Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms 4)

“Stop,” she said.

“Stopping,” he replied, then gestured at the doorway beside him. “Luckily, this is my room anyway.”

“I know you didn’t grow up in a palace, but you should at least know that it’s not very smart or polite to wink at a princess, especially during a formal event,” she said.

“Well, I’ve never been accused of being smart or polite before.”

She regarded him for a silent moment. He was tall, and she liked the broadness of his shoulders. And despite the fact that he kept tugging at his collar, she also liked the way he filled out his fine tailored clothing.

“Your nose is crooked,” she said.

He touched it, then frowned. “It’s been broken a few times. Frankly, I’m lucky to still have a nose.”

“It’s quite ugly.”

“Um . . .”

“I like it.”

“Thanks?” He cleared his throat. “Is there something I can do for you, princess?”

“Actually, yes.”

“And what’s that?”

“You can take me to your bed.”

Felix blinked. “I’m not sure I heard you correctly.”

“You heard me just fine. After a day of being ignored while two powerful, ruthless men discuss politics and magic, I’m in need of a little attention.” She slid her hands up his chest and to the nape of his neck, then pulled him closer and kissed him.

He didn’t resist.

She smiled against his lips. “One night. That’s all I want from you.”

He pushed open the door to his room with his elbow and gave her a wicked grin. “It would be my pleasure, princess.”

CHAPTER 16

CLEO

LIMEROS

Let me try to understand this,” Nic said to Cleo. He was with her in her chambers while Nerissa helped her with her hair. “Jonas Agallon storms into the palace grounds, holds a sword to the prince’s throat, at which time Magnus learns you’ve been lying about working with Jonas for months, and, instead of killing you both, he’s decided to give you your kingdom back?”

Cleo looked up at Nic’s reflection in her mirror. “It does sound rather difficult to believe when the story’s put like that. Do you think he’s lying?”

“Apologies, but did you just ask me if I think Prince Magnus, the King of Blood’s son and the brother of a power-crazed sorceress, would lie to the former princess of Auranos? Are you being serious right now?”

Nic’s smugness had a way of annoying Cleo to no end—especially because he was often right to be smug and suspicious. And right now, she wanted to hold on to the belief that Magnus was being sincere. After all, if Magnus did want his father dead, he’d need Jonas’s help to carry that through. And if he cared only for Limeros, and didn’t want the trouble that came with controlling all three kingdoms, then all of this really did make sense.

Luckily, Nic wasn’t the only person whose opinion she trusted.

It was so wonderful to have Nerissa, the pretty girl with short dark hair and more wisdom in her eyes than any eighteen-year-old she’d ever seen, back with her. For the seemingly small favor of bringing Nerissa up north from Auranos, Cleo was grateful to Magnus without reservation. He could have easily denied her request.

Not that Cleo would have accepted that response as final.

Cleo grasped the girl’s hand. “Nerissa, what do you think?”