“Everything all right, Isla?” Konstantin is wandering away from Imogen, who must’ve just entered the Lodge, given that hercheeks are flushed from the chill, and her black braid tousled from her flight.
“Absolutely. Sofiya was just offering me pointers on how best to blend in. Apparently, I should go lighter on the kohl.”
He releases a soft snort that shivers the single lock that’s escaped his top knot. Because Sofiya’s watching us, I amble up to him and catch the renegade wisp. The Ice King’s chest goes still as I lift it. When my fingers graze the peaked shell, he sucks in a breath and cinches my wrist.
I don’t move a muscle, wondering if he’ll reprimand me in front of everyone or if he’ll preserve the mate-act. I keep my gaze firmly planted to his, daring him to step out of character, daring him to publicly repudiate me, for if he does, I get to both hang onto his bargain and leave his frigid empire.
His pupils retract into dots that bathe in infinite swirls of mercury, while his crisp scent spreads and invades my lungs.
I curl my index finger and stroke the tip once more.Come on, Vizosh.Punish me. Send me away.
He blinks hard andfinallydraws my wrist down. His cheeks spasm as though an admonishment were building on his tongue.
“Isla threatened to cleave off the tips of my ears!” Sofiya’s whine carves through the sticky-hot tension.
With a sigh, I twist around to find her pointing to a red smear near the tip of her ear.
Before I can point out that the stain matches her lipstick to startling perfection, Konstantin chuffs, “You cannot go around lobbing off ears, Miss Ríhbiadh.”
I forage for sarcasm in his expression, but his features are ice-smooth.
“Nowyou tell me.” I snatch my hand out of his just as Sofiya’s father reaches us, huffing and puffing. “Silly me. I still forget that I’m not in Luce. Anyway, I’ve got some packing to do before my trip.” For his ears only, I add, “I won’t leave withoutsaying goodbye, so make sure to pop by my room once you’re done here.”
I catch the brisk sweep of Konstantin’s lashes before I disintegrate into my shadows.
Though my wing bones itch to carry me south, I soar toward the underground palace. I may be incensed, but if I don’t give him a piece of my fucking mind in private now, chances are I won’t come back.
Prophecy be damned.
26
ISLA
Fists rain on my door just as I’m zipping up my leather jacket.
“Who is it?”
Though my caller doesn’t announce himself, his muttering reveals his identity.
“You may come in.”
Konstantin snaps my door open with so much air-power that it uproots the metal stopper and smacks the wall. And then he claps it closed with the same vigor. It’s a miracle the wood isn’t reduced to shavings.
“What the fuck was that?”
“You’ll have to elaborate, Vizosh. What part of the evening has distraught you so? When I suggested sipping my dinner of blood on the terrace? When I substantiated Aodhan’s sacrifice tale? When I fondled your ear in public? If I were you, I’d sever our engagement immediately. It isn’t as though anyoneactuallybelieves we’re mates. According to Sofiya, and I quote, we spark as much as a dying ember.”
His jaw turns razor-sharp as he pounds toward me, hair wild, ripped free of the leather tie that bound it. “Why did you leave?”
Really?“The better question is: why did I fucking bother attending?”
Blood pools beneath the skin of his spasming jaw, making him glow with fury.
“Many believe us lawless savages, but I thought you were different.” My placid tone intensifies the flaring of his nostrils.
“I never even considered you’d cut Sofiya! Not for a single second.”
“You said, and I quote:You cannot go around lobbing off ears, Miss Ríhbiadh. And you didn’t say it with a smile. Trust me, I searched for one.”
