Page 150 of Wicked Prince of Frost

There are notes of things I don’t recognize, and I am instantly curious. It isn’t the worst medicine I’ve taken, but it is a bit too strong to be considered pleasant. By the time I hand Iseul the empty bowl to inspect, my headache is gone, and I make a mental note to ask about it later.

I wait for Iseul to answer my question. When she doesn’t, I ask again, “Where is Joon?” I can’t keep the desperation from my voice.

It only increases my apprehension further when Iseul’s gaze darts around, as if she is looking for someone.

“Why won’t you tell me? Is he all right?”

She looks down at the bowl in her hands. “We should wait for Mingi.”

“Tell me what happened,” I snap.

Iseul sighs and finally meets my gaze. “How much do you remember?”

I force my shoulders to relax. It’s still difficult to believe.

Closing my eyes, I try to find clarity in my thoughts. “The king—” No, not the king. Not anymore. I look to Iseul for guidance, but she only shrugs as if it doesn’t matter what I callhim. So, I continue, each word coming slowly, “He cursed Joon. Somehow, he figured out the final shard was inside me—he was going to kill me, before Joon…”

My throat tightens. I shake my head.

This… this isn’t right.

Removing the shard should have killed me. I try to sort through the haze of memories, but everything is too unclear.

If Joon broke the curse, then… then what?

“How am I alive?” I’m not entirely sure if my question is for her, myself, or Joon, wherever he is. “Joon couldn’t break the curse without killing me,” I say slowly.

“Do you remember anything else?” Iseul prompts.

Again, I shake my head.

She sighs, pressing her lips together as she decides what and how she fills in the missing pieces for me. “He encased you within ice as he took the shard. He made it part of the curse, but…”

“But?” I prompt when she trails off.

“His ice is different than the dragon’s. It…” Iseul trails off and is silent for a moment before continuing, “That alone should have killed you.”

My weakened heart. The shard. The ice. The shadouk. So many things working against me, trying to end my life. It is no small miracle that I am alive.

My throat goes painfully dry as alarm presses in on my chest like a heavy weight. But the feeling is stunted by a shocking realization—the strong, negative emotion that would typically set off an episode feels different. No sharp pain or pressure clamps down on my heart, only anxiety.

“Mingi and I talked about it,” Iseul adds as if sensing my distress. “We think all those times he used his power to heal you when siphoning, somehow imprinted some of his power onto your soul. Enough that his magic couldn’t kill you.Depending on how much, it’s possible you could be immune to some glamours.”

I lack significant knowledge in the workings of magic, but the logic is sound enough to stifle some of my unease.

Considering I’m no longer injured, that must mean Joon freed me from the ice and healed meafterbreaking the curse.

Not being able to remember all the details leaves me theorizing in order to make sense of things, with no guarantee that I’m right about any of it.

“Then he is alive.” It’s not a question. It’s true. Ithasto be. Even if he’s hurt or trapped, I need to believe he is alive and well, trying to make his way to me.

Iseul swallows and licks her lips.

But… if that’s the case, where is he? Why is Iseul doing everything to avoid saying?

Another knock on the door interrupts our conversation. I scowl at whoever is on the other side as Iseul takes the opportunity to avoid telling me what I want to know.

A woman steps in and announces Mingi’s arrival.