Frost Bound (Entangled with Trickery #1)

Dahlia

Chapter Four

Dahlia

Present Day

A sentencing.

The Giver’s own form of justice where he acted as judge, jury, and executioner.

Lia swallowed hard and forced herself not to collapse in despair. She held the monster’s black gaze and tried to think through the panic. The Giver always negotiated. If he wanted Cosmos dead, he would have acted already. He wanted something from her. Just the thought alone was enough to make her want to throw up. Over the last year as she’d made payments, he’d hinted at making other arrangements where he took more than just her coin.

Her stomach rolled but she steeled herself. She’d do whatever was necessary to protect her brother. It was her fault Cosmos was without their mother. It was Lia’s responsibility to sacrifice whatever it took to take care of him.

Green eyes fading, cooling blood, a trodden leaf crown…

Exhaling slowly, Dahlia shoved her fear and the past down deep and sat in the velvet chair. Despite her long legs, she couldn’t touch the floor, her feet swinging as if she were a child. It was … off-putting. She crossed her legs and lifted her chin to disguise her unease. “What is he accused of, Giver?”

He tsk ed. “Giver. That’s no way to address a friend. Please call me Adder.”

A poisonous snake. What a fitting name for such a creature.

And why share his name now? They’d been meeting for well over a year. Just what was he up to?

She dipped her chin in acknowledgement. “Adder, what exactly is my brother accused of?”

“Theft.”

Her brows furrowed. “I see.” Cosmos had a great many flaws. He could be impulsive and trusted too easily, but he wasn’t a thief. How did she say that without offending the crime lord who could break her neck as easily as a toothpick? “May I ask who is accusing him and what witnesses you have?”

Adder laced his fingers on the top of the desk, a smile twitching at the corner of his lips like he knew a secret that she didn’t. “I am the witness.”

Godsteeth. “You?” She slanted a glance to her brother. What have you done?

“Yes. It seems a few of your brother’s friends learned of one of my lucrative operations. They thought no one would notice if some gold went missing.” His sinister chuckle caused the hair to raise at the back of her neck. “I always know what is going on in my side of town. Your brother was the lookout and never saw me coming.” She flinched as Adder patted her brother on the top of his head. “He was the only one not to run. It’s the only reason he’s not dead like the rest of his friends.”

Her stomach heaved and she placed a hand over her navel. All of those children … murdered. She blinked to keep the tears from falling, and stared at her glassy-eyed brother, who was trying to be brave but was scared. He may have grown in size, but he was still a little boy to her.

Keep it together.

“What are you planning to do with him?” she asked, her voice wavering just a little.

Adder pushed out of his seat, bypassing her brother, and rounded his desk. He sat on the edge of the desk, blocking her view of Cosmos. He was positively huge as he loomed over her, and that was saying something as she was tall for a woman. She tipped her head back to keep her gaze on him, her nails digging into the armrests and sinking deeply into the fabric.

His black gaze tracked the movement, a predator through and through. “I have a problem, my sweet Dahlia. In normal circumstances, I’d string him up with the rest of his lot.” Her heart seemed to stop. “But I feel like that is not enough. They all tried to steal from me —their Giver. It was too bold. What if others get the same idea?”

She licked her lips and began carefully: “I know stealing is wrong, but they were just starving kids, not a rival gang. Hasn’t there been enough punishment already?”

Adder arched a black brow at her. “You believe your brother should go without any repercussions?”

“No, but I don’t believe torturing and killing youths will gain you anything.” Her pulse raced as she waited for him to react to her blunt words.

“This is why I like you, my sweet flower. You’re so very practical. On this we can agree. Killing your brother would not gain me anything. But sending him to the crown for his crimes would put gold in my pocket.”

She stiffened. The dungeons of Florrant were a living hell. “You mustn’t.”

“I feel as if my hands are tied, Dahlia. In fact…” He gestured to Jekket, another half-giant, who hauled Cosmos from the floor. She slipped from her chair as the Recurrence guard dragged her struggling brother from the room. Her jaw clenched when Jekket winked at her just before he closed the door behind them. Stars, she hated him. Lia stared at the exit, feeling as if her chest were about to cave in. Fighting would be futile, but she still wanted to try.

