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I fought for control over the frozen water in the air and on the walls. My desperate efforts manifested as subtle gifts: a brief respite from the chill, a fleeting moment of warmth.
“Did you feel that?” the girl whispered, her eyes widening as she sensed my influence. “It felt warmer for a moment.”
I hovered near the stone walls, fingertips trailing over the icy surface. With a thought, I drew the moisture from the air to coat the stones in a thin, insulating layer of frost. It was a paltry barrier against the bitter cold, but it was all I could manage in my weakened state.
She shivered, pressing closer to Than’s side. His arm tightened around her reflexively. And yet, I could not stave off the cold forever. The inevitability of this realization weighed upon me like a shroud of ice, its crushing weight a constant reminder of my failure to keep my oath.
And as the prison’s frozen tendrils crept ever closer, I knew that soon, even my most fervent efforts would be rendered futile.
For now, though, they found comfort in one another’s arms, their shared warmth a defiant flicker against the encroaching darkness.
From my hidden vantage, I watched over them—a guardian cloaked in shadow, determined to shield them from the icy grasp of death for as long as I had the strength to do so.
The kingslayer’s lips had turned blue, and Than rubbed her arms vigorously, trying in vain to warm her. But the chill was relentless, sinking its claws ever deeper into her fragile mortal flesh.
Soon, even the meager heat from their embrace would not be enough. The spark of life in her eyes grew dimmer as the cold sapped her vitality.
My family prided itself on serving the royal lineage, going back centuries. I would not be the one to fail my oath. Rage boiled up in me, hot and fierce. I would not let it end like this.
With a roar, I summoned the last dregs of my power and flung it outward with reckless abandon. Icy shards exploded in all directions as the frost barrier shattered from the force of my magic.
The cell walls dripped with moisture, new frost creeping to coat the stones. It would not hold for long, but for now, blessed warmth seeped back into the small space.
The girl’s eyes widened in surprise, some color returning to her cheeks.
Than gasped, pulling her closer as he stared around the cell. “What— who did that?”
My magic was fading fast, the chill creeping back in. I was forced to retreat into the depths of my power to recover from the expenditure. But the memory of her smile lingered. I prayed it was still there when I awakened once more.
Chapter ten
DAEARY
Therebelcoalitionhadgrown in numbers over the last few days, and yet we were not progressing. The parties were at odds, and the disagreements over how to proceed had only grown deeper while Beth rotted in the dungeon.
Ancient territorial disputes had reignited amongst them. Eira and Hafren led a faction that was becoming increasingly vocal on the issue of reclaiming their ancestral lands. The summer and winter Fae could barely sit around the fires anymore without a brawl breaking out.
Some of the coalition favored to overthrow Prys without resorting to force—an idea which I found impractical and repulsive. Did they really think the prince, after killing his father, would leave peacefully? What would happen to Beth in the meantime?
My personal situation was deteriorating as well, despite the regular feedings from willing participants. Every night, I battled the gnawing emptiness within me.
One night, I dreamed of Beth, and I finally knew what to do. My eyes snapped open, the taste of ash lingering on my tongue. Rising, I dressed swiftly. As I tightened the laces of my tunic, resolve hardened within me. It was time to face down the war council.
The moment I entered the center tent, the tension hit me across the face like a wet blanket. A group of winter Fae faced off against the summer faction. I forced my way through them, ignoring the angry ice-blue and orange-red gazes burning across my skin.
Although my heart was beating in my neck, I pretended to be as calm as ever as I studied the battle plans sprawled across the worn table in the middle of the tent.
Jared moved to make space for me. He spared me a glance, suspicion glimmering in his gaze. “You seem different today, Daeary.”
I met his stare defiantly. “I am no predator lurking in the shadows. There is only one purpose for me now—to protect my mate.”
My thoughts flooded with images of Beth, her eyes full of determination, her slight body moving with grace, her short hair framing her face. The scent of her arousal, the taste of her cunt on my tongue, the way she whimpered when I fucked her...
I shook myself, trying to clear my head. It would not do to show my excitement to the men and women present. They already distrusted the incubus among them.
“Love has changed you,” Jared whispered, making sure no one overheard us. “But can it sustain you? How much longer can you last without feeding from your mate?”
“I do not know,” I confessed, gripping the table edge hard. Closing my eyes, I took a few deep breaths to steady myself. “But I do know that my love for her drives me forward, even when my body threatens to fail me.”
