Page 168 of Season Warriors & Wolves

Snow slowly rolled her eyes at Moriko. “Yes, that and his huge c—”

I wrapped a hand around her mouth. “Love of mine, secrets are meant to be kept.”

“Why would I deprive them of finding happiness in their marriage also,” the vixen said, smiling innocently.

I halted not even a foot inside our bedroom, my eyes raking over my wife clad in the littlest red nightgown I’d ever seen, reaching barely entirely over her back side. She bent over on my table, scribbling something down on a piece of paper. Absolutely ignoring me.

“Hello, love.”

She turned and leaned a hip on the desk, flicking a bunch of black hair behind her shoulder. “Any trouble in Hanai?”

“Not particularly,” I said, shedding my jacket and raking my eyes over her again. It looked like trouble was waiting for me at home.

She melted at my touch, closing her eyes and sighing when I slipped my hand behind her neck and kissed her cheek. She smelled like heavens. But beneath the innocent scent of vanilla and lily perfume she wore, I could smell the ulterior motive. “Do you want to be fucked or is this a way to fuck me over?”

She smiled a little and bit her lip, rolling her alluring eyes up at me. “Both?”

I was fucking doomed.

I sank my teeth on her cheek and tugged lightly. “Mistress of my heart, you play too much. What is it that you want from me? Tell it.”

“Nothing. I just need you to not worry.”

“Asking about the impossible.”

“To trust me?”

“Now you’re just being mean.”

“But you trust me.”

“More than myself.”

“And if I tell you that I want to go speak with the Isline queen. Would you trust me then?”

“What next? Want to go diving in some volcano?”

She sneered like an adorable feral cat. “Aren’t you funny, ey?”

“Why are you wanting to meet the old queen? Are you hoping to get them to help against your father?”

“Not exactly. They certainly might not be convinced to join the battle, but I am hoping to convince them to help me discourage more Isjordians to leave my father’s side. An Isjordian is a child of winter before they are my father’s people. If they believe that winter is stirring them away from their king’s lead, then they will be led away.”

“This might cause more trouble than you think. The Isliners have not meddled with Isjordians since the time of the old Isea. Are you certain about this?”

“New times are coming, Kil. King Edric used to say that only ice could break ice, but look at two Verglasers fighting. The balance rarely tips in favour of any. One will win over the other from wit, not magic. Ice cannot battle ice with a victor. Ice can battle ice with a cheater. Everyone knows how Tenebrose won his crown, and they praised him for it. If I am going to cheat my father on his own game, why not bring someone who is at his level?”

Smart girl. “You believe they will take the time to hear your reasoning?”

“I’m a Krigborn. By right, I can contest the Isline throne. They will want to hear what I say before I try to do so. Besides, I have an inkling they will be thrilled to know that I, the Isjordian heir, am conspiring against the king they loathe.”

“Alright, we will go.”

She patted my chest. “You will stay here. I will go.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Darling, someone needs to be here. Besides me, only you can handle Aurora. Me and you should never even be in one place at this point. Also, Mal and Thora are coming with me.”