Page 21 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

He smiled, showing cute dimples. “I think I’d be looking forward to a chance of showing off.”

“It seems you enjoy it.”

“Maybe.” He paused, as if thinking. “How are you going to do necromancy… I mean… I guess you can’t—”

“No, no.” She chuckled. “That would be morbid. I won’t do any magic. I’ll just play the flute. I know it’s beneath mediocre, but…” Her mother had told her that nobody would pay much attention to her introduction when she had a kingdom, but she didn’t want to talk about her marriage prospects. Didn’t want to think about them. She stared at her feet, so close to Fel’s and yet so far.

He put a hand under her chin and lifted her face softly. “Leah. You were so proud of your necromancy earlier when we spoke. If that’s what you want to show, you should show it. Nothing you do can be morbid. You could revive a dead rat, and I’m sure it would be beautiful and graceful.”

“Oh, that would be gross.” She laughed. He’d misunderstood why she’d felt sad, but he had managed to cheer her up all the same. “Flute is nice, too. And I don’t really care for the introduction.”

“Not looking to catch the eye of a promising husband?”

Leah felt something cold inside her. “Well, I don’t think my performance in the introduction matters that much.”

“No. Unless you do some King Skeleton type of necromancy, then I’m pretty sure everyone will be at your feet.”

She laughed again.

Fel shook his head. “I’m just kidding. You don’t need any magic to…” He looked away, then back at her. “Have you ever met someone and felt as if you already knew them?”

“Maybe.”

“That’s how I feel about you, Leah, as if we’ve met before, and I’m not feeling scared or awkward. Well, maybe a little. But it just… feels natural to talk to you. Am I being too forward?”

“No.” She felt the same, in fact, if she ignored her difficulty breathing and speeding heart, and was glad he was saying it.

“But I am. It’s something I just realized. I used to think that it made no sense to like someone you just met, but it’s not like that at all. It’s recognizing someone. And I realize I definitely overstepped.”

Leah stopped dancing, her jaw dropped. Was he saying he liked her? Well, it didn’t necessarily mean anything. “I… also enjoy talking to you.”

“So… are we going to have some resuscitated rats for the introduction? You may find it morbid, but then you’ll scare away all your potential suitors.”

“Except you.”

Fel paused, and it was as if even the air shifted around them, like the electric charges before a storm, then his eyes turned even more brilliant. But then he chuckled, his tone playful. “Are you saying I’m on your list, Leah?”

She was still so stunned that words were failing her, and perhaps she had said too much. All she did was shake her head. “There’s no such list.”

“And where do I fit, then?”

“There’s only you.” Only after she said it did she realize the meaning of her words. He widened his brilliant eyes, and she cleared her throat. “On a… unique list. A list just for you.” Perhaps she was making it worse. Then again, there was a list just for him, the “do not consider” list, which was wrong and unfair.

His eyebrows furrowed, a hint of worry in his eyes. “A sad list, based on your face.”

“It’s not sad. It’s the best list.”

He took a sharp breath and looked at her lips.

Leah felt heat rising to her face, and tried to change the subject. “Do you think I look ridiculous?”

Fel looked down at her dress, then back to her face, and smiled. “You don’t want to hear my opinion.”

“But I do.”

“Telling girls they are beautiful at parties is a sign of a dull mind and lack of creativity. But lying is bad form. You’re putting me in a difficult position.”

“I’m asking about my hair and my dress.”

---