Frost Kisses (Bitter Frost #4: Frost Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

all my talk of peace had been a lie for my own ends. She had, although she was by law my enemy, always been the model of a Queen for me – she ruled wisely and justly, as best she could. I had hoped that, by my actions, I could win her respect and be regarded one day as an equal. Now I felt sure that that day would never come. I had disappointed them all - let them all down. I’d betrayed Shasta, betrayed the Winter Queen, above all things betrayed Kian, whom I loved but whose heart I knew I had broken beyond repair.
     
    “It is the property of the Winter Court,” I said, trying to act like Queen. “And I demand that it be returned to them!”
     
    “And how did you get it, my pretty queen?” Delano sneered. “Steal it, most likely!”
     
    “I did not!” I shot back. “It was…given to me.” I could not help my voice faltering. “By the Winter Prince. As a proposal of marriage.” I hoped my cheeks hadn’t risen into a blush.
     
    Delano gave me a smug look. “From the events that transpired afterwards,” Delano said, his mouth contorting into a grin, “it would appear that you refused him.”
     
    “I didn’t!” I shot back, trying to make sense of it. “I just needed more time, that’s all…” My cheeks turned bright pink! How dare this Delano try to manipulate me into talking about my feelings! “I was too…”
     
    “Confused?” Delano gave me an expression of mock sympathy. “Is that it? Overwhelmed by your feelings? Besotted, perhaps, by your love for another? Say…the Wolf, Logan? Oh, we’ve heard all about those rumors of your behavior with the Wolf…quite the passionate queen, aren’t you?”
     
    I wanted to rise to my feet, to defend myself, to defend my actions – it was a spell, only a spell, that had made me feel what I felt for Logan! I remembered once more the hurt on Kian’s face, and I pursed my lips together tightly in anger. “Why is it any of your business?” My eyes blazed with rage. “You have nothing to do with this!”
     
    “That’s what makes me so useful to you, my Queen,” said Delano brightly. “You see, I don’t care which of those two jejune young men you choose in the end. Kian or Wolf Prince – it doesn’t matter to me. I can give you some straight advice. And I think I have a rather clear idea of whom you should choose.” He leaned in, baring his sharp teeth at me. “And it isn’t either of those two boys…”
     
    “Ew!” I couldn’t help it – my first reaction was disgust – girlish, shocked, disgust! Hadn’t we already established that I had no intention of playing mother to any of Delano’s hypothetical hybrid children? “Believe me, Delano – not if you were the last creature on earth!”
     
    Delano almost looked hurt. “You find me that revolting, do you?” His yellowish-green eyes twinkled. “Even when I’m offering you something far more than being my concubine – even when I’m offering you… affection?” I found it hard to believe that Delano could offer anybody affection. I was already well aware of all the atrocities that he had committed during his life. Still, there was genuine hurt in his voice, and although I found him morally repugnant, he was not by any means unattractive. Certainly, by pixie standards, he was less horrendous than Wort, who had resembled a toad afflicted with a skin disease, but Delano was like fey and elegant with sharp cheekbones and a, graceful nose that pointed just slightly from his smooth pale face. He was tall and almost regal, not as old as I thought he was at first… resembling someone in his early to mid-20s, if he was human. If I had met Delano in other circumstances, had not known anything about him, he would be quite attractive… sexy even.
     
    “Not revolting,” I conceded. “Not physically, at any rate.” I grimaced. He was still a villain. “But I still don’t want to marry you! And I don’t think it would do you much good to marry me, either. You wanted