Page 60 of Frost Bound

Movement in the sky caught her attention. A large owl swooped through the air, its feathers so white they were startling against the coming night. She felt her body giving out, her grip slacking.

“Come on,” Arun growled.

They neared the edge, the water turning white and seeming like it curled in on itself as it tumbled into oblivion. They stopped moving, suspended in the angry river.

She watched as the water sucked at her legs, trying to drive her over the waterfall’s edge. She knew she should be scared, but couldn’t find it in herself to feel anything.

The enormous owl swooped closer, its golden eyes a startling contrast to its round white face. It seemed like it was telling her something.

A sigh escaped her. Finally, the cold was receding, warmth creeping into her limbs. Maybe the river wasn’t so frigid.

Her stomach lurched when they moved, only to get yanked suddenly. It went on and on until the water slipped from her lips, to her neck, and then chest. She tipped her head against Arun’s neck, eyelids falling shut, the shriek of an owl and the thunder of a waterfall lulling her to sleep.

Just a quick nap.

The brute shook her roughly and slapped her cheek.

Lia laughed, but it was more of a gurgle as his penetrating, terrifying eyes focused on her face. “That didn’t hurt,” she slurred, her face feeling all wrong.

His lips turned downward and his brows slashed together, water dripping from his chin. “Don’t close your eyes. Keep them open,jaivelle.”

She cried out, a bone-deep pain shooting through her shoulder as he lifted her into his arms. He didn’t know just how heavy her eyelids were. Her head lolled back, and she smiled as the sun retreated completely and one star winked at her, the outline of an owl above.

The sky blurred, and she closed her eyes as the wind picked up.

“Stay with me,” a deep rumbly voice whispered.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Neve

He ran.

Olwen, Eyri, and Flyka fell in by his side. The crowd parted with gasps as he sprinted toward the city. His gaze flew down to thevallesin his arms. Her lips were a stark blue against her pale complexion that seemed almost translucent. Little puffs of air came from her slack mouth, her eyelids almost closed, eyes rolled back into her head.

Qovving hell.

Neve shook her but she only groaned, limp against his chest.

The crowd thickened around the edge of town with little huts.

“Make way!” Flyka shouted.

Neve assessed the area. It was an hour walk to reach the Seed—the center of the city.

She won’t make it that long.

“Your grandmother who is the healer still lives near here, no?” he huffed, glancing at Olwen.

“Yes.”

That’s all the confirmation Neve needed. He veered down a snow-packed road, and then up the main street of the village. He loped up the steps to the healer’s home and barged in.

Olwen’s grandmother and two of hernonnaette -her apprentices-squeaked in surprise at his intrusion. Warmth curled around him immediately, along with the scent of herbs as he made his way into the large room.Nonnaestood from her stool near the fire and met him midway, her attention scouring him, and then thevallesin his arms.

“What happened?” she muttered, her lips thinning as she pressed the back of her black hand to hisloviaye’s forehead.

“Our bonding didn’t go as planned.”

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