Page 85 of Wicked Prince of Frost

“One more thing.”

Mingi lifts his gaze to meet mine.

“I want Violet moved to the adjoining apartments by theend of the day. If someone comes after her again, then I want her as close to me as possible at all times. I won’t risk everything by taking any chances. Fill Iseul in on the details when you can, but for now, say nothing to Violet about my suspicions. She doesn’t need to constantly look over her shoulder. The added stress could take an unnecessary toll on her that could negatively affect the power of the frost bloom.”

Imugi takes cover between the tall collar of my outer coat and my neck as I aimlessly wander the palace grounds. I find myself halfway to the Southern Court before I bother to notice my surroundings. I turn and head in the direction of the Winter Garden.

“Nephew,” Uncle’s voice calls from behind, breaking through my thoughts.

I turn and bow. “Good afternoon, Uncle.” With no one else around, we address each other by our familial titles.

“I was hoping to see you today.” He smiles pleasantly, though he remains as guarded as ever. It is more kindness than I deserve. “What brings you out here?”

As if sensing I’ve yet to collect my scattered thoughts, Imugi prods the back of my neck and hisses, “The weather.”

“The—” I stop myself in time from speaking the obvious lie and quickly correct myself, “I wanted to get some air.”

I feel Imugi’s amused chuckle more than hear it.

The king’s gaze narrows, either from a flash of sunlight peeking out from behind a cloud or because he heard Imugi. It’s gone before I can be entirely sure.

Or perhaps it is because you took everything from him, and hestill chose to try to care for you anyway, a voice at the back of my mind whispers.

Even after all these years, I still feel like a child when I stand before him. The guilt is as heavy as it was the day I stood in the middle of the aftermath of my destruction.

I do not deserve to be free of it. My actions were unforgivable.

“I was about to walk through the garden. Would you like to join me?”

“I think I will. There is something I wanted to speak with you about.”

I defer to him, letting him choose the way through the open Central Court’s public outdoor garden. The wending paths are seemingly random while intersecting at the right spots to offer ideal views of the garden’s beauty.

We walk in silence along the stone path that follows the largest stream cutting through the grounds.

“Miss Hawthorn has been at the palace for some time now.”

“She has,” I agree.

“Why has she not been introduced to the court yet?”

Why indeed…

I will not make it another full year. I felt the truth of that in my bones even before I found Violet.

He has never shown interest in my previous wives until they had been around for nearly a full year. And by then, the power of the frost bloom had grown so weak I could no longer siphon enough to control the dragon. It would break free of its prison and freeze them shortly before or after they were presented.

It would be pointless, especially knowing someone within these walls wishes her harm.

My uncle may be one of the few I can trust, yet the thought of introducing her to my enemies who lie hiddenbehind pleasant smiles and operate under the cover of shadows has a thread of annoyance coiling through me.

“It is customary to wait a year. None of my wives were ever introduced early before,” I say dryly. “There is hardly a reason to start now.”

“Look around you, Nephew.” Uncle spreads his arms out wide. “The frost is gone more often than not, and sightings of the Winter Dragon have nearly halted altogether. Everything is different now.”

“Sheis… different.” The thought slips past my tongue without meaning to.

“Different? Different how? That is precisely what I mean,” he cuts me off. “We can all see as much, but you leave us in the dark. They deserve to know—Ideserve to know. We must begin searching ahead of time for another with the qualities she possesses that inspire such a drastic change.”