Page 68 of Midnight Star

“A deal revolving around love must be done properly,” she says, and she turns to Riven, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Therefore, I’ll only seal it with a kiss.”

Sapphire

“No,”I snap at Chryserra. “We’re already giving you enough.”

The thought of Riven kissing her makes my stomach churn—and it makes the ice from the deal crawl from my elbows to my shoulders.

“Sapphire.” Riven’s voice cuts through my thoughts, the determination in his eyes making me freeze in place. “Remember earlier, before we entered the clearing that led us to the Midnight Star?”

I nod, remembering the kiss we shared. It was magical, as our kisses always are.

But that time was different.

My heart drops as I remember what I said to him afterward.

Thank you. For everything.

Those first two words bound me to a favor to him.

He was so playful when he replied by saying it would be a romantic favor. Anintimatefavor. One we’d both enjoy.

But now…

“I’m cashing in that favor,” he says, his eyes burning into mine with an intensity that tightens around my lungs more painfully than the tree roots wrapped around me ever could. “I want you to agree to the dryad’s deal.”

I try to protest—to tell him that he can’t force me to do this—but ice surges from my feet to my thighs, relentless in its mission to steal my free will.

“Stop,” I plead, although it only makes the ice spread faster. “You can’t do this.”

“You’re bound by a fae bargain, which means I absolutelycando this,” he says quietly, almost gently. “And given that there are no terms when one thanks a fae, there are no loopholes.”

The ice spreads further, making its way up my hips and to my stomach.

But I don’t accept this. Theremustbe a loophole.

Aren’t there always loopholes when dealing with the fae? He already told me that the favor was going to be an… enjoyable one. He can’t just take that back. His saying it has to count forsomething.

But the ice doesn’t stop. It doesn’t even pause. It just continues on its way, spreading across my chest, threateningto make its way under my skin, and eventually, to my heart.

My teeth chatter. My fingers turn blue.

Magic,I think.I can use my magic. I can stop this.

Astral projection won’t help—my body will still freeze, whether I’m inside it or not.

Which leaves me with two other options.

I push out my air magic, forcing the space around me to heat.

The ice beads with condensation.

It’s working…

But the frost surges in response, hardening and spreading faster, overwhelming the warmth.

No.

I struggle to stop it, but it’s no use.

---