Page 77 of Frost Bound

“Was that meant for me or you?” she whispered.

His lips thinned. “Both of us.”

“Should I be worried?”

“No.”

He’d worry for the both of them, and pray they’d finally make it to the Glace Palace alive.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Dahlia

Dahlia cameto several conclusions as a company of soldiers joined them outside the city.

First, that she was only a prisoner if she let herself be one.

Second, until this very moment, she’d been letting fear control her. Since the Giver had handed her off to the Asteran monarchy, Lia had been helpless in their schemes, but no more. She needed to be logical in each of her decisions going forward or her fear would get her killed.

Third, she’d always prided herself on being pragmatic. To be honest, she’d never had the choice to be anything else. There was always the next town or city, the next show to be performed so they could eat, the next healer to query discreetly. Lia literally could not afford to be herself. But in the last month, she’d experienced anger, joy, sadness, and empathy, and expressed them outwardly in a way she’d never done before. It was …freeing.

Fourth, Dahlia needed allies if she was to ever escape Loriia and reunite with her family. The Giver had told her once shecould charm a snake, and since he was a backstabbing serpent, she figured that was true. In the icy lands, Lia was the outsider, but she’d already made a friend of Loshika. Who else could possibly help her? Her attention turned to Eyri. He was curious about humans, and he’d been nothing but kind to her. That was a start.

Fifth, she would never let anyone use her again. It would beherchoice. Randa, Allium, and Neve all thought to manipulate her to get their way. She might be a peasant bard, but she’d never be at their mercy again. It was time to start acting like a royal.

And sixth, she was fairly certain she’d seen Jekket in the crowd near the Seed. A shiver of foreboding worked down her spine. Was he just a figment of her imagination? Or had the Giver sent him?

And seventh, the Frost King smelled of rosemary and cedar. She liked it all too much.

“You’re quiet,” the king rumbled.

“I’m tired.” She’d held herself stiffly away from Neve for hours, and the sun was about to set. The muscles in her back twinged and she grimaced.

A heavy sigh ruffled the hair atop her head. She squeaked when the king pressed her head against his chest and shoulder. “Thenrest. You’re making Cessa nervous.”

Her initial reaction was to pull away from him, but she stayed, peeking up from underneath her hood. Lia was met with the strong column of his indigo neck that led to Neve’s sharp jawline.

Handsome.

She blanched, wanting to scrub the thought from her mind. He was the enemy. If he found out that she wasn’t the real princess, there was no doubt in her mind that he would execute her. The thought sobered her.

Dahlia focused on the soldiers that flanked their right side, from time to time catching a warrior studying her like she was an oddity. She frowned at their large shaggy horses. None of the soldiers roderukhals.

“Why do they have horses?” she found herself asking. Didn’t the king say the stags did better in the deep snow?

“They are war horses bred for the deep north. They have been trained for endurance, bursts of speed, and warfare.”

Lia schooled her expression as a soldier glanced her way while she was eyeing his horse. When she needed to make a break for it, she’d need one of those horses.

“They’re lovely,” she commented. “I like their shaggy feet. It’s cute.”

“Cute? They are animals of war, warriors in their own right. They arenotcute.”

His tone was so offended on behalf of the horses, a giggle snuck out. Once she started, Dahlia couldn’t stop until she started coughing.

“Are you done yet?” he asked gruffly, patting her back awkwardly.

“Yes.” She wheezed. “For the time being.”

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