“I would have you,” he whispered, his breath tickling my skin. “Every night I lay with you, I would have you. I would have you on this table, on the bed,before the hearth. You test me, rile me. You’re an itch I can’t scratch. Elspeth, you’re a fire in my chest that cannot be tamed.”
My arms tightened their hold, pinning him against me.
“Of course I dream of you,” he said, teeth grazing my ear.
It felt as if my soul left my body and passed beyond the Veil, and I clung to him for all I was worth. Heat surged through me, and I arched against him, craving more.
“Now,” he jerked out of my embrace, the motion abrupt and swift, putting plenty of space between us, “sleep.”
Disbelief washed over me, cold and consuming. He regarded me with strange uncertainty. It was as though the man standing before me, shy and hesitant, hadn’t been pressed against me in a moment of passion just seconds ago. Had I done something wrong? Reacted in a way he didn’t like?
I had time.
Not much, but enough.
I hopped off the table, bridging the gap between us. My fingers curled around the back of his head, drawing him closer until our breaths mingled, a mere heartbeat apart. His breath was ragged as his hand instinctively cradled my waist.
“Tonight, I will dream of you.”
I planted a swift, innocent kiss on his lips. His exhale was sharp, as if he’d taken a punch to the gut. His expression had me torn between pushing for more and falling to the floor in a fit of laughter.
The man was clearly out of his element.
Wide-eyed, his breath hitched in controlled bursts. I winked, a playful spark in my eyes, and turned away, giving him his space.
For all of Sainte’s knowledge and expertise, women seemed to be an uncharted territory for him.
“For that reason, Princess,” he called, clearing his throat. “I will sleep on my cot. Fully dressed.”
I threw my head back and laughed. With a glance over my shoulder, I started for my sleeping quarters. “Not in my dreams, you won’t.”
Chapter 28
The cold of the next morning seeped into my bones as soon as I stepped outside. Wrapped in furs, hood pulled low, the wind still slapped my face with a breathtaking ferocity. Streets lay quiet under dawn’s glow, people sheltering indoors as a Howl brewed. Sunlight struggled to break through the thick cloud cover, casting a dreary gray over the snow-covered ground. I clutched Sainte’s arm as another gust slammed into us. My cloak snapped behind me, exposing me to the frigid elements. The weather seemed intent on thwarting our journey.
That, or the gods.
Sainte forged ahead, head bent low. Thick flakes spilled from the dark clouds, swirling in the fierce wind. We could have taken a carriage to the temple district, but I wanted to avoid drawing attention. The last thing I needed was Adastrus appearing and goading me into our duel. Though now, with my fingers numb and body aching, regret gnawed at my resolve.
My thoughts drifted to the note from the Dire Wolf. Did she know anything about the Rite of Favor? It was a warning… Could she prove my brother cheated somehow? Perhaps there was something to Leihim’s cryptic words. I had to at leasttryto figure it out.
I braved Winter’s Bite for this—it had to be worth it.
My knees buckled, and Sainte caught me before I collapsed. I gripped him tight, shielding my eyes from the blinding flurry. Heavy snowfall obscured my view, structures vanishing from sight. Even the distinct statues in front of each temple were indistinguishable.
Still, he led me with unwavering confidence, his firm grip guiding me through the accumulating drifts. He never faltered, never stumbled. Eventually, we passed through an iron gate. Snowflakes clung to my lashes as I strained to seeTogamar’s statue in the courtyard, but the world dissolved into a swirling white haze.
As Sainte tugged me up snow-smothered steps, eerie silence enveloped us, the snow’s relentless howl drowning out all life. When we reached the immense entrance, I heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of Togamar’s portrait. At least we arrived at the correct temple.
He pounded on the door with his left hand, as I still clutched his right arm, fearing I’d blow away at any moment. It had nothing whatsoever to do with how I enjoyed the sensation of his muscles flexing beneath my hold.
The door creaked open, revealing a young girl’s face. Her eyes widened in surprise before the wind yanked the handle from her grasp. She shrieked as it slammed against the wall, echoing through the temple. The priests inside scrambled, breaking out in chaos.
“Oi, shut the–”
“We have patrons!”
“Get them out of the cold!”
