Hearts Under Ice - CS Patra Page 0,92

leader stopped his group. “She’s not our enemy. She wants her boyfriend back. That doesn’t sound unreasonable.” He then turned to Olivia. “Hello, miss. I apologize for the attack. I’ve heard all about you and that boyfriend you’re trying to save. News gets around here pretty fast. Contrary to what you might have heard, we are not responsible for his abduction. Believe me when I say that we meant him no harm. We mean you no harm, either.”

“You just attacked me and tied me up! I can’t see where the ‘no harm’ part comes in.” Olivia knew it was a horrible decision to be sarcastic, but she couldn’t help it. These people were not her friends. Friends did not tie her up and frighten her this way.

“You do talk too much, but I understand why. You’re worried about the one you love, and you have a million questions.” He went on, loading her onto the back of his sleigh. “I’m sorry you lost your horses and things, but we can take care of you. We know where he is. We need you for one small thing, and then you both will be allowed to walk away, free and clear. Do you know what the Brotherhood of Iced Blood stands for?”

“All I’ve heard is that you stand for peace and freedom,” she murmured. She didn’t want to mention that they were dangerous. She had heard enough about their attacks and didn’t want to think about what they could do to her. For now, all she wanted was to be decent with them. She had to keep them talking, as knowledge was her only source of power now.

“That’s exactly right. Peace and freedom are not easy things to come across. We formed our group years ago after being under the Queen’s rule for too many years. Have you seen all of the snowstorms? People cannot live like this. They can’t be made to suffer while some woman has a temper tantrum every other hour. There are days when we can’t leave our homes at all because she buries us in so much snow. She might appear fragile, but she is the real enemy here. She is the one who is holding him hostage, girl. She wants to use him, not us.”

“What?” Olivia blinked, not sure what to believe. The other three assailants were cutting her ropes, and she could now run away. She didn’t know if it was the snow or her fear, but she felt glued in place. There was something about these people that was keeping her from going anywhere. “Are you—”

“I know it’s a lot to take in. Your friends also believe the Queen, but they do not know who she really is. They don’t know the kind of woman that they are toying with. If you were to go to her castles, you’d never be able to find the one you love. Only one castle stands out.”

“That’s because there’s something inside it,” Olivia said. She didn’t want to side with them, but she had no choice. All of a sudden, running away without telling anyone didn’t sound like such a great idea. She had no way of contacting them now, so her only option would be to follow the Brotherhood wherever they went.

“That’s right. But we’ve never figured out what it was because no one gets a chance to go inside. We’ve tried to break in, but that didn’t work.” The leader held out his hand to her, but she refused to take it. “I realize that you are wary of us, but I promise that I’m not trying to hurt you. You are actually the key protecting these worlds.”

“I still don’t understand how I’m the key to anything,” she said. “Who are you anyway? All I know is that you’re supposed to be terrorists.”

“Terrorists? I prefer the terms freedom fighter or peace activist.” He said, finally helping her up. She didn’t know why, but she was starting to believe him. “The Queen is not your friend here. We told her not to kidnap your boyfriend. After all, he isn’t the one that we want. Then she went behind our backs and took him for her own gain.”

“For her own gain?” Olivia repeated. So many thoughts were moving around in her head. “I have no idea what to believe now.”

“You can believe anything you want, but you’re stuck with us. It’s either come with us to the castles now or freeze out here, alone. Your friends won’t be