by his house. His house. She had said home, though.

River was still trembling. “I almost lost you, I’m so sorry.”

Questions were whirling in her mind. “Don’t make me sleep,” she said, and only then she realized she had used the same kind of command she had used before.

He stopped hugging her and looked at her. “You know my secret now.”

“Not even close, River, not even close. You have hundreds of secrets. Let’s go inside. I want to sit.”

She rushed into the house, and he followed her. She wasn’t sure if she had commanded him or not. Exhausted, she collapsed on the pillow on the floor. He sat by her.

She asked, “Did I make you sit, or are you doing it because you want to?”

River got up. “Why? You think I’ll only talk to you if you force me?”

“I don’t think. I’m sure. Now sit.”

He glared at her and sat down. That had been a command and she could feel it—and didn’t care.

Naia glared at him. “So you owe me eternal devotion? Not sure you’ve been keeping your part of the bargain.”

He looked away.

“Say something.”

River smirked. “Something.”

“Asshole.”

“I just saved you and I wish you’d be slightly more considerate.”

“You saved me as part of this weird magic thing.”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Oh, but I want to be ridiculous. How is making me sleep for hours or days or who knows how long eternal devotion?”

He shrugged. “You use ambiguous words, you get ambiguous results.” His tone was cold, callous. Was this the real River?

“You’re going to answer me now, and not come up with weird word traps. Why did you bring me here?”

“Now? To save you. I apologize if I interrupted your lovely time talking to my dear father.”

She stared at him. “I mean before. Why?”

“To make sure you were safe.” His tone was clipped, as he was clearly not comfortable being ordered to answer her.

She still didn’t care. “Because of the eternal devotion?”

He tilted his head. “Partly. Can we stop this? Talk normally?”

“No. You never talk. Now answer me and don’t complain.”

He glared at her, visibly hating it.

“Why are your people trapped in the city? Why is everything there dry? Why did you say you couldn’t go there and now you just went?”

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