Frost Bound (Entangled with Trickery #1)

Dahlia

Chapter Seven

Dahlia

She hadn’t seen Cosmos in two weeks. Each day that passed she grew more terrified. Where did they have him? Was her brother being fed? Was he warm?

The questions haunted her.

Dahlia leaned against the frescoed window frame and stared at the dwindling sunset. The colors seemed to lack luster, or maybe that was due to her mood.

Even Adder hadn’t deigned to visit. She thought for sure he’d show his slimy face to gloat in his triumph. But nothing.

Servants came and went. The only face she knew was Basil.

He appeared in her room—or cell as it was—each morning with an itinerary. She asked for Cosmos every day but was met with Basil reassuring her that he was whole. Words were a tricky thing. Whole could mean that they hadn’t cut off his head but that he was in pain, suffering, starving. Her mind found new ways to conjure nightmares each time the sun sank low.

The guilt was enough to drown her. While there wasn’t much choice when it came to the queen’s request, Dahlia had been stuffed to the brim and pampered beyond anything she could have imagined. The silent servants even bathed her in milk each night. Exposing her body to strangers had been harrowing, but the maids never even batted an eye at the markings on her legs. They just scrubbed until Lia’s scalp burned and her skin turned pink. They’d done their best to erase any mark of hard labor from her hands and feet.

Dahlia sighed and glanced at the full-length mirror, her lips turning downward.

She hardly recognized herself. She looked like a highborn lady—nothing like the traveling bard who couldn’t afford even a burnt loaf of bread. Her only solace was the books she found in the bottom drawer of a side table. It had been a long time since she’d been able to read. The monarchy had banned most books as dangerous to the morals of their kingdom.

Dahlia glared at her reflection. What rubbish. She saw it for what it was. Control, not safety.

Turning away from the looking glass, she moved toward the adjoining rooms of the suite, following the soft murmurs. More than met the eye when it came to the queen’s task. Lia could have easily gone with the retinue as a servant, so why all the fanfare? They were trussing her up like a sacrifice.

It made her uneasy.

She paused in the doorway and observed as servants carried in garment after garment, Basil cooing and clucking over each one. Some made the cut and were placed in decorative wooden trunks, the others sent away. Lia’s eyes rounded as Basil opened a silk bag and pulled out a strand of autumn sapphires. They only ever had been found in Northwestern Astera, the part the Loriians had seized hundreds of years ago. How did the monarchy get their hands on those?

He hummed, dropped them back into the bag, and tossed the strand into the nearest trunk. She gaped, staring at Basil in shock. How could he be so careless with something so valuable? And why were they going into her trunk? The sapphires were not for the likes of her, acting highborn lady or no.

“Basil,” Dahlia said sharply, pushing into the room. The steward glanced away from a particularly stunning green velvet skirt. He smiled, but it never reached his eyes as he tracked her approach.

“Yes, my lady?”

She glared at him. “That is not my station, and allowing you to call me that is against the law.” One she could be flogged and imprisoned for.

“Your case is different. You need to get used to it.”

“Why?” she pressed, hands on her hips. “What is going on?”

“You will be told when it is necessary.”

The sleepless nights, the terror and worry for Cosmos, and all the secrecy pushed Dahlia over the edge. “No, you will tell me now! I won’t stay in the dark any longer.”

The maids froze, and Basil blinked slowly. He waved his hand, gold rings flashing, and the serving women filed out of the room, the last one closing the door with a soft click. Silence stretched between them. Her chest rose as she tried to take calming breaths.

Basil stared at the closed door for a long moment before meeting her gaze, all traces of the faux amiableness gone. “You need to get a hold of yourself. Your outbursts could get us both killed.”

Lia glared at the steward. “One outburst. One . I’ve been very affable despite no new information on my brother, all the fittings, the classes, and the beauty treatments that hurt more than help. I’ve kept my temper under control. I’ve kept my head down, but that…” She pointed at the silk bag haphazardly cradled on a crinoline dress. “…makes no sense, and screams danger. I’ve never heard of any highborn owning autumn sapphires.”

“That’s because you’ve spent time with the wrong people.”

She gritted her teeth and forced out, “I’m not ignorant, as I have proved so far. Sapphires like those haven’t been traded to this kingdom in five hundred years. Only royalty would have access to something that valuable or that old. Why would the queen send those with me?”

“You assume they are for you.”

She paused, eyes still focused on the bag. If they weren’t for her, and she was meeting an envoy… “A trade gift?”

“It’s not my place.”

“Make it your place,” she growled, exasperation coloring her tone.

Basil studied her. “I suppose you have demonstrated yourself to be an intelligent young woman, except for that recent outburst.”

“Thank you, I think.”

“I will tell you this much.” He crossed his arms, the lace at his sleeves fluttering. “You need to play your part perfectly or you and your brother will be executed.”

