Crown of Frost by Isabella August

Author:Isabella August [August, Isabella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

“I’ve figured it out,” said Liam.

Elaine glanced up at him sharply as he entered the Lifeless Garden. Her heart rose up into her throat. “Figured it out?” she said. “Does that mean—”

“I know how to get you out of here,” Liam told her. He took a few long steps toward her, his blue eyes flashing in the darkness. “Now would be best.”

Elaine blinked, overwhelmed by the idea. “N-now?” she said.

Liam knelt down in front of her, taking her hand. A hundred wild emotions clashed inside her chest. I could leave. I could go home. I could see the sun again, and flowers—

Flowers.

Liam had pressed a rose — a living rose — into her hand.

Elaine stared at it. “This is mine,” she said hoarsely.

“I know,” said Liam. “The one you gave to Lord Blackfrost. It was the only living flower I could find here. I thought you could use it, if you get into trouble on your way out.”

Elaine closed her fingers around the rose, hard enough to prick her skin. She barely noticed the pain. There was life in her hands — the real thing. She’d raised it herself, from a tiny seed.

Tears choked at her throat. She pressed a hand to her mouth, unable to speak.

Liam watched her intently. There was a strange expression on his face that she couldn’t identify. His fingers lingered on hers, warm and uncertain.

Elaine looked up at him, clearing her throat forcibly. “Come with me,” she begged. “I can… I can help hide you.”

Liam looked so torn. “I can’t,” he whispered. The words clearly pained him. “I can make it so he’ll never notice you’re gone, El… but he’ll never ignore it if his only son disappears. He’ll track me down. If I go with you, he’ll find you. I can’t let that happen.”

“But—”

Liam released her hand. He pressed a finger to her lips, and shook his head. “I don’t care if you’re willing to risk it,” he said softly. “I… I’m not. I can’t be responsible for you ending up back here again. I won’t live with that.” He rose back up to his feet. “Stay where you are for a second. Don’t move. I need to look at you.”

Elaine choked down the arguments that battled at her defenses. How can I just leave you here? It’s not right, it’s not fair—

Liam’s power flickered. Ice crawled along the ground, snaking up into a solid figure. He kept his eyes fixed on her, calculating, as the frost resolved itself into a rough statue, in the form of a woman.

Elaine’s eyes widened. He’s making a duplicate of me? But of course he was. He’d probably done it many times before. This is how Liam gets people out without Lord Blackfrost noticing. He shows him what he expects to see.

Slowly, the ice woman’s features refined themselves. Elaine watched with fascination as Liam’s magic carved her own eyes, her lips, her hair. The detail was extraordinary — even a bit unsettling. This is what I would look like if Lord Blackfrost got his wish, Elaine realized.

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