Princess of Frost - Mila Young Page 0,79

up on either side, studying the commotion. Most of the snow has melted and already the first sparks of fresh grass and flowers appear across the front yards. The sun warms me and the icy wind I’m used to has disappeared.

A wave of oohs and ahhs commence at our presence. Heat blushes my cheeks, but when I spot my neighbor, Meg, dressed up in a stunning green dress and smiling wildly, my heart beats faster to know she's coming to the ball.

Jed appears from the front of the carriage and bows at me. “My lady.” When he glances back up, he’s smirking mischievously. Eryk and I have been spending more time with Jed in the evenings, all of us having dinner then playing card games. He’s got a great sense of humor, so I’ve decided to make it my mission to find the right woman for him.

He opens the door for us, and I climb into the carriage, followed by Rin, Cedar, and then Meg.

"Sweetie, you are a princess," Meg cooes. "You are so gorgeous."

And those words touch me more than I ever thought, and tears are running down my face. I grew up without compliments but only reminders of what I did wrong. And Meg has always been a mother figure to me. I reach over and take her hand, squeezing it.

"We all look incredible."

"Licia, you said you wouldn't cry!" Rin is in panic and dabbing my cheeks with a tissue. But I sit back and smile. If a bit of ruined make up is the worst the day will bring, then this is going to be a magnificent day.

24

Eryk

"She's late," Kade states the obvious.

"This is a surprise, so I don't expect anything less than her prying answers out of her friends. Which is why I told them we're just having a celebration. I’m relaxed, not sure why you’re uptight," I tease, because I’m just as nervous for Licia to arrive.

Kade smirks, cocking a brow since he clearly isn't buying my lie.

"You're getting impatient my friend.”

He scoffs at me, then chuckles as he heads into the crowd.

Around the ballroom, guests and my staff are mingling alike. This party is for every one and only a skeletal number of servants are working today, for which I've paid them double. Licia worked with many of them, and I wanted the gathering to be a place of welcoming and not one of awkwardness if her work colleagues are serving her.

It was Jed's idea in truth.

The orchestra in the group plays soft tunes, while people are helping themselves to the food and drinks at the tables along the back wall. And everywhere else there are people chatting with friends. A glint catches my eye to one of many white stars dangling from the ceilings. I gave the decorators instructions of the room to be simple, not overly adorned, and to resemble elements of snow. Things that to me will always remind me of Licia.

I still feel blessed every single day I wake up to know Licia is alive. I took a chance that the energy from the earth would help. The Witch Queen drew her power from the elements, so it made sense at the time that I might be able to save her the same way.

Though when I close my eyes, I can’t rid the images of her dead, her body convulsing on the ground as she sucked in her first breaths. Those memories will stay with me for life.

"Eryk," my father groans, and I look back to find him at a table with a group of our advisors, surprisingly laughing and sharing drinks for a change.

I haven't seen my father so full of life for a long time. Ever since the curse lifted, he's been doing better.

"How are you feeling?" I ask and take a seat next to him.

He nods and picks up a glass of wine. "We need to have more of these celebrations. Look how happy it makes everyone. Maybe invite the other kingdoms after you pay them all a visit."

“Of course.” Now that our kingdom is safe and everyone is finally starting to settle down back into life, there is so much to be done.

I glance back to the cheering crowds, and I hear the merriment in their chirpy voices.

"You're girl is late," my father reminds me.

"She'll be here soon enough," I say.

"I still think you should have added the throne seats."

I sigh, well aware that doing that will probably scare her away. "This will work perfectly," I