Page 102 of Wicked Prince of Frost

No… not something.

Someone.

Joon.

His breaths are slow and even, as he remains in the clutches of sleep. Lying like this feels almost sinfully decadent. But I know I can’t stay here. If I do, I’ll never want to move. I risk losing myself entirely.

As carefully as I can without waking him, I inch away.

I barely make it halfway out from under the blanket we share when his arm tightens and pulls me back, the other joining to trap me in place.

“Where are you going?” he murmurs into my hair.

I am hisseventhwife,I remind myself.

“I need… some air.”

Joon cups my jaw in his hands and looks at me. “Something is wrong. What is it?”

“I…” I don’t know what to say. The technical words are easy enough, but they clot in my throat, refusing to come out.

They are too bold. Too greedy.

What right do I have to demand that I should mean something to him? You can’t have it both ways, Violet.

I can’t selfishly take what I want regardless of his own wants.

“It’s nothing.” I shake my head. “I should check to see if Imugi is back.”

I sit up. Joon catches my wrist, stopping me.

“Why won’t you tell me?” He waits for me to respond. The moment stretches out, the silence growing heavier by the second. Eventually, he lets his grip fall away.

I rise and walk over to the chair to check my clothes. They are warm and dry.

“You are upset with me.” Joon clears his throat. The next time he speaks, he is right behind me. “I crossed the line, and for that, I am sorry.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and swallow thickly. Hearing Joon apologize for something I liked—something I wanted—makes it worse.

“Don’t do that. Don’t apologize.” I whirl on him. He catches me by the shoulders to keep me from crashing into him. I still haven’t opened my eyes. “I am not ashamed, I just…”

His posture stiffens. “I would have stopped?—”

I can’t stand the hurt in his voice. “It’s nothing you did. I don’t regret it?—”

Joon’s arms wrap around me, crushing me to him. “Violet, I cannot fix this if I do not understand. If not that, then what?”

I inhale a deep breath, then slowly release it. “When this is over… it will be hard enough to say goodbye, and impossible to forget you.”

For several seconds, Joon barely even breathes. “Do you want to forget me?”

I shake my head.

“But you think I will forget you?”

I nod slowly. “I don’t want to be another…” I can’t finish. It took the last of my courage to say that much.

His breath leaves him in a long exhale. “I see.”