The Frozen Prince (The Beast Charmer #2) - Maxym M. Martineau Page 0,8

that needed to remain intact at all costs. I pulled my hand away and looked to the ceiling. “I’m happy with the life I have now. The one before Cruor was full of heartache. A lot of people I loved died.”

“I still want to know about it.” She snared my chin and forced me to meet her unyielding gaze. So much fire. My heart stilled as she ripped away my defenses and left me raw. “Why is it so hard to talk about?”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Because I don’t like who I was.”

Her answering smile was so unbelievably tender. “Noc, this life I have, here…” She gestured to the walls of Cruor before wrapping her hands in mine. “I wouldn’t have it unless you ended up here. Unless you went through everything you did. I love you now because of who you are, and you couldn’t be that person without your past.”

“But the damage I’ve done—”

“I will always see you, Noc. You, not the monster you think you are.”

I cupped her face in my hands as warmth bloomed in my chest. “I love you.”

Even so, I’d been selfish before. I’d tossed logic to the wayside to allow myself to feel, and it had nearly killed her. The curse might be gone, but Cruor’s Oath wasn’t. The bold etching of an onyx scythe taunted me from my inner wrist. One day, when this bounty was gone, when we had one less issue to deal with, then maybe I’d risk another challenge for us to face.

“I love you too.” Leena’s tired gaze slipped from my face to my wrist. She glared at the oath, but placed a gentle kiss on it just the same. “We’ll get rid of this.”

“We will.” I wanted to believe it. I needed to believe it.

Not a single member of my guild had ever denied the oath’s magic. We had no idea how long it would be until the ax came down. But if my past had taught me anything, it was that the blow would come. It was only a matter of when.

“Hey. Let’s get some sleep. We can talk later, but we will talk. Okay?”

Sighing, I slumped into the mattress and pulled her with me, tucking her to my chest. “I promise.”

Her answering hum purred against my heart. “Good.”

Peaceful silence stretched between us, and I stroked her hair as I stared at the dying candle flame. Lazy fingers dipped low to the space where the hem of her shirt met her waist, and my eyes grew heavy. Her steady breath was a lullaby that dulled my senses, and awareness trickled away. I almost didn’t hear the high-pitched screech of a monster calling from the forest, but it cut through Leena’s quiet breathing and drew me back from the shores of sleep. Slowly, I peeled open my eyes to find the balcony doors propped open, a faint breeze toying with the thick pleated curtains.

A disgruntled, sleep-filled mumble escaped from Leena’s lips. She must have heard the cry as well. Chuckling, I untangled myself and strolled across the bedroom to the parted curtains. The moon sat low over Kitska Forest, desperately trying to shed its cool ivory light on the undergrowth, but the dense branches of twisting trees stitched together to form an impenetrable barrier of gnarled extremities and fluttering leaves. A low howl broke through the reverie and chased a flock of birds high into the night.

“Noc?”

“Coming.” I shut the door and drew the curtains tight, sealing away the chilly air and the errant calls of monsters. As I turned my back to the balcony, my feet rooted to the floor in horror. Leena was standing at the foot of our bed, wild hair splayed about her shoulders. Her accusatory stare—wide and bloodshot—pinned me to the spot. Mouth ajar, she worked her lips as if to speak but came up empty.

She looked like death itself.

Panic lit a fire in my muscles, and I rushed toward her. “Leena? Leena!”

A wet gasp sputtered from her lips, and her hands shot to her paling neck. Blue fingers scratched and dug at paper-thin skin, creating a bloody necklace that dripped over her collarbones.

I pried her hands away, terrified for her. “Gods, stop it. Leena, what’s wrong?”

Fingerprint bruises formed in ghostly impressions along her neck of their own accord, and suddenly I was viscerally reminded of the first time we met. The feel of her weight suspended by my grip as she clawed for air. The way her eyes glassed