Ice that Burns #2
I cringed at the name, but with a smile. How did he know my full name? I was positive I’d never said it to him, or anyone in this castle. He wouldn’t tell me if I asked anyway, so I’d have to wonder about that later. “Not a thing, Highness.”
He refilled our glasses, and I thought… Here goes. I trusted him, right? He’d been open with me. Maybe it was my turn.
I took one more sip to steel my courage and then said, “Everything you just said, does it mean you trust me?”
“You? I definitely trust you. You’re straight as an arrow, can’t even lie to save your life.” He chuckled at his own joke. It was endearing, even if the remark was a slight dig at me.
It was definitely wine-fueled when I said, “And can I trust you?”
It was even more wine-fueled that I believed him when he said yes.
I took a deep breath and plunged into the terrifying unknown with him.
“My mom was part of the rebellion. And I think she might have been in the capital when they tried to storm the castle. But I need you to know I’m not here as part of the rebellion.
I don’t even know if there’s anything left of it.
I’m just here to find her. It’s why I didn’t tell you what I knew.
I don’t want you to think that’s what I’m doing here. Because I…”
I stopped. Oh, gods, I had been about to tell him I had feelings for him.
I prayed hard that the look he was giving me wasn’t conspiratorial.
He was unreadable. As much as I felt I could trust him, I still kept one thing from him—that I thought she was in the castle dungeon.
If she was Varyn’s father’s prisoner, I didn’t want him to put two and two together.
That felt like information I could not share.
His expression finally softened. “I wouldn’t hold that against you. People are not their parents. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you told me. And I’m sorry for the end she met at my father’s hand.”
I wasn’t going to correct him that she hadn’t yet met her end. I believed too strongly that she was alive. And I believed the banshee that she was here, even if here wasn’t the Ashthorn dungeon specifically.
But it felt good to be honest with Varyn. I felt as if the weight of a thousand horses had been lifted off my chest.
Maybe nine hundred and ninety-nine horses… One was still sitting there with the information centered around the dungeon.
“We’ll raise a glass to your mother,” he said as he lifted his glass.
I raised mine, too, and then we both finished our wine to the last drop. Between the wine and the weightlessness of the truth, I was properly buzzed and judging by the prince’s increasingly rosy cheeks and glassy eyes, I was pretty sure he was in the same boat.
We got up from the table, dinner completely forgotten, and started walking—stumbling more like—around the rose garden, bumping shoulders every couple of steps. Well, my shoulder was bumping just above his elbow.
We stopped at a fountain large enough to swim in before he did just that with a boyish grin. But not before taking off his shoes and ripping off his coat and shirt. Gods, he was chiseled and gorgeous.
“Take that delightful dress off and get in here, Naci. I want to see that slip I know you’re wearing.”
I took a sharp breath in. Neither of us had brought it up yet. I forgot I was even wearing it by now, but I knew I wanted to know what seeing me in it did to him.
Emboldened by the wine, I took off my shoes, pulled the dress off, and stood before him in the purple silk and black lace slip. He looked at my body hungrily, which heated my cheeks…and my core, down low.
Instead of stepping into the fountain from the side and entering slowly, as was probably more ladylike, I decided to cannonball in, sending water everywhere, including into Varyn’s face.
When I emerged from underwater, which was just shallow enough for me to stand with only my head above water, I saw the grin still on his face, sharp canines just visible.
And then he got close. Really close.
Too close.
I got so nervous and so hot behind my ears.
He was near enough that I had to look up to see his face, and if I took a big breath, my chest would likely touch his. But I didn’t breathe at all.
“In my note, I told you I looked forward to seeing the purple on you. And while the dress was truly divine on you, I meant this little thing.”
A shiver ran through my body, starting at my core. But somewhere in my foggy brain, there was relief too. I had been open with him, and here he still was. Seeing me, laughing with me, and, oh gods, touching me…
His knuckles softly caressed my arm under the water.
And my core felt like molten gold, hot and thick.
“Would you like to know a secret?” he whispered, leaning down so his lips were nearly touching my ear. I could feel the hot breath behind his words.
“Yes,” I breathed. I didn’t recognize my voice, laden with desire. I think even the surrounding water stopped moving, holding its breath.
His lips were touching my ear now, every single syllable felt as he said, “Purple is beautiful on you, but the black lace is downright sinful.”
My thoughts were interrupted by a loud caw—Noxie. It broke the prince’s gaze from mine.
Damn him.
“He’s the prince, Naci. What are you doing?” he asked indignantly, landing on the top of an arch nearby.
“What are you doing here? This is private, Noxie. Go away!”
“I hope you know what you’re doing. Who his father is.”
“Of course I know! Leave me be!”
He took off again with another caw. The prince was annoyed but nonsuspicious. After all, why would a mortal girl have a crow following her around that she could talk to in her head?
With the moment ruined, I backed away and wrapped my arms around myself. I wanted so badly to lean into him and into this feeling, but no matter how I didn’t want to admit it, Noxie was right. I needed to be very sure of what I was doing before I did it.
Varyn smiled down at me. “I never did like birds.” He sighed. “It’s late. I should get you back to your room before Nella worries I’ve taken you captive.”
We got out of the fountain and wrung out our clothes as best we could. Too bad Varyn didn’t have fire or air magic to dry us off. Ice was utterly useless right now.
At least my dress and his shirt were dry.
We crept through the castle, hoping not to run into anyone when we were both wet and out very late, shooting furtive glances at one another.
When we passed the library I had seen on my tour with Bea, I asked the prince, “Could you get me into the library? I used to work in a bookshop. I’ve always loved books.”
“I think I can manage that,” he said, which lifted my heart after Noxie’s frustrating intervention.
When we got back to the laundry wing, he kissed my hand and said good night with a wink. That had become our thing.
I walked past the folding stations, noticing Nella had folded the laundry we had both neglected after lunch.
Bless her.
She was fast asleep when I got into our room. I slipped out of my wet clothes and into bed and replayed the night once again in my mind.
I could trust him. And he trusted me. No matter how cold Varyn’s ice was, I was already burning for him. But burns could leave scars.