Page 67 of Wicked Prince of Frost

I study the prince. There are still fathomless depths to him that remain a mystery. He is flawed just like everyone else, temperamental, and walled off, but even so, I have a hard time believing he would keep his dead wives as trophies.

I suppress a shudder at the grim image.

At one time, I might have believed Prince Joon capable of something so morbid and cold. But not now.

It makes me wonder if the king has never made an effort to know the prince or, like most others, if he simply took everything he’s ever said or done at face value.

“Are you angry with me?” I ask. “I didn’t know how?—”

Joon’s eyes soften. “You did nothing wrong. I was worried when Iseul said you were not in your rooms when she came for you.” His eyes cut to glare back the way we came.

“I’m sorry…” I trail off, still not able to recall. “I am not usually so forgetful.”

A smirk spreads over his mouth. “I am taking you into town.” Prince Joon takes my hand and pulls me along.

My brow furrows. That’s definitely something I would remember.

Before we leave the cover of the central palace awning, Joon pauses and lets his fingers slide away, releasing me. “It’s not Lummi, but I thought you might like to see what the capital has to offer. When this is over, and we have time, I can take you back to that bookstore, if you would like.”

I blink. “How…?”

“It was hard to miss the way you nearly toppled both of us off the horse as we passed.” He begins walking again.

I smile at his back and follow.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

JOON

I slipinto the simple riding jacket I borrowed from Mingi.

In the beginning, I had the strength to collect most of the shards on my own. But with each one found, the next took more of my power to track down.

When I became too weak, there was no other choice but to use the frost bloom and enlist the aid of human brides as vessels.

With their help, I managed to find several more, though each success was few and far between. Hopelessness weighed on me, trapping me in a pit of despair until I had all but given up. My sixth wife resulted in nothing but failure after failure.

As long as I am careful with the use of my magic, the power I siphon from Violet lasts longer than any other vessel.

There is only a single shard remaining before the mirror is complete.

I feel lighter than I ever have before. The burden of this curse does not seem so heavy now. Mingi and Iseul havealways been by my side, always ready to support me, but were never able to help.

For the first time, I allow myself to hope.

And it is because of Violet.

Perhaps it is because she is more willing.

“If I had known any of this, I would have helped you without bargains or threats.”

She alone has expressed a desire to help and outright demanded to know more about this situation… and me.

Imugi passes through the wall like fog. “The presence has returned,” the demon says, gliding through the air in agitated patterns.

“You say it is the same one as before?”

As if on cue, there’s a tap against the window drawing my attention—the blur of a dark shape darts out of view.