Frost (Frost and Nectar #1)(67)

I glanced at Eliza—a woman with bronze skin and shimmering hair of pale green. Her eyes were a deep brown flecked with green. They narrowed at me as she spoke. “I have been studying since birth with the finest teachers. My education in the field of swordsmanship is unparalleled. In our kingdom by the sea, our finest treasures are our skills. A fae could go many a year before encountering such an exemplary—”

“I look forward to tomorrow.” Sydoc raised a glass, interrupting Eliza. “When I shall dip my cap in the blood of my enemies.”

Etain frowned at her. “What the fuck, Sydoc? You do realize you are fighting me in the duel.

You’re not going to dip your cap in my blood. Can’t we just…go on points?”

Sydoc’s eyes locked on her. “A queen must demonstrate her skill on the battlefield. It is the Redcap way. And yes, I will honor my clan tradition.”

A look of horror crossed Etain’s face. “Fucking creep.”

A murmur rippled over the room, and the back of my neck prickled with unease. I glanced at Moria to find her passing her phone to the redcap, giggling as she did.

“Princess Moria.” Torin’s deep voice filled the hall. “Am I boring you?”

“Oh, dear.” She turned back to him, her eyes wide. “Apologies, Your Majesty, but I thought you should know that one of the women here has disgraced herself.” Her cold gaze slid to me, and her expression hardened. “Again.” She met Torin’s stare. “I know you abhor grotesque public spectacles, as I do. And I am certain you could not abide a bride with loose morals, someone whose naked body the entire world has already seen. A fae queen must be chaste and pure, not used up like a common whore.”

Nausea climbed in my throat as I watched her pass her phone from one princess to the next, each of them gasping, their cheeks flaming red.

My heart was a wild beast. What the fuck had happened?

“Princess Moria,” Torin growled, his voice low. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

I’d never actually seen him close to losing his temper before, and shadows seemed to bleed from his body.

Glass of wine in hand, Moria rose and grabbed her phone back from the redcap. “It’s all in the Daily Mail, Your Majesty. Slightly pixelated in key areas. But I think you’ll find the text quite interesting as well. Maybe it will give you a sense how suitable Ava Jones of Chloe’s household might be. Have a look—because the gods know the rest of the world already has.”

My thoughts were flashing in my mind like camera bulbs. Nude photos? I didn’t remember taking any…except for that time with Andrew in Costa Rica…

But he wouldn’t. He couldn’t have. Andrew hated the spotlight as much as I did.

I felt the blood drain from my face as I turned to Shalini and found her already gawking at her phone. With shaking hands, I grabbed the phone from her and stared at the pixelated image. I’d saved up for a year to take us to Costa Rica, and we’d stayed in a tiny bungalow by the sea, with a beach all our own. For a few days, before he’d met Ashley and I’d started feeling sick, the vacation had been amazing.

With no one around, I didn’t always wear a swimsuit, and Andrew had snapped photos, but so what? We were supposed to get married. I’d never dreamed he’d show them to anyone, let alone sell them to the fucking Daily Mail.

Gripping Shalini’s phone, I surged to my feet, nearly knocking my chair over, and marched out of the throne hall. I flicked through the story, trying to read snippets through the stinging blur in my eyes.

…money obsessed…

…alcoholic…

…she’d have these rages….

…certain she was cheating on me…

My mind spun with thoughts too wild to grasp. Why would he do this?

Revenge.

Shalini said he’d been furious that I’d mentioned him during my date, even if I hadn’t said his name. People had figured it out, anyway, and this was him clearing his name—and getting back at me at the same time.

Right now, I was feeling distinctly fae because I wanted to rip his head off his body.

“Ava.” Torin’s soft, velvety murmur came from behind me, and I turned to see him.

“Everything he said is a lie.”

“I know that. And I will rip his ribs from his body and leave his ravaged carcass for the vultures as a warning to others.”

I wiped a hand across my face. “That’s…uh…sweet, but it’s not how things work in the human world.” I wasn’t going to admit I’d just been fantasizing about something similar.

He raised a dark eyebrow. “Not how things work in the human world? What do I care?”

“Seems like you need them right now, even as King of the Seelie.” I stared at him. “But really, that’s a good question, Torin. What do you care? We don’t like each other at all. Remember that discussion? It wasn’t that long ago.”

He pulled his gaze away and took a deep breath. “It’s just that when I do like people…”

“It doesn’t work out? Welcome to life, my friend.”

I turned to walk back into the throne hall.

“Wait.” His commanding voice brooked no argument, and I turned to look at him.

“What?” I said.