Page 53 of Frost Bound

“No!”

“Then what were you doing under the water for so long?”

She jerked. “How do you know how long I was in my bath?”

“I was assigned to guard you, and your crying and splashing stopped.”

Tears welled up into her eyes. He’d heard her sobbing? Her gaze moved to his long, tapered ears. Of course he had. There was no privacy to be found among the Loriian. “I was testing how long I could hold my breath,” she whispered, trying to keep her cool and not lose it. “It’s something I’ve always done.”

He pursed his lips and stared at herhard, like he was trying to see into her soul. “Your voice sounds different.”

She blinked at him. “That’s because I sucked in water when you yanked me from the tub and then dropped a pitcher of water over my head!”

“I was trying to help you,valles.”

Her brows lowered. “Don’t youvallesme! My name is Dahlia!” She was so tired of being calledprincessorfemale. She’d always prided herself on being calm and pragmatic, but there was something about Arun that made her want to scream and quite possibly throw something.

He cocked his head. “You give me permission to call you by your name?”

She rolled her eyes, and he jerked. Seems the big ol’ bad frost giant was unsettled by her eyes.

The feeling is mutual, you big brute.

“Call me Lady Dahlia if you must.” The tension in his face seemed to melt as his eyes ran over her once again. Embarrassment rose hot and heavy as his attention dropped to the water that rippled around her neck. She cleared her throat. “Now that you’ve ascertained that I’m fine, please leave.”

He released the basin edge like he’d been burned, and backpedaled, pausing at the door. “I’ll have dinner sent up to you, and more blankets.”

With that, he spun on his heel and slammed the door shut. It shuddered on its hinges but held.

What had that been about?

A raspy cough escaped her. It didn’t matter. All she needed to focus on was cleaning her thighs, getting a cup of tea down, and a good night’s sleep.

Surly giants could go suck rocks for all she cared.

Chapter Nineteen

Neve

He ledboth the princess and hisrukhalsto the tiny inn.

No, not the princess.Dahlia.

The beasts snorted and shook their heads, their long ears flopping before perking up once again. Olwen stood in the melting snow with a cheeky grin on his face.

“What?” Neve groused, tying up the tworukhals, who immediately began to munch on the greens he’d left on the ground for them.

“How does it feel to be wearing black again?” his friend asked.

Neve rolled his shoulders, the ceremonial garb pulling tightly across the back of his broad shoulders. “Uncomfortable.” It was bizarre to be wearing royal regalia at all. It wasn’t something he wore except for formal occasions, and those were few and far between.

One of therukhalsnosed his shoulder, its rounded downy muzzle looking for treats in his pockets. He smiled and turned towrap his arms around the beast. “Looking for food already, old friend?” Neve patted Cessa’s tawny coat.

Cessa lipped his braids and stomped one hoof, shaking his impressive set of antlers.

Neve pulled the apple from his pocket and held it out to theruhkal. “Spoiled beastie.”

A gasp came from behind him when Cessa took the apple from his hand. Neve spun around, snow crunching beneath his boots.

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