Frost Bound (Entangled with Trickery #1)

Dahlia

Chapter Twenty-Five

Dahlia

Wife. Wife. Wife .

The word marched through her mind like a chant until all she could hear was that condemning word. The frost giant watched Dahlia closely as she took large gulps of air, coughing between them.

This couldn’t be right.

Queen Allium wouldn’t have sent her this unprepared, would she?

Do anything to secure trust. Use your assets.

Was this what the bloody queen was alluding to? It couldn’t be true. How was the marriage even legal? Dahlia wasn’t the true princess, she was an imposter.

She shook her head, but her mind screeched to a halt.

The sapphires .

Those jewels had haunted her. It didn’t seem right that the delegation would give them to her as a gift. They were veritably priceless. It didn’t seem likely that the giants would have given them to her as a gift of peace, but as a bride gift?

It made perfect sense.

Her heart pounded and she coughed, trying to breathe. Dahlia doubled over for a moment.

Randa and Allium sold you to the monsters.

She shuddered and slowly stood on the bed, wavering on her feet, with the blankets still clutched in her fingers. The room swam, and she ignored the giant watching her reaction all too closely. Lia grounded herself, warmth from the fire licking at her calves.

She froze.

No.

Ever so slowly, she looked down.

Her legs were bare.

Lia blanched, and stumbled backward off the mattress against the wall, dragging the covers with her.

He knew.

Arun—no, the Frost King—rose from the stool, uncoiling like a serpent, his entire focus on her. “What exactly are you implying? That you did not know of the betrothal?” His tone was dripping in darkness and danger.

She edged toward the door to her right, his attention never wavering from her. “I was told nothing .” Only that I am to kill you . Poison you .

The tiny room seemed to close in on her and the air much too hot. She couldn’t breathe. Lia needed to get out now.

He cocked his head as she neared the door. “Do you really think you’re going to get away? Run away from this situation?”

Her hand curled over the knob. “I won’t stay. I can’t stay.”

Dahlia yanked open the door as he rushed her. She threw the blankets at him as she slipped out the exit and into a large open room. Three startled giantesses gazed back at her from her right. Lia lunged for the door on the left that looked like escape.

All she had to do was get outside and then she could … she could…

Her feet left the floor and her back slammed into a hard warm surface. Lia coughed hard, and she scratched at the bare blue forearms wrapped around her.

“Let me go!” she hissed, kicking uselessly at the giant holding her in the air.

“Never. We must speak.”

Lia reached out a trembling hand to the oldest female, with gray streaks in her black hair. “Help me.”

The older female placed her hands on her hips. “Put the reilleve down. She’s in no condition to be tossed about by the likes of you.”

“She was trying to escape.” His voice rumbled along Lia’s spine.

“Well,” the female pursed her lips, “I don’t think the valles is that foolish as she’s only in a shift and is ill. Am I right, reilleve ?”

Dahlia swallowed hard, her throat aching. She slumped in the king’s grasp. “I just need some air.” The room was spinning, and she couldn’t breathe .

“And you shall have it.” She gestured to a cot near the window. “My lord, if you’d be so kind as to set your niliave here.”

Tears burned in her eyes as she continued to wheeze, her lungs squeezing painfully. The king’s grip loosened, and the world wavered as he wrapped an arm around her back and caught her behind the knees. She didn’t even feel embarrassed as the angry giant stomped across the room carrying her like a princess. Lia expected him to drop her like a sack of potatoes, but he gently set her on the cot next to the window and stepped away.

She tucked her legs beneath her shift, and leaned her cheek against the glass pane, her breath fogging up the window. How was she supposed to escape now? What would happen to her mother? Did they really expect her to assassinate the king? Her husband? The world blurred.

Her breath came faster, and dots swarmed her vision.

“What’s wrong with her?” a deep voice asked.

“Panic, lae reillov .”

“What do we do?”

“Hold your wife and I’ll get the window.”

Lia jerked as large, muscled arms curled around her and pulled her loosely into the king’s embrace. Her gaze latched on to the old giantess who cranked open the window. Cold air rushed in, crisp and clean. It stung her lungs and cheeks, but Dahlia welcomed it.

The female sat at the end of the cot and laid a knitted blanket over her leg. She then set her deep purple hand over the top of Lia’s foot before patting it. “That’s it, valles . Take slow sips of air.” Her chin lifted as her attention shifted to the hovering male behind Dahlia. “Keep your breathing steady, reillov .”

The rhythmic thumping of his hearts was a constant staccato behind her. Lia closed her eyes, feeling like she was ready to fall apart.

Sing.

A dark melody bloomed in her mind.

Duck and cover for the beasts now roam. Escape now quickly, don’t lead them home.

She began to mouth the words.

Don’t tarry, don’t tarry, my little dear one. You’re not alone and the danger is gone.

Despite her breathlessness, a low hum vibrated in her throat. The words of her mother’s song spilled from her lips as she opened her eyes. A sea of cool toned skin, white snow, and warm brown huts stood outside.

Sleep and dream for the day is naught. Stars will keep you while fear is fought.

