Page 137 of Wicked Prince of Frost

With a curse, I gather my dwindling power—so much of it already used up—and wait for the right moment.

The king stretches his arms out, hands flexing into claws. Dark talons burst from his nails. Their tips glint with his own blood as they angle for my throat.

A heartbeat before we meet, I send the full force of my magic into him. A demon in the form of a dragon darts up, positioning themselves between him and my power. The magic crystallizes on impact, driving the demon into my uncle’s chest. They crash to the floor, locked together by the ice. I don’t spare a second for the loss of the only family member I had left.

Violet is all that matters.

I fall to my knees at her side and gather her into my arms. She curls into me.

“Y-you’re… real…” she says through raw, agony-riddled gasps.

Sending my power to soothe her comes without thought. I press my palm over her heart and let rivers of it glide through her veins and tendrils to wrap around her heart.

Violet’s brow relaxes.

I wait, watching closely to see if it worked.

She takes a breath, deeper, less pained than before. I press my palm to her chest once more.

I will use every scrap of power to heal her if necessary.

I cannot lose her.

Violet’s fingers wrap around my wrist, moving my hand away. She shakes her head. Her lips form the word “no,” buther voice is silent. The struggle to collect the energy is apparent on her face.

She swallows and licks her lips. “The last shard. It’s?—”

“We can get it together—as soon as I heal you.”

Again, she shakes her head.

The look in her eyes fills my insides with dread, pooling in my gut with the oozing, sickening weight of what she will say.

“My heart.”

“Let me heal it—” I cut off at yet another shake of her head.

“My episodes.” Violet taps her chest. “You must take it out.”

I do not understand—I do not want to, but she forces it upon me. Bile burns my throat. “I can’t—you know I can’t. It will kill you.”

Pushing her hand out of the way, I replace it with my own and prepare to heal her again.

“Won’t work… this time.”

“You don’t know that,” I snap.

Violet smiles sadly. She sees through my anger for what it can’t hide. “You must take it, or it will die.”

My head pounds. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Break the curse, Joon.” She erupts into a coughing fit, and when it passes, there is blood staining the corner of her mouth.

“You must siphon,” Imugi hisses. I hadn’t noticed when they arrived.

Bear leaps and swats at them, but Imugi dodges out of the way.

“No!” I grind out through clenched teeth.