A Kingdom of Frost and Malice (The Winter Court #1)

by Ashley McLeo

“I’ll find you later, wildcat.”

“Best be careful, my lady. Or I might start to think you’re not pretending.”

“You’re bleeding.” His eyes burned as I took two steps closer. “And limping. Tell me who did this to you.”

“How would you know the state of my fiancée’s thigh, Prince Vale?”

“You’ve also tempted my brother,” Rhistel said. “That intrigues me. Do you know we’ve shared a whore a time or two? One was even a fisherman’s daughter. So familiar . . . ”

I opened my mouth to argue when Prince Vale did the unthinkable: he punched his brother in the face.

“I will make this quick. Your lord was seen fleeing Avaldenn in the small hours.”

“That does not change the fact that if you touch her again, Father, it will be the last time you have hands.”

Without warning, he lifted me in his arms like a fae would on their wedding night and marched out of the great hall with a hundred eyes drilling holes in our backs.

Her chest stopped moving.

“There is only one way to save her life, Prince Vale. You must marry Lady Neve and give her every possible protection. That of your name, your sword, and your strength.”

the Prince of Winter’s Realm dropped to one knee and stared up at me. “Neve, will you marry me?”