Page 96 of Frost Bound

All too soon, they reached the royal wing.

He ignored the warriors stationed outside his chambers and swept inside. Hisloviayedropped his arm like she’d been burned, and put the bed between them as he closed and locked the door.

She crossed her arms and lifted her chin.

Neve spared her one glance and meandered to the spirits on the mantel of the fireplace. He poured himself a lick and tossed it back, the alcohol burning down his throat and warming his stomach. Neve poured one more before facing Dahlia.

Dahlia hadn’t moved. In fact, she looked ready for warfare.

Neve held his hand out. “Let’s have it. You obviously have something on your mind.”

“I’m fine.”

He snorted into his glass and took another sip. It seemed females of any race seemed to use the same language when angry. “I can see it on your face,valles.” He watched with intrigue as she wiped every bit of expression from her face. How did she do that? What good did she think it did when he’d already seen the emotion?

“You do not know me, my lord.”

He chuckled and set his glass down on the round table next to the couch. Neve slung a hip against the arm and then crossed his feet at the ankles. He waved a hand at her defensive pose. “Then what is all this? You’re upset with me. I would know why.”

“I’m not.”

“Lies. Do you think I haven’t been studying your facial expressions and body language for the last month? Do you really think I would have let you anywhere near any of my people if I didn’t feel like I understood you and your motivations atsome level?” He pointed to her crossed arms. “You’re standing like you’re ready to go to battle. You wouldn’t look at me in the kitchen, and you didn’t take my hand until youhadto. Godsteeth,valles, what is wrong?”

Dahlia dropped the mask, and her eyes narrowed. “You had your people dress me up like a doll and then paraded me in front of your council.”

“Your ladies-in-waiting did a lovely job.”

Color rushed into her face, causing the sprinkles on her nose to stand out more. “Then you all proceeded to speak in Loriian for hours while I sat on your lap!”

“Not everything is for your ears. Do you really think we would trust asaloesso easily? One from our mortal enemy?” Neve shook his head. “You can’t be that naïve.”

She dropped her arms, and her fingers curled into fists. “I’mnotnaïve. You could have easily had the meeting without me there, but you chose to act as if you did. You didn’t even grant me my own seat. It was meant as a humiliation. To show your power over your human wife.”

He flinched, and pushed away from the couch. “Your own seat? I shared my throne with you!” His voice rose, and Neve bit off the angry shout. Yelling never solved anything and showed a coarse lack of self-control. “Are you really complaining about such an honor?”

She blinked at him. “An honor? What do you mean? Only children and whores sit on the laps of grown men.”

Neve’s jaw dropped. “You mean to tell me thatvallosdo not share their seats with their women in your culture?”

Her nose wrinkled. “Not usually. Unless it is to show the power they have over the woman, or it is a sexual act.”

He pushed away from the couch and ran his hand through his hair. No wonder she was stiff the entire morning. It was likehaving a block of wood in his lap. “In my culture, it is a show of respect between partners—especially a king.”

“Oh.” She just stared at him.

“That’s all you have to say?” he retorted. “Oh?”

“Yes.”

The sparkling black choker caught his eye, and he picked it up from the comforter and let it dangle from his fingertips. “And this? What’s this about?”

Her lips thinned. “Do you remember what you said to me this morning?”

“No. I hardly remember what I ate for luncheon.”

Wrong thing to say. She tossed her hands angrily into the air and then stormed around the bed in a flurry of black silk and fur. He twisted to face her as she snatched the necklace from his grasp.

“You asked me to wear this for you at dinner. It was a very blatant command in front of your people. It’s uncomfortable and heavy, but I wore the blasted thing all day. We’re not friends or partners. You’ve been my enemy since you threatened me in that alcove, but I wanted to have a bit of peace.” Her expression cracked. “Aren’t you tired of fighting? So, despite you embarrassing me, I wore it as an olive branch.” Neve’s stomach dropped as tears filled her eyes. “You never showed up. I waited for hours. Loshika and I were starving.”

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