Page 24 of Severed Heir

Rok moved in, slow and deliberate, as an icicle dagger formed in his grip. “Let this be your first lesson,” he murmured, circling like a predator. “Arrogance gets you killed. Who you are doesn’t matter. Who you know doesn’t matter. You won’t last long enough to cry out to your shadow lord.”

I yanked at the restraints, but the jagged ice only bit deeper into my skin. “Let me out,” I hissed.

Rok knelt beside me and pressed the iced blade to the scar on my cheek—the one Estella had stitched after Monty’s attack at the Academy.

“Please don’t,” I whispered.

But with a single swipe, he reopened it. A thin line of blood welled and spilled onto the snow. That was all it took to end the duel.

Behind me, I heard a sharp snap—Cully’s quill breaking in half again. “Don’t hurt her,” he said, voice trembling. “Don’t.”

Rok didn’t even glance back. He turned to the auburn-haired flame initiate, still lingering nearby. “Your first test,” he said, nodding toward me. “Thaw her out before the beasts find her. I want clean ground for tomorrow.”

The male hesitated. His brown eyes flicked from me to Rok with uncertainty. “I’m sorry, what? You want me tothawher out?”

I bared my teeth, trying to hide the tremble in my hands. “I can handle it myself.” Lifting my palm, I tried to summon flame. A flicker sparked at the base of the ice. It was brief and hopeful. Then it died.

Nearby, Myla’s snow swirled higher, worsening the frost creeping over my legs. “Severyn, let him help,” she urged, her voice tight. “Teach him how to use his powers.”

“I don’t need him,” I snapped, shame burning hotter than my quell.

The flame sputtered again… then died completely.

Myla’s expression fell. “I’m sorry, Sev. I’ll only make it worse.”

Rok crouched one last time, his smile thin and cruel. “Severyn’s pride got her into this. Let her be the one to teach him how to get her out.” Then he turned and walked off, the other guards trailing behind without a backward glance.

Now it was just me and the flame initiate, alone in a frozen courtyard.

He crossed his arms and tilted his head, studying me like he didn’t know if it was appropriate to laugh at a complete stranger. “I could leave you here,” he said, far too casual. “But my parents raised me to be noble.”

“You’re really bringingnobilityinto this?”

He smiled, infuriatingly smug. “I’d appreciate it if you’d act nice.”

“Help. Me,” I growled.

He cocked a brow. “What’s the magic word?”

“Please,” I spat.

“Oh.” He blinked. “I thought there’d be, like… anactualmagic word. I just got my flame quell an hour ago. Thoughtmaybe you’d have a spell or something.” He paused. “Still, was that so hard?”

“You thought there was awordto ignite your powers?”

Sliding into a crouch, he rubbed his palms together like he was prepping for battle… then pressed them lightly to the ice binding my arms. “Well, Miss Chained-in-Ice, yes. I did.”

I was going to die. No really, I was going to fucking die because of this male and my ego to win a battle.

I sagged, my body aching with cold and exhaustion. The shackles were too thick. “Just… ignite,” I muttered, breath fogging the air.

He wiped his palms on his pants, frowning as absolutely nothing happened. Not even a spark. “It’s not working,” he admitted, shaking out his hands like that would somehow help.

“Get angry,” I hissed. “Anger usually helps.”

He smirked. “I’m not really the angry type. Even now, I’m… weirdly calm. Which is probably an emotional red flag, but I had a lot of therapy as a teenager.”

“For fuck’s sake.” I leaned harder against the frozen stone. “Nothing pisses you off?”

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