Lia stared at his deep blue palm, his long blue fingers tipped with wicked black claws and several silver rings. He was a being capable of such violence, and yet he showed her such tenderness despite how deeply she’d wronged him.
It took more bravery to grab his hand than she would have liked.
Neve drew her out from beneath the table. She dropped his hand and wiped her cheeks to make sure no stray tears had snuck out. Her face was wet, her large robe askew, one shoulder exposed. He drew up the garment over her skin and secured the waist tightly. Neve draped her blanket over her shoulders and gently took her hand as if she would bolt away at any moment.
“Soothe yourastrylle. Serenity is worried for you.”
She blinked, realizing the ruckus of screeches wasn’t inside her mind after all. Dahlia cleared her throat and whistled. “I’m okay,” she called, hoping her raspy voice carried.
The large bird of prey hooted and then settled into silence.
It seemed she had not only one but two who were worried about her.
Her husband tugged on her hand. “Come on. It’s time for bed,niliave.”
Wife. Why was he calling her his wife? She was a traitor. A disgrace.
He drew her into bed, and she shivered, the memory of the nightmare all too real. Neve curled himself around her, tucking his arm beneath her head. She stared at the tent wall with his heat at her back.
“Why?” she croaked, throat raw from crying.
“Because no one should have to deal with nightmares like that alone.” A pause. “Do you want to speak about it?”
“No.” She didn’t even want to think about it. “Thank you.”
“Go to sleep,” he commanded, tone turning guff. “I will watch over you.”
She didn’t know why she trusted the being who held her life in his hands, but she did. At least, in this moment. Their conversation a few days prior about breaking spies flitted through her head as she drifted closer to sleep. “Don’t break me,” she slurred.
“You broke me first,” she swore he whispered back.
The first thingDahlia registered was the wonderful warmth surrounding her.
She opened her eyes and blinked at the massive chest her cheek rested on. Her mouth parted in horror at the way she’d plastered herself against Neve. Her bare leg was thrown over his thick leather covered thigh, and her left palm rested between his hearts.
By all accounts, they looked like lovers.
Not like the enemies that they were now.
Her bite twinged uncomfortably. Carefully, she lifted her head. All the lanterns were still lit, and the woodstove was still stuffed full of wood. Her lips parted slightly, and she glanced back at her husband. Had he stayed up all night to make sure she was warm? Surely not.
His brow was damp with sweat. In fact, she slowly lifted her palm, and their skin slightly clung together. Neve’s whole bodyseemed to be slightly damp. She’d forgotten how frost giants ran warmer than humans and didn’t need as much heat. Something tender wormed its way into her heart. Why did she have to fall for him?
Stop. You can’t afford to think that way.
She peeked at his face and blushed to find the Frost King observing her. His chest rumbled, and he set his hand over hers until it once again rested between his hearts.
“Lie back down. It is not yet time to rise.”
Lia leaned her cheek against his bicep, staring at his strong profile. He had a few more scars on his shoulder and neck. Several more piercings lined his long, pointed ear.
A new mourning piercing. Who had he lost?
She almost reached up and touched the three new ones she’d gotten after the Giver’s attack.
Another for her mother, another for her innocence, and one for Neve.
Her gaze traced the woven scars from the removal of hiscaern’yethat stood out like black webbing. More vivid than usual. Was he sick? She’d noticed his indigo skin had been a little paler.
