Page 102 of A Court of Fire and Frost

“I heard,” she whispers.

Where is my fighter now? The Winter Fae who killed mercilessly? I hate what this place is doing to her.

“Come,” Elva says. She pushes herself to her feet and walks past me to get her clothes. “Let’s get ready.”

There is an air of sadness as we move, but it’s different than before.We’redifferent than before.

She doesn’t go behind the curtain as she slides off the rest of her clothes and works the tight leather of the fabric up. I can’t stop staring. When our gazes meet again, there is a claiming hunger there. It fans the burning flame in my core.

We are married now.

I follow her lead, and she watches me intently as I wash and change. We both know if we touch it could be very bad.

Or very good.

I shake my head. We can’t risk someone walking in.

Entire conversations are passing between us without a word spoken.

She is the most beautiful thing that has ever existed. The dress is too revealing, and the thought of others seeing her in it makes me want to rip something in half.

Or smash a vase.

A very expensive one.

She leans against the wall, exposing her throat to the open air. I swallow hard as my eyes skim the beautiful curve of her throat, down her shoulders...

Her eyes rake across my form, and even from here, I can see how dilated her pupils are.

“Elva…” My voice is thick with desire. The anticipation of sliding my hands down—or maybe up—causes a red-hot flush to blossom on my neck. Wicked thoughts bounce around in my head. Ones that I’ve entertained for years but can finally be reality.

When I think I can no longer stand it, the door opens.

I thank the gods we are on opposite sides of the room.

Akron’s eyes flicker between the two of us. He sighs in relief. He doesn’t know I’m the princess’s consort. I smile at him.

“Let’s eat!” I say too brightly, and he gives me an annoyed eye roll. He walks out the door and jerks his head to follow him. I fall in line and look at Elva again as she comes to my side. I can’t resist trailing a finger along the tight fabric on her hip. She exhales quickly and tightens her jaw.

I smile and say, “It’s good that you came when you did Akron. I’m starving.” My eyes again drop to Elva’s mouth, and the corners twitch almost imperceptibly.

I am playing a perilous game right now. Death and I are on opposite sides of the table.

But I am still a Summer Fae.

I know how to trick, possibly even cheat fate. I have much more to lose now.

Chapter40

I Found Myself

ELVA

The last hour of my life has been the craziest, most insane sixty minutes of my existence.

I have never been one for taking risks, yet somehow, I not only proposed marriage to Nathan, but married him and gave him the one thing that gives him absolute power over me.

It feels incredible.

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