I blamedher. I entirely blamed her for my stuttering incompetence.
“An accident?” The giant repeated, mirth lacing his tone, before he let the branches snap back into place. “And why are we not in Norway? What is this place? The magic here—is enchanting.”
“They call it Arcane Cove. I couldn’t be certain, but it seems that no humans are allowed in. Sorcerer wards are protecting it, I imagine.” Panning my gaze to the skies, I focused on the clouds. They were subtle, but if one stared long enough, they’d catch the brief flashes of purple magic.
“That would explain why I feel so spry,” the giant added, a throaty, deep chuckle vibrating from his chest. He groaned as he sank toward the ground, sitting on the same pile of rocks he had emerged from.
“Again, I apologize. I know how long it’ll take for you to put yourself back into hibernation. But there are no wars to fight here.” Spiraling my hand, I created a makeshift ice throne and plopped onto it, letting one leg dangle over an armrest.
The giant curled his long, spiky fingers around what would be his knees and tilted his head upward, letting the snow coat his face. “This isn’t all so bad. It’s not often I get to experience the calm of a snowfall like this.”
Still listening to him, but ultimately distracted by my last encounter with Sylvie, I hung my necklace chain from my bottom lip, working it back and forth. She had a personal connection with a winter beast, she was fae, had wintry wings, and made delicious as fuck cupcakes. The latter had nothing to do with our potential universal tether, but I couldn’t deny how even thethoughtof eating her cupcake made my mouth water.
“I’m curious how the winter king himself accidentally calls on a frost giant,” the ice giant said, his arms still so humanly draped over his knees.
Groaning, I rested my head on my hand. “Would you believe me if I said agirl?”
The giant stared at me with those nonexistent, lifeless eyes, and somehow they remained uncomfortably judgmental. “I’ve been asleep for two centuries, and you still haven’t found your queen?”
“And thank you for reminding me.” I dragged a hand over my beard before sitting up straight. “Believe me, I’ve tried every solstice since the dawn of my frosty existence.”
“You said a girl. Does that mean you found her? Here?” The giant pointed at the ground.
Sylvie had been so bright and full of life that first day I met her in the bakery. She was so eager to please and use her magic to make me feel better without knowing anything about me. So damnnice.
“It’s complicated,” I answered through a snarl. “I’m not sure a being such as yourself who doesn’t procreate norloveanything could understand.”
The giant shifted, making tiny flecks of ice fall from his shoulders. “That’s hurtful. But true.”
“She just doesn’t seem right for me, but everything in my bones is telling me—” I’d been mid-declaration, waving myhands around for extra emphasis, and paused when I considered my audience.
I’m talking to a frost giant. This was a new low.
“I may not understand, but it seems to me like you are hiding out here.” The frost giant raised his arms.
Standing, I cut a line through my hair with my hand. “I am not. I’m—thinking.”
“Why don’t you go think in town? You think I am so naïve because I do not possess a heart, but even I know you are not used to being around so many others that do. All you have is a polar bear, servants, and townsfolk.”
My jaw had fallen slack at his well-articulated advice. Frost giants had only ever destroyed anything in the path you set them on or ate an exorbitant number of fish in preparation for their deep sleeps. I’d never talked with one, let alone for this long. This one seemed different somehow.
“Perhaps your summoning wasn’t an accident after all, giant.” Referencing the woods, I used my magic to build an ice cave. “Feel free to stay here as long as you like.”
The frost giant turned to look at his new home and bowed to me. “I am humbled, your majesty.”
After bowing my head, I gazed through the trees where, in the distance, the Arcane Cove Plaza beckoned me. The idea of the scorching heat raging in every establishment had me regretting it already, but the giant had a point. If I wanted to see if this could work—reallywork—I had to understand why she enjoyed this place so much.
Given Finneas was about the only one I could consider a friend, I headed for his pub. Nighttime had settled in the air and sky, making the place far more active since the last time I visited. I immediately moved to my corner table, but two beings already occupied it. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I stalked for the bar, grabbing a corner stool the farthest from the hearth.
“Hey, hey, welcome back. Whiskey and ice?” Finneas smiled broadly.
He remembered my drink order? How—cozy and welcoming.
“Please, Finneas. Thanks.”
Moments later, two glass tumblers appeared in front of me, and Finneas leaned his arms on the bar top. “Any luck with Sylvie?”
This guy had a memory like a steel trap.
