Page 107 of Frost Bound

Dahlia’s head lolled back for a moment. “The light hurts.”

“Dampen the lanterns,” he commanded to his cousins.

They rushed to the lanterns, turning them down. Hisvallessighed, a half-smile on her swollen face.

“I want to sleep,” she whispered, wavering slightly.

“No sleep,” Loshika said sternly. “I don’t know what will happen if she sleeps. If she’s anything like our people, it can be dangerous.” She finished cleaning up the blood. “I’ll stay here for the night to care for her.”

“I’m going to…”

Dahlia turned green a moment before she leaned forward and vomited all over his chest and down his trousers. Neve stared over the top of her head, trying not to breathe. Hisniliavecontinued to heave, emptying the contents of her stomach. He cupped the back of her neck and ran his thumb back and forth, not moving as she clutched his hips.

“It hurts,” his wife moaned.

“Did you give her something for the pain?” he asked the healer.

“As much as I dare.” Genuine worry and fear crossed the healer’s face. “She’s not well.”

Dahlia began to shudder and lifted her head, wiping her mouth with the back of her arm. Tears dipped down her cheeks. “I just want a shower. I need the darkness. I want to be warm.”

“I’m going to kill whoever did this,” he promised, hating how vulnerable hisvalleswas.

“Ha! Can’t do that. You love her too much,” Dahlia slurred.

Neve leaned down to stare at her one good eye. “Who do I love too much?”

“I can do it, my lord.” Loshika set her rag down and made like she was going to push Neve out of the way.

He shook his head and carefully scooped up thevalles. She moaned and clung to his soiled shirt. His questions would haveto wait. Neve stepped over the puddle of vomit and strode to the shower room, kicking the door shut with his boot. He used his elbow to turn on the water. He waited a minute for the water to heat up and then carefully stepped into the spray.

Thevallessagged against his chest. “My ears are ringing.”

“A side effect of the concussion, I presume.” He sat on one of the steps, the water soaking his clothes and dripping down his face. Neve stared down at the top of her head and just held her. She shivered and cuddled closer. He didn’t know how long they sat there, but time stretched on, rain falling around them.

She stirred, face creasing. “I feel sick.”

He managed to help her sit up on his knee, before she leaned over his arm and heaved once again. He pulled her loose braid over her shoulder and snarled. It was four inches shorter, the ends all jagged. Neve swallowed hard and ran his claws over the end of her hair and rubbed her back gently.

Someone had mangled her hair. While Dahlia was an oddity, her hair had always been exotic and stunning. One of the things he found beautiful about her bizarre form.

“It’s fine,” she rasped, as if she could feel his anger.

Neve glared over her head at the wall. It wasnotfine.

“I did it myself.”

His eyes widened as she sat up and leaned her good cheek against his shoulder. “What do you mean,jaivelle?”

“She grabbed my braid and dragged me toward the waterfall. I had to cut it.”

A chill ran down his spine. Bile burned the back of his throat. He was going to be sick. Neve closed his eyes and breathed through his mouth. They were going to toss her over the ledge. It was a heinous death only meant for the worst of traitors.

Remorse and loathing weighed heavily on his shoulders. “Lo bietelle.Sosorry.” While he hadn’t wanted her in his life, hehadn’t wished for her to be attacked and almost pitched into the waterfall and drowned.

“It’s not your fault. Your sister and I figured it out.”

He stiffened, her words echoing in his ears. “What did you just say?”

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