Hex must be the last person we’re waiting on, because from my unexpected trance, I hear the lead sleigh kick off. Others follow until only one remains, empty, and I thank whatever lucky stars I have that we won’t be forced to ride with my father.
Iris and Kris start for the sleigh and I linger until Hex comes down the steps, the heat of his body pulling me around to walk alongside him.
“You’re wrong. I didn’t mark you,” I echo his unfair, wildly innuendo-heavy words that I cannot let go unaddressed. “That”—I bend closer and swing my hand up to touch the knot of his tie, a quick tap—“is from my brother and entirely innocent. You’ll know damn well when I mark you.” The barest pause. “If you’ll let me.”
Hex’s breath is a quaking white cloud in the air. His tongue dips out to lick his bottom lip before he rolls that lip in between his teeth, all so quick that it’s innocuous, except for the not innocuous reaction my body is having.
Ah. So this is how it’s going to be at every event between now and… my wedding.
Just like that, the fog is shattered.
Hex watches my expression change and his head cocks, but we reach the sleigh. Kris and Iris are sitting across from one another, and I pull back to let Hex climb up first and settle next to Iris.
Which pisses me off.
Sothisis how it’s going to be at every event. Ping-ponging from flirtation so hot I’ll need a steady stream of frost on my body to cool down, to roiling fury at the shitty game we’re dancing around.
Our driver glances down at me, now the only one still standing in the yard. “Prince Nicholas?”
I break out of my thoughts. “Yeah, I’m ready,” I say on reflex, then blink up at him. “Hey, Bart, your kid was trying to get into Yale? Dare I ask if my recommendation letter did a lick of good?”
Why onearthhe askedmeto write that letter instead of getting one from Dad, I’ll never know.
Bart smiles down at me. “It helped very much. She starts next fall. Thank you again, Prince Nicholas.”
I climb up into the sleigh with a headshake. “I had absolutely nothing to do with her success. Tell her congrats from me.” And good fucking luck. But she seemed legitimately excited by the prospect of Yale, unlike me, who didn’t get a choice; so maybe she will actually like it.
Bart’s pleased hum is cut by him snapping the reins, and we lurch off down the path.
Hex is directly across from where I sit next to Kris, and I feel his attention on me. It holds, and when I meet his eyes, he tips his head in some unspoken question I can’t read.
I smile at him. Because there are no photographers around—yet.
But the moment we get to the ice rink, in the center of North Pole City, we’ll be bombarded not just with reporters and journalists, but with our people. This is one of the few events that takes us out of the palace grounds, which Dad has drilled into our heads means that it’s more important we keep our public image pristine. Doctored palace photos are easy to control; but in-public events where some of the very people Dad hopes to manipulate are watching our every move?
It’d be the perfect place to do… something. If I had any ideawhat would help begin to fix things. But I highly doubt my usual manic acts of negligence will be of any use from now on. They were never beneficial, anyway.
“Do you skate?” Iris asks Hex as our sleigh bumps out of the palace grounds and swings onto a wide, snow-flattened road. Pine trees stand sentinel, each decorated in bulbs and strands of red ribbon garland, the path lit here by strands of lights instead of the massive floodlights.
Hex grimaces. His face sets quickly. “No. But I expect your father will insist I participate.”
“You don’t have to,” I tell him. “I won’t let him make you.”
I will not let him touch you again.
Hex smiles. It’s small and grateful. “Thank you. But I can, at least, try.” He pauses. Winces. “How hard is it, truly?”
Iris makes a squeaky laugh. “Well…”
I nudge her with my foot at the concern on Hex’s face.
“You two grew up doing it!” says Iris. “It’s not as easy—”
“—as walking. It’s walking. But on ice,” says Kris with a wide grin because he knows that sets her off.
“It is nothing like walking,” Iris snaps.
“Don’t worry,” I tell Hex. “We’ll help you.”
