Page 94 of Wicked Prince of Frost

This is not her fault.

“I cannot promise my magic will cure your condition even if we break the curse,” I say quietly.

She remains silent for so long, I think she has no intention of responding.

At last, she says, “I know.” The muscles in her neck tighten. “But even if you fail, you will try until you succeed. All of Arum is counting on you—I’m counting on you. You’re not in this alone, so don’t you dare give up now.”

In this moment, I notice something in her that I never had before. Not naivety as I once thought, but inner strength. Unfailing hope and determination in the face of defeat.

I have had my obligation, fear, and the promise that all will be made right if I can only break the curse. They are the fuel to my motivation. I have always wanted to live, but my will has never been as strong as hers. She has nothing—nothing to seek, nothing to work toward with the knowledge that, once she finds it, she will have the one thing that will let her live. Only the belief that thesomethingexists.

Nothing to give her reason to hope.

And yet she does.

She is determined to fight tooth and nail for the smallest sliver of hope.

Violet has continually disarmed me since the first time I came face-to-face with her. I cannot fight her influence over me.

“There is no guarantee we will find it. However, I willadmit this situation is not entirely hopeless,” I concede. Not because I believe it, but because she makes me want to believe.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

VIOLET

“It’s notlike you to be so agreeable,” Imugi mutters.

The demon’s words are almost inaudible as the wind finds its strength. Either Joon doesn’t hear, or he chooses to ignore the demon as he climbs into the saddle in a single, elegant motion.

Again, I’m struck by how much he appears every inch a prince, from his innate grace and physical strength to his posture and overall demeanor.

A smug grin pulls at his mouth.

I duck my head to hide the blush trying to creep up my neck from being caught staring as I take his offered hand and let him pull me up in front of him.

Imugi glides to Joon and settles over his shoulders, nestling into the space between his neck and collar, with only the end of their long nose peeking out.

Even within fur-lined gloves, my fingers sting from the chill that has only worsened as the day stretched on. I was looking forward to warming up in town. More important than my disappointment, Joon needs to rest.

I’ve come to recognize the signs when his power is depleting. When we started out, his face radiated warmth from within. Now, he looks as though frost will form on his skin if he gets any colder.

Joon closes his eyes as he does when summoning one of the fae roads.

“Wait,” I say. Both his and the demon’s attention snap to me. “Siphon first. You’ve used a lot of power today.”

“She has a point,” Imugi says, surprising me when their voice lacks the usual bite.

Joon leans forward, taking my chin between his thumb and forefinger as he lowers his face. It’s a bit awkward with someone else within inches of us—even if they are a demon. Just as I think his lips will brush mine, a soft cerulean glow lights his irises.

He checks the frost bloom’s power within me, then pulls back, leaving me feeling oddly disappointed. I shouldn’t want the risk that comes with siphoning.

“Not yet.”

“Then take the main roads,” I say.

Joon shakes his head. “That would add half a day to our journey. We would have to ride through the Shadow Fields.”

“I will lend the horse my power,” Imugi says. “Conserve what you can. There’s no telling how much you’ll need for what lies ahead.”