Page 27 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

6

Behind Doors

Naia magnified her fire and walked towards River, unsure if she was dreaming or hallucinating. But then there was that amazing smell of rain. A smell, she realized, that was his.

He raised a hand with dark nails. “No need to set me on fire.”

His eyes were reddish brown, like before, and, on top of his head, there were two horns. It was him—unglamoured.

“You’re alive?” Naia wasn’t sure if she was furious or relieved. “Alive? And never bothered to tell me? I feared I had killed you.” That fear had been her ominous companion for a year.

He stared at her fire as if curious, then smiled. “Except you didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He ran his fingers over the fireplace. “Hum… let me see. That’s a hard one.” He turned to her, his face so beautiful in the faint light coming from her flame. “Why would anyone not talk to the person who tried to kill them?”

That didn’t make sense. “I didn’t try to kill you. I have no idea what happened. I felt guilty for a year.”

He stared at her for a moment. “Why did you ask me to kiss you, then?”

Oh, did he want her to answer that? She swallowed. “Curiosity. Why did you kiss me?”

“Because you asked! What were you curious about? Whether iron magic would kill a fae?”

Naia frowned. “I didn’t use ironbringing on you. To transport you to my room, yes, but it was because I thought you were going to die out in the rain and you’re too heavy for me to carry. You can’t seriously be thinking that I tried to kill you on purpose. You were unconscious, River. I’m sure you realize there are much easier ways to kill someone who’s not awake.”

“You’re glad I’m alive?” His voice was soft.

“I’m glad I didn’t kill you. And what is it you’re saying about my magic? That my ironbringing hurt you? How can that be, considering the company you’ve been keeping? What are you doing with the Ironholds?”

He set his reddish-brown eyes on her. “If you could spy on your enemy, wouldn’t you?”

“Is that what you’re doing?”

His eyes traveled down her face and he sucked in a breath before looking her in the eye again. “I’m doing many things.”

She couldn’t shake the memory of the kiss, but she couldn’t shake her doubts either. “The attacks. Is it the fae? Are the fae returning?” She realized he didn’t call himself a fae. “Or the Ancients or whatever?”

A corner of his beautiful lips lifted. “Give me one reason to answer you.”

Well, that was obvious. “I saved your life.”

He tsked. “But then you almost killed me, so that doesn’t count.”

Naia frowned, trying to understand his words. “Is it true what you’re saying? I almost killed you?”

He considered her for a moment. “Hmm. You really had no idea.”

“You thought it was on purpose?” She couldn’t hide her indignation.

“I did.” There was an openness in his face.

“Do you realize it makes no sense? I can hunt. I can kill a wild pig with a knife or an arrow. I can most definitely kill an unconscious fae.”

“Maybe you wanted to ask me some questions first.” He shook his head. “It’s what I thought. Your iron magic, Naia, it’s what almost killed me. Somehow when we kissed, I absorbed some of it.” He took a poker from beside the fireplace and ran his hand over it. “But then it made me stronger.”

“You’re immune to iron now. That’s how you got into Ironhold. How you’re here. But how did you hide your horns and your eye color?”

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