Page 204 of Frost and Death
He extends his hand, his smile deepening. “May I have this dance?” he asks calmly and lovingly.
My words run dry, but I immediately seek his hand, his entire demeanor lifting as he escorts me to the dance floor. I have no fear of our steps faltering as he pulls me closer, chest to chest.
Heels and shoes click to the rhythm of the song as Niko and I jump into the current waltz, joining all the others who are masked and dressed luxuriously.
“You look good,” he says with kindness, all anger and resentment I last saw completely vanished.
“I’ve missed you, Niko.”
He hums at my confession, squeezing me and admitting, “And I you. I hate that we fought, Tee.”
“I hate that, too, and I am sorry, but I still don’t want there to be a fight,” I tell him, reaffirming my decision.
The dance pulls me in a spin. He circles around as I do before returning to the swaying embrace. When our bodies collide again, he speaks low and lethal, the hatred bleeding through.
“I’m sorry, Tee. Just because you don’t want a fight doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be one. I told you I was coming to get you.”
Anger rises to the surface, and I am furious at his unrelenting sentiment. “As your queen, I—”
“You stopped being queen when you left, Tee,” he blurts, and my eyebrows shoot up.
“I am queen ofbothAxidoria and Palaena, Niko.Justbecause my location changed doesn’t mean I ever stopped being queen. I’ve had to reconfigure how to rule from afar, and I trusted you to help me. I have undergone training to try to stop my winter. So, don’t tell me I stopped being queen. Just because I’m not there doesn’t mean I haven’t been doingeverythingI can to help my kingdom. Now, I have found a way to avoid hurting anyone during this process, and youwilllisten to everything I have to say because it’s valuable to the kingdom, to you, and to your uncle,” I snap right back.
He goes rigid.
I use it to my advantage and press on, “I know my mother cursed your uncle, and I know how to lift his curse, just as I know how to lift Jerrick’s. I will bargain for a divorce and tell Jerrick what he must do for his, and this will allow me to return home toyou, Niko. Youmustcall off the attack.”
His jaw works, and the anger still refuses to leave him.
I cup his cheek, earnestly begging him to listen. “I don’t want to see you get hurt. I cannot bear the thought of it. I cannot even fathom it for my own people, Niko. I don’t want to wage a battle with a kingdom we have made trade alliances with when there is a more civil and peaceful solution.”
He looks perplexed by this tidbit of information. “Y-You found a way to help my uncle?”
“Yes, and that is not all I found,” I tell him as the crescendo of the music builds, pushing and pulling us apart.
Our chests touch again, and he holds me tightly. “Tee, what else—”
A hand lands on his upper arm.
My breath catches at the black crown pointing to the chandelier ceiling coming into view. The small wisps of onyx hair escape down Jerrick’s face as he looks between Niko and me.
“Hello, wife,” Jerrick coos softly, sending my heart skipping.
Niko’s features harden, and his posture lifts, squaring his shoulders and puffing his chest. The music ends, but everyone continues into the next song as the three of us remain still.
Niko’s hold on me tightens as he stares at Jerrick, while Jerrick remains focused on me.
I swallow down the knot forming in my throat at this arrangement, praying for a miracle to keep a fight from exploding right now. “Hello, husband. Allow me to introduce the current proxy and royal advisor of Axidoria. King Jerrick, Lord Nikolaj. Lord Nikolaj—King Jerrick.”
Niko releases me as I extend my free hand between them and they stare at each other, unmoving.
Jerrick says, “A pleasure, Lord Nikolaj. I appreciate the correspondence you’ve coordinated between my brother and me these last few months. My wife and I plan on visiting Axidoria after this evening’s festivities, so we may better assess Axidoria’s and Palaena’s need as we join our kingdoms.”
Niko remains quiet.
Fear quickens my pulse as I wait for him to saysomething.
Jerrick glances at me, and I shrug as Niko turns to me.
