Frost Bound (Entangled with Trickery #1)

Dahlia

Chapter Forty-Two

Dahlia

Jekket had given her five days to kill the king before her ruse was revealed.

Tomorrow would be day five. Nausea rose up. The poison ring felt heavy upon her hand.

Bacti smirked at her. “It was a pleasure to dance with you, my lady.”

She glanced away from him, hiding her discomfort behind a smile. “Thank you.”

Neve entered her line of sight, stalking toward her, black robes flowing around his legs, chest bare. He looked like some sort of pagan god. Her breath hitched as he drew closer, his attention completely focused on her.

The Frost King ignored Bacti and held his hand out. “ Lae reilleve .” My queen . “Shall we dance?”

She pulled her hand from the giant’s and placed it in Neve’s. He’d come to save her. The king cut through the crowd and spun her until her back pressed against his abdomen. He held her arms out to both sides and curled his fingers around her wrists, like giant shackles.

“You wear the color of Frost ,” he whispered in her ear. “Why?”

“Because I knew it was a midwinter festival. I am trying to fit in.”

A low chuckle escaped him that caused a shiver to run down her spine. “You will always stand out, valles . Especially when you wear the color of fertility in public. One that is a symbol to all you are ready for a child.”

She gasped, blushing bright red. No wonder her lady-in-waiting, Alda, had snickered when she’d picked out the Asteran gown.

The music started off achingly slow, and the king directed her effortlessly around the floor. He lifted their hands above her head and then draped them by his shoulders, before pressing a large warm palm over her midriff and leading them through the next steps. It was a bit of a stretch, but she popped up onto her toes, trying to follow as the music raced to a crescendo.

Her mind raced as she ran over all the titters, stares, and odd conversations she’d had during the night. They all thought she was a baby-making trollop.

“I’ll change.”

“Now, now, do not be hasty. That is why I took a human bride after all. Peace through marriage, and an heir.”

She craned her neck to stare up at Neve, whose eyes glittered dangerously. What the devil had gotten into him tonight? Was this still about her sneaking from their bed? She’d never planned on getting close to the king, but the more time she spent with him, the more she liked him. The kiss was never supposed to happen, and yet she couldn’t stop thinking about it, even if she didn’t have any right.

She was the traitor. The deceiver. The one tasked to kill him.

Neve was rough around the edges, but he cared for her, and he didn’t deserve it.

“Then I’ll leave.”

His grip tightened on her a moment before he spun her around. She caught her breath as his hands settled on her hips, before he threw her into the air, catching her around the thighs. She glanced at the other dancers, who all held their partners in a similar hold.

He spun in a slow circle, his grip loosening a touch, so she began to slide down his hard body. A riot of emotions swirled in her gut as her feet finally touched the floor, the song ending at last. Neve took her right hand and bent over it, kissing the back, in the very same place Bacti had.

Understanding clicked into place.

He was jealous .

His tongue slipped out, licking one knuckle, and she shuddered. He was playing games with her.

The audience broke out in applause, breaking the moment, and the king straightened, pulling her toward their table. He moved to his silver chair that was so big it was really a throne, and sat. He tumbled her into his lap, tossing her legs over the arm of the chair. She grabbed the sides of his robe and stared up at his flexing jawline.

“Bad day, niliov ?” Husband . It was the first time she’d used the word.

All his attention focused on her face. “I am husband to you now? Even though you creep from our bed each morning?”

Dahlia winced. “I had to think.” He turned away from her, but she reached up and cupped his cheek, forcing him to stare down at her. “I wasn’t prepared for you, for this life. I’m doing the best I can.”

Neve swallowed, a touch of softness around his eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. “You run my from touches and yet you invite Bacti ’s.” His accent thickened. “You wear another’s jewelry.”

Lia shook her head, caressing his jawline. He thought her ring was from another suitor? “I did not. I’m not sure what you saw…”

“You smiled at him.”

