Princess of Frost - Mila Young Page 0,22
all those princesses who come to you, isn't it?"
My chest clenches as her words slice too close to the truth, to the terror inside that maybe I'm incapable of loving anyone. I didn’t feel a single emotion for those women because I'm beyond repair, having grown up in a palace where not even my parents hugged me. They never once told me they loved me. I accepted that long ago... so then why does unease twist in my gut now?
Licia watches me as the corners of her mouth twitch up. She knows she’s gotten under my skin and is loving every fucking moment of it.
I hold her tighter, and we move faster through the snow to the rear of the property where trees cover the ground beyond the vegetable gardens.
Snow falls heavily, and iciness seeps through my clothes.
We reach the back of the wall, where two guards stand tall near the single gate. They stiffen on my approach, and I look down at Licia. Her teeth are chattering, and her lips are blue from cold. Where we're going, I don't need her freezing, so I unbutton my coat and slide it down my arms.
"Put this on,” I demand.
She stares at me like I've grown horns but forces herself to push her arms through the sleeves and draws the oversized coat around her chest. It falls to her ankles with a lot of excess fabric.
I turn to the gate to find one of the men handing me his long black coat, and his action takes me off guard.
"Our shift is almost over," he says. "You'll need it, Your Highness."
I nod and accept his offer, then slip it on. Grabbing Licia's arm, I haul her outside past the gate where night closes in around us and steals all warmth and light. If she tries anything, she’ll be surprised by how powerful I truly am.
7
Licia
The freezing night sinks its fangs into me, and I hug myself with Eryk's coat. It’s filled with his musky, masculine scent with a hint of fresh soap. I melt into his coat, inhaling him, adoring the way it sends tingles down my spine. I should hate his aroma, but instead, I'm bathing in it like my body and mind refuse to get along on the subject of the prince.
He's my enemy and wants to keep me as his slave. Both are points against him, according to my brain.
But then my body thrums with a desire I've never experienced before... it's addictive and seductive, and I press my nose to the collar and inhale deeply. My knees weaken as though his smell was designed specifically to make me swoon
He tugs me by an arm, his steps fast. I can't even see what's around us, though he moves with swiftness and direction like he can see in the dark. I hate not knowing where he’s taking me, loathe feeling so clueless.
I dig my heels into the dirt, pulling against his grip. "Tell me where we’re going." I slam my free hand into his arm when he swings back around toward me.
Shadows conceal his expression, but the glint in his eyes looks predatory enough to make me catch my breath. His hand snatches my shoulder, and he drives me backward until I hit a tree. I press my spine into the timber, trying to create some space between us.
Eryk looms over me and leans in so close his breath washes over my face. “Tonight you will make a decision.” He takes a deep inhale. “I’m not telling you as a friend or your boss, but as the Prince of the fucking Midnight Court.”
I blink at him, and the one question that keeps going through my mind is if I will walk away from this intact. The truth swims over me—this incident will stay with me forever, whether I escape or not. Somehow, I know it will haunt me for eternity.
But other thoughts break in as he rests one hand against the tree just over my shoulder. My heart thunders in my ears and my body does that thing where it tingles. My stomach bursts with butterflies beating their wings. How can I feel such anticipation when I'm face-to-face with a monster?
He opens his mouth, his breath the only thing I hear, followed by a deep voice. "Fight me again and I will carry you over my shoulder."
He watches me so close that I'm scared to move. The way he looks at me elicits a heady sensation, as though he is stroking