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A rctic

The head of Council removes his mask and places it on the podium before him. His gaze moves to mine for a moment before sweeping across the gathered crowd, his jaw tensing.

Just do it.

Say it already, I will him, but instead, the male sucks in a deep breath and swallows thickly, looking down for a few long moments. Frost shuffles from one foot to the other before catching himself and tensing up.

The whole room seems to pause. Everyone holds their breath. An eerie silence befalls the court.

The head of Council clears his throat. It’s maddening. I wish he would just get it over with already.

“It is the decision of the Council that Prince Ice be put to death by—”

The whole court erupts, drowning out what he is saying. Many of the amassed crowd cheer at the outcome of the trial.

“No!” Ice yells above the din. “You can’t do that.” My brother turns to me. “They can’t do that. They can’t!” he screams at the top of his voice. “I am a royal. I am, therefore, exempt. I shouldn’t even be jailed, let alone be put to death. This is preposterous,” he yells. “The Council can kiss my—”

The head of the Council attempts to restore order by bashing a mallet onto the podium surface.

It doesn’t work. If anything, the screams and shouts grow even louder, drowning out Ice’s outraged shouts.

The court is full to the brim. There is a huge crowd assembled outside, as well.

Ice keeps shouting but I ignore him, turning away. The head of Council requests that Ice be returned to his cell. It takes several males to wrestle him from the room. My guards surround us and usher me through a side door and into the safety of the castle. The noise instantly quietens as the door is shut and locked. The guards spread out, giving us our space.

Frost puts his back to the wood and sighs. “I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be.”

“It couldn’t have ended any other way,” my head of security, Steel, says. “Ice deserves everything coming to him.”

“Absolutely.” Frost nods. “You’re right, Steel. Our brother crossed a line. He crossed several lines. Are you okay?” He touches the side of my arm.

“No, you?” I ask him back.

Frost is Ice’s twin. They’re identical and yet so damned different in all the ways that count.

“No, but I’m glad that bastard is going to die. I’m glad we finally know the truth about what happened to Anya. Even if we’re still in the dark on many things. Soon, we will have closure,” Frost says.

“Yes and no. We won’t have complete closure unless the bastard talks,” I push out. “We’ve barely scratched the surface. There’s so much he isn’t telling us.”

“We won’t have very long,” Steel says. “A couple of weeks, at best. Once the Council rules, it’s final, and the sentence is carried out almost immediately. They won’t allow for too many delays.”

Steel’s eyes are blazing. His whole body is bristling, muscles bunched and ready. He won’t say it, but I know he’s thrilled with the outcome. He would tear my brother limb from limb if he could, and I can’t say that I would stop him or blame him. He is just as much a victim in all this as we are.

“So, we make him talk. That’s all there is to it,” I say. “I want to be there when his sentence is carried out,” I add in a soft voice that is filled with rage. “When his head is cleaved from his shoulders. I want to watch him die.”

“Me, too,” Frost announces. “I still can’t believe that he was behind the coup, behind your assassination attempt.” He shakes his head. “He’s always been a prick, but to stoop so low. I can’t believe that he would be so shocked by the outcome. Did Ice really think he would be pardoned? That we would just let him walk free simply because of his lineage?”

“He’s always been arrogant,” I say, folding my arms. “Why change now?”

“I’m going to petition to be the one who carries out the sentence. Watching him die won’t be enough for me.” Steel grinds his teeth as he clenches his jaw.

“Your request will be denied,” I tell him. “You are personally involved in the whole business. I wouldn’t waste my time.”

Steel’s eyes narrow. He gives a nod. “You’re probably right. I want a front-row seat next to the two of you.”

My mind goes back to that dreadful night. The night she died in my arms. My beautiful mate. My Anya.

I can still see the fear in her eyes as she took her last breaths. I can still feel her blood warm against my skin as it drained from her body. I can hear her heart racing, growing thready and weak before giving in just moments later.

Those bullets were meant for me. I should have died that night. Instead, I lost everything, and all because of my brother’s greed for the crown.

“Arctic,” Frost says. “Are you okay? Do you feel unwell?”

My eyes focus on my brother, whose face is a mask of concern.

“I’m fine.” I shake off the memories and pull my shoulders back. “Better than I have been in a long time.”

Frost nods once. I can tell that he doesn’t quite believe me.

