The clanging of China masked Freyja’s venom, so no one but me was stung when she bit back, “Mind your place. Most wouldn’t dare challenge the Queen of the Fair Folk like that.”
“There’s nothing fair about you guys.” I gripped the top of my chair, droplets of water flecking the wood. “And exactly when were you going to tell me you were the crown princess?!”
“Did I need to?” Freyja crossed her legs; she was the only one who hadn’t bothered to get up, and from her perch she somehow still managed to hold the high ground. “Didn’t think you’d be staying long.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Besides,” she continued, “making it known to outsiders that I’m the heir to the throne is a threat to my security.”
“Target on your back? Filling a powerful woman’s shoes? I can relate.” My teeth pressed down. “But it’s not like you’d want to try to.”
I’m not sure why it surprised—or even bothered—me that she was as cagy as her queen. I’d kept my title a secret, too. Still, I couldn’t ignore the sting of hurt in my chest.
Freyja opened her mouth to fire off another witty retort, but it was her mother who spoke first.
“River.” Hildur clapped her hands twice, a perkiness to her brisk steps. “I will help you find the Angel of Earth.”
My attention snapped to the queen, every part of me homed in on what she was saying.
“As I have said before, the watchtower is locked. It cannot be opened. However…” She paused, pursing her lips, as if debating whether she should stop. “There’s a hallowed cave deep in the fjords. The Nephilim call it Jarðarbæli, earth’s lair. I cannot guarantee she will be there or that you won’t die in the process, but it’s a starting point for your search.”
A tickle of adrenaline crept up my spine.
“But,” she added, her purple eyes somber, “there’s something you must do for me first.”
Chapter 19
The wind whipped along the balcony, howling off the sides of the castle, a light layer of snow skittering over the frozen river below.
“This moat.” Hildur waved her hand over the top of the rail. “What use is it if it’s frozen solid?”
Fingers numb, I gripped the thick stone, the raw air burning my face, stinging the tops of my ears. “Not much…”
“You say an Armageddon’s coming.” Her cheeks flushed at the icy chill. “Anyone could pass this river as it stands now.”
“And you want me to do…” I dared a glance at Freyja, who was hiding a laugh poorly disguised as a cough. “…what, exactly?”
Flabbergasted, the queen turned to me. “Fix it.”
Face pinching, I met her violet stare. “You want me to fix it right this second?”
“You want me to ask twice?” That look, like she’d never in her life had to ask for something a first time.
Gulping, I turned my attention back to the moat. “How?”
“How did you rip my chandelier out of its socket? How did you decorate my walls with ice crystals? Kristjan.” Releasing me from her bitter gaze, she called her courtier over. “Gakktu úr skugga um að stíflurnar virki.”
His pale eyes darted between us. Honestly, I wasn’t sure who scared him more.
“So, are you ready?” the queen continued.
“What?” I balked. “No.”
“What’s the issue?”
I gestured to the open doors, to the elves gathering at the threshold, eyes wide, lips swift. “The issue is you’re forcing me to perform like a show pony.”
“Do you blame them? They’re curious. Not every day you get to see the Angel of Water perform feats for the kingdom.”
