Page 30 of Frost Bound

“Don’t worry, Dahlia. I will send you help. Just keep an eye out for our spy.”

“Who is it?”

Allium smirked. “Now, now. Let’s not get greedy. What if you fail immediately? We can’t let you ruin all our plans.”

By failure she meant Lia’s death.

She waved a hand to Basil. “Give her our gift.”

Basil produced a box with a simple emerald ring. “Hold out your hand.”

Slowly, she held out her right hand and Basil slipped the jewelry onto her middle finger. Lia stared at the ring. “Thank you for the gift.” Why would they give this?

“It’s more than the sum of its looks, darling,” the queen preened. “Press the stone.”

Lia followed the command, and the emerald top swung open, revealing a tiny hidden compartment with a wickedly sharp needle in the center. Her stomach dropped. A poison ring?

“A little something to help with the job. Make sure you have contact with the king for ten seconds. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Her mind scrambled. There were so many things that could go wrong with this situation. “Can they scent the drugs?”

“No,” the king supplied. His smile turned gleeful. “We’ve had it tested several times.”

She hid her disgust.On who?Lia closed the ring.

“Now that’s done and over with…” The queen gestured to her left. “…come stand next to me. It’s time for you to officially meet the mongrel delegation.”

Basil stepped away from Lia; she lifted her skirt and ascended the dais to stand beside Allium’s throne, her legs shaking slightly.

They expected her to murder the Loriian king. A giant. He’d wring her neck before she even got close to him.

“I do have one question. What name am I to go by?”

“If you remember our prior conversation, I was once very taken with the floral.” She waved her hand lazily. “I thought of myself as a romantic in my youth. As it happens, the princess shares her middle name with you. That’s how I knew you’d been sent to us.”

Only through trickery and betrayal, not by fate.

“Her middle name is Dahlia?”

“Yes, you stupid girl. That is what I just said, isn’t it?”

Lia bit back her retort and nodded. “Yes, my lady.”

The queen glanced up at her. “Prepare yourself, little flower. The monsters are afoot. Try not to look too shocked and terrified when they enter or I’ll beverydispleased.” A pause. “Also, they brought theirking.” Dahlia’s eyes widened. The Frost King hadn’t left his kingdom since he’d been crowned. “I believe he wishes to assess you before he brings you into Loriia. Don’t mess this up!”

“Yes, my lady,” she replied softly, keeping her attention on the doors straight ahead with the ring heavy on her finger. Yesterday had terrified her, but it mostly had to do with the dark, the threats, and the surprise. Today, she knew what she was in for.

“Bring them in,” King Randa commanded.

Chapter Eleven

Neve

He madethe Asteran monarchy wait two hours for them.

While the alliance would be good for the kingdom, he didn’t appreciate having an assassin sicced on him the moment he entered the country. The bloody human monarchy could wait.

It was with immense satisfaction that he arrived with his Haunt dragging his would-be murderer. Flyka, Olwen, and himself all surrounded Eyri, who took the lead. Neve hid his smile at how his cousin chafed under the royal black regalia. As a whole, Loriians ran hot. They wore little clothing, butsaloeshad delicate sensibilities.

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