Page 46 of Wicked Prince of Frost

She gapes, then snaps her mouth shut with an audible clack of teeth. “Don’t youdareeven think about it,” she hisses.

“Does that frighten you?” I say, intentionally provoking her. Perhaps she will change her mind and ask to return.

“Of course it does.”

“It is not too late to take you back to the palace.”

“Why would I go back? You’ll protect me,” she says matter-of-factly, then sharply faces forward, her spine rigid. She saw through my ploy instantly.

I place a glamour over us, changing our clothes to common materials and designs, turning our eye colors to a dull gray, and our hair to pale shades of brown and blonde. Finishing off the disguise, I alter our facial features by erasing all unique marks and scars, thinning our lips, and adding wrinkles around our eyes and mouths. It settles over us like the ghost of an image only we can see past.

Neither of us speaks as we ride from the stables and through the palace’s main gate. Violet still hasn’t spoken or relaxed. Her silence continues as we make our way through the capital city.

It’s quiet in the early morning before most citizens have woken. The sun’s rays splash a myriad of colors across the sky, chasing the wild demons back into the shadows where they hide from the harsh light that weakens them.

There are few out and about to see us, and fewer still who even bother to glance our way. The glamour is a precaution I’m not willing to forgo.

Violet pulls her cloak a little tighter around herself, warding off the damp chill in the air. “Anyone would feel thesame to find out emotions are so easy to manipulate. But that’s not the reason I’m upset.”

“Then what is it?”

She peers over her shoulder. “What you said was as good as threatening to do it.”

“Not a threat.I simplystatedthat it would be easier,” I say, knowing the point is uselessly pedantic.

She frowns and lowers her gaze.

Demon shit.Frustration got the better of me, and I went too far. I cannot very well expect Violet to be willing to fulfill her end of the bargain if I frighten her.

“However, I suppose I can see why a human might take it that way…” I concede.

We reach the edge of the forest, and I close my eyes, focusing on our destination as I summon the fae paths. When I look again, the plants give way to a narrow, dirt-packed road. To her human eyes, it would appear no more magical than rounding a bend.

The horse’s hooves clomp over the packed earth in a steady rhythm, accompanied only by the chirp of birds waking, signaling the impending dawn.

“It is not as easy to do as it sounds,” I say after a few minutes. “The easiest way to explain it is that fae magic is made powerful with truths and weaker from lies. Forcing someone’s emotions to change is to force a lie upon them. Emotions can be manipulated, but only for an hour at most, and the victim will remember everything they said or did during that time.”

“I see.” Her tone, like her face, is expressionless.

I wait, wondering if she will say more, but she doesn’t.

“It wasn’t my intention to imply I would force my will upon you. It was thoughtless, and I went too far. I am truly sorry.”

Violet tilts her head, looking perplexed. “A Crown Prince apologizing to an ordinary human? I can’t tell if you are being genuine or if you said that because it’s what you think I need to hear.”

I narrow my eyes.

“Can you blame me?”

Instead of answering, I look to the road ahead and urge the horse into a run. Because the truth is, I don’t know. It could be either or something in between. We are both aware of my reputation.

We ride for an hour, Violet chatting, trying to strike up conversation… even naming my horse.

Star Runner. What a ridiculous name for a horse.

I slow the mare to a walk. Even with the fae paths, there is not always a direct route crossing great distances in no time.

“I would appreciate it if you would refrain from attempting to scare me in the future,” she says.