Ember Frost’s POV

I turned to Orion, confused. Noticing my expression, he explained calmly, “A long time ago, when the Northern Duke was in love with the life-weaver witch, she used to make him spiced tea pastries. It became their thing, a symbol of their connection. Since then, he’s always loved them, and to this day, he won’t turn them down.”

I paused, trying to grasp the meaning of his words. “That means he’s asking for help, just not directly. His strange behavior is his ...