Page 83 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

Fel sighed. There wasn’t much he could do in regard to that. He still wished he could change his sister’s mind, but then, River was here, apparently doing something he’d promised her, stating clearly that his heart belonged to her. And yet, not saying he loved her. And then, hanging out with the Ironholds. It was a puzzle.

“Fair. Now, for me, I appreciate the amount of looking you did today.” Fel rolled his eyes. “Quite helpful. But if the fae or Ironhold attack, I’ll be in the frontline defending my people, so your efforts will be fruitless.”

River’s face was impassive. “Live one day at a time, or a few days at a time. Makes sense.”

“Are they going to attack? Your people? Ironhold?”

“I don’t know why you ask. I saw you preparing wooden weapons. I think you already have your answer. My advice: keep it up.”

That was a confirmation. “Well, Ironhold, after our refusal in having their forces, I think it’s a matter of when. The fae… Are your people back?”

River again stared at his horrible nails. “This is quite a complex question, for an answer that wouldn’t be satisfactory. Just pretend you’re dead for now. The future takes care of itself.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Fel was going to say you have to plan for it, but something got his attention.

It was as if darkness settled at once, then a disconcerting quietness hit the forest, after a brief rustle, when the wood creatures had hidden as fast as they could, as if to escape a predator. Fel could feel a growing threat coming in his direction.

River smirked. “My cue to leave. We have a deal, Isofel.” He then disappeared.

Alone, sensing the disquiet in the forest, Fel turned—and saw his father galloping fast in his direction. He must have seen Flip arriving, hurt.

His father slowed down when he saw him, and that sense of growing threat started to dissolve. It had been a hint of his magic: deadly, powerful, terrorizing. Strong enough to disturb the forest and cast fear for a long distance around him. Deathbringer magic.

“What happened?” his father asked.

“A lot.”

He wasn’t going to mention River—at least not yet. He didn’t want to make his father angrier than he already was, and didn’t want him coming to wrong conclusions about the fae. But the rest he had to tell. Difficult times were coming.

---