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“She finds you quite appealing, husband. So watch your bottom if she happens to walk by.”
He almost spit out his wine. Wiping his mouth with a linen napkin, he choked out, “What?”
“She thinks you’re, what was it she said?” She tilted her head, remembering. “’Delicious.’ I agree.”
“Hmm. Well, why don’t you show me how delicious I am, Little Dove. Right now.”
“Oh, gladly, my lord.”
A knock at the door had Lucius sitting up. The room was dark, save for the fire that still burned in the hearth. Beside him Sierra slept, on her stomach, her face turned away, a hand tucked under the pillow. He slipped out of the blankets and shoved on his breeches, then walked over to the door and opened it.
“My apologies, Chieftain,” Pateus whispered. “You’re being summoned to the gate.”
“Give me a minute.” He shut the door and got dressed, pushing his feet into his boots, and grabbed his cloak before joining Pateus out in the hall.
“Any idea what this is about?” he asked his secretary.
“Only that someone outside the gates asked for you, Chieftain.”
Lucius had no idea who it could be, but it was probably related to the reconnaissance mission. Perhaps that party had sent someone over to give him a message.
When they got to the gatehouse, Lucius recognized the two Ongahri males who were bundled up in warm wool. Chkuly from Jasper Tribe, and Philip, one of his men from Ordelpho. The latter he patted on the shoulder.
“Philip, you’re a sight for sore eyes. Glad you got my message. Are the others with you?” Lucius looked behind the two men to see for himself, but the night’s darkness was too thick.
“They are a few miles out, Chieftain. This blasted weather, I tell you… we would have met up with you sooner, but… It’s like nothing I’ve seen before. Anyway, we have another herd.”
“Perfect timing, as we just arrived earlier today. We’ll be heading out day after tomorrow.” Lucius looked around behind him, thinking. “Will you need to bring them here?”
“Not until it’s time to leave. Not an easy feat to get them started.”
“Very well.” Lucius got the directions to the party’s location and promised to meet them after breakfast. He watched the two Ongahri leave outside the gate, then stood next to Pateus, eyeing the sky. It was a swirl of gray and black, clouds that reflected the snow on every surface. He could see his and Pateus’ breath as each man exhaled. There was not a sound to be heard. The landscape looked like a prelude to a nightmare on the Longest Night.
He longed for the sun, for warmth. For home in Ordelpho. He might not be a magical being like Phobius or these elementals he was hearing about, nor a Servant with a modicum of spiritual awareness, but even he, an Ongahri Alpha, could sense something “other” in the air, in the cold wind that blew. Something supernatural. Something not meant to be in stasis.
With a shudder, he motioned to Pateus to follow and made his way back to his warm bed, where his wife slept on, safe and dreaming.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sierra
I awoke with a gasp, two pairs of blue eyes—one the blue of twilight, the other of a summer sky—still flashing in my mind’s eye from the dream I’d been having. My dreams lately had been getting more and more vivid, more potent, as if someone captured me in my sleep, forcing me to bear witness to things it wanted me to see.
Every dream was soaked in desperation, leaving me breathless and shaky each time I woke from them. This morning was no exception. I had dreamed about two little boys in a cabin, off the coast of a magnificent green sea. Now, as I sat up and searched my surroundings, gathering my bearings, the dream began to fade like the parting mist on a spring morning.
Lucius was not beside me, nor Demos. I remembered where I was, when I was. Providence, in one of the guest bedrooms. My first time sleeping in my parents’ house as a married woman.
I slipped my feet into a pair of slippers and grabbed the robe that had been laid out for me at the foot of the bed. I wondered what time it was. Through the window, I peeked out, not getting too close to the glass which separated me from the cold outside. No snow, but no sun. Dark as an oncoming night. The days had gotten shorter, only allowing the sun to make its presence for maybe five hours every day. But even when it was high, it barely penetrated the winter clouds.
A knock at the door had me turning away from the scene outside. Hannah came in, her arms laden with clean towels and bedsheets, followed by two other ladies maids.
“Good morning, miss, er, Lady Sierra,” Hannah greeted with a smile. The middle-aged headmistress had known me all my life, and the change in my status brought home to me how much had changed in the past several months.
“Good morning, Hannah. You can still address me as ‘miss.’ It feels too strange, otherwise.” I laughed and helped her strip the bed.
“Ah, but you are married now, dear. Are you happy?” She held a pillow while I put a new case on it.
“I am. How are things here? Mother and Father, have they been happy?”
