Page 44 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

9

Mirror Shards

Naia still hadn’t seen River again. Of course he wouldn’t be sitting at the banquet, since he wasn’t part of any family. Still, something inside her felt queasy and anxious. Anxious about his strange request, wondering if it was even true, afraid that it was some kind of joke. But then, what if it wasn’t some kind of joke? What then?

But there was something else overtaking her thoughts. The words from Leah’s note to her brother were still fresh in her mind. Perhaps they would be engraved there forever, a memory that made her so angry that her hand trembled when holding a glass.

Fel was entertaining the Karsal princess, but there was something cold, distant, and artificial in him. She hated to see her twin like that, as if something in him had been broken. If only she could hug him and tell him he was wonderful and deserved all the love in the world. But he hated anything that could be interpreted as pity, so Naia remained quiet, pushing down her worries, her anger, her fears.

Plus, Fel hadn’t spoken to her since she’d seen the note. He’d probably take a while to forgive her. But what could she have done?

Leah, for her turn, despite glancing at Fel from time to time, perhaps guilty for the abomination she’d written, seemed happy talking to one of the Ironhold princes.His magic was probably crap compared to Fel’s, so at least there was that.

How could things have changed so quickly? The girl had looked at Fel with adoration the night before. Unless there had been some misunderstanding, something. There was something that didn’t quite add up there, and Naia decided to figure it out, even if her brother eventually hated her for that.

She wished she could focus on the food, since she had never eaten so many different things—and so much at once. But then she remembered her father’s words that it was shameful for royals to feast while their subjects starved. But maybe nobody was starving in Frostlake? She didn’t know.

The other reason she couldn’t focus on the food was that she was keeping a discreet eye on Leah, who was now quite at ease with her Ironhold prince. And that was fine, but didn’t justify that horrible message. Unless her mother had ordered her to write it, but even then, why be so cruel? Fel was still giving attention to the Karsal princess, which wasn’t right, if he wasn’t interested in her. On the other hand, it was nice to see him getting the attention he deserved. But then, would that princess eventually prefer somebody with physical integrity? And was she interested in Fel, or in his crown?

After the main courses, there would be a cocktail in the ballroom, so that the families could mingle and talk. As people moved through the rooms, Naia fell behind, then pulled Leah aside.

The girl was surprised at first, but seemed interested in talking to Naia, and asked, “What happened?”

Naia didn’t have much time, as she didn’t want people noticing them, so she asked a very direct question. “Did you write a message to my brother this afternoon? Of your own will? Sent by a short messenger, a boy?”

“I did.” She said it as if it had been the most innocent thing in the world.

Oh, no. Naia had been hoping that it had been a misunderstanding or something, that Leah had nothing to do with that dreadful message, and here she was, confirming it.

The girl then dared look hurt, her voice quavering. “Why did he send that reply?”

Naia had no idea what he had written, but based on his fury, could imagine a barrage of insults—each of them more than well deserved. She snorted. “Why? You wonder why? Now go sell yourself to the most powerful kingdom. That’s all you care for, isn’t it?”

The stupid princess had misty eyes. “That’s not true.”

Naia walked away quickly, or else she’d slap the girl—or worse—and rushed towards Fel, who was already in the ballroom. He turned back, probably looking for her, but then he perked up all of a sudden, as if paying attention to something.

Then everything changed at once.

A dazzling bright light emerged in the middle of the room. Naia’s first thought was that something had exploded, even if there was no noise. She saw her father jumping at something. No, someone. He was pushing someone to the floor, away from another bright light. Then smaller lights flashed all around the ballroom, and two dozen fae, armed with bows and arrows, appeared. They all had blond-white hair, pale complexion, and reddish eyes that looked more like pink or purple. Naia felt her fire calling to her, but before she did anything, the mirrors by the ceiling broke and shards were flying towards the fae. Fel. Fel was fighting back, before she could even consider what to do. But this was so unreal.

Then the shards fell on the floor and everyone stopped moving, as if time stopped. But it made no sense. She could still move, and then she took in the scene as if examining a painting. The person her father had dropped to the floor was the Frostlake queen, who was still lying on the ground, shielded by him. True that she would have been hit by one of these bright lights if it weren’t for him. Perhaps he hated her, but it didn’t mean he’d want to see her dead.

Most people had hands raised, protecting their faces, which were contorted in fear. Fel was serene, looking past Naia. Past Naia, where princess Leandra should have been, except that there was a huge mirror between her and the ballroom, protecting her. Naia felt a knot in her heart, realizing that in the split second her brother had reacted, he’d used it to protect the princess who’d humiliated him. The princess he was probably still in love with.

But why was everyone frozen? Why was Naia unaffected, looking at that scene?

Then she felt a strong, inebriating scent of rain and wet leaves. Before she could remember what that smell was, she heard a single person clap, and saw River walking into the ballroom, unglamoured, looking otherworldly, powerful, and breathtaking. Naia finally felt her heart speed up, something it still hadn’t done despite the surprise attack and the strange situation. But River, River somehow set it off.

He stared at her and smirked. “Oh, my. Wasn’t that a spectacular display of magic?”

“What’s happening?” Her voice was shaky.

He gestured around him. “Don’t you have a perfect view of the situation? Fae attacking, royals scared.” He frowned. “Someone trying to kill all the fae at once…”

“How did they even get in? Was that you?” She felt horrified that he could be such a dangerous enemy, horrified that she had kissed him, that she had considered his proposal. The worst was that she had considered it. And there was something else she didn’t understand. “Are you stopping time?”

“Time can’t be stopped. But I can stop people.” He placed a finger on a man’s cheek. “They look funny, don’t they?”

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