Princess of Frost - Mila Young Page 0,65

Queen gifted me these powers.

I am meant to be a protector. While I may have missed my calling to save the mirror since I was a newborn baby when it broke, I will do the next best thing and eliminate as many of those bastards as I can.

Cedar’s nose wrinkles like I've gone mad. "You're a fool if you go out there. We wait. That's what they told us to do."

But I'm shaking my head before he finishes talking.

His features harden.

“I’m not waiting.” No fucking way, and I back into the hallway, then darting to my room where I rummage in the wooden crate I use for my clothes.

My fingers curl around the leather hilt and I draw the blade out, turning just as Cedar steps in the doorway.

"Licia, this is insa—” he breaks off as he does a double take at my blade. “You’ve got a knife?” The shock on his face is palpable. "This isn't like you at all. It's the time you spent in the castle, isn't it? Working for the prince has changed you, made you believe you are suddenly someone important. But open your eyes to the truth. He is using you."

I jerk my head up, huffing. "I hate when you talk with that depressing shit, Cedar. Seriously. We're so much more and definitely not what the others in the village say just because we don't have a family. We have each other. That's all we need. And I'm going to fight for Rin because..." My mouth dries and I can’t get into it now. I don’t have the time. "When all of this shit is over, and I pray we succeed, I need to tell you something. Now, get out of my way."

I shove past him when he doesn't budge, but how can I be mad at him when he's not privy to my powers, to what I've seen and experienced during my time at Midnight Court. I don't know what my future holds with Eryk, or why my chest feels like it might splinter when I consider it won't include him, but he's driven me to open my eyes about myself. For that, I will always be grateful.

"Where are you going to go?" he asks, concern threading his words.

I know he's scared so I turn to face him. "There's a hobgoblin camp just behind the castle, and I think that's where they're taking Rin."

His posture straightens, and something flashes over his face like suddenly he’s found his spine. "I'm coming with you. We can look out for one another."

"No," I mutter immediately. "Cedar, this is easier if I do it alone. I can get into the castle without question, but you will raise alarms." I'm lying through my teeth, but I can't put him in danger.

"You can tell them I'm your servant or something," he huffs out the words.

I chuckle. "A servant having a servant? Doubt they will buy that. Look, I need to go. I'll be back with Rin before you know it."

He holds my stare, not saying a word but takes a step forward.

Priority for me is finding Rin and not endangering Cedar. "You're not coming with me," I state as I tuck the blade into the back of my belt and push the coat down to cover it, then I drag open the front door and lunge out. A quick look over my shoulder shows Cedar in the doorway, but he's not following me. I don't expect him to either as I know he’s scared.

I love him as my brother, but he's like Rin. They've been pushed and shoved around so much in life that it's worn them down. That feeling lives in me too... we've finally found a place to live in, making money to feed ourselves, so the constant fear that we will lose it all lingers.

Don't step out of line.

Keep our heads down.

Do as we're told.

We lived by those words for so long, but is that really living?

I'm running and don't look back anymore.

After this is over and if we somehow survive, I need to make a difference to the world and stop hiding. Eryk comes first to mind and I have no idea what our future will hold. Did he keep me close just for my power and now that he has it, will I just be the girl he took to his bed and works for him?

The scars of being just a means to an end for him deepens across my soul, but I can't