Cosmos.
She sprinted away from the fire, east toward the commotion. Her pulse pounded in her ears when she skidded around the corner and spotted a group of giants surrounding her brother. One had Cosmos lifted in the air by his shirt, his hand raised to strike.
“Tell us why you are trespassing, human,” the giant barked.
“I have something for the queen.”
“Lies.” The giant backhanded Cosmos and dropped him to the ground.
“No!” she cried, running faster.
She dropped to her knees, sliding on the ice in front of her brother as the giant raised his hand for another blow. Dahlia popped to her feet and braced herself for the pain.
It never came.
Goosebumps burst across her arms at the snarl that exploded from Neve when he caught the giant’s forearm. “You would strike thereilleve?” His accent thickened. “Your queen?”
The giant looked between his king and Lia, panic clear on his face. “I didn’t. She burst into this interrogation. We found a human spy creeping around the tents, my lord.”
“He’s just a boy,” she snapped, kneeling by her brother. Cosmos blinked up at her through a black eye, licking his split lip. “And my guest.” His pupils seemed the right size. He was hurt, but he would be fine.
“M-m-my apologies,” the giant stuttered.
Lia turned back toward him, fuming, only to find him kneeling, sword resting on his outstretched palms. She arched a brow and glanced up at the glowering Neve. Flyka and two Haunts hovered behind him like ghosts.
Lovely.
“What do you expect me to do with that sword?” she asked.
“My life belongs to you.”
Dahlia glanced up at the king, who stiffly nodded once. “Because you almost hit me?”
“Because my blow could have shed royal blood,Reilleve.”
She glanced around the circle of warriors, noting all the tension and one terrifying familiar face.
Jekket.
He smiled and her stomach plummeted to her toes. The Giver’s second-in-command, who was in league with Bacti, was here.Here.And now, he knew her brother was too. She felt sick.
Stay focused. You can get him out of this.
Her decision at this moment would make a lasting impression. “I understand you take the security of Loriia very seriously, warrior. I can respect that. I should have made it clear that I was to have asaloesguest tonight.” A lie. “That is my own failing, but this level of brutality is not needed. You keepyour sword, warrior, but you will use it for the next fortnight to protect the humans and halflings in Mizar. There’s a lesson to be learned here. Humans aren’t the enemy; the depravity and selfishness of the Asteran monarchy is.”
“As you say,Reilleve,” the warrior replied, his eyes still on the ground.
Some of the tension dissipated, and Lia turned back to her brother, who’d stayed wisely silent. “Come on,” she said softly, helping him to his feet. He wobbled, and she ducked underneath his arm, wrapping her own around his waist. “Let’s get you back home, young man.”
There. No names. A simple exit.
They’d taken only one step toward the town when a politely icy accented voice said, “I would like a word withourguest,niliave.”
Dahlia closed her eyes for a moment before peering at her brother with raised eyebrows, hoping Cosmos would get the message to shut up. Slowly, they faced the Frost King.
The warriors dissipated, only Jekket slinking away with a wink. That was a problem she’d have to deal with later. Neve, Flyka, the two Haunts, Cosmos, and Dahlia stood in a snowy intersection, pathways leading away in the shape of a star.
Her husband scrutinized the two of them, and Lia’s skin crawled. She knew what he saw.