Be smart. Keep calm. Don’t lose your head.

Large pale blue fingers clasped her chin and forced her attention to the demon who’d stolen her brother away. He brushed his thumb along her bottom lip and Lia jerked away, almost tumbling back into the chair. Her hand dropped to the chile powder hidden beneath her cloak.

“Why?” she rasped, trying to get her emotions in check, just stopping before she dipped her fingers into the spice. “What do you really want?” Everything was a game to him.

“That is the question I’ve been waiting for you to ask.” He placed his palms on his desk and leaned back, stretching out like a lazy cat. “You have a decision to make that could save your brother.”

He was dangling Cosmos’ freedom in front of her to see if she’d bite. Lia didn’t want to engage him, but she needed information. “What are you offering me?”

“Such a clever girl.” Adder chuckled, eyeing her in a way that made her wish she were wearing a shapeless fur coat. “I have been entrusted with a special task that I believe you can help me with.”

“What is it?”

“Show me your legs first and we’ll go from there.”

How did he know? Her body flashed hot and then cold. “M-m-my legs?”

“No need to be shy.” He gestured at her skirt. “Let me see them.”

Dahlia trembled as she grabbed fistfuls of her skirt and slowly lifted it. Bile burned at the back of her throat as the warm air caressed her calves. She stopped when the hem reached her knees. It was far enough that he would see the blotchy, patchwork pattern of her skin. Humiliation burned her cheeks as silence stretched between them.

She hated that allowing someone to look at the splotches of different colors on her legs made her feel lacking. Defected.

Like an oddity or animal in the traveling fair.

“Have you seen all you needed to see?” she asked, her voice tight. There was one blessing for her disease. It had kept away the unwanted attentions of men. Maybe it would repel monsters too.

“I’ve only seen one other person like that,” the Giver murmured, still staring at her legs. “How did you come by it?”

“Born that way.”

“Interesting.” He blinked out of his stupor and waved a hand at her skirts. “I’ve seen enough. You’ll do, my sweet flower.”

Godsteeth, she hated that nickname. “What do you mean?”

Adder clasped his hands together. “I am to meet with one of the king’s men on the morrow. I will need you to accompany me.”

“As a paramour?” She could play his floozy as long as she didn’t actually become his lover.

“No, you’re too special for such a thing.” His smile became smug. “Allium is going to hate this.”

Who was Allium? “And my brother?”

“As long as you return on the morrow, he will be kept safe from the crown’s dungeons. But if you run or try to rescue him in any way…” He flashed his fangs. “Well, then you’ll both wish you hadn’t crossed paths with me. Death would be a pleasure.”

Finally, a truth. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“Oh, Lia, you can’t, but you don’t have much of a choice, do you?” He straightened from his desk and pressed a kiss to her cheek, his lips overly warm. “See you tomorrow.” With that, he rounded the tall table and began shuffling papers.

Dahlia stared at him, feeling her anger rising. He’d threatened what was left of her family and then went about his night like it was nothing. She shoved her hand into her pocket and pulled out the coins she still owed him. Lia slapped them down onto his shiny desk and waited until he met her gaze.

He arched a brow. “That isn’t nearly enough to bribe me.”

“I’m not bribing you. It’s the last of what I owe. My debt has been paid.”

A smug smile. “And here I thought you forgot.”

“Not on your life,” she retorted. “I will not be in your debt any longer.”

“Never say never, my flower,” he said, brushing his fingers over the back of her hand, leaving a chill in their wake.

Dahlia jerked back. “What time should I arrive for our journey?”

“Right after sunrise. Now get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”

As if she could sleep.

It pained her to leave her brother behind. Everything inside her cried out to go in search of him. But even if she did manage to find Cosmos, they’d both be lucky to survive. He’d be alright for one night. Adder wanted something from her and that was the only leverage she had. All she had to do was show up and her brother would be free. With their debt paid, they could finally leave the city and travel with the theater troupe. Leave the Giver’s rot behind.

Only if you survive tomorrow.

A grim thought that was all too true.