Fire and Ice by Michele Barrow-Belisle

Author:Michele Barrow-Belisle [Barrow-Belisle, MICHELE]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Astraea Press LLC
Published: 2013-08-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

In front of us appeared a throne of black ice, layered with dagger-like shards jutting in every direction. Adrius swore under his breath.

“What kind of a greeting is that for someone who was nearly family…” A disembodied voice came from within the icy lair. Only the puff of her breath lingering in the air gave a clue as to where it had come from.

“Octãhvia, always a pleasure,” Adrius said to the vapor, animosity pouring from each word.

A ghostly woman materialized from the frosty air and floated toward us on a flurry of snow and ice. Glistening ice shards clung to her shoulder-length blue black hair. She grinned brilliant and clear, as though her teeth themselves were made of ice, the reflection was almost blinding.

The woman stepped toward him, and raked a long blue fingernail across his face, leaving a frosted welt.

“I can’t help but notice you are now this girl’s traveling companion.” Her eyes shifted curiously in my direction. “Yet you have a vow of fealty, if I remember correctly, darling. Did you actually think I’d forgotten? That I wouldn’t be hurt by your little tryst?”

“You— forget something so depraved? Impossible,” Adrius replied.

“So, am I to assume you are delivering the little Sidhe halfling to the underworld then? I would be more than happy to assist with the transportation of her soul in any way I can.” She grinned amicably, as though she’d just offered to help me study for finals. With a step forward, her blue-tinged nails reached for me.

The sound of rasping metal filled the room. “I’d rethink that if I were you.” His sword aimed at her, swirling green smoke curled and hung frozen in the air before crystallizing and falling like viridian snow.

The witch smiled. “You — are threatening me — with that?” she laughed. “Surely the son of Elyssium knows it would take more than an enchanted Elvish weapon to dissuade me.”

“Perhaps.” He smiled in return, his eyes dark and calculating. “But you couldn’t save them so quickly.” He redirected his aim, pointing at her two monstrous white tigers, the pair that had escorted us from the entry.

Octãhvia paused briefly, annoyance flashed in her emerald eyes. “How dreadfully rude, darling. I can’t imagine why you’d greet me with such hostility.” She pouted, her eyes staring invisible ice daggers in my direction. Thin layers of frost coated my skin.

The corner of her mouth twitched, suppressing a smile as she lowered her hand. Those beasts were apparently the only lives she had any compassion for.

“Wise decision,” he said, leveling his gaze. He didn’t lower his sword even as a thin gold filament slithered out of the cold and coiled around his ankle. “Now, we can discuss other things.” Not once did his eyes leave hers, ignoring the chain that moved like a living thing to bind his legs together. I couldn’t keep my eyes off it.

“…Like, letting the girl go free.”

My breath caught in my throat — he was negotiating my release, but what about his?

“Oh darling, don’t be so dramatic.

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