Page 99 of The Ice Prince's Fated Mate
Something glinted in Mirko’s eyes. Was that a subtle jab about the trap he’d led us into? There was no way to prove it, but his words seemed a little too close to the mark. I gritted my teeth to stop from snapping at him.
“Anyway, the answer to your question is a simple one. Dirk knew who you were talking about because he used to be one of them.”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
“You didn’t know?” Mirko’s smile turned darker, filling with malevolent delight. “For a time there, young Dirk was a Hunter himself. In fact, he wastheHunter.”
“You’re lying,” I whispered.
The satisfaction on Mirko’s face only grew, twisting his birthmark into something ugly that only he could create. “Ah, but that’s the beauty of the truth. There’s proof. You can find his name on the wall at Hunter’s Hall. He’s listed right there among the Honored Hunters. ‘Dirk Dvorak.’”
I stepped backward, shaking my head. “No. No that can’t be right. Dirk would never.”
Mirko laughed. Andrik, who had remained impassive until that moment, finally smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant sight.
“Now, I wonder why he would feel the need to hide such a thing from his new mate?”
Mirko looked at his son, who shrugged playfully.
“Why, father, I have no idea.”
Kolar snarled and stepped forward, gathering Milly and me by the shoulders.
“Don’t bother,” Mirko said, dropping the act. “We’re leaving anyway. Places to be, you understand. People to deal with. Things that will actually benefit the kingdom.”
They walked away laughing while all around me, the world that had seemed so bright only hours ago slid into darkness.
Forty-Seven
Dirk
The door tothe top of the tyrant’s personal tower opened with a loud creak.
“Go away.” I didn’t bother to look. Whoever it was, Florian, Kolar, they were wasting their time.
“No.”
I sat up from my slouch at the voice, though my feet were still dangling over the edge as I stared out and over the city of Kylma and all of its inhabitants. The view from “The Lookout,” as we coined it, was normally stunning. Today is was dreary and depressing.
“What do you want?” I asked as Caz walked over to the ledge.
“That’s it? A ‘go away’ and ‘what do you want’ the first time we see each other in nearly a week?”
I shrugged but said nothing.
“I heard about the new artwork added to the gate.” Caz stopped right beside me, looking out as the wind buffeted us both. “Care to explain? I thought those days were behind you.”
“So did I,” I rasped.
“Then what happened, brother?” Caz sighed. “It’s been nearly thirty years since you shut that door.”
“I know.”
“We had an agreement.” His voice was harder. “That you wouldn’t open it again.”
“I know.” I slumped forward once more. “I screwed up. I thought this would make it right.”
There was no leniency from Caz. “Explain.”
