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Eirah shivered as she stepped inside, her gaze roaming across the red and black room. A scarlet velvet chaise was in the middle of the space, with two high-backed chairs across from it. A black fur rug sprawled in front of the fireplace, obscuring the onyx floor. Metal snowflakes, she noticed, hung from the walls. On the opposite side of the room, two glass doors with dark curving handles led to what looked to be a balcony.
“Welcome home,” Morozko drawled, then spun on his boot to leave.
“Wait!” Eirah shouted, surprising herself, but confusion swirled within her. “Where are you going?”
He slowly faced her, a wicked smirk on his face. “I’m going to take a bath, but you can join me if you wish. My bath is rather large, the waterwarm,and I can show you that I am not entirely made of ice...”
Taking a deep swallow, Eirah took a step back, and she could feel the flush staining her cheeks crimson. “I’d rather not.”
“Your loss.” The infuriating smile remained, and her gaze hurried to shift away from his shapely lips. “For now, warm yourself in front of the fire, and a servant will bring you something to eat and drink.”
“Are you trying to fatten me up before making me your sacrifice?” Her heart thundered in her chest, not truly knowing what he would do with her body afterward. Most likely throw it off the mountain.
“I’m not planning toeatyou.” Morozko chuckled. “I’m notthatbeastly. Now, do as you’re told.”
Do as I’m told? She wanted to curse him until she was blue in the face but contained herself. “Why do you have us continue performing sacrifices when we need the animals?”
“I need their blood much more than you need theoneanimal a year to fill your bellies.”
“And why is that? Why not just kill me now if it’s so important?” If he had a good reason, he would have slit her throat in Vinti or told the village long ago.
“Perhaps I prefer toying with you.” Morozko grinned wolfishly as he unclasped his cape. “Warmyourself.” He tossed it to her, and she struck the heavy red fabric to the side. “A pity you did that.” He chuckled again, turning on his heel as he left her standing there and closed the door behind him.
Eirah clenched her jaw, searching the room for anything she could use as a weapon. Nothing. The metal snowflakes wouldn’t even rip from the walls. She drew open the door, only to find a tall guard, his light blue hair swept back into a low ponytail and a scar marring the left side of his lips, lingering in the hallway. Closing it without speaking a word, she kicked Morozko’s cape to the side, then stomped on it for good measure. Drawing her cloak tight, she nestled in front of the fire atop the fur rug, her body shivering, gooseflesh pebbling her arms and legs. She held out her hands, her fingers prickling as the flames took away the cold, the feeling starting to come back into them. Thoughts of her father and Saren spun inside her mind, and she wondered what they were doing at that very moment. Were they able to sleep or were they wide awake?
After a little while, footsteps echoed down the hall, and Eirah glanced over her shoulder as a human woman entered. She wore a deep red tunic and dark leather skirt, carrying a wicker basket in one hand and a porcelain tea cup in the other. The woman was middle-aged, gray streaked her dark bun, and fine lines creased her forehead and around her deep brown eyes. “Xezu informed me that you were in need of food and drink.” Her gaze fell to the cape on the floor. “Interesting.”
“Xezu?” Eirah wrinkled her nose, not that she knew anyone’s names besides Morozko and his familiar.
“My husband and the king’s steward.”
Eirah wondered how long the woman had been a servant in the palace as she handed her the cup of steaming tea, along with the basket. She peeled back the white cloth to find the wicker basket filled with fruit, bread, and sugared pastries.
“Thank you. I’m Eirah,” she said.
The servant arched a brow. “The women the king brings here usually don’t bother speaking to me.”
Even though Eirah didn’t bother speaking to many people, she had manners that her father instilled in her since she was a babe. “They must be foolish then.”
The woman smiled. “I’m Ulva.”
“Has the king ever had a sacrifice here or only me?” Her question came out steady, but nervousness coursed through her veins. The unknowing of what a steel blade would feel like pressed against her throat and gliding across gnawed at her.
“Oh my.” Ulva blinked, wringing her hands over her apron. “I was not informed he was bringing the sacrifice here. I thought you were being prepared for His Majesty’s bed.”
“I would never!” Eirah spat, pushing away the horrifying image of Morozko’s shapely lips on hers, his strong hands lifting her onto his bed, his lithe body settling between her legs. She wouldnever.
Ulva pursed her lips, seeming to fight a smile. “That would be a first, then. No female has ever denied the king.” It couldn’t have been hislovelyattitude that drew them in…
“Not even when asked to be a sacrifice, it seems.” Eirah bit the inside of her cheek, drawing her knees to her chest.
Ulva’s expression turned grim, and she nodded briefly before exiting the room, leaving Eirah alone once more.
Eirah lingered in front of the fire, sipping the peppermint tea until the cup was empty. She couldn’t stomach the food, even though she’d always been fond of eating at any time of day. But she knew if she tried to force anything down, it would come back up.
Taking the cup, she slammed it against the floor to break it into sharp shards, the sound echoing. But the cup remained whole as if the king was prepared for anything.Bastard.
The guard threw the door wide, his hand held out as if prepared to release magic. “Is everything all right in here?”
