Kiss of Snow

23

Keane burst through the same door I’d used, his sword drawn, his eyes wild, but he came to a sudden stop as he saw Rose at my side. Recovering himself, he bowed. “Your Majesties,” he said, his gaze firmly on the ground.

Rose stopped and gave him a smile. “Captain Keane, it’s good to see you.”

He lifted his head. “And you, Queen Rose. Forgive my rushed appearance, I was just—”

Rose laughed and cut him off. “You were just chasing Lily.”

Keane nodded before taking his usual place behind me, as we walked around the castle toward the main doors.

“What are you doing here, Rose?” I asked. “I’m happy to see you, but we weren’t expecting you.”

Rose leaned toward me again like she was about to share a secret. “I’m here to help you learn to use your powers.”

“You’re what?” I turned toward her, shock obvious in my terse whisper.

But Rose remained calm. Serene, almost, as she rubbed her hand over her stomach, even though there was no visible bump yet. Then she enunciated very word very clearly. “I said I’ve come to teach you how to use your magic.”

“I heard what you said.” I shook my head. “I just don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Behind us, Keane’s boots beat out a steady rhythm against the cobbles, and I fought not to turn to see what he thought of Rose’s idea.

“I understand,” Rose said. “I know learning to control your powers is scary—”

“You understand?” I scoffed at the very idea. “You were the one sneaking off into the woods outside the castle walls to practice your runes, defying Father and his laws to teach yourself magic inside Talador.”

“Was I wrong to do so?” The words were mild, but her question was pointed.

I sighed, unable to answer. Magic had saved her life, her marriage, and her husband’s kingdom. She hadn’t been wrong to learn her magic, yet the law was different here, so I couldn’t bring myself to admit she’d been right.

“It’s time you learn to defend yourself. Especially now with these attacks. You can’t hide here forever.” She waved her arm to indicate surroundings.

I pressed my lips together in a tight line. “We don’t need to discuss this now. You’ve only just arrived here, and I’m sure we have many other things to talk about.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “You can’t put it off for very much longer.”

“Come into the castle,” I said firmly, as the guard in front of the main doors swung one of them open. It creaked just as painfully as it had on our arrival, and the split wood looked worse the more often I saw it. I sighed, although it really was the least of my worries.

Rose smoothed her hand over my forearm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to come here and add to your burdens.

“It’s not you. I simply have a lot on my mind.” I led her toward the dining room, where the waiting footman poured us each a cup of sweet morning tea. “And how did you know about the attacks? I wrote you a letter, but I never sent it.”

Rose grinned, but her gaze glittered. “How do you think?”

“Dahlia,” I said. “Of course. Did she send you?”

My sister shrugged. “It was obvious I needed to come after I received Dahlia’s message. I’d like to hear what happened from you though.”

“There isn’t much to tell,” I started.

Keane cleared his throat from his position by the door, and Rose glanced at him over my shoulder.

“Are you sure about that?” Her gaze narrowed on me, suddenly sharp and focused.

I took a sip of tea. “Keane and I were set upon by shadowy villains outside the wall, but Keane protected me. And when Lord Malren sneaked into my bedroom to assassinate me, I…”

“Yes?” Rose prompted, leaning forward.

“I froze him,” I whispered, shame over using my magic flaring inside me.

“It’s far less than he deserves. You wait until I tell Raith that Malren attempted to end your life.” Her eyes blazed, their amber color burning like flame. One of her affinities was fire, after all.

“I think he’s safely in a cell at Winton Castle now,” I assured her. “He can’t do me any harm from there, and I have…other things to occupy me.”

“Seven other things,” Rose said innocently before she taking a delicate sip of tea.

I tapped my fingernails against the old porcelain cup, drumming out a rhythm against the faded floral design. “Yes, there are seven. Supposedly all handpicked by Dahlia but her taste is…a little questionable these days.”

“What? You mean she hasn’t provided you a Garon of your very own?” Rose’s eyes grew wide with humor and she glanced at Keane again.

“No.” The word died in my throat, and suddenly all I could hear was the shushing of the stiff fabric of Keane’s uniform as he became uncharacteristically fidgety.

“Tell me about these suitors.”

“I don’t think I can marry any of them,” I confessed in a low voice.

Rose leaned back and rested her hands in her lap. “What’s the alternative, though?”

“There isn’t one. The stronger the political alliance I make now, the better the future for Talador.” A flare of irritation flickered through me, even as I said the words. My entire upbringing had been politics and diplomacy. Surely my marriage didn’t need to start the same way?

“Who have you spent time with?” my sister asked.

“Grumpy, Sleepy, and Doc so far.” I ticked them off on my fingers as I listed them.

Rose’s eyebrows lifted higher, until they were almost in her hairline. “Who?”

I waved a hand. “The men. I gave them all nicknames so I would remember them correctly. Lord Theund is far too old and very grumpy. He barely spoke two words to me yesterday. Lord Covack spends most of his time asleep, it seems, and Lord Danzin has an almost endearing interest in herbs and potions to cure ailments. But none of them are what I would choose for myself.”