“I want to address my people within the next few days. I will—”

“Is that wise, Your Majesty?” Steel asks. “Don’t think because Ice is behind bars that those plotting against you have stopped with their efforts to take you down because they haven’t. Ice wasn’t operating alone.”

I snort. “Hiding away is not an option for me, either. My people need to see me as a capable leader, which means that I need to address them directly. With all the rumors doing the rounds, it’s important to calm any potential unrest during this time of transition. They need to know of our plans.”

“Yes, but—” Steel starts to say.

I hold up a hand. “I’ve made up my mind. I will address them tomorrow. I am in capable hands.” I look Steel in the eye. After all that happened, he still doesn’t quite trust himself. He still feels responsible for the death of my mate. I blamed him for many years, but it ultimately wasn’t his fault. He never sent the assassin who killed Anya. His only crime was to trust the wrong female.

“Have you given my offer any more thought?” I ask him.

“I have.” He nods. “It’s all I’ve been able to think about.” He smiles for a moment. “I’m truly grateful for the offer, but I still have to decline.”

“Most males would give their right arm for such a promotion,” Frost says. “You would be a general. It’s a fantastic opportunity.”

“You’d have the full running of the security division,” I tell him because I know full well why he wants to turn it down.

“Yes, but that wouldn’t be my only responsibility.” Steel swallows thickly. “I want to be the one accountable for your safety. I have a—”

“Don’t start with how you still need to make amends because you don’t. You’ve paid in full and then some.”

“It’ll never be enough, Arctic.” He catches himself. We agreed that in public, he would address me formally even though we are friends. “Your Majesty,” he quickly corrects.

“I don’t want you to have regrets, that’s all. You might regret turning this down.”

He laughs. “It’s too late for that. I already have major regrets. This decision won’t be one of them. You won’t change my mind.”

“I wish you would let it go. That you would give yourself a break and enjoy life.”

“I am enjoying my life.” He smiles, and his whole face lights up. “I’m right where I want to be.”

“That right there is the face of a male in love.” Frost smiles.

Steel chuckles. “I can’t deny it. Jen is…she’s…” He huffs out a breath, his eyes glinting. “She’s everything.”

“I heard she’s back on the Mainland?” Frost says, lifting his brows.

“Yes, but it’s to help her mother and brother to pack up. They’re finally coming to live here.”

“That’s great,” Frost says.

“But only in a couple of weeks after the medical team arrives. I miss her already, and she’s only just left.” He runs a hand through his hair, his eyes clouding for a moment. “I’m going to ask her to marry me when she returns to Mistveil.” His eyes brighten right back up.

“That’s great news.” I smile. It’s good to see Steel happy. To see him so in love. Jen is a special lady. Makes my heart clench at all I am missing out on.

“I heard that you’re one of the candidates up to find a mate among the Tributes,” Steel says.

“Who told you that?” I bark.

“You said it yourself; the rumors are making their rounds.” Steel lifts a brow. “From your reaction, I would say it’s true and that you don’t like it.”

“You would be right!” I say in a more even tone. “I think it’s a terrible idea. I put my name forward, but I made a mistake. I’m trying to get out of it. The time isn’t right. Perhaps next year.”

Frost chuckles. “The time would never be right, brother. Admit it already. There would always be something standing in your way. Besides, the Council won’t allow you to back out, so you may as well accept your fate,” Frost says. His eyes are filled with pity. “It’s time you took a new mate.”

“I don’t want a new mate.” The words leave me in a whisper. I had intended to shout them to make my point, but it didn’t happen. Frost is right; the Council won’t allow me to back out.

“I know that. We all understand why you feel that way, but as the king, it is your duty to—”

“Yes, yes…I know my duties all too well. The Council drills them into me every chance they get.”

“It’s been years, Arctic,” Frost goes on.

“Not nearly long enough. It will never be long enough,” I say under my breath.

Frost sighs. “You need to try. Keep your name on the list and meet the females. Try, please… Do it for your people. They will more readily accept the pilot program if you do.”

I nod. “Fine, I will meet them, but I will not be forced into choosing a mate, and that is final.”

Except I know deep down that I probably won’t have much of a choice. My Council is going to force my hand. I sigh. I’ll pick someone I get along with. Someone who would make a good mother. As long as the female in question understands that I will never be able to give more of myself, we will be fine and dandy.