Page 98 of Frost Bound

It was the smartest choice. Allium expected information, and Lia couldn’t acquire it if the king thought she was a problem. But she couldn’t give in that easily or he’d suspect something was wrong.

Dahlia slunk out of the dressing room in her leggings, wearing one of Neve’s large black linen shirts. He stood before the fire on the opposite side of the room with his back to her.

She swallowed hard.

He only wore his leathers.

She paused by the bath to look at him. His shoulders were wide and muscular, leading down to a tapered waist that disappeared into the waistband of his trousers. Bruises wrapped around his ribs, marking his velvety indigo skin. Scars marred his shoulders where hiscaern’yeused to be and cut across hischest. Someone had done their best to disfigure him, but it had the opposite effect.

He was massive, monstrous, and yet …appealing.

The realization was a real problem. Lia couldn’t afford to think her target was handsome.

Too bad his personality doesn’t match.

She suppressed her snicker and padded over to the bed. She climbed up and sighed. Stars, the bed was the softest thing she’d ever experienced. Neve glanced over his shoulder, the gems along his tapered ears winking in the firelight.

“Heavenly, isn’t it?” he murmured.

“Yes. It is.” She plucked a pillow from the bed and tossed it at him. The king spun and caught it.

He looked at her in question. “What’s this for?”

“For the couch.”Obviously.

He stared at her for a beat before a low chuckle rumbled in his chest. Lia scowled as goosebumps broke out along her arms. He slowly prowled toward the bed. She knelt on the mattress, clutching a pillow to her chest like a bloody idiot.

The king tossed the pillow onto the bed and leaned closer, his palms flat against the comforter. “This is my room,jaivelle. I will be sleeping inmybed.”

Her eyes widened. “No.”

He grinned. “Oh yes.”

“But a gentleman would give the lady the bed.”

His smile turned utterly wicked. “But I’m not gentleman, am I, Dahlia? I’m the monster.”

Lia swallowed hard and eyed the bed. It was enormous. There was more than enough room for the both of them, but… “Fine, but you sleep with trousers on.”

He smirked. “I only ever sleep naked.”

“You asked me to help you pull off this ruse.” She stabbed a finger at him. “I’ll pretend to be happily married to you so yourpeople accept the match, but you sleep with pantson. Take it or leave it.”

The insufferable male laughed at her. “Humans are such prudes. It is just skin.”

“It was a whole lot more than that this morning,” she blurted. Lia snapped her mouth shut and blushed.

Why would you bring that up?

Neve arched a black brow. “What was a whole lot?”

She refused to rise to the bait.

He snickered and pushed away from the bed. “Don’t worry,jaivelle. I’ll keep mysoravfar away from you.”

“Sorav?” she questioned, sitting on her bottom to watch him move toward the shower room.

The king paused at the door and winked at her. “Use your imagination. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” He disappeared into the shower room and closed the door.

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