Kiss of Snow

7

Too anxious to sleep, I poked at the logs on the fire again, stirring up the heat. I almost wanted to open the door and step out into the corridor just to see Keane’s familiar face and know I wasn’t alone as I felt, except it was Caspar out there, and looking at him wouldn’t be the same. They wore the same colors in my honor, and I didn’t doubt Caspar would do a good job of defending me, but…

I didn’t think any further than that word.

Instead, I whirled away from the fire and walked to my wardrobe to find my nightgown. With the door open as I changed, I couldn’t see the rest of my room, but I heard the smallest of creaking sounds, like a log shifting in the grate, and a breeze stole around my ankles. Fear crept down my spine, along with the feeling I was not alone.

I stiffened before turning sharply. A man stood in front of the open window of my bedroom. He was dressed all in black, his face covered, and a hood falling forward that obscured even his eyes with shadow.

I caught my breath and took a step away from him. I nearly screamed, but it would be of no use. I wished the door wasn’t quite so sturdy, the walls not so thick. My room was essentially soundproof. However, the man didn’t attack me, which made me think he wished to speak.

“Show yourself,” I demanded.

He laughed, and the tone was languid and sinister all at once. His movements as he pulled down his hood and unwound a log black scarf from about his face were equally so.

“Lord…Malren?” It took me a second to recognize the cousin of King Raith. I’d met him once at a ball at King Raith’s castle, but I was so shocked to see Malren in my room late at night, dressed like a thief, I could hardly believe it. He was the kind of man you didn’t forget though, with a confident smile, arrogant blue eyes, and chiseled features.

I drew myself up, trying to look regal. “This is a most unusual way to visit our palace. Even in Talador.”

Malren didn’t seem to have a weapon, but I couldn’t be sure of that. Somehow I knew I needed to buy myself some time. I hoped he’d spent enough time as a nobleman, even if his heart had long since blackened, that he wouldn’t be able to resist a little civil conversation. Especially with someone who would soon be queen.

“To what do I owe this…” I pressed the pad of my forefinger to my lips, hoping someone had seen him enter my room. “Request for an audience?”

He rolled forward from the waist in an elaborate bow. “In a manner of speaking, Your Majesty, I suppose I would call it a request for an audience.”

Before I could speak again, he darted forward and spun me around so the back of my head rested against his shoulder. He pressed his palm to my forehead and the pinch of a sharp blade rested at my throat.

I sucked in a harsh breath and felt an answering trickle of warmth toward my collar bone at the small movement taking a breath had cost me. “What are you doing?”

“Scream, and you die,” his hot breath said at my ear.

“What do you want?”

“Make me your king,” he demanded.

“Marriage?” I couldn’t help but let out a short laugh. Everyone suddenly wanted me to be wed. The blade poked my neck again. “Surely you could come up with a more romantic proposal.”

“If you won’t marry me, then you will die,” he said, his grip on my arm tightening.

“An assassination?” I spoke the words through gritted teeth as I tried not to move again. The guard was just on the other side of my door. If only I could get to him somehow, or alert him that I was in danger. “You would truly kill the future queen of Talador in her own room in the dead of night? Why would you do such a thing?”

“I have my reasons.” But suddenly the blade seemed to lift away a little, and my breathing became freer. My words had made him hesitate. My frantic thoughts latched onto that one idea. He’d come here to kill me, and he’d hesitated.

I knew the negative power of hesitation, and I needed to capitalize on his. With a shaking hand, I drew out a rune he couldn’t see—one of the very few I’d let Rose show me. It was only a frost rune, and I couldn’t even be certain I’d cast it right, but I forced all of my will into it.

Suddenly Lord Malren could only mumble through lips I’d frozen shut. His arm stiffened against me, and I raised my hand and gently slid the knife from his grip before I maneuvered myself away from him. Only then could I let out the breath I’d been holding.

At that moment, Keane burst through the door, Caspar fast on his heels. They both stopped, their mouths open as they looked from me to the frozen man at my side.

“Lily!” Keane blurted out.

“Your Majesty, are you all right?” Caspar asked at the same time.

I couldn’t tear my gaze from the expression on Keane’s face. He seemed to be warring between horror and anger as his mouth tightened and his jaw tensed. He reached out as if to touch me, and then I realized his eyes were on the blood.

“Your neck,” he said, his voice hard.

I touched the shallow slice and winced. “It’s nothing to worry about right now. Not when we have a noble guest from Ilidan.” My voice barely shook as I indicated Malren, who could only move his eyes.

“Is he… Is he frozen?” Caspar widened his eyes and stepped forward, and my heart thudded.