Thorns of Frost (Fae of Snow & Ice, #2)

by Krista Street

I was the maker of my destiny, even if the king and the crown prince were trying to rule my fate.

There was something about the prince, something I’d seen hints of that told me there was more to his story than I was aware of.

Shame burned through me again. It was such an old, unwelcome friend, but a companion who’d been at my side my entire life.

“I was going to say exotic dance,” Nuwin replied, which got a glare from his brother.

“Why didn’t you do that sooner?” “Maybe I like whispering in your ear.”

“Well, perhaps you shouldn’t ask such asinine questions then, and my tongue would stay still.”

“Does the thought of marrying me repulse you that much?”

But his mask had descended. Any hint of what his cryptic words would reveal had vanished.

Yet his presence had become familiar in a way, and as much as I didn’t want to admit it—I missed him.

He smiled, and his sheer beauty threatened to overwhelm me. Blessed Mother, what is it about this male?

“Because even though you’ve been doing an impressive job of ignoring me, I’ve been doing the opposite with you.

“You’re mine,” he said on a low growl.

Shadows dipped his expression into such vicious beauty that, for a moment, I couldn’t speak.

“In that case, Lady Endalaver is about to realize what happens when someone messes with my—”

“Guard her with your life.”

I knew I could deny it, could continue pretending that I didn’t know, but there was no running from fate. Inevitably, it caught you, and I would rather this moment be on my terms than his.

You’re not a monster, Norivun. I see that. I see you.”

“I’ve waited so long to find you.”

crying

My heart thundered. Everything in me was swirling, colliding, igniting. Being here, with him . . . everything about it felt right. I felt complete.

“I want you to be mine, Ilara. I never want to be parted from you. Let me claim you. Please.”

His chest lifted in a breath that was so deep it seemed to carry the weight of the realm when he released it.

“I ache for you, Ilara.”

Because Blessed Mother, I wanted this male, wanted him so badly that I burned, even if I couldn’t fully have him yet.

“You were still beautiful. I’ll always find you beautiful, Ilara.”

It was as though he was a starving male coming to his one and only feast.

I can’t stand the thought of any male being with you, and I’ll kill them for seeing or touching what’s mine.”

Their march was like a possessive procession as he kissed my neck and seemed to stamp mine upon me wherever he touched.

“You’re mine, Ilara Seary,” he growled softly in my ear. “Forever. You are my mate, and you belong with me. Anyone who tries to take you from me will suffer my wrath.”

“Are you saying you would disapprove of me ripping any male to shreds who tries to touch you?”

“That would be a tad . . . overkill.” He scratched his chin. “Really? It seems rather tame to me.”

I called upon the bond that tethered us, the unbreakable cord that the gods had placed between our souls.

But the prince’s aura called to me. I was as helpless to resist the attraction between us as the oceans were to the moons’ pulling tides.

But those sounds fell into a void, like a vacuum sucked all of the sound from the air, as every fiber of my being centered on the male holding me and ravishing my mouth.

Norivun was my mate, and my body sang for him as though the stars had aligned our souls.

The realm had disappeared into nothing. My focus was on him and him only.

“You’re strong. You’re powerful. And you’re mine. Don’t forget any of that.”

“I was born to pleasure you, Ilara Seary.”

“Tonight is about you. My mate. My queen.”

Fight for me, Prince Norivun. Fight for us until we can find a way to defeat him.

Fire raged in my soul. Violence pounded through my blood. Darkness rose within me as revenge coated my senses and demanded that I claim vengeance for what had been done to my mate. My love.

Because one day we would be reunited, and I would be ready for her. My mate. My queen.