Page 67 of Fortress of Blood and Power

This time, I didn’t close my eyes. I thought of the frost I’d summoned outside my chambers earlier. I could do that again, surely. With the petals clutched in one hand, I held out the other, palm upward, and concentrated on tracing frosty patterns along my skin. I thought of the power and joy my magic brought me. I thought of Garrick’s confidence in me, and leaned into it, wrapping myself in it until my own belief swelled.

Frost crackled, coating my hand in its silver shimmer and then racing outward until the entire tower roof was glistening in a thin sheet of ice.

Eyes wide, I turned to Garrick. “I did it,” I breathed.

“Of course you did,” he said, beaming.

I wanted to throw my arms around him, but I shoved the urge down deep.

“Try again,” he repeated.

I called upon more frost, thickening the ice around us until, with a laugh, I took a step, letting my slippers slide across the slick surface.

“Careful.” Garrick caught me, his hand swerving at the last second to avoid my skin and catch my forearm, covered in his furs.

The air froze in my throat as he gently drew me closer, setting his other hand on my waist to balance me. His face was inches from mine, our steaming breaths mingling.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

There was a moment, when his eyes dipped to my mouth, that I thought he felt the same desire, the same longing. A confession lingered on my tongue. But as beautiful as the words sounded in my mind, they also were painful. If Garrick felt the same way, wouldn’t I only be driving a dagger into his heart? We couldn’t even touch. We were both bound unwillingly to others. If we didn’t win our freedom, we could never be.

Before I could decide, Garrick’s mouth curved in a crooked smile. “It is my honor, my queen.” His hand dropped from my waist and his fingers loosened from my wrist. He stepped back, and the space between us had never seemed vaster. Even his choice of words—my queen—emphasized distance, like he was only my loyal subject. My heart ached, wishing he’d used my nickname instead.

“Aspen says she has rebels willing to help me,” I said, desperate to change the subject. “Do you know of them?”

Garrick nodded. “I don’t meet with them though. With my blood oath, few trust me.” He shrugged. “They’re right not to. Even Aspen is cautious about how she speaks with me. Any suspected treachery, and Preston or Nerissa could force confessions from my lips. I’d withhold nothing.”

“But—”

“You can’t trust me with every detail of your plans either, Starlight,” he said, his voice low, his eyes sorrowful.

“It’s not your fault.”

He shook his head. “The results would be the same. I don’t know the location of the rebels’ meeting places. I don’t know their strategies. And I don’t want to know any details about what you and Aspen choose to do. Nerissa uses me as her hunter, but also as her spy, when she believes someone to be plotting. She’ll make me share everything, if she thinks you have a plan.”

The question was out of my mouth before I thought it through, my words bitter. “Does she also force you to share...other things?” My cheeks flushed. “She kisses you as if she owns you. Does she...do more?”

Garrick closed his eyes, and instant regret crashed into me. What sort of heartless question was that? But his tone was relieved as he said, “No. I think she sees me as a pet—handsome, but to do more than kiss me would be...appalling to her. I am little better than a human. Disgustingly weak with my inability to glamour others or wield magic outside of shifting or putting others to sleep.”

“And yet those skills are so valuable for her when it comes to catching her prey.”

“There isn’t even a wedding date set or discussed. I think she announced our betrothal for some of the same reasons Preston chose to bind himself to you. If she can claim me as hers—her pet, her hunter, her fiancé—then no one else can view me as...available. And it reminds me I have no hope to bind myself to another in any way, body, heart, or soul.”

My mouth tasted sour.

The wind ruffled through Garrick’s white-blond hair as he crossed his arms, his smile mirthless as he studied the gathering twilight. “Don’t look at me like that. I chose my own fate when I made my blood oath.”

“You didn’t know what they were.”

“I should have been more cautious.”

“Garrick, you were achild.”

His tone was bitter. “And a fool. I must live with the consequences of my choices.”

Before I could try to protest more, Garrick’s gold eyes hardened. “It’s growing darker, Starlight. You need to return to your rooms.”

Powerful blood or not, I winced at the thought of encountering another demon so soon. “You’re right,” I murmured.

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