Page 177 of Frost and Death
My heart thunders to ask the next question, but I push through it, voicing my trepidation. “Any news from Axidoria?”
I adjust my position, inching closer to see if any of those letters might have Niko’s or Betina’s handwriting.Something. Too obvious with my efforts, Jonas aids me, pulling two letters from the pile and offering them to me. I dart my hand out, crinkling the paper from snatching them to read.
We humbly accept this invitation to celebrate the union of King Jerrick of Palaena and Queen Tove of Axidoria. As we have made strides in uniting our kingdoms, it is our highest honor to attend to meet and converse with our king and queen and staff members that serve our monarchs in Palaena.
Lord Nikolaj Drost,
Royal Advisor of Axidoria
His baritone voice reads each line in my mind, and I linger on his signature. Fear gnaws at me even as I run my fingers over his name. Is he coming as my advisor? As my friend? Or the man I want to marry?
The questions repeat as I read Betina’s acceptance letter, hoping I will hear good news from her soon.
My heart somersaults at the thought of embracing the two of them, regardless of Niko being upset with me about calling off his plan.
I yearn to see him and hold him. I yearn for his smile and his attentive ear.
I blink away the tears lining my vision. “Thank you for this.” I sniff, folding the letters and returning them to the pile of accepted invitations.
Jonas takes them while helping himself into his high-backed armchair. A sigh escapes as he lifts his legs to rest along the edge of his desk, earning a smile from me.
As if we both know of the stress the other carries, we sit in silence and stare at the ceiling. A few stones are different in coloration, and I count them to calm my mind from other additive stresses of ruling.
“I am told you are going on a hunt with Jerrick,” Jonas says into the quiet drifting between us.
His statement forces my own lungs to heave a long exhale, a new problem rising to the top of the pile of problems I’m already juggling. Luckily, Jonas finds my sigh is answer enough because he chuckles, easing his body and stretching.
He says, “While I’ve enjoyed planning a ball these last few months with you, a hunt sounds much more peaceful to me.”
I scoff. “If you mean hiding in the woods, bodily odors in the air, and sweat caking every inch of your body,sure. A hunt soundsmuchmore peaceful,” I tell him, tilting my head back toward the ceiling.
“It could be fun,” he suggests, as if he knows it will only be Jerrick and me.
Alone.
I drag my stare to him, skeptical this is somehow his and Jerrick’s doing. I am met with a smirk,eerilylike when his brother is up to something.
The small features of Jerrick in Jonas have me flicking my eyes away, fearful of my own thoughts betraying me again.
“It will be hot and boring.”
I amnotlooking forward to revisiting Biala Forest.
A sharp phantom twinge drags along the right side of my shoulder blade. The memory of my injury is still fresh, even though I am fully healed.
My insides twist with every negative emotion swarming and seeking to drown me.
“You haven’t been outside the castle walls very much. Maybe fresh air will do you well,” Jonas suggests, standing up. “Besides, it’s not like you must be here for any more arrangements for the celebration. I have it all sorted.”
I rub my head across the soft armchair, my unease with everything coming to the surface. I don’t want to leave because I want to find out more about Jerrick’s curse. I don’t want to leave and go into unfamiliar territory. My work here isn’t finished.
“I could help you with—”
Jonas waves me off, approaching with happiness in his eyes. “I’ve got it, Tove. I always will.” He rests a hand on my shoulder, lightly squeezing in reassurance.
I look at it before gazing up at my brother-in-law, my royal advisor, who has delivered everything time and again with little to no word of complaint.
“Go have some fun in the sun,” he encourages, brotherly love pouring from him as he squeezes my shoulder again. “Just promise me I’ll get my own time away when this is all over.”
