Page 33 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

Fel stood by the window, as if hesitant to step inside, perhaps uncomfortable because of her words, but then, her mother’s warning… Perhaps this was her chance to understand it all better. “What is it? That ruins a lady? What happens? It can’t only be getting in her room.”

Fel took a deep breath, bit his lip, and looked away, before turning back to her, somewhat flustered. “It… would involve getting some clothes off.”

“Then what?”

His eyes moved down, as if checking her nightgown for the first time, then he looked away. “You’ll find out.” He smiled. “Once you’re married, right?”

Leah was torn between her curiosity to learn more, knowing that he’d probably answer her if she pushed him, and the fear of where that talk could lead his mind. She ended up just nodding. “Yes.”

Fel crossed his arms and leaned on the wall. “Did you consider any of the hopeful suitors?”

“Sure did. Then I let you take me out the window and kiss me, now I’m letting you into my room. What are you thinking?”

He laughed again, such a relaxed, easy laugh. She wouldn’t mind hearing it forever. “Considering is not saying yes, Leah. I was just asking.” He tilted his head. “Did you consider me?”

Her heart was beating fast in her chest as if she were still up in the air, except that this time she didn’t have the comfort of his arms around her. She stared into his bright green eyes. “You need to ask…” Leah was trembling, her voice thin and almost cracking. “Me. To consider you.”

Fel blinked and sucked in a breath. Had her words surprised him? Before the disquiet could settle in her mind, he breached the distance between them, held her hands, and kissed her cheek. “Would you marry me?”

“Yes.” The word popped out of her mouth on its own before she even thought about the answer. Perhaps it had come straight from her heart.

Her reward was getting the most breathtaking smile ever. She let go of his hands and wrapped her arms around him, then he was holding her close together and they kissed again.

When they parted, he was smiling. “Marry me now, Leah, right now.”

She laughed. “You know I can’t.” For so many reasons. Some big, complicated reasons that smothered her laughter at once. “And I’ll have to convince my mother.”

Fel’s smile also faded, his lips now forming a stiff line. “She hates me, right?”

“I think she hates your father, not you.”

They were still so close that she could feel his chest expanding in a deep breath. “And what if she says no and doesn’t budge, what will you do?” His green eyes were set on her.

“I’ll try to convince her first.” She had to, and there was no logical reason why her mother would oppose the union. “If she doesn’t change her mind, then we’ll see.”

He nodded. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow. Personally. I don’t want her issues with my father to get in the way.”

“Also…” This was a minor thing, but it was something her mother would question. “I’m supposed to rule Frostlake. But you’re the Umbraar heir. How would we make it work?”

He shrugged. “I could leave Umbraar to my sister. I know she wants it, and she’s capable. That way you could still rule Frostlake.”

That… was perfect. Leah smiled. Everything was so easy with Fel. But perhaps not that easy. “Your father would be fine with that?”

“Maybe not. But when it’s time for a new ruler in Umbraar, I’m assuming he won’t be around to be upset.”

“Those are dark thoughts.”

“It’s the truth.” He brushed a lock of her hair away from her face. “And we can’t live tied down by our parents’ fears.”

She hugged him tight. “We won’t.”

He kissed her again, a kiss that soon became breathless and urgent, and she wanted more and more and more of it, until he broke the kiss all of a sudden. “Leah, I’d better go. You’re right that I shouldn’t be in your room. I wouldn’t have come, but I had no other way of speaking to you.”

She didn’t want him to leave, so she kissed his cheek then neck. His breath was getting harder as she ran her hands over his chest. Fel was usually so calm, it felt good to see him so flustered, feel the control slipping from him. “I trust you,” she said. “You wouldn’t ruin me.”

His eyes closed for a moment, but then he pushed her away and climbed on the windowsill. “I would. I want nothing more than to get that nightgown off you, remove your undergarments, then kiss every part of you. But I also know we need to wait.” He was so breathless he could barely speak. “Let me stay longer and I’ll forget it. And if you forget it too, I’ll take every piece of you, make you all mine. And I don’t want to wait a month, a few days, even a second.”

Leah swallowed. She would like to see his bare chest, touch it, feel more of him. She would like him to take her clothes off, to kiss her everywhere. Those were some strange, surprising thoughts. But it was true. She could be his. Right now. All she had to do was invite him in. Then perhaps there would be no problem in convincing her mother to let her marry him, as it would be too late for her to marry anyone else.

---