Page 47 of Wicked Prince of Frost

I scoff.

“What?” The word is sharp on her tongue.

“You insist on accompanying me, knowing nothing of what I must do. I will oblige your request. However, be aware that there will be things outside my control that will frighten you.”

Violet’s hand alights on my forearm, drawing my gaze to hers. “I do not expect to avoid every terrible thing in the world.” She is thoughtful for a moment. “I am far more afraid of letting them control me, keeping me locked away until I barely exist anymore—I want to live my life. All I ask is that you don’t add to them.”

I swallow.

Any response I might have had dissipates. The frost bloom’s power pulses from the earth in a sudden rush through my veins as we approach the copse where it grows.

The clearing is barely more than a gap between trees. I dismount. The cold ground crunches beneath my boots. Violet leaps down after me, then stumbles on stiff legs. I reach out to steady her.

“Oops,” Violet says with a laugh. Color stains her cheeks as she straightens. “I guess my legs fell asleep. That’s a bit embarrassing.”

This human is perplexing. To look at her now, smiling as if she doesn’t have a care in the world, it would be impossible to guess she suffers from the strange affliction plaguing her.

She tilts her head. “Are we resting?”

“No, we’re here,” I say, striding toward the plant.

Hurried footsteps race to catch up to me. “The thing you wanted to check was in the middle of a forest?”

The flower is nestled in the crook of a tree’s roots. I crouch to examine the frost bloom. Violet stands off to the side, brow furrowed as she glances around.

Fuck.

I don’t realize she is beside me until she rests a hand on my forearm. I am not accustomed to others touching me, let alone so casually.

“This is…” Violet’s voice trails off.

“Another frost bloom.” Then, before she can ask the thousand questions that are no doubt waiting to jump off the tip of her tongue, I add, “I hoped it would be closer to maturity.”

Her fingers gently curl into my sleeve. “How much longer?”

I shake my head. “Too long to be of use.”

“I’m sorry,” she says, barely more than a whisper. “I ruined things for you… I wouldn’t have—” All the cheer from moments ago has drained away, leaving her looking despondent. It doesn’t suit her.

I rise and pull her with me. “How could you have known?”

“Now you’re stuck with me.” Violet blinks up at me with glassy eyes.

She is incapable of hiding her emotions. That will be dangerous if anyone realizes how easy it is to read her.

Perhaps bringing her with me is better after all.

We make our way back to the horse. I offer to help her up, but she ignores it, watching me for a long moment.

“We should go.” I motion for her to take my hand.

“You wanted to see if it was ready because of what happened last night, didn’t you?” she asks slowly.

A scratching sound, faint and unusual for this area of forest, catches my attention. I twitch an ear, listening closer.

“What is—” she starts, but I am faster.

I flick my wrist, sending a spark of power toward her. The magic forcefully snaps her mouth shut with a clack of teeth, sealing her lips. Without control over her lower face, she can only blink rapidly. I release the magic hold the moment I realize what I did.