Page 67 of Frost Bound

His brows lowered, making him look even fiercer. “Returning home?”

Fear curdled her stomach. Why did he look surprised? “Yes, when my trip is over, I will return to Astera.” Unless he’d lured the princess of Astera to Loriia for another reason. Unless he’d guessed the truth that she was really a spy, an unwilling assassin.

“No,niliave, you will stay here indefinitely.”

A lump rose in her throat and the world spun. There wasn’t enough air. “Why?”

“Because you are thereilleve, lae neilave.”

Those words sounded familiar. “What does that mean?” she rasped.

He crossed his arms. “You’re the queen, mywife.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Dahlia

Wife.Wife.Wife.

The word marched through her mind like a chant until all she could hear was that condemning word. The frost giant watched Dahlia closely as she took large gulps of air, coughing between them.

This couldn’t be right.

Queen Allium wouldn’t have sent her this unprepared, would she?

Do anything to secure trust. Use your assets.

Was this what the bloody queen was alluding to? It couldn’t be true. How was the marriage even legal? Dahlia wasn’t the true princess, she was an imposter.

She shook her head, but her mind screeched to a halt.

The sapphires.

Those jewels had haunted her. It didn’t seem right that the delegation would give them to her as a gift. They were veritably priceless. It didn’t seem likely that the giants would have given them to her as a gift of peace, but as a bride gift?

It made perfect sense.

Her heart pounded and she coughed, trying to breathe. Dahlia doubled over for a moment.

Randa and Allium sold you to the monsters.

She shuddered and slowly stood on the bed, wavering on her feet, with the blankets still clutched in her fingers. The room swam, and she ignored the giant watching her reaction all too closely. Lia grounded herself, warmth from the fire licking at her calves.

She froze.

No.

Ever so slowly, she looked down.

Her legs were bare.

Lia blanched, and stumbled backward off the mattress against the wall, dragging the covers with her.

He knew.

Arun—no, the Frost King—rose from the stool, uncoiling like a serpent, his entire focus on her. “What exactly are you implying? That you did not know of the betrothal?” His tone was dripping in darkness and danger.

She edged toward the door to her right, his attention never wavering from her. “I was toldnothing.”Only that I am to kill you.Poison you.

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