“I told you,” Rivven growled. “I don’t have skates for you.”
“Then we can slide around on our boots!” Xennet said, undeterred.
Dorn made a noise of agreement.
“I’m afraid that I’m going to be sliding around, too, Rivven,” I said with a sheepish smile. “I’ve never been skating before. And I don’t have a clue what to do.”
“I’ll tell you what to do,” he promised in a low voice. “You just hold on tight to me.”
16
RIVVEN
Idid not consider myself to be a terribly angry sort of man.
But that morning, I rather wanted to blast Xennet and Dorn directly into the sun. I’d had hopes, plans for how our first time skating on the pond would unfold.
Those plans did not include two unruly males, now directly competing with me for Shiloh’s affections.
She was too fair, too kind. She would tolerate them, mollycoddle them, give them too much of a chance.
Hence the desire to boot them beyond the border of the breathable atmosphere.
Of course, I could do nothing of the sort. I was certain that any crimes against my fellow convicts would take me out of the program entirely. And Shiloh would likely not appreciate it.
Besides, I’d liked these men before. Mostly. They were good in their own ways.
I was sure I would remember that. Another day. Sometime in the future. Long after Shiloh had soundly rejected them both.
Both Xennet and Dorn deserved brides.
Just…
Not this one.
We all took our shuldu to the pond, as it would be a long distance to travel on foot, especially for Shiloh on a day as cold as this one. Both Xennet and Dorn offered Shiloh a seat before them on their mounts, but I was already lifting her onto mine.
“Oh. Thank you, guys. Maybe another time?” she said as I settled in behind her. “I’m kind of used to Foxitt!”
I got a little closer to her than was strictly necessary. “And she’s used to me.”
“Well, of course she is,” Xennet said. “She’s been living in your saloon this entire time! Shiloh, I promise you that I am very easy to get used to, also.”
Dorn laughed at that. Xennet shot him a look.
When we reached the pond, Shiloh gasped and leaned forward on Foxitt.
“It’s all done! Did you do more without me?”
“Got a little done this morning before dawn,” I told her. I’d needed an outlet for the nervous energy running through my limbs. The energy that told me I should be doing nothing else but kissing Shiloh all day long. But she’d been asleep, and the other men were coming, and I’d needed something to throw myself into.
As a result, the surface of the pond was entirely cleared and brushed. Sparkling and smooth where the sun touched it, ringed by trees.
“I’ll have to do another painting!” Shiloh said. “It looks different now!” Before dismounting, she captured an image of the scene with the data tab. “Maybe I’ll do a whole series,” she said, somewhat breathlessly, sounding excited when I lifted her down to the ground. “The pond in each season!”
“Sounds perfect,” I hissed with something close to vehemence, my guts tightening, chest hitching.
Perfect. Because it would mean she was still here. In all the seasons.
