Page 109 of Frost and Death
A moan almost escapes when Jerrick holds my sides again. It makes me feel like a starved woman, needing to cry out in ecstasy from this man.
“Stop it,” I demand, desperate to have control of myself again.
I’m still holding him against the wall when something clicks, and I let go of him. I run my hands through my hair, still frantic with my body’s needs. Hot, heavy, sensual, and euphoric.
I need to know how much of this is his magic and how much is purely me.
No, it doesn’t matter. I just need it to stop.
“You will help me because, if you don’t, I will not sign off on trade to help your kingdom, and I will not train you,” Jerrick vows, sending a pulsing sensation down to my core.
A bitter sharp plunge of ice hits my system, my magic coming forward and trying to fight whatever Jerrick is doing. But Jerrick grips my shoulder, swiftly moving us again, with my back braced against the wall.
I hiss from the sizzle exploding across my frosted arms.
Heated blue eyes meet mine, and the hold on my arm tightens. “Agree to help me, Frostbite,” he orders, his touch pulsing heat into my system, diminishing the frost I gained a small reprieve from.
I swallow thickly, the magnitude of the danger this man is to others, himself, and me settles in my gut.
A curse of death to pair with his gift from one of the two greater Deities? Whether his abilities are from Letum or Yeva, I still wonder if my mother knew about this. Surely not.
There is no way she could have known.
He is a walking omen to all. A monster, born or made, didn’t seem to matter at this point.
He controls my fate, can manipulate my blood, and is cursed with death.
I need to carefully curate myself around him if I am going to give Niko and Axidoria a fighting chance to separate from this man.
I push through my tight breaths, knowing I need to play along in order to succeed.
“I-I’ll help you,” I squeak, the whoosh of magic ceasing its hold on me.
Jerrick steps back, and I slump to the floor, the toll from the temperature shift and magic used exhausting me.
I try to dodge from Jerrick’s grip, but I’m easily lifted, forced to meet this cruel man’s gaze, defiance of my own melting into his darkened stare.
He reaches to tuck a loose strand of hair from my face, and I recoil. Jerrick pauses.
Anger rolls through me when he leans in and kisses my cheek. I stare at his dimple on full display when he withdraws, opening the door.
“See you tomorrow morning, Frostbite,” Jerrick coos.
23
Living in the Library
My headpounds, racing from the darkening hours to the first break of light. The light rain trickles down my bedroom window, fresh life singing in the air. I envy this flourishing weather, wishing for it to visit Axidoria.
I pray to the Makers I can fulfill my end of this arrangement with Jerrick and train fast. I need a way to remove my magic and melt away my winter.
But despite the cold filling and spreading across my home, I grew to relish and enjoy the longer winters. The darkened, cloudy skies would always match my mood, and I, somehow, found comfort. Those days would call for locking myself away, bundling up next to the fire with wine and blankets for company.
But my own preferences are irrelevant, the need for other seasons essential for new and plentiful crops.
I push through the dull ache, rising for the day and choosing to dress for comfort in anticipation of being down in the library with Jerrick. Our altercation yesterday only sent everything blowing up in my face.
He can manipulate blood.
