AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Little bird,” a deep voice whispered. “You have to wake up.”
Eirah gasped for breath and flicked open her eyes, jolting forward. Her wild gaze met blue irises but not the ice-blue ones she was searching for.
“Easy now,” Saren said gently, her hand at Eirah’s shoulder, holding her back from— Where was she? She was no longer outside in the snow or in one of the ice houses. The feeling of fire no longer spread from her chest. The wound the changeling had given her must have healed.
As her gaze settled on a large wardrobe and a desk cluttered with her supplies, it took Eirah a moment to realize she was in her room inside Morozko’s ice palace, not near the bank of the river in the snow.
“Saren?” Eirah finally croaked, her voice dry and thirsting for a drink. “What are you doing here? How did I get here?” She peered down, finding herself dressed in a lacy white nightgown, her skin smelling of lavender. Not a speck of dirt or blood anywhere. She’d been dressed and bathed.
“You’ve been here fordays.” Saren sighed, handing Eirah the glass of water from the bedside table that she desperately needed. “Ulva and I have been taking care of you. Your father is here, too.”
“Days?Days? Did I miss the full moon?” The last thing she recalled had been her fetching the stones she’d needed from the river when two changelings had attacked her. One had slashed her through the chest as soon as she’d whirled around, but she’d held them off with her magic. Yet it hadn’t been enough as she’d called for Morozko to help her, so she’d shifted, flying upward enough to make the changelings leave. Her strength had waned, and she was incapable of allowing her wings to carry her anywhere else. Yet she’d managed to land back into the snow without breaking her bones before shifting again. She couldn’t remember much more than that.
“Relax, the full moon has yet to come. You deserved the rest after what you suffered.” Saren moved a lock of hair out of Eirah’s face.
“But you deserved rest after allyou’vebeen through.”
“Oh, I think I’ve had about enough of that. If you’ve forgotten, I was resting while the changeling was inside me.”
The memory of bringing down the whip to Saren’s back haunted her and sent a shiver through her as she recalled the horrid sound. “Please don’t tease about that. At least not until those bastards are truly gone.” Eirah took a long swig of the water, the liquid quenching her thirst and moistening her dry throat. She couldn’t stop herself and gulped the remainder down.
“You frightened me,” Saren whispered, taking the empty glass from her.
“At least we have tales to spin, I suppose.” Eirah shrugged and blew out a breath.
“Ones of nightmares.” She paused, a wide smile spreading across her cheeks, her dimples showing. “Oh, and in case you were wondering, after saving you, the king has been in here watching over you, too. Alot.”
Morozko… A fluttering sensation buzzed within Eirah’s chest and stomach. For the days she’d been unconscious, he’d been with her, even as she’d dreamed. As if he’d heard his name spoken, the door opened to reveal the king. He hadn’t bothered to knock or ask if he could come in—he did, as always—sauntered into the room. Only now, it didn’t bother her. Relief washed over her at the sight of him, and her heart thrummed a little faster. His white hair was pushed behind one pointed ear, the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up. His pale gray skin shone as the fire crackled, its light highlighting his sharp features. Captivating.
“How did you know I was awake?” Eirah asked.
“I felt it,” Morozko said, staring at her as if it was only the two of them in the room. “May I have a moment alone with her?” He didn’t remove his gaze from Eirah while asking Saren the question.
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Saren bowed her head, her blonde braid falling over one shoulder.
“Fedir is downstairs having breakfast with Andras.” Morozko’s gaze slid to Saren, then he smirked. “Perhaps you can have Andras go with you afterward to gather fruit for the village again.”
“Andras? I’m certain he has more important duties.” Saren’s cheeks pinkened, and Eirah watched her friend smooth out the skirt of her dress.
“Doubtful,” Morozko murmured.
“Why are you turning pink?” Eirah arched a brow at Saren. What had she missed while asleep? It very much seemed her friend found Andras more than handsome, which was surprising because Saren rarely blushed over anyone.
“Hush. And don’t give me that look,” Saren hissed, still flustered. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
Eirah grinned as Saren shut the door behind her. Her gaze then returned to Morozko, his hooded stare pinned on her. He wasn’t saying a word, as though waiting for her to.
“Well, are you going to speak?” Eirah asked with a smile. “Or are you going to continue looking at me as if I almost died and came back to life?”
“As if that didn’t happen.” He sank beside her on the bed, and she breathed in his enticing spicy aroma. Comforting, soothing. A spark of playfulness ignited in his eyes, then faded. “I’ve seen many things in my lifetime, but finding you in such a state is the one I’d like to forget most.”
“I should’ve been listening for danger more, the way you taught me,” she whispered, hoping she would never find him the way he had her. “But thank you for saving me.”
“If I had to destroy Frosteria to do it, I would have.”
“Now, let’s not be dramatic.” Eirah laughed. But he remained serious, and the smile slipped from her face. She reached forward, taking his hand in hers. “I’m here, Morozko. I’m all right.”
His throat bobbed, and he brushed his other hand across her cheek. “You’re strong. Brave. Aggravating. Beautiful. Passionate. Caring. Everything I didn’t know I could want. Andfrightening, so damn frightening. Me, the king, who never gets frightened. But I was. More than I ever have been, little bird.”
