Page 123 of Wicked Prince of Frost

Indecision wars within me, freezing my tongue and rooting my feet where I stand. I am torn between my feelings and his betrayal. Between wanting to run and wanting to stay.

“The dragon was last seen to the north, weaving erratically,” Imugi’s voice cuts through the tension. “The storm is following him toward the Maldan Ice Wall. Something is wrong.”

My heart lurches.

Worry squeezes my chest. Despite everything, I don’t want to leave without knowing if Joon’s all right.

I deserve to hear the truth from his lips as he looks me in the eye.

More than that, I don’twantto leave him.

Why? I am alone because of him.

But he has been alone from the beginning.

“I’m going,” I say firmly. The tightness in my chest eases.

Mingi scowls as if he wishes he could kill me with just a look, then he spins on his heel and stalks out.

I turn toward the wardrobe, this time with specific items in mind, and add them to the pile on the bed. I don’t bother going behind the changing curtain or into the other room.

Iseul’s eyes go wide when she sees me stripping. She rushes over to the door and closes it before rushing back to my side.

“Violet…” she pleads. She doesn’t bother trying to help me. Her silent protest.

I intentionally made it unclear so neither of them understood what I meant. But it still takes me until I am finished changing to build up the courage and find the words.

I pick up the remainder of the clothes I gathered and hand them to her.

Hesitantly, Iseul takes them, uncertain of my intentions.

It turns out, changing your mind once you’ve made a decision out of anger is every bit as hard as admitting that you’re wrong.

Caring about him—wanting to make sure he is all right and wanting to confront him about it all doesn’t erase the betrayal or anger I feel. It does, however, add layers of complication.

“I am going to get him. Will you come with me?”

Iseul brightens and grasps the bundle, eyes shining. “Thank you.”

We ride, following Mingi’s trail, racing the wind that threatens to cover it first. Bear sits at my back, under my cloak, clutching the belt I hooked onto the saddle specifically for them. The terrain is treacherous in places and will only get worse as we approach the storm.

Within a half hour, we spot Mingi in the distance and catch up to him within another few minutes, flanking him.

He glances at us in turn, face passive, then rides faster without a word. We match his pace easily.

It’s another hour before the Winter Dragon is visible through the wild flurries. The long, pale body twists and turns in the air, releasing roars of anger and frustration.

All three horses stop on their own, not wanting to get nearer. I dismount and carry Bear over to Iseul.

“Hold them for me?”

“What are you going to do?” she calls over the wind, but I’m already moving toward the storm.

“Stay back!” Mingi shouts at the same time. “You’ll—” hecuts himself off. The unspoken warning hangs in the air, loud and clear.“You’ll end up like the others.”

I hold up a hand. “It’s all right.”

I have no idea how true that is. I don’t even have a plan beyond following my gut about my earlier revelation.