Page 7 of Frost Bound

Dahlia

Present Day

A sentencing.

The Giver’s own form of justice where he acted as judge, jury, and executioner.

Lia swallowed hard and forced herself not to collapse in despair. She held the monster’s black gaze and tried to think through the panic. The Giver always negotiated. If he wanted Cosmos dead, he would have acted already. He wanted something from her. Just the thought alone was enough to make her want to throw up. Over the last year as she’d made payments, he’d hinted at making other arrangements where he took more than just her coin.

Her stomach rolled but she steeled herself. She’d do whatever was necessary to protect her brother. It was her fault Cosmos was without their mother. It was Lia’s responsibility to sacrifice whatever it took to take care of him.

Green eyes fading, cooling blood, a trodden leaf crown…

Exhaling slowly, Dahlia shoved her fear and the past down deep and sat in the velvet chair. Despite her long legs, she couldn’t touch the floor, her feet swinging as if she were a child. It was … off-putting. She crossed her legs and lifted her chin to disguise her unease. “What is he accused of, Giver?”

Hetsked. “Giver. That’s no way to address a friend. Please call me Adder.”

A poisonous snake. What a fitting name for such a creature.

And why share his name now? They’d been meeting for well over a year. Just what was he up to?

She dipped her chin in acknowledgement. “Adder, what exactly is my brother accused of?”

“Theft.”

Her brows furrowed. “I see.” Cosmos had a great many flaws. He could be impulsive and trusted too easily, but he wasn’t a thief. How did she say that without offending the crime lord who could break her neck as easily as a toothpick? “May I ask who is accusing him and what witnesses you have?”

Adder laced his fingers on the top of the desk, a smile twitching at the corner of his lips like he knew a secret that she didn’t. “I am the witness.”

Godsteeth.“You?” She slanted a glance to her brother.What have you done?

“Yes. It seems a few of your brother’s friends learned of one of my lucrative operations. They thought no one would notice if some gold went missing.” His sinister chuckle caused the hair to raise at the back of her neck. “Ialwaysknow what is going on in my side of town. Your brother was the lookout and never saw me coming.” She flinched as Adder patted her brother on the top of his head. “He was the only one not to run. It’s the only reason he’s not dead like the rest of his friends.”

Her stomach heaved and she placed a hand over her navel. All of those children … murdered. She blinked to keep the tearsfrom falling, and stared at her glassy-eyed brother, who was trying to be brave but was scared. He may have grown in size, but he was still a little boy to her.

Keep it together.

“What are you planning to do with him?” she asked, her voice wavering just a little.

Adder pushed out of his seat, bypassing her brother, and rounded his desk. He sat on the edge of the desk, blocking her view of Cosmos. He was positively huge as he loomed over her, and that was saying something as she was tall for a woman. She tipped her head back to keep her gaze on him, her nails digging into the armrests and sinking deeply into the fabric.

His black gaze tracked the movement, a predator through and through. “I have a problem, my sweet Dahlia. In normal circumstances, I’d string him up with the rest of his lot.” Her heart seemed to stop. “But I feel like that is not enough. They all tried to steal fromme—their Giver. It was too bold. What if others get the same idea?”

She licked her lips and began carefully: “I know stealing is wrong, but they were just starving kids, not a rival gang. Hasn’t there been enough punishment already?”

Adder arched a black brow at her. “You believe your brother should go without any repercussions?”

“No, but I don’t believe torturing and killing youths will gain you anything.” Her pulse raced as she waited for him to react to her blunt words.

“This is why I like you, my sweet flower. You’re so very practical. On this we can agree. Killing your brother would not gain me anything.Butsending him to the crown for his crimes would put gold in my pocket.”

She stiffened. The dungeons of Florrant were a living hell. “You mustn’t.”

“I feel as if my hands are tied, Dahlia. In fact…” He gestured to Jekket, another half-giant, who hauled Cosmos from the floor. She slipped from her chair as the Recurrence guard dragged her struggling brother from the room. Her jaw clenched when Jekket winked at her just before he closed the door behind them. Stars, she hated him. Lia stared at the exit, feeling as if her chest were about to cave in. Fighting would be futile, but she still wanted to try.

Be smart. Keep calm. Don’t lose your head.

Large pale blue fingers clasped her chin and forced her attention to the demon who’d stolen her brother away. He brushed his thumb along her bottom lip and Lia jerked away, almost tumbling back into the chair. Her hand dropped to the chile powder hidden beneath her cloak.

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