Page 158 of Wicked Prince of Frost

King Eojin clasps my hands. “If Joon returns half the love you have for him, then you know he would not want you to abandon your own life.”

Tears burn my eyes.

I do miss my family. After all, I bargained with Joon to live and have them restored. They must wonder if I am even still alive at this point.

I don’t want to admit that he’s right. It feels like leaving him for dead.

“Do not fret. We will not stop searching. One way or another, we will find out what happened. I will send for you the moment we learn anything. You have my word.”

“Thank you.” I bow.

He nods, signaling that our meeting is over.

I bow at the waist again, then turn to go make my preparations to leave the winter fae lands behind.

STARS

Stars glitter against the endless night.

The kings and queens of the past gaze down on the world below, watching the world and the stories of the people unfold.

In a corner of endless night, a spark ignites as a star shimmers, finding its new home.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

VIOLET

Iseul squeezesme within an inch of my life. She holds the embrace until stars dance before my eyes. Tears spill down her cheeks when she finally pulls back.

“It’s going to be so boring without you,” she complains.

“I will miss you, too.” My own tears slip free. “But we can write and visit each other.”

Iseul sniffles and shrugs. “A poor substi—oh!” Her entire mood shifts mid-sentence. “I have something for you. Well, I suppose it’s for you and Bear.”

She pulls out a leather collar, crouching to fasten it around the demon’s neck.

Bear sits back on their haunches and tries to angle their head to see it better. A faint shimmer surrounds their body, adding a ghostly outline of a dog. I can see past it as I could when Joon cast his glamour over us.

“A glamour?”

“I commissioned it a while back, but it took a while to complete. Now, when people look at them, they’ll see a dog.” Iseul beams.

I throw my arms around her. “Thank you!”

Mingi clears his throat. Our goodbye is cut short with the reminder that he’s waiting to escort me to Firnhallow. The reality of the moment casts a shadow over our mood.

Iseul and I pull away.

“I’m sorry I can’t go with you. King Eojin asked me to stay.” A subtle blush colors her cheeks. “Now that things are in order, we finally have a chance to catch up.”

“I’m glad,” I say. “After everything that’s happened, I’m sure there’s a lot to say.”

“I’ll come visit you, I promise!”

“You are welcome anytime. All of you.”

Mingi sighs impatiently. I take that as my cue and pull myself onto Star Runner. She’s the only other horse besides Zazu Moon that I trust with my life.