Page 189 of Frost and Death
Hunger flickers in his eyes as I mouth his name softly. Jerrick’s movements are slow, and I hiss when he digs his fingers into my arm, clutching it tight.
The entire hall is quiet, and I swear time has stopped. Footsteps come from the right of me, but I refuse to move under Jerrick’s studied stare.
A gasp escapes, and those footfalls, too, halt.
Dorit rasps, “Tove—”
Jerrick growls—actuallygrowls—at me before moving his stare to her.
I turn to not only Dorit, but to Jonas and Viggo coming into view with more staff and royal guards walking through the entryway.
All eyes are transfixed on Jerrick altering in front of us.
Jonas and Viggo raise their hands to calm Jerrick. When Jonas reaches Dorit, he elbows her to do the same.
She hisses, earning me a tighter squeeze from Jerrick.
I stiffen in response to Jerrick’s hold, trying to be unaffected. When I meet his gaze again, I understand what this is.
I glance at Jonas once more, noting the subtle bow of his head.
Jonas guides Dorit back a slow, tentative step.
I can’t do much for the others, so I force my attention on my cursed husband. I call my magic forth, hoping I can control it.
Jerrick notices the flicker of power from me as it sends his own forth in defense.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warn him when his magic tries to crawl up my frost-covered arms.
His eyes flash. “And what if Idothink about it?”
Each syllable is gravelly as frost manifests on my hand, remaining on my skin but not touching his.
Whatever his magic or curse is doing builds a wall over his chest.
I focus, trying to harness my emotions and all thought into not hurting him but bringing him out of this rage, trying to distract him as he has done for me so many times.
His jaw clenches, arm tightening around me, and the pushback sends my magic outward from my hand, frost appearing on him.
I inhale a sharp breath. “No!” I yank my hand away as Jerrick watches the frost on his skin.
He lets go of me as the frost on his tunic turns into ice, growing.
I clutch my chest as staff members around us gasp.
No, no, no.
It’s happening all over again.
The thought and panic are short-lived as Jerrick closes his eyes in concentration, his hand holding the impacted area.
The icedisintegrates.
A breath escapes Jerrick from the effort, and when he meets my gaze, the blue in his irises take over. He blinks a few times, regret furrowing his brows as he takes a few steps away, his eyes conveying a wordless apology.
Turning to all staff members, he commands, “Nothing to see here. Move out!”
The staff jump to attention and resume their tasks.
