Page 97 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

The woman paused. “He isn’t.”

Leah was surprised at the relief she felt. “Thank you. For saving me. For everything.”

“I owed your father.”

That made a lot of sense, and Leah was touched and thankful that her father’s necromancy had saved her, perhaps even saved her life. “Do you want me to tell him? Thank him?”

She shook her head. “There’s no such need.”

Leah wanted to ask more, ask what that creature had been, ask how the woman had found her, but she knew that if she was a spirit, her time was very limited, and every second counted.

“Can you tell me your name?”

The woman shook her head. “Such an old, forgotten word. But it’s Ticiane.”

Ticiane. Names, even forgotten ones, had power, and if it was her real name, it meant she trusted Leah. “Ticiane, can you help me? I think there might be something wrong happening here in Ironhold. Some secret, maybe. Can you tell or show me something? If you can. Or want to.” Leah swallowed, wondering if she was being too bold, if she was pushing her luck too much.

The woman had a bitter laugh. “You think? Something wrong in Ironhold? Do you really want to see it?”

“Yes.”

“Then trust me.” Ticiane went to the window and unlatched it. “We’re going this way.”

Leah approached her, and had vertigo just looking down. “How?”

“You’ve flown before, haven’t you?”

With Fel. Her heart jolted with the memory. “Not alone.”

The woman took Leah’s hand. “Come.”

Perhaps the wise thing would be to stay in that awful bedroom, but if this was Leah’s chance to find anything, she had to take it.

So she took Ticiane’s hand—and jumped out the window.

* * *

Naia wastired as she reached the woods surrounding River’s house. Coming back from the palace had taken much longer than she had expected, her legs getting wobbly now that there was no more curiosity propelling them.

She wasn’t angry at River anymore. Well, maybe just a little, as he shouldn’t have hidden this from her. Still, she was mostly worried and couldn’t imagine how much suffering he was going through. There had to be a connection between that enchantment on his people and whatever he was doing in Ironhold, but she didn’t understand what it was. All she knew was that they had to talk.

Her flames were still lit as she crossed the woods back to the clearing. It was odd how that magic wasn’t tiring. If anything, she felt more and more energized as she used it. It was as if it took more effort to repress it than to let it flow.

When she stepped out of the woods, she saw River, disheveled, eyes wide.

He rushed to Naia and then enveloped her in his arms, pulling her close.

“Where were you? What happened?” His voice was hoarse, quivering with emotion, his breathing fast.

Naia looked up at him, surprised at his reaction. “I’m fine.”

His eyes were misty. “I thought I had lost you.”

He cared. He did care. And she wasn’t sure what to make of it. “I’m… sorry. I didn’t know I was going to take that long.”

He ran both his hands over her hair. “Where were you? What happened? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” She still didn’t understand his reaction. “You’re truly worried about me?”

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