Page 100 of Frost and Death
I snarl.
This outfit, Jerrick’s words, and the abrupt end of talking to Niko and Betina at home have my skull rattling. The King of Palaena married me, ignored me, and promised to answer all my questions. And Jerrick’s failure to deliver has rage fueling through me.
I hurry in getting ready, stewing in my fury before seeking out the king himself to emphasize he is not the only one who is feared by others.
I am a monster, too.
Adrenaline drives me forward. Not even knowing his gifts will keep me from giving him a piece of my mind.
Hewilltrain me, and Iwillgo home.
I stumble through the castle, wearing trousers and a simple cotton tunic for the first time. Staff members glance when I pass by, and I fight the embarrassment and stifle my anger.
My lungs search for air when I reach the bottom level, catching Jonas and Jerrick conversing.
My feet are throbbing when I approach the brothers, smiling in surprise when Jonas steps forward and wraps his arms around me. “Tove! I was told you would be with Jerrick today.” He ends the embrace as Jerrick’s blue eyes flick to me.
My jaw works. “Yes,” I manage through gritted teeth, hatred, and pure annoyance fuming from my pores. “Your brother issupposedly, ready to deliveroneof his promises.”
Surprisingly, Jerrick is here and hasn’t scurried off. I take that as a hopeful sign.
The adrenaline building from my fury is hard to settle, but I inhale a deep breath. I need to play nice if I am going to get answers and wield my gifts.
But thatdamndimple makes an appearance on Jerrick’s face, and fuck if it doesn’t cool my temper.
Instead of saying anything, he turns and walks in the opposite direction.
My face falls. “W-Wait! Where do you think you are going?”
I can’t have him leaving. I just got here.
“We’ll be starting small. Now, come along,” he says over his shoulder.
I try to argue and look at Jonas for help. But Jonas shakes his head in amusement, shrugging as if he, too, doesn’t know what to expect from his brother.
Jerrick takes further strides down the hall, and my irritation doesn’t stop me from fumbling after him.
21
Blood Boils Over
Parading through the castle after Jerrick leaves me grasping for air when we enter Palaena’s royal library. My feet ache from the laced-up boots, a stark contrast to the slippers I am used to wearing. And when I catch the fluffy cushioned lounge in the far corner of the room, I groan in relief.
Floor to ceiling bookcases stretch down the vast hall, filled to the brim with books. Rows of more shelves are lined around the perimeter, and the smell of leather-bound parchment gives me a sense of peace.
I inch closer to plop into one of the many cushioned chairs, half a step away when Jerrick tugs my elbow and tosses a book at me.
I scowl. “Why are you handing me this?”
“Because…” Jerrick skims through a few texts before walking farther and gesturing to the books. “As I said earlier, we are starting small.”
My mouth falls open, and I’m caught off guard. “But you said—”
“That I would train you, yes. But you don’t understand everything, so we have to start from the beginning.”
My anger boils over at his comment, annoyed that he thinks I have not done any research on my abilities. When I first came into my gifts, I enlisted priests to aid me in scouring Axidoria’s royal library for scrolls, journals, and documents of each heir’s inherited power. But none of them had magic like mine.
My response to Jerrick is on the tip of my tongue when I pause that train of thought, realizing what he saysdoesmake sense.
