Page 88 of Frost Bound

Perhaps they weren’t taking her to Neve but to the dungeons instead?

Don’t be stupid. Why dress you up?

That thought soothed Dahlia the tiniest bit, and relief filled her as Eyri stepped through the door with a smile on his face. Surely, he wouldn’t smile at her if he was to kill her? Olwen maybe, but not Eyri. The guards took their place on either side of the door as Eyri held his arm out to her.

“Are you ready?” he whispered softly.

“For what?”

“The wolves.”

She shrugged. “Can’t be much worse than home.”

He led her through a short hallway that opened to a chamber with rough-hewn stone walls. Her heeled boots clicked against the floor, and she kept her schooled expression in place as fifteen giants stood from the rectangular crystal table and bowed. She knew two at the table, Flyka and Olwen.

“Reilleve,” echoed in the room.

Eyri urged her forward around the largest chair until she faced the king. Her heart pounded as she met Neve’s pitch gaze. Long gone was the grumpy warrior of the road, an icy monarch in his place as hard as stone.

He sat in his carved wooden throne, regal chin held high. Chains and gems dripped from his ears, and shiny beads decorated his deep blue hair. A black brocade tunic with a row of neat silver buttons marched down his chest to his leathers. A multitude of silver rings gleamed on his fingers.

Dahlia curtsied, so thankful the ladies-in-waiting had changed her jewelry. She would have looked like a simplebumpkin beside this king. Slowly she rose, and the king held a hand out to her. Lia released Eyri and took a step closer, sliding her nerveless fingers against his. He gently tugged her between his thick, splayed thighs and urged her to sit.

Lia perched on his lap, battling a rising blush. Her back was ramrod straight as he ran his hand down the back of her neck, then spine, and eventually settled on her left hip. He scooted her farther into his lap.

Dahlia did blush this time, keeping her dismay and annoyance from showing. What in the blazes was happening? She didn’t want to be anywhere near his lap after this morning. Growing up in a troupe of bards meant not a lot of privacy, so she’d seen her fair share of male appendages, but she’d never seen anything like the king’s … it was as disturbing as it wasintriguing.

Her blush burned hotter.Stop it.

“Let me introduce you all to myniliave, Princess Dahlia of Astera.”

The giants bowed again before sitting in their seats, their attention focused completely on her, assessing. Lia did the same. There were some warm smiles of familiar faces, a few thin-lipped, and then she spotted a positively stormy cloud of a giantess. She seemed to fume in place; hate seeped from her pores.

Dahlia blinked slowly. A jealous lover? A wronged Loriian?

“Lumi, aren’t you going to welcome your new sister?”

The angry giantess smiled, but it was mean.Neve’s sister.“Welcome,reilleve.” Her tone dripped false sweetness.

“Jaiell vei,” Lia returned with just as much sweetness. A family feud. How delightful.

An old woman with white hair arched a brow. “My lady speaks Loriian?”

“No, but I’ve picked up a few words recently. It’s my hope to be fluent in the future.”A lie. She’d be long gone before she was fluent. “What is your name?”

“Eira.”

“It’s lovely to meet you.”

The giantess quirked a smile when a giant built like a bull grinned at her. “We heard you’re quick with a slingshot, my lady.”

How did they know this already? “I wouldn’t say quick…”

“Have you been trained with other weapons?”

She pursed her lips at his question, and teetered her hand in the air. “I’m a straight shot with a bow, and have a hidden love for throwing knives, but that’s the extent of my education in the art of war.”

“You brought us back a little fighter,” a much younger giant commented, his lavender face pensive. “What a delightful surprise.”

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