Page 41 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

“But there’s no proven path that is guaranteed to be pain-free. We can always make mistakes, but not doing anything won’t help.”

Naia laughed. “You read too much, brother, then get all tangled up with pretty words whose meaning you don’t understand.”

He laughed as well. “Of course I understand. I know you do too.”

“Maybe. It’s just… it feels like unearned wisdom, unlived wisdom, like a tree without roots.”

“See? Now it’s you who’s digging up the metaphors.”

“I guess.” She smiled and shook her head, then tried to steer the conversation back to where she wanted it to go. “You wouldn’t be angry if I did something our father doesn’t approve of?”

He stared at her, those brilliant green eyes open and clear. “I wouldn’t even be angry if you did something that I don’t approve, Naia. Perhaps I’d be worried, but not angry.”

But that was exactly what she feared, and it was wild to be actually considering River’s proposal, to consider going who knows where with him. But the alternative was staying and wondering.

Her twin stared at her. “But if you’re planning something, I do hope you’ll tell me.” His voice was soft.

She shook her head. “I’m not planning anything, Fel.”

“Uh-huh.” He nodded sarcastically.

Someone then knocked on the door and Naia rushed to open it. It was a young messenger with an envelope. Naia barely had time to notice that the sender was Princess Leandra, when Fel snatched the envelope from her. At least one twin was on his way to happiness.

Or maybe not. Fel opened the envelope, then stiffened and sucked in a breath. His face was impassive, but that was the face he made when he was hiding his pain, his shame, his fear.

“What is it?” Naia asked.

He crumpled the paper and threw it in a basket. “Nothing.”

The messenger boy, who was still standing by the door, said, “My lady requests an answer.”

“An answer?” Fel glared at the boy, then pulled a sheet and ink from the desk with so much fury that he dropped a small statue from the table.

“Fel, think before you write,” Naia said. “Tell me what it is.”

“Quiet,” he snarled, while moving the feather as if he were stabbing a threatening beast.

Before she could even see what he’d written, he’d given it to the messenger, then slammed the door and stared at the window, his face impassive.

“Fel, what happened?” she insisted.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” His voice cut like the wind outside the dome.

“What’s in the note?”

“Nothing, and I don’t want to talk about that princess anymore. I’ll go for a walk.” He turned to leave, but then reached down towards the basket to get the note.

Naia was faster, though, and took it. As much as she hated Fel’s look of hurt, she had to know what was there.

But she could barely believe the words.

Dear Prince Isofel,

I truly apologize for giving you false hope. Nevertheless, I trust that you will find a good match soon, perhaps even in this gathering. As the sole heir of my kingdom, I had to take my suitor’s health and physical integrity into consideration, as I’m sure you’ll understand.

Wishing you well,

Leandra

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