AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you, Ulva,” Eirah rushed out before the woman left the room and shut the door.
As soon as they were alone again, Morozko studied Eirah. Tension rippled in her newly alert body, and he knew if he riled her enough, she would tire easily. But he wasn’t here to taunt or tease. He was here because—why?
The vision. The sound of his name threatening to crack his skull open?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eirah mumbled as she reached for the tray, but her hand shook enough that if shedidlift her drink or bowl, it would spill over her.
Morozko stepped forward and took the tray up, only to rest it on the bed beside Eirah. “Don’t be foolish. You can barely sit right now, let alone feed yourself.” He took up a spoon and skimmed the surface of the broth and lifted it. Morozko thought he’d witness an argument, but only a hint of resignation was there. He brought the spoon to her lips, and she took delicate sips.
“I came to check on you, and it’s a good thing I did because you were unconscious in the tub when I arrived.” He brought another spoonful to her lips, shaking his head. Morozko wouldn’t divulge the entire truth. He was still trying to piece together what his visions even meant. His fingers tingled where he’d felt a foreign pulse.
“You’re not telling me everything.” Eirah pushed away the spoon, but she didn’t set her jaw in a hard line. It was those damnable dark eyes that roved along his features, assessing him too closely.
Morozko didn’t like that she was studying him. Eirah had no place here, and as long as both maintained that understanding, everything would run smoothly. “You know nothing about me.”
“Then tell me, savior of mine, tell me.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm, and it was enough to bring forth cool laughter from him. “You wanted me as a sacrifice. That could have been it. Ourlovelytale coming to an end.”
Morozko set down the spoon, and he noticed Eirah’s complexion was returning to her sun-kissed coloring. Even her lips were back to their rosy pink. He considered her words for a moment, of what Vinti might still know and what they had lost along the way. The humans forgot so easily, and if they didn’t pass stories on or craft cautionary tales, everything was forgotten.
But a frost demon’s curse was to remember.
“What else is there to know about me? I am a cold and ruthless king.” He ran his tongue along the tip of his sharp canine. Morozko didn’t want to dredge up his past, but what, pray tell, would she think of his truth? Would sorrow creep into her gaze or only pity? “One of my earliest memories is of a male who was my father’s comrade.” His eyes homed in on hers—he wanted to see every subtle shift in her demeanor.
“I know this because the male, Laku, told me so. It was the eve of the blizzarding season, and Laku let it slip that he knew my father. He said, ‘You may look the part of your mother, but you have the heart of your father.’ Which prompted me to ask him, where did he go? I never knew him and never heard stories.
“The palace bustled with life for my sixth-year celebration the following day, but my attention was on Laku. He told me my father was the captain of my mother’s royal guard, and she used him for pleasure. She also used him to secure her position in Frosteria by ensuring she had an heir. Before I was born, he was slain after he had served his purpose. And those who were closest to my father were also killed. Except for Laku.”
The room was quiet enough that Morozko could almost hear the thrumming of Eirah’s heart. While her gaze softened, her eyes held no pity, and he was grateful for that. “Laku’s death came later once she discovered his betrayal. During my birthday feast, she brought him before me, only to behead him. Awonderfulgift for a child, is it not?”
On the one hand, Morozko could see why his mother would do such a thing. Maranna’s control had slipped, and she needed to assert herself to show the courtiers thatthiswas what happened when they crossed the Frost Queen. But there was a fine line to tread, and she crossed it time and time again.
Eirah frowned. “I have heard stories of how wicked she was but never thorough details.” She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, possibly warring with what to say. But whatcouldshe say after that?
“And that, little bird, is enough bedtime horrors for you.” He sighed. Eirah’s eyelids fluttered as if she were readying to fall asleep. If luck was on his side, she’d forget the wretched story the way he wished he could. “You need rest, like it or not.” He went to retrieve the tray, but she grabbed his wrist, stopping him. He eyed where her fingers circled around the linen shirt but didn’t move to extricate her.
“I’ve had enough sleep to last a lifetime. I just… feel off. It’s been coming in waves—it’s strange.”
Morozko reached out, and Eirah allowed him to brush his knuckles against her cheek. The same pulse as earlier met his skin, and he gritted his teeth together. Not knowing what he was doing, but he didn’t care. He was only relieved she was warm and not feverish.
He shouldn’t press her, but something niggled at the back of his mind. The vision, his questions, and the need to knowwhy this mortal was important.
12
EIRAH
“Ineed to meet with Xezu. Can I trust that you won’t get yourself killed?” Morozko arched a brow, his ice-blue eyes locked on Eirah’s.
“I wouldn’t have almost died if you hadn’t given me your blood.” She folded her arms across her chest. The memory of slipping beneath the water’s surface—unable to move, unable to breathe,helpless—washed over her. She’d been content that it was her sacrifice while under the water, but she truly didn’t want to die, didn’t want to stop breathing. And even though she was meant to die by his hand, even though she’d tried to stab him, Morozko had saved her, brought her back from the brink of the unknown.
“My blood doesn’t kill those who drink it. This is something else.” Morozko stood from the edge of the bed. “If you need to get cleaned up again, I’ll help you next time.” And as though he couldn’t help himself, he added, “We can finally bathe together in my chambers, if you wish.”
Eirah rolled her eyes, though a small fire ignited within her at the thought. “Don’t go back to being a prick.”
“Back to one? I’ve fallen from grace so quickly.” He smirked.
Her lips twitched and she fought a smile. Perhaps she was getting used to his vexing remarks. But then she thought about the events in his past that he’d confessed to her. How he’d been only a boy—on the day of his birthday, no less—when someone he cared about was decapitated in front of him by his own mother. A queen of true darkness. Morozko never knew his father and Eirah had heard the tales of his cruel mother, but she hadn’t known that she was just as awful to her own son. Her stomach sank at the image of a helpless young prince being harmed by his mother. As she unraveled a little more about the king, she started to wonder if she should even be wanting to find another way to rid Frosteria of him. She remembered Ulva’s words about him having a good reason for the sacrifice. Now, she believed that maybe there could be…
“I’ll come to check on you later. For now, remain in bed,” Morozko said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
