Page 132 of Frost and Death
My gift flickers in response to Jerrick’s voice, soothing and sweet. I bite back my smile, fighting against the surge of desire spreading in my stomach from his touch.
I square my shoulders, coaxing and caressing the ice in my body to nurture it and harness the blizzard into a morsel of snow. The depth of power pulses around me, and creaks and cracks swirl.
I push through the disarray clouding my mind, which wishes to accept myself.
The magic eases as I drift back into my breathing.
My faith in succeeding today draws my eyes open, but when he pulls away, there is nothing. Disappointment lines my brows as I lower my hand in defeat.
Jerrick touches my upper arm. “Almost,” he chimes.
Almost is not good enough.
Jerrick offered me this small lesson, and I have made no improvements without his assistance.
I fold into myself, frustrated with the lack of progress.
Jerrick gathers a few books from a pile we have not touched this week, and when he turns to me, he shifts around uncomfortably. He seems beside himself, even as he approaches my bed, placing them on my table. He angles them toward me, and I read the titles.
The texts catch me off guard. Looking up at him in question, I am thrown off when he squats next to me.
Jerrick peels my hand from my torso, his comforting circles grazing over my knuckles as he inclines his head to the books. “These are what Palaena has on Aiyana. There are some of my ancestor’s journals as well that aided me when I was learning my gifts. I thought they would help you.”
“Wh-Why are you giving me these? We have not found anything regarding your curse.”
“You’ve been earning your right.” He smirks.
I don’t understand what I did to warrant this change of mind. “What, with all the food trays?” I joke, knowing he originally said I had to help break his curse in order to train.
Jerrick chuckles lightly. “Itcouldhave been that.”
I roll my eyes, absentmindedly running my thumb along his hand.
Jerrick tracks the movement, the rise and fall of his chest easy and relaxed. “I am setting out today, so I thought pairing some exciting reads with the curse reads could lighten your spirits,” he says lightly.
Maybe in reading these texts, I can find something useful to practice while Jerrick is away. Strengthening my resolve is vital if I want to save my kingdom, and a fluttering in my chest responds to the challenge.
But a pang of sadness at his absence suddenly dampens my mood.
“Y-You’re going hunting?” He silently bobs his head, avoiding my gaze but still holding my hand. “You’ll read more than the Aiyana texts I gave you, right?”
“Yes.”
The lie slips easily from my mouth, the need to read these texts more important than another boring book.
He smiles with gratitude, lifting my hand to kiss it, and instant regret forms a tight pain in the back of my throat.
I cough, masking away my own grimace and smile gently.
Lacing my fingers together tightly, I remain steadfast in my goals. If I can master the smallest of magic, I canfinallytrain.
Jerrick releases my hand and stands, debating whether he should leave.
Knowing he needs to hunt just as I need to read these texts, I reassure him, the corners of my lips lifting. “I will do my best to give you a report when you return.”
His blue eyes lined with amusement meet mine. “I’ll return soon.”
Jerrick takes a long breath into his formal goodbye, an unnecessary gesture, given we are both royalty, but it is chivalrous and sweet, something I linger on longer than I expect.
