Page 4 of A Court of Fire and Frost

Oh gods.

I blink.

She blinks.

An awkward silence stretches between us before she laughs softly.

“Fear not, Fae. I will not kill him here.” Her accent is rich and lilting. It draws me in even more. Like a spell, I almost miss the Fae trickery of her words.

Almost.

I curl my fingers. He won’t die here, but... She will kill him at one point.

Still lacking the ability to speak, I nod.

Be charming, you idiot. You are a Summer Fae; for the Gods’ sakes. Delight and surprise are literally what your people do.

Despite my rousing pep-talk, my mouth opens, and nothing comes out.

Her head tilts to the side, studying me. The corners of her eyes crinkle, and she tries to hold back a smile. Oh, gods. The sweatpants.

Would it be too much for the ocean to swallow me whole?

More awkward silence stretches between us. After a few extended heartbeats, the tattooed Fae looks past me into the office.

I want to do anything to keep those icy eyes on me. “So…” I start, wanting to redeem myself, perhaps even casually introduce myself, but the moment never comes.

One of the men steps out of the office. “Little Twig, come and get your money, or we will leave without paying!” he shouts.

The other sailor grumbles something offensive, and they both laugh.

Feeling like a total ass, I mumble, “That’s me, I think,” and hurry inside.

I expect her to follow me inside, but when I glance over my shoulder, the wintery beauty has vanished into the mists. Her “cargo” is gone as well.

My heart sinks into my stomach. I will probably never see her again.

Chapter2

I Am Intrigued

ELVA

Iwouldn’t kill him if I were you.

Laughing to myself, I watch the soft-hearted Fae retreat. Something about the male draws me to him; my eyes don’t want to move. His russet-red hair blows in the early morning breeze and the way he walks...

I’m drawn to him.

Waiting until he disappears into his tiny office, I heave my bundle over my shoulders. The way the Fae moves intrigues me, but his words make it clear that he has never stepped foot in the Winter Court.

My mother would tear him limb from limb before he even realized what was happening.

Still...I am intrigued.Not many things intrigue me these days.

What kind of Fae asks for the life of someone he hasn’t even met?

Clearly, not someone familiar with the kill-or-be-killed philosophy embraced by most members of my court.

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