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“Rhistel still hasn’t completely mastered his magic, so he’s supposed to wear them everywhere,” Vale said. “I’ll kill him for removing them. For doing that to you.”

I did my best to ignore how the protective comment made my heart stutter. Vale and I couldn’t happen, no matter how much my body and heart wanted it.

“Ice spiders are the Riis family animal,” I murmured.

Vale nodded. “There’s a reason Lord Riis took thatanimal as his own. He has the power to negate others’ magics. Just like the ice spider.”

“Oh,” I breathed. That would be powerful indeed.

“How often has the heir used his magic?” Filip asked hesitantly.

I could tell that he hated having this conversation. The squire probably considered it disrespectful to Vale. Filip was so loyal that sometimes it made my heart ache.

“Not for many turns.” Vale cleared his throat. “At first, he used it when he could get away with it. That’s one of the reasons we grew apart. I couldn’t abide by his choices. But once”—he let out a pained breath—“Father caught him and had Sir Lars beat him. It was the only time Father has ever done so to any of us.”

Rhistel was a whisperer and whisperers were like vampires in the sense that they read minds and controlled minds. I shuddered with revulsion. No one should ever be able to do that.

“Unless you two have more questions, I need to go speak with my brother,” Vale said when Filip and I fell silent. “Alone.”

“No,” I retorted firmly. “Filip knocked him over the head to get me out of there. Rhistel didn’t see him coming, and no one saw us leave the library. But if you go looking for revenge, he’ll ask questions. That puts Filip at great risk.”

Filip squirmed. To save me, he’d acted on impulse. But he’d only been there in the first place because of Vale’s orders. He would not be harmed for that.

“It might kill you to do so, Vale, but youhave to pretend like this never happened. Let Rhistel wonder what happened too. How I got away.”

Vale’s eyes darkened.

“You must,” I insisted. “No one in this room needs more danger aimed at them.”

A muscle fluttered in Vale’s jaw as he nodded. “Fine. I’ll do nothing, but if he tries to control you again, I can’t promise I’ll stay quiet a second time.”

Chapter 34

NEVE

For the fifth time, I reread the opening line of the chapter before sighing, closing the book, and setting it in my lap.

When I was a slave, reading was always my escape; the only thing I did for myself that I loved. But since I’d come to the Winter Court, reading hadn’t been able to occupy my mind.

Next to me, Vale shifted, deep in slumber. Though I still found it uncomfortable being next to him, asking to sleep in another room would be unwise. Gossip about the newlyweds’ bedroom arrangements would spread around the court like wildfire. Additionally, not sleeping in the suite would leave me less protected.

Thankfully, Vale was a prince of honor, and since I’d distanced myself, he hadn’t tried to initiate anything. When it was time to sleep, he merely slipped into the bed, his back to me, and fell asleep.

A murmur interrupted my inner turmoil, and a scowlformed on Vale’s handsome face. I reached for him, stopping right before my hand landed on his head.

My instinct was to soothe him, to stroke his long black hair and whisper that it would all be fine.

A lie, but sometimes we did that for those we cared for.

My heart clenched. How could the Fates be so cruel? They’d twisted me together with Vale, ensured our paths intertwined, and bound us with an attraction unlike any I’d felt with another. Only after we’d allowed ourselves to act on that attraction and be vulnerable with one another, had they revealed the truth.

Worse, I couldn’t tell Vale why I’d backed off. Why I’d gone from seducing him to a fae made of ice.

I hated myself. I almost wished I’d never learned the truth because at least while I was still with him, I could be happy.

Twisting, I gazed upon him. Would he be able to stay silent when he next saw Rhistel? Too much was on the line for Vale not to. Especially if Rhistel used his powers on his brother and saw that Filip and I knew of his magic.

Would Rhistel do such a thing? I wasn’t sure exactly what happened when Rhistel first tested his magic on Vale all those turns ago. What had he made Vale do? Say? See?