Page 116 of Frost and Death
Jerrick gestures to the food tray. “May I?”
I bite my lip and nod sheepishly. “Thank you,” I say, marveling at the tenderness he is offering.
He inclines his head, returning to his seat, and I join him. He opens the bottle of wine with ease, filling the two glasses and passing me one.
I reach for it carefully, my hands shaking from this uncharted territory.
Jerrick’s softened gaze studies me, and when our hands graze each other’s after touching my glass, calm sweeps over my body.
I lift the cup to my lips, savoring the drink despite its harshness.
Palaena really needs to stock its castles and taverns with Axidoria’s wine.
Soon, Tove. Soon.
I am surprised when Jerrick reaches for the sugared pastry first, a little hurt he will be eating one of the few on the tray.
He catches my expression and asks, “How did you know these were my favorite?”
I huff a laugh. Dorit, the little sneak, helping me smooth things over with Jerrick. Ever the protector, she is.
I grab one for myself and take a huge bite.
Jerrick arches a brow, but my eyes squeeze shut as I blush, working through the solstice pastry and swallowing it with a grin still on my face.
“I didn’t,” I say.
If Jerrick was showing me himself without a mask, I could at least offer him the same vulnerability—I have more in common with him than I realized.
The heavy mantle of Snow Queen and grief lay thick against my shoulders, but those lighten as the mask I wear shifts in the King of Palaena’s presence, showing Jerrick my love for sweets.
“I just knew that they were mine.”
Jerrick and I started the habit of discussing our reading. We took turns summarizing what we read, allowing our eyes a brief rest.
I would immediately forget everything I just finished absorbing, but information was easier for him to retain.
He was always quick to engage me in conversation, forcing my brain to turn and think.
Conversing with Jerrick during these moments was easy and enjoyable, reminding me of when we first met at the Celebration of Spirits.
And at the end of each day, I’d drag my feet up the stairs, mentally exhausted.
Dorit would occasionally find me asleep in my clothes from the day prior, and even communication with Niko and Betina was the last thing on my mind.
On nights I managed some energy, I would try to see their faces and give them updates. But the second I would see Betina asleep in the reflection, my heart would pinch with guilt and defeat, not wanting to disrupt her, no matter how badly I wanted to converse with her and Niko.
Some days, like today, Jonas joins us in the library so all three of us can be part of the meeting. Jonas is exuberant and ecstatic, our conversation fluid and natural.
“Finally, I will get to have a taste of the wine you brag about, Tove,” Jonas muses after receiving letters from Axidoria confirming the transfer.
My heart lifted when I saw Niko’s signature, a small glimpse of home bringing me cheer today.
I chuckle with Jonas, his teeth gleaming.
“I promise once you have it, you will need more,” I tell him.
Jerrick scoffs beside his brother, and I brush off his typical behavior whenever Jonas and I go off topic during meetings. His nose is stuck in a book as he plops a cube of cheese in his mouth.
