Page 86 of A Requiem of Fire and Ice

My finger taps against my arm with annoyance. “What made you combust into ice the day my hands were about to tighten around your throat?”

Pandora’s eyes narrow, her hands gripping the end of the shirt tighten, and she squirms uncomfortably at my question. “Why do you want to know?”

“It can answer questions about why it happened there and how,” I say.

“I was afraid,” she says.

“Why?”

She shrugs and says, “You were going to kill me. Who wouldn’t be?”

“Liar,” I say, and I point at her hands. “You give away a lot through body language, even if your voice is steady and unwavering.”

“I’ll show you what you want to see. I’m a puppet taught on different strings. It’s what makes me dangerous, Prince Reen.” She smirks. “I thought you would want to see vulnerability, but if you want something different, I can…”

Pandora leans forward and looks at me through her thick lashes. The demeanour she held a second ago changes swiftly, and a look of persuasion flourishes. Except, there’s one issue challenging me to look away from.

“You are the most fucking flat-chested woman I’ve ever seen in my life, Pandora,” I drawl.

She heaves an irritable sigh, flops on the bed, raises her hands above her head, flips me the bird, and says, “Fuck off, Monster Dick!”

Monster dick?

It’s funny that her insecurities make her sound like a petulant child when someone triggers them. Her flat-as-a-fucking-board chest must get on her nerves and become a sensitive subject for her. It’s good to know, for when she pisses me off, I will tease her, and she will probably storm off like a raging blizzard.

I shake my head and turn away from her. Never mind. It doesn’t fucking matter when. As soon as we step into Oceanview Harbour, I will wring her neck.

I lean against the railing and overlook the ocean after I leave the room. Dark clouds are coming in from the east. We’re nearing the barrier protecting the islands and the Kingdom of Cloud. Thick clouds will soon swarm the ship if we don’t steer away from them.

Astin makes his way up the stairs. I look at the stitches on his forehead from the blow and realise I have never mentioned his well-being since capturing Pandora. She got him good and didn’t hesitate, even though she knew Astin. The ice elemny makes a statement, that’s for sure.

“How’s your head?” I say.

He touches the stitches and says, “She didn’t hold back.”

“I’d be disappointed if she did.” I push away from the railing and fold my arms across my chest. “What did Walkyer say?”

“King Walkyer has new orders for us,” he says. I arch a brow, and he keeps going when I don’t speak. “The Toshiharu family spoke to him not long ago and wanted to know if you could do a job for them.”

I huff a breath. “I have my hands full.”

“King Walkyer agreed. Alad’s steering the ship toward the Kingdom of Cloud.”

I grit my teeth. “What’s the chance that Walkyer is prolonging my trip to Oceanview Harbour and settling things with Pandora?”

Astin stares blankly out at the ocean, uninterested in the view. “He did say that, yes.”

“Un-fucking-believable,” I say, pushing my hair away from my face. “But orders are orders. What’s the mission?”

“Senri Toshiharu will provide you with the information. I contacted them after getting off the phone with King Walkyer. However, we cannot stay for the duration.”

“Why not?”

“They’re housing Kate Grant,” Astin says.

I breathe an acidic laugh. What a menace of a fucking air elemny. Every time she looked at me, it was as if she wanted me dead. Silver, unsettling eyes regarded me as something she wanted to break whenever I was near King Ragan. Despite being in the same vicinity for five years, Kate’s hatred for me has remained constant since our first meeting.

“Why?”