Page 31 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

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Leah sat quietlywhile her maid, Siana, undid her braids. It was late for her to still be awake, but on the other hand, it would be awful to sleep with that hair. Siana was much older than Leah, and still single. She’d been her only friend and confidant other than her parents. True that she worked for Leah’s family, so she wasn’t a true confidant, since she always told her mother everything. And yet. It was company.

Siana’s fingers were swift as she pulled out gold threads from Leah’s hair. “Looks like you are happy with your marriage prospects.”

Involuntarily, Leah smiled, but because she remembered Fel. “I don’t know.”

“It’s in your face, your highness.” She had never lost the habit of addressing Leah like that. “You found someone who caught your eye.”

“It’s hard to know in one night. I danced with them so briefly.”

“But you can know. You’ll have a banquet tomorrow, won’t you? When there are five or six main dishes, how long do you have to look before you choose?”

Leah chuckled. “It has happened to me that something looked quite appetizing, and then in the end it wasn’t. I’m not sure your example works.”

“Of course it works. How many bites did it take?”

“Well… I didn’t bite any prince tonight.”

“Aye.” There was a mischievous glint in Siana’s eyes. “You’ll wait until your wedding night.”

Leah frowned. “What happens on the wedding night?”

“My lady. Your mother forbids—”

“I know. But I’m asking.”

She lowered her head. “I don’t know either, as I don’t have a husband. Did you know that all the servants were talking about your rat? Where did you get that idea?”

“I guess…” Even she wasn’t sure how she’d gotten the nerve to actually use a rat for her introduction. “I wanted to do something different.”

“You certainly did. I think it was smart. Show them that you’re no fragile little flower.”

Leah smiled. “I hope that’s the case.”

Siana then helped her out of her dress and left.

It had been such a long night. Leah didn’t know if she wanted it to end, afraid of the next day and whatever marriage talks would come. Afraid of the official meetings and what would happen, what they would say. Perhaps the fae were returning, perhaps Aluria was approaching a new war. Funny how she’d never thought it would happen in her time. Her parents had gone through a horrible war, and one war should be enough until forever.

Something tapped on her window. A bird? When she looked, she almost fell back in surprise. Fel was there. But how? Her room was high up in the castle.

She rushed to the window and saw him touching the iron bars. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t glad to see him, but what a strange place.

“How did you get here?”

He let go of the bars and she almost screamed, until she realized he was floating in front of her window.

“A little magic. I just wanted to talk to you. Can I come in for a minute?”

“But the bars…”

He rolled his eyes. “Iron bars, Leah.”

“I…” She wanted to talk to him, wanted to have a moment alone with him, but her mother’s words about a ruined princess still rang in her ears. “It’s… not that I don’t want to talk to you, but it might be inappropriate.”

His smile faded for a moment, but then he brightened up and said, “Come out with me, then.”

“Out?”

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