That wasn’t anything new, but hearing it out loud was enough to make her feel a little faint. “The sapphires, Basil. Explain them to me.”

“They were a … gift for you,” he drawled.

“From the monarchy?” She didn’t believe it. The gems were a statement.

“From the Loriians.”

Her stomach dropped. Lia wavered and placed her right hand on the striped divan to keep from falling over. “And why would the giants send me something like this?”

“Because you’re not impersonating just any highborn, but the heir of Astera.”

He said it so matter of fact, like he was commenting on the weather, not the bloody fact that she was supposed to pretend to be the reclusive princess.

“Why?” she rasped, slumping onto the couch. “Impersonating royalty is a death sentence.”

The last time she played princess lead to death and pain. This time would be no different. She could feel it in her bones.

“This was sanctioned by our majesties themselves.”

As if that meant anything. The law still held. “If I was ever caught…” She swallowed hard. The Loriians would make her wish she was dead. And if she failed the king and queen? They’d have her hanged for treason. Or worse. “Godsteeth.”

“Then don’t get caught.”

“But why?” Lia sputtered. “Why not send the princess?” Wasn’t that what royalty did? They sent ambassadors back and forth to foster good spirit. Although she didn’t know what good spirit the frost giants had. They hadn’t crossed the Asteran border unless it was to wage war.

“She’s the only heir.”

Dahlia blinked slowly. The only legitimate heir. “So … I am to go in her place.”

“Yes. Which is why it is imperative for you to keep up your etiquette studies.” Basil clapped his hands together. “Not that you’ll need them amongst those barbarians, but at least you’ll make our kingdom look good.”

This was way bigger than she anticipated. “When will the envoy be here?” she asked.

Basil brushed some lint off his velvet doublet. “Three days’ time.”

Not nearly long enough. How did they expect her to impersonate someone she’d never met? Lia squeezed her eyes closed, a headache starting to throb at her temples. “I want to see my brother.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Make it happen,” she replied firmly, eyes locking on Basil.

Whatever was on her face wiped all superiority from his own. “You’re making a dangerous demand of me.”

She shrugged. “It seems I’ve already made a deadly deal with our queen. I want to see my brother safe and secure before I leave.”

“He’ll be fine.”

She scoffed. “And I’m supposed to trust you?”

“What else are you going to do?”

What was she going to do?

Fight , her mind whispered. Run.

Neither would work.

Negotiate.

“Basil, the successfulness of this ruse rests mostly upon your shoulders, no?”

He squinted at her, straightening. “My queen has tasked me with your care.”

“And if I make a mistake … you will also pay the price.” A small twitch. A confirmation. “So we’re partners really, aren’t we?”

“Getting the handle of being a royal so soon?” he sniped. “If you want to play games, I assure you I’ve been playing them much longer, lass.”

She doubted he’d ever been this desperate.

“I’m not playing with you. You want me to succeed and be obedient. I want my brother safe and out of the queen’s clutches. Dear Basil, I believe you’re the man who can make that happen.”

A little praise never went wrong.

He pursed his lips and cocked his head. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Do that.” Dahlia rose from the divan and strode toward the bedroom, thankful the skirt covered her shaking legs. “We have three days until I’m collected. I want him out sooner rather than later. Tomorrow, even.”

“You’ll owe me,” Basil called softly. “And my prices can be steep.”

“You’re no worse than the Giver.”

She screeched to a halt as the monster himself grinned at her from the chair next to her bed. Just how much of their conversation had the Giver overheard?

“Hello, my sweet flower,” Adder crooned, snapping one of her books closed.

Dahlia glared at the halfling. How the devil did he find that? “Get out.”

“That’s no way to treat an old friend,” he crooned, rising from the chair. He tossed the book onto the seat and casually strolled toward the window as if he owned the place.

He was no friend of hers. Lia exhaled slowly, barely keeping her poisonous words to herself. The Giver never just showed up out of the goodness of his heart. He wanted something. She needed to keep her cool.

“It was my understanding that friends don’t lie and use each other,” she gritted out, not able to keep the anger out of her voice. She bustled to the chair and picked up the faded blue book, brushing her fingers over it tenderly. “But I admit I am curious as to why you’re in my room now.”

He tsk ed, his onyx gaze flickering to her face. “Your room? How quickly you’ve settled into your new abode. They even put you in the royal suite, glass ceiling and all.”

Florrant was known for the spired glass ceilings in the center of its palace. Dahlia had seen them gleaming in the light from afar, but had never dreamed of experiencing them in person. The first night she had hardly slept. It was as if the black night sky was trying to swallow her whole.

Adder faced her fully and leaned a shoulder against the wall. “As for the lying and using bit, it happens all the time, dearest. You can only count on yourself.”

