Page 93 of Wicked Prince of Frost

Demon shit.

The pull had been strong. It should have been impossible to lose the trail. It was there, waiting for me to take it, yet it slipped away like dew under the sun’s warmth.

From this vantage point high above the valley, I can see most of Arum. Distant towns and cities with countless fae and humans. What will happen to them all if the Winter Dragon is loosed on them?

The fire raging within my chest is smothered by the oppressive dark of hopelessness.

I drop to my knees. Weary and defeated.

My arrogance will be the downfall. Over half of my power—wasted and used up in less than a day. Because I believed this would be the day I put an end to the curse.

Light footsteps crunch over the frosted ground.

Violet crouches at my side and reaches for my hand. I refuse to budge, so she clasps it where it rests on my knee.

“Impossible—it should not be able to move like this.” I’m forced to swallow down the bitter devastation or choke on it. I hang my head. “I lost it.”

A bitter wind kicks up, sweeping over the plains.

I expect Violet to offer hollow words, intended to encourage, that will do nothing to help. I am about to cut her off before she can open her mouth, but guilt silences me.

I cannot even accuse her of not understanding. Of all the people in this world, she more than anyone else, can understand.

“You need to rest,” Violet says. “Let’s ride again, without the paths this time.”

She stands and tugs on my arm. I let her pull me to my feet. Her cheeks are rosy from the cold, and even with her cloak wrapped tightly around her, she cannot suppress her shivering.

“You’re cold,” I say. Violet shakes her head, but I pull herinto me anyway, wrapping my arms around her. She practically melts against me as if trying to siphon my body heat the way I siphon power from her. “There is a town near here where we can stop to rest and warm ourselves.”

Separating, we turn toward the horse.

Just as I am about to help Violet into the saddle, Imugi’s unexpected shout stops me.

“Joon, you must return to the palace immediately!”

I whirl to see the demon glide through the air at incredible speed. What are they doing here—and alone?

“The Ministers will gather tomorrow with the king in your absence.”

“What is this about? What happened?”

“The only talk among palace staff is that no one knows.” Imugi twists in agitated knots as they speak, releasing puffs of frost from their nostrils. “It is suspicious.”

I look to Violet. She is not born of the frost as the fae of Arum are and will die if she gets too cold.

“I’ll be fine,” she says through lips that are too pale, as if she can hear my thoughts. Her hand alights on my forearm. “If Imugi came all this way during the day, then it must be urgent.” Violet’s fingers curl, squeezing gently.

I am loath to give up after coming so close to finding the last piece.

Yet, this cannot be ignored. Instinct tells me that the note and the silence following the demon attack are somehow connected to this unscheduled council meeting. The timing is too perfect to be coincidental.

“Very well.”

“We will keep searching,” Violet says as if sensing my inner turmoil. “Just as we did after the first time. And we found them twice after that.”

“If only it were that easy,” I scoff. “Time is a luxury we cannot afford when I’ve failed more than I’ve succeeded.”

Violet’s spine stiffens at the venom in my voice. Her jaw sets. “Your life is not the only one on the line.” She doesn’t move away, but I feel her withdrawing inward.