Don’t tarry, don’t tarry, my little dear one. You’re not alone and the danger is gone.

The people turned to face her, but she didn’t see their faces. Dahlia repeated the song as her heartbeat slowed, and her breathing with it. The last note cut through the air and hovered in the quiet before she was able to look away from the outside.

The old female blinked slowly at her. Lia glanced around the room, noting that Olwen, Flyka, and the fake Neve, as well as two other females, stood in the room staring at her. All were silent.

She peered back at the old giantess, who appraised her with a toothy grin.

“Our reilleve has blessed us with her song. I thank you.” The old giantess bowed, and then straightened in her seat. Her hand squeezed Dahlia’s foot once more, her claws pricking the weave. “Better?”

Lia nodded, fatigue riding her hard. She slumped back against the king, so very tired.

“Close your eyes, reilleve . Let yourself rest. You’re safe.”

She glanced out the window, watching a very large bird twirl through the sky.

Safety was an illusion was the last thought in her mind before the darkness took her.

When she’d awoken, the king and his Haunts were gone. And her ring and necklace had been returned to her, but not the weapons. What did that mean? Did they know what she planned? Had they discovered the poison? Were they going to kill her?

They’d also left Lia with strangers.

Nonnae the healer, and her two apprentices, Lianna and Loshika.

It had been ten days since she’d seen anyone that she’d traveled with.

Ten days of healing, of fretting over the future, of concocting plans that would fail. Of worrying about Cosmos. Each day she was gone, was another her brother was on his own, in danger.

Dahlia could not see a way out of her situation.

Even if she managed to collect everything she needed for a journey to her mother, she didn’t know the land—the king and his Haunts did. They’d find her before she reached the border.

If she managed to elude them and made it to her mum, who was to say that the Giver hadn’t already collected her? That thought alone made Dahlia sick.

What of the spies planted in Loriia by the crown or the Giver? Not all giants were loyal to the crown, and easily bought for a few pieces of silver. Would she be killed by one of them if she tried to escape? The only thing that gave her any comfort was that the king and his cousin were able to swap places without the Asteran monarchy knowing, which meant they hadn’t managed to slip a spy into the Loriian palace.

Yet.

If she managed to poison the king, she was surrounded by his people. More Loriians arrived daily to camp outside the healer’s home. Sneaking away would be next to impossible.

The hopelessness of the situation almost seemed too much.

As a visiting princess, she could have left whenever she chose.

As the wife of the king, she was trapped.

Wife.

Even now the word terrified her. While she’d spoken no vows, the king and queen had signed her life away. She was now the property of the Loriian throne—even if she was an imposter.

Nonnae had made it clear that she was bound in the Loriian custom as well. The crossing of the life-giving waters was marriage in their culture. It was why people had been leaving gifts outside the healer’s home for days.

Dahlia didn’t have a drop of royal blood, and yet she was married to a king. What would he do when he discovered she was a fraud? Did he already know? Was that why he’d not been by to visit? Did her legs give her away? Was he preparing her torture and execution right now?

“ Reilleve ?” Lianna called softly.

Dahlia shoved her morose thoughts aside and wiped her hands on the simple apron bound around her hips. She pushed away from the sink and smiled at the giantess who had a broken fang, making her seem somewhat endearing. “Yes?”

“Do you need a break with the washing? I can continue if you need to sit, my lady. You’ve been on your feet for some time.”

She shook her head and leaned back against the counter, the stone pressing against the middle of her back. “I’m alright. I was just lost in my thoughts.” She rotated her shoulder. It still ached now and then, but not too badly. “I just finished with the pots. What else can I help with?”

Loshika snorted, sitting near the fire and cutting strips of linen in a rocking chair. “ Lae reilleve , you work too hard. Our king left you to heal and recuperate, not slave away like a nonnaette .”

Lia pushed away from the counter and wound her way through tables of herbs and cots. She plopped into the oversized wooden chair next to Loshika, plucking a pair of scissors from her apron pocket. “I like keeping my hands busy. Did you really expect me to languish around and not help?”

Loshika cocked her head. “I thought I knew what to expect from humans, but it wasn’t you.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” she commented, taking a square of linen from the table. It was a bit of a stretch. Everything was. The house, the doors, the furniture. Everything was just a touch larger or taller. It made her feel like a tiny mouse.

Loshika scratched her pockmarked neck and shrugged. “A good thing. I’ve only experienced saloes ’ malice, greed, deception, and hate. From what I know of you, reilleve , you don’t fit that description.”

A twinge of guilt wriggled in her chest. Loshika had no idea the trickery Lia was involved in.

I’m here to spy, to murder.

She studied Loshika’s angular profile, and the marks along her neck. “If you don’t mind me asking, how did that happen?”

The giantess stopped her cutting and set her hands in her lap. “I will tell you, lae reilleve , but only if you tell me about your legs.”

My queen .

Lianna gasped. “Loshika! How dare you ask such a thing. Apologize for your presumptuousness.”

Dahlia had stiffened, holding Loshika’s gaze, but not because of overstepping. No, because her whole life she’d been taught to hide her skin. To never speak about it unless she wanted to be burned as a witch.

