Page 158 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

“Are you afraid of the Umbraar king?”

“He is scary, but…”

“River, what is it?”

He looked at her and bit his lip. “Ironhold has just attacked Umbraar.”

* * *

Leah hadtrouble opening her eyes, as it was so bright around her. Fel was still holding her, but they weren’t by the fort. They didn’t seem to be anywhere, or else perhaps she couldn’t see because it was all so bright.

“Am I… Are we dead?”

“Not yet.” His voice was slightly different, as if he were older, but he looked the same.

“What’s happening?”

“You’ll soon be back, so I need to be brief. I’m taking you away. To get help. Ironhold, they have more magic than we thought, and they’re much more dangerous. We have to find a way to defeat them.”

She nodded. “What about my mother?”

“The Umbraar King was with her. We can try to help them later.”

The mention of King Azir reminded her of something that had been bothering her, and now had become clear but also terrifying.

“Fel. I think I’m a deathbringer.”

“You are.”

She swallowed, recalling how King Azir had been so worried about her mother, how much her mother hated him, and her talk about the young lady who had lost her honor. The realization was horrific. “I think we’re siblings.”

He shook his head. “No. Not at all. Azir is not my father. He could be yours, for sure, but he isn’t mine.”

“How do you know?”

He bit his lip. “A family resemblance thing. And I don’t have his magic.”

She took a deep breath. “I… then… I don’t understand why you didn’t propose. I tried to ask you. I still shouldn’t have married someone else, but—”

“It’s my fault. I should have spoken to you. Trusting notes that could easily have been tampered with was naive and stupid. And I shouldn’t have trusted your mother to pass on my proposal.”

His words surprised her. “You proposed?”

“You thought I didn’t?”

“I…” She looked down. “But it’s too late, right? For us?”

He ran his magic hand through her hair. “I don’t mind if you got married, or whatever happened between you and your husband. It doesn’t change the fact we belong together.” He sighed. “But it is too late for us.”

“Why?”

“I don’t look the same. In the real world.”

There was no change in him now, but this was probably a dream. “Are you hurt? Did something happen?”

He shook his head and focused his beautiful green eyes on her. “Nothing bad. I found my power, that’s all.”

“But then…” She didn’t understand what it could be. Did he think she wouldn’t want him? Did he think he was ugly? “I don’t care what you look like.”

Fel chuckled. “You mistake me. I actually look awesome.”

“I don’t understand.”

He kissed her cheek and kept his face close to hers. “You will. Now focus on defeating the dark forces in Aluria. I’m taking you to Fernick. But I…”

She wanted to ask what he meant, what he was saying, how they were traveling, but she passed out again.

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