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Unease pulsed through me. I didn’t lower my skirt, but I wasn’t alarmed enough to remove the weapon and potentially embarrass myself more. Whatever her goal was, I needed her to get to it. “Frost me.”
She grimaced. “Yeah, this was a mistake.” She spun on her heels and grabbed the door handle.
Shit! Apparently, whatever she had to say was a big deal, and I had to go try to speak like them. Every time I did, I insulted someone. “Wait.” I stopped myself before the words I’m sorry came out. “I didn’t mean to insult you. You said you had to be frosty enough to admit you didn’t want to come here, so I was trying to encourage you to say what you came to say.”
Pausing, she shook her head. “You really don’t remember anything from your life before, do you?”
I studied her. Rowan’s dark-purple dress molded to her body all the way to the floor, where a short train trailed behind her. She was beautiful, even scowling, but she didn’t seem familiar.
I wanted to lie, but that wouldn’t accomplish anything. “I don’t. I mean, I had a flashback, I think, but it wasn’t related to my former life here.” I swallowed. Had I just admitted to believing I was Alina? I’d been so sure for so long that I wasn’t, but … dammit, I had motherfucking wings. How else could I explain that?
“For one, any time a Summer Fae uses winter or shadow terms, it’s intended as an insult.” She arched an eyebrow. “Even if you’re trying to use them in a friendly way, don’t.”
I dropped my skirt, certain her demeanor was more annoyed than threatening. “Noted.”
Silence descended between us and made my skin crawl. This wasn’t the sort of comfortable silence I had with Stan. In fact, I couldn’t handle it. “So, you dropped by to…?”
She rubbed her forehead. “You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I kept my mouth closed.
And it was hard.
Lifting her chin, she licked her lips. “I’m in your debt for helping Ginevra.”
Now I really wasn’t sure what to say because I was confused. “Not trying to get you to take it back or anything, but why? You left her behind, and she was also your competition. And she died anyway.”
“She was my best friend, and we grew up together.” She rubbed the back of her neck, and her eyes glistened. “We made an agreement when we were younger to always protect one another since it’s not the typical fae way. Little did we know that both of us would become part of the Comortas. Because I’d given her my word, I would’ve had to help her, but when you stepped in, you removed that burden so I could finish the trial and survive. To be honest, I hoped you would die so I wouldn’t have to owe you, but here we are.”
Even though she was still cold, there was remorse there. She truly cared for her friend. “Then why did you come in here so aggressively?” I’d have thought she’d be more appreciative, especially if she owed me.
She laughed, the sound like an echo on a breezy day. “Because owing you is bad enough. Add in that we’re competitors in this trial, and it’s a death sentence. So tell me what you want me to do.”
From the sound of it, she was expecting me to tell her to kill herself, but why would I do that when I’d tried to save someone in the trial? I’d never understand the way these fae thought. “I don’t have anything to ask of you.”
“At least I’ll get to attend the ball.” She forced a smile, but it fell flat. “Unless you’re going to decide something there.”
I hated that she felt this impending doom, but to be fair, we all had to be part of this tournament. “Do your best to enjoy the night. I won’t be calling in any favors.” I winked, trying to reassure her.
She rubbed a hand down the lacy material of her dress. Her face turned a shade paler as she nodded. “As you wish.” She cleared her throat. “I’m heading downstairs. It’s time for the ball, and I’d rather we not walk into the room together.”
I placed a hand on my chest dramatically. “We wouldn’t want that.”
“Exactly.” She turned, opened the door, and paused, missing the joke. “Uh … see you downstairs.”
She stepped from the room, and Maeve entered before the door even began to close.
She shut it and leaned against it with her arms crossed. “You’re still in one piece. I’m not sure if that’s reassuring.”
Lucky for her, I found her concern endearing. Even Stan didn’t worry over me as much as she did. “You’ll be glad to know she owes me.”
“What?” Her arms dropped. “How is that even possible?”
I filled her in on our discussion.
“That will validate Dallas’s claim about the Winter King owing you.” She pushed off the wall. “I’ve been concerned about that. We can say Nolan owes you, but that might not be the case. I’m not even sure if Ginevra and Nolan were officially promised—it was mere speculation. The only hint it was true was the fact that King Kieran carried you off the platform.”
King Kieran.
