Page 90 of Frost Bound

“I like this.”

Her eyes widened at the heated smirk that lifted his deep navy lips. Why was she staring at his mouth?

“Thank you, my lord.”

“Keep that on for dinner, would you?”

She gave him a questioning look. Just what was he about? “As you say.”

Lia lifted the hem of her skirt and walked out of the room, confusion swirling inside her. Why the sudden change in attitude? It threw her off-kilter.

“I don’t think you’ll need to evoke the concubine edict,reillov,” Bacti the oily said just loud enough in common tongue that she heard him. “Surely our kingdom will be blessed with heirs soon.”

Dahlia’s jaw dropped and her steps sped up.

There would benoheirs.

Even if part of her wanted to see how the king’s skin tasted.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Neve

He lurkedin Lumi’s bedroom waiting for his dear sister to make her appearance.

After the council meeting had adjourned, she’d all but disappeared.

Neve swirled the spirits around in his glass and leaned back in the wingback chair his sister loved to read in. Lumi’s room was full of vibrant colors and warm woods, as opposed to the cooler tones he preferred.

The door swung open and he paused, the glass perched on his lips when Lumi rushed into the room, Alda tailing her. His sister flinched when she spotted him, and Alda froze.

“Shouldn’t you be helping thereilleveget ready for dinner?” he drawled.

“She dismissed us for the evening,reillov.”

Interesting.

“Leave us.”

Alda bowed, scurrying out of the room and closing the door behind her.

Lumi glared at him. “You didn’t have to be so rude. She’s our cousin.”

“No, she’s the granddaughter of Beltisse, who is scheming to take the throne, Lumi. She’s not your friend.”

“Then why station her as yoursaloes’ lady-in-waiting? Hoping one of them will kill her off?”

Slowly, he placed his glass down on the small round table to his left. “No, I’m honoring their family, and keeping my eye on them in the process. Beltisse wouldn’t tell me no when I asked for his granddaughters, since it is such a privilege to serve the queen. But he also knows they are within my grasp now. He wouldn’t dare try anything. He might be greedy, but thevallosloves his family.”

“You’re diabolical,” Lumi spat.

“That’s a little hypocritical coming from thevalleswho put thereillevein my chambers.”

Mischief lurked on her face. “I heard about that. Apparently, your new queen didn’t like you being in her bed. A vase was thrown? At least that’s what the gossips are saying.”

“Why, Lumi?” he growled, getting to his feet. “It was my wish for her to be in the tower.”

“Because I wanted to have a little fun.” An evil smile. “And I wanted you to have to look at her every day. You chose to bring the enemy into our home. You don’t get to pretend it didn’t happen and go on your merry way. You should suffer.”

---