Despite her resentment for what he’d done, she felt a small flicker of pity for him. She placed the book on her side table and walked toward the door. She didn’t like the idea of being trapped in this room with him. “That’s a very bleak view of the world.”

His lips thinned for a moment before he covered it with a smile. She’d gotten to him. It was only there for a moment, but she’d seen the unhappiness in his eyes.

“It’s only the truth,” he said.

“As you see it,” she replied.

They stared at each other for a long moment. Today had been a deadly revelation—one that could lead to her destruction. She didn’t have the time or energy for his games.

Fatigue weighed down on Lia, and she rubbed at her eyes. “What do you want?”

“To offer you a deal.”

“One you’ll just break again?”

“Come now, you don’t really think I had a choice in the matter? Who am I to the king and queen of Astera?”

“Their son,” she said dryly.

The Giver shook his head and pushed away from the wall. “ His son.”

He walked past her to the buffet and pulled the stopper out of a glass decanter. Her nose wrinkled as he took a swig straight from the bottle.

“And what does that mean?” she murmured.

“It means that there is an order for things. Everyone has someone above them pulling the strings. Everyone is leashed.”

“You look pretty free to me.”

The decanter dangled from his thick fingers, and he gestured toward Dahlia. “As do you, my flower. You’re staying in the royal quarters in the Asteran palace, dressed in fabrics I’m sure you’ve never even been able to touch before, eating foods you’d never be able to afford. You could walk out that door with two of the candlesticks and live as a wealthy woman for the rest of your life. And yet you stew and read books that are illegal .”

She curled her fingers into fists. “First of all, you know I can’t leave Cosmos. Nothing is ever that black and white. And second, the books came with the room.”

“I’m sure they did. There are different rules for those wealthy enough to afford them.” He arched a brow. “You are making a choice to stay. You’re not trapped.”

His logic was flawed, and yet it struck a dissonant chord within her. Lia grasped the bottom of her neck, feeling like the air was too thin. “Why are you here?” she whispered.

“To offer your brother safety while you’re away in Loriia.”

So perhaps he had listened in to her conversation with Basil.

Hysterical laughter burst out of her. “You? You’re the one who put him in this situation in the first place.”

Wrong thing to say. Bullies never want to be blamed or be held accountable for their actions.

His expression darkened to a deeper blue and his fingers tightened on the bottle. “Your brother tried to steal from me first. These are the consequences of his actions, not mine. As for the queen … well, she’s a conniving wench who always tries to foil my plans.” His face morphed into a deranged smile. “But I will get the best of her this time, which is why I need you.” Goosebumps broke out along her arms as he stalked closer. “We’ll steal your brother right out from underneath her.”

“What do you mean?” she rasped as he brushed his thumb along the edge of her jaw.

“You look so much like her,” he murmured.

“Like who?”

“Like my sister .”

The princess.

“So you knew the whole time…”

He scoffed, dropping his hand. “I’m in the business of secrets, my flower. Of course I knew. And that’s exactly how we’re going to get your brother out so the queen doesn’t do something we will all regret while you’re gallivanting with frost giants.”

“You think she would send him to the harvest?”

“The queen does whatever makes her feel best in the moment. Right now, I’ve won the battle, and she doesn’t like that. She’ll try to strike back at me.”

“Leaving Cosmos in the crossfire…” Unfair, but reality.

He grinned. “Now you get it.” Adder took another swig from the decanter before turning on his heel and placing it back on the buffet. “The night the envoy arrives will be the day we strike. The monarchy will be too busy with the foreign delegates to pay much attention to who is in their dungeons.”

Dahlia filed that information away. Basil would have to get Cosmos out before Adder made his move. It would have to be tomorrow or the day after at the least.

The Giver approached her once more and cupped her cheeks, his skin slightly warmer than her own. “In three days’ time, one of my men will come for you. We’ll need you for a distraction.” His eyes sparkled. “It will be your first big test to see if you can pull off the princess ruse.”

Lia pulled out of his grip, and he winked at her.

“I’ll see you soon, flower. Mind your manners.”

And with that, he walked out of her room, greeting Basil jovially.

Dahlia closed the door behind her, locking it before leaning against the wood. She closed her eyes and thumped her head on the door. There was no way out but through. Through one mistake, Cosmos had thrown them into the fire.

Her brother.

The Giver.

Basil.

The princess.

The envoys.

The king and queen.

Too many opponents.

One too many secrets.

Lia’s heart raced and she began to pant. Dropping to her haunches, Lia put her head between her knees as she tried to calm herself. She began counting to a hundred, attempting to match her breathing with the cadence of her counting. When her pulse no longer pounded in her ears, she lifted her head.

One thing at a time , her mind said.

Protect your brother , her heart pleaded.

Don’t break your promise to your mum , her guilt cried.

Don’t lose yourself , her soul whispered.

Dahlia had a feeling that what she thought or felt didn’t matter.

This was a matter of survival.