For a moment, he simply stands there holding me, his wings still spread behind him, as snow drifts softly around us. My breath catches in my throat when our eyes meet. The warmth he sends me through the bond makes my heart ache in a way I’m coming to understand could mean only one thing.
I love him, just as he loves me.
We haven’t said the words to one another yet, but the truth is there, laid bare in the intensity of his gaze and the affection that floods the bond we share.
He lowers me carefully to my feet.
“Are you all right, my dearest?” he asks, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. Then he tugs my hood back into place. I hadn’t even noticed it had slipped back.
I nod. “Yes.”
He studies me for another moment, as though making certain I truly mean it, then leans down and presses a soft kiss to my forehead.
Warmth flutters through my chest.
White light suddenly flashes around him. Before I manage to blink, his wings vanish.
No matter how long I live, no matter how long we are together, I don’t believe I will ever get used to how powerful and fierce he looks when his wings are out, nor his ability to summon or vanish them at will with just a quick flash of light.
He takes my hand and threads his fingers through mine. “This way.”
Curiosity sparks within me as he guides me toward the hidden opening. He pushes snow-dusted vines and branches out of the way and leads me through the narrow entrance. Darkness greets us inside, and I hesitate.
Merak releases my hand only briefly and crouches near the wall, fumbling for something. A few moments later, I hear the scrape of stone against stone. Then sparks flare before the cave floods with firelight.
He straightens, holding a torch high. When he reaches out to me, I eagerly place my hand in his. Despite the brightness of the torch, I’m still a bit uneasy about being in a cave. I’ve heard bears like to sleep in caves, and I would imagine many other fearsome creatures do as well.
Then I almost laugh at my thoughts. Merak is a powerful, highborn fae lord. A skilled soldier who also possesses magic. I doubt a bear or any other forest predator would prove a challenge to him.
Safe, I remind myself. I am safe with him.
Yes, my dearest, he sends down the bond.You are safe with me. But don’t worry. There are no bears or other animals inside this cave. If there were, I would be able to smell them.
He pauses for a moment, then turns toward the mouth of the cave. He gives me a comforting look and releases my hand. Before I can ask what he’s doing, he holds his hand out and closes his eyes for a few seconds. Hmm. Though I don’t see anything, I feel something. Waves of raw, winter magic.
As my mind brushes against his, the answer comes to me.
A ward. He’s erecting a ward in front of the cave, an invisible barrier that will keep anything, oranyone, from stepping inside.
My mouth goes dry at this casual display of his power… his magic. If I wished to escape him, there really wouldn’t be any hope for me. He could simply keep me contained in one place, trapped by his wards.
“Well, it is a good thing you don’t wish to escape me,” he murmurs, taking my hand again as he guides me deeper into the cavern.
I make an indistinct sound in my throat, unsure how to respond. Before I can decide whether I’m bothered by his ability to truly keep me contained, we emerge into a larger area.
My eyes widen.
This is no empty cave.
Wooden boxes are stacked along the walls. Fur blankets lie folded in neat piles. A cold firepit rests near the center of the chamber, surrounded by cushions, a large bedroll, and more fur blankets.
Someone clearly prepared this place for living… or hiding.
As my gaze sweeps over everything, my surprise deepens at how clean everything looks. The boxes, furs, cushions, and even the bedroll aren’t covered with dirt or dust, as I would expect.
I turn slowly to face my mate.
“Merak... what is this place?”
