Page 69 of Frost Bound

Sleep and dream for the day is naught. Stars will keep you while fear is fought.

Don’t tarry, don’t tarry, my little dear one. You’re not alone and the danger is gone.

The people turned to face her, but she didn’t see their faces. Dahlia repeated the song as her heartbeat slowed, and her breathing with it. The last note cut through the air and hovered in the quiet before she was able to look away from the outside.

The old female blinked slowly at her. Lia glanced around the room, noting that Olwen, Flyka, and thefakeNeve, as well as two other females, stood in the room staring at her. All were silent.

She peered back at the old giantess, who appraised her with a toothy grin.

“Ourreillevehas blessed us with her song. I thank you.” The old giantess bowed, and then straightened in her seat. Her hand squeezed Dahlia’s foot once more, her claws pricking the weave. “Better?”

Lia nodded, fatigue riding her hard. She slumped back against the king, so very tired.

“Close your eyes,reilleve. Let yourself rest. You’re safe.”

She glanced out the window, watching a very large bird twirl through the sky.

Safety was an illusionwas the last thought in her mind before the darkness took her.

When she’d awoken,the king and his Haunts were gone. And her ring and necklace had been returned to her, but not the weapons. What did that mean? Did they know what sheplanned? Had they discovered the poison? Were they going to kill her?

They’d also left Lia with strangers.

Nonnaethe healer, and her two apprentices, Lianna and Loshika.

It had been ten days since she’d seen anyone that she’d traveled with.

Ten days of healing, of fretting over the future, of concocting plans that would fail. Of worrying about Cosmos. Each day she was gone, was another her brother was on his own, in danger.

Dahlia could not see a way out of her situation.

Even if she managed to collect everything she needed for a journey to her mother, she didn’t know the land—the king and his Haunts did. They’d find her before she reached the border.

If she managed to elude them and made it to her mum, who was to say that the Giver hadn’t already collected her? That thought alone made Dahlia sick.

What of the spies planted in Loriia by the crown or the Giver? Not all giants were loyal to the crown, and easily bought for a few pieces of silver. Would she be killed by one of them if she tried to escape? The only thing that gave her any comfort was that the king and his cousin were able to swap places without the Asteran monarchy knowing, which meant they hadn’t managed to slip a spy into the Loriian palace.

Yet.

If she managed to poison the king, she was surrounded by his people. More Loriians arrived daily to camp outside the healer’s home. Sneaking away would be next to impossible.

The hopelessness of the situation almost seemed too much.

As a visiting princess, she could have left whenever she chose.

As the wife of the king, she was trapped.

Wife.

Even now the word terrified her. While she’d spoken no vows, the king and queen had signed her life away. She was now the property of the Loriian throne—even if she was an imposter.

Nonnaehad made it clear that she was bound in the Loriian custom as well. The crossing of the life-giving waters was marriage in their culture. It was why people had been leaving gifts outside the healer’s home for days.

Dahlia didn’t have a drop of royal blood, and yet she was married to a king. What would he do when he discovered she was a fraud? Did he already know? Was that why he’d not been by to visit? Did her legs give her away? Was he preparing her torture and execution right now?

“Reilleve?” Lianna called softly.

Dahlia shoved her morose thoughts aside and wiped her hands on the simple apron bound around her hips. She pushed away from the sink and smiled at the giantess who had a broken fang, making her seem somewhat endearing. “Yes?”

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