You’re not in Astera anymore.

She blew out a breath and nodded. “I’ll go first.” With shaking hands, she lifted the overly long skirt until it reached her knees, the meld of patchwork skin bringing a wave of shame with it.

Lia swallowed thickly. “My mother said I was born this way. It wasn’t as extensive when I was a child. It’s spread over the years.”

“Is it contagious?” Loshika asked. “Do all humans deal with something similar?”

“No. It’s just something I deal with. I’m sure there are others who have something similar, but it is kept a secret.”

“Why do you hide it?” Lianna questioned softly, moving her chair to Dahlia’s other side.

“Because it’s dangerous.”

Lianna blinked. “Why? You said it wasn’t contagious.”

“Because it makes her different,” Loshika replied, sharing a knowing look with Lia. “You know how our village used to treat me before Nonnae took me on as one of her apprentices. I was bullied, shunned, and beaten for my differences from the time I was a child.”

“I’m so sorry,” Dahlia whispered, feeling heat at the back of her eyes at the idea of little Loshika being beaten.

“Don’t be. It made me stronger.” A pause. “But I’m sure your experience was different than mine. Excuse me for speaking out of turn, reilleve .”

“There’s nothing to forgive, and our experiences are similar.” Be careful. Tell the truth but wrapped in a lie. “My mother is a great beauty.” Truth. “She didn’t handle it well when I was born … different.” Lie. “She tried every cure, and then eventually had me cloistered away from the court.” Truth. “People could whisper and start rumors all they wanted, but no one knew the truth.” Truth. “No one but my mother, father, and nanny.” Lie.

Lianna reached out and took Lia’s hand. “I’m so sorry. That must have been lonely.”

Dahlia squeezed her hand. “I found joy too. In my books. I always wanted to travel.” Truth . Once Cosmos had been fed and put to sleep, she’d stayed up reading, living vicariously through others.

“And here you are,” Loshika murmured. “Married to the Frost King. Queen of the Frost Throne.”

“Here I am.” Trapped. A false queen.

The nonnaette ran her fingers over her neck. “I was born near the border of Astera, between Kallere and Nieves. My parents gathered syrup for the cities. They used to tell me to sing to the trees and the syrup would be sweeter.” Her smile faded. “One day, Papa got sick. He told us he was fine and went to harvest. That night he stumbled home running a fever, a strange rash all over his body. By the morning, his breathing was labored and wet. Mama did everything she could for him, and three days later he died, but not before the dots showed up on her body.”

Loshika sucked in a shuddering breath. “She sent me away to my aunt’s home and died alone.” A pause. “My cousins got sick first. They blamed me, but I didn’t have the marks. People all over our village got sick and began dying. That’s when they found it.”

“Found what?” Lia whispered, dread in the pit of her stomach.

“The diseased saloes ’ body in our well.”

Bile burned the back of Dahlia’s throat. “Was it the human from your village?”

“No.” Loshika’s mouth thinned, bitterness written across her face. “Humans were not allowed in our village. In fact, we’d been fighting with the human lord right over the border of Astera about who the trees belonged to. They sabotaged us, we sabotaged them. It was constant. But this … was something altogether different. This was a battle we could not fight.”

“Eventually, I got sick, but almost all of my village was gone.” Tears filled her black eyes. “Then the saloes came. They tossed all the sick into the well and left us to die. There were three valles and one vallos . I was the only child. I only survived because they managed to toss me up high enough to climb out.”

Tears tracked down Dahlia’s face.

“I promised to get help, but I was sick. I climbed into a neighbor’s home and managed to get a fire going. It’s one of the first things we’re taught—how to make a fire. I passed out and slept for some time.” Loshika’s voice thickened. “When I woke, my rash was fading. I ran to the well to tell them I was getting help, but they were already dead when I got there.” The tears spilled over. “I was all that was left. An entire village gone.”

“I’m so sorry.” The words didn’t mean enough.

Loshika shrugged and wiped her tears away. “It was a long time ago. We cannot live in the past.”

Lia’s stomach churned, feeling sick. “How can you even look at me without disgust? Without hate?”

The giantess held her gaze. “Because I won’t villainize a whole race for the actions of a few. My reillov has chosen you as his reilleve . In our short time together, you’ve shown me that all humans aren’t bad just because I experienced horrors at their hands.”

That struck Dahlia hard .

Wasn’t that what she’d been doing for years? Judging a whole race based on one experience? Forgetting all of the good childhood memories of Loriian friends? Only focusing on the fear?

She swallowed hard. She needed to make some changes.

“You honor me with your story,” she replied. “I won’t forget the lesson you’ve taught me.”

Loshika nodded. “I’ve seen you try to mask your fear since you’ve been with us. I can imagine we look like monsters to you, but despite your fear, you’ve treated all of us with kindness. You’re just the reilleve we need.”

She was no queen. Dahlia was a bard masquerading as a princess. An imposter.

The door opened, letting in a burst of cold air. In stepped the king, his imposing presence filling up the space.

“Leave us.” His voice was like chips of ice.

Her blood went cold.

He knew.