Page 113 of Wicked Prince of Frost

“That, I can agree on.”

Iseul is enjoying her role. Perhaps a little too much. I am glad she was never in charge of my lessons. Only she would have been brave enough to be so unapologetically strict with me in a way no one else in all of Arum would dare.

As soon as Iseul’s back is to her, Violet flicks a glance my way and gives the demon another pat on the head. She snaps back to attention, feigning innocence just before Iseul turns back around.

This time, Violet’s movements are flawless in timing and execution. A small trill of pride fills me.

“If you continue to smile like that, I will have no choice but to have you checked for a head injury,” Imugi mutters. “It’s unsettling.”

Iseul claps once and says something I cannot quite hear. Whatever it is makes Violet’s face light up, only to fall in disappointment. They move to the far end and sit at a low-legged table, almost out of sight.

It is just as well. It is nearly time to meet with the council.

I step, nearly stumbling when the world tilts for half a heartbeat before righting itself again.

“What is it?” Imugi demands. They rise off my shoulder and hover before me. The demon’s eyes glow with a flash of power, scanning me.

“It was nothing more than a slight misstep,” I wave off their concern.

They grumble. “Perhaps you ought to siphon before the meeting.”

I shake my head. “There is no need. I have more than enough power for a while yet.”

Imugi remains where they are as I walk, only to be stopped when they say, “It’s been weeks since you last sensed it—perhaps you need more than before to sense the true locationfor this final piece? It has been missing longer than the others. It will only continue to weaken the longer it remains separated.”

My shoulders stiffen.

Violet is worn from the little amount of travel we’ve done searching for the final shard after the trial—both as an excuse to give her a respite from the near-daily tedium of lessons and a vain hope that it will call to me.

She pretends that all is well, trying to distract me with her flirtations, but she cannot hide the way her face is becoming gaunt or how the dark circles under her eyes have only deepened.

Even alternating between suppressing her episodes and my ceaseless need to draw on the dwindling power of the frost bloom has done nothing to reduce the toll it takes on her.

When I last siphoned four days ago, I felt the way her heart stuttered. The weakening beat…. I was never saving her, only slowing the inevitable. At most, I helped her retain control over her emotions by keeping her from feeling the effects until the episode subsided.

I am her curse, stealing the last of her life force, little by little, with every deadly kiss—every bit the monster they say I am.

Worse, because I whisper in her ear that I love her and that I am hers and hers alone, all the while dragging her closer into the cold, lifeless arms of the Otherworld.

I continue walking.

Any chance there is of saving her lies with breaking this demon damned curse.

Imugi catches up, gliding through the air beside me. “Each shard has been weaker and their calls shorter than the last—we knew these final ones would be the most difficult. It isthanks to Violet that you found the last two in a shorter span of time than with any of your other wives.” They pause before grudgingly adding, “I suppose she deserves a little credit.”

I peer at them from the corner of my eye. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you almost approve of her.”

They snort two white plumes of smoke from their nostrils. “I most certainly do not—she smiles too much. No one that unfortunate should be so disgustingly cheerful all the time.” They clear their throat. “But I will admit that she is useful.”

Our conversation drops as we pass through the gate to the Central Court. There is a bustle of activity as clusters of servants wait along the path between the Formal Hall and the Temple Tower.

I catch the hiss of whispers they fail to hide as they all part to let me pass.

“It’s him.”

“He’s too handsome to be as cruel as they say.”

“Did you see that scar?”