“I hid my unease beneath a smile.” She gave him a firm look. “If you’d been paying attention to me and not the giant you’re jealous of, maybe you would have seen that. And as for the ring, it was one of the few gifts from my mother.” A truth and a lie.

Lia really looked at him. There were shadows underneath his eyes, and a new cut at the base of his neck that the collar of his robe covered. She dropped her hand to gently touch the very edge. “What happened?”

His lips thinned. “An act of war.”

She jerked. “What do you mean?”

He glared down at her like he knew her deep dark secrets. “Your family set mercenaries on a fishing village. Ten out of fifty survived.”

“I’m so sorry.” Why would Allium and Randa do such a thing?

“You do not refute what I’ve said?” The words held a challenge.

“No matter who ordered the attack, it is still sad.”

“Why are you here?” he hissed.

“Because you bought me.” A truth .

He caught her chin. “Can I trust you, valles ?”

“As much as I can trust you.”

The king scoffed, leaning so close that his lips almost touched her own. Her breath hitched, and tempered interest carved a smirk onto his face.

“I don’t think you’re as innocent as you pretend to be.”

“And I don’t think you’re as cruel as you think you are,” she retorted.

“You and I are bound.” He sighed. “But we are also doomed.”

Two truths.

Both of which she didn’t want to acknowledge.

The festival progressed late into the night, until finally Dahlia snuck away, intending to seek her bed. She gave a sleepy smile to a few of their people as she wandered out of the ballroom and into the immense hallway leading to the entryway.

As she passed a shadowed alcove, a hand wrapped around her wrist and yanked her into the space. Her back slammed against the freezing window, stealing the air from her lungs. She clawed at Bacti’s lavender hand, barely able to breathe.

He leaned into her space, and she turned her face away from him as he ran his nose along her cheek. “It’s time you and I had a conversation, valles . How fragile you are.” The giant gave her throat one more squeeze. “Keep your mouth shut and I won’t take your life right now.”

She nodded and he relaxed his grip. Lia coughed, eyes watering as she stared up into Bacti’s terrible face. “What do you want?” she rasped, dropping her shaking hands from his wrist to the top of her dress. If she played this right, she could get to her knife.

“What everyone wants, little saloes . Power.”

“How do you expect to get that from me?” she said, leaning heavily against the window; her pointer finger dipped into the top of her dress, just brushing the pommel of her blade.

Just a little more.

“You have been a thorn in my side since you arrived. You’re everywhere, and yet no useful information has been shared about this palace.”

Dahlia’s jaw dropped. The lavender giant gave her a smug smile.

“Did you really think you were going to be sent here without any supervision?” He cocked his head, licking his lips. “You’ve had two jobs, and yet you’ve failed on all fronts.” She froze as he glanced down her body and then back up. “Your queen made a mistake sending a common whore.”

“How dare you speak to me in such a manner,” she snapped, fear tightening in her gut.

“Yes, valles , keep playing your part.” He pressed her harder against the window and crowded over her. “You have one day before I spill your secrets to the reillov . One day before I send word to have your mother executed.” She flinched as he ran his tongue along the rounded shell of her ear. “And don’t worry, we’re very close to finding your brother.”

“I’ve done everything the queen asked except commit regicide.” Tears blurred her eyes. “The king gave Astera everything they wanted for peace. Why?”

Bacti grinned, but it sent a shiver down her spine. “Because we don’t want peace. Mixing our people is unnatural. Imagine how our people will react when the human queen murders their fearless ruler. They will band together and eviscerate you.”

“What do you get out of this? What did Allium promise you?”

He pressed a soft kiss to her cheekbone. “I can’t spill all of my secrets.” Bacti released her neck and stepped back as she doubled over, catching her breath. “Tick-tock, valles .”

The giant winked at her and backed away, swagger in his step. Dahlia tilted her head back against the window and blinked away her tears.

There was no way out.

Either the people she loved died or she did.