Page 97 of Frost Bound

“That’s why you were in the kitchen.”

She nodded and looked away, angrily brushing a tear off her flushed cheek.

His chest ached at the sight. He didn’t like her tears. They … bothered him. Even with all the trials they’d experienced on their travels, Dahlia had never once cried. Neve had done this. This was his fault.

“Lo bietelle.” I’m sorry.

“For what?”

“For causing you distress.”

She glared at him. “I’m not distressed. I’m angry.”

He sighed. “I’m just trying to apologize. Why are you making it so difficult?”

“Because you vex me.”

He eyed his little bride. “The feeling is mutual, I assure you.”

“Then why seek my hand?”

“To stop the bloodshed plaguing our nations for the last thousand years.”

“Oh, is that all?” A beat of silence, and then her lips twitched.

He snickered, and she chuckled, which led to him laughing until his ribs complained. Neve wiped the corner of his eye and froze when thevallesgrinned up at him, her eyes sparkling. She’d never looked at him that way before. It stunned him. He felt like he could hardly breathe. Her laughter faded. He found himself cupping the back of her neck, his claws combing through the shiny curls draped down her back.

Once again, he fixated on her pink lips. His attention moved to her eyes. The pupils were wide once again. Neve scanned her face and leaned closer, testing a theory. He scented the air for fear.

Just a touch. And something far sweeter.

Desire.

Neve pressed closer, dropping his nose to the crook of her shoulder, following the sweetness up the column of her neck and behind her ear. His littlevallesshivered, and a wicked smile curled his lips.

Maybe the beauty favors the monster.

When did he start thinking of her as a beauty?

That thought alone had him pulling away. She blinked up at him and it took everything inside Neve not to lift her onto the bed and taste her skin. His mouth watered.

“Qov.” He turned his back on her and stalked to his glass, tossing back the spirits. He faced Dahlia, hating how she’d erased every bit of softness he’d seen and felt in her body. The wall was back up.

“It’s time for you to leave,” she said, her voice just a touch lower.

Neve grimaced. This was what he really needed to speak to her about.

“About that … I’m staying here, and so are you.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Dahlia

She’d refused.

She’d argued.

And finally, she compromised.

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