Page 49 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“Okay, well, I’m ready when you are.” I smile, stepping in close to him and giving Twig and Chepi a little wave.

Nyx wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. I rest my head on his chest, tangling my hands in his jacket and closing my eyes. His scent envelopes me for a second, then everything goes dark. I hold on tight to Nyx for what feels like several minutes as the wind kicks up around us, wiping my hair in all different directions. I push my face into his chest and close my eyes, then suddenly I feel the brisk cold, and our feet crash into the snow. Nyx releases me but holds out an arm until I’m steady again.

When I look around we’re completely secluded and high up in the mountains. White mountain peaks extend in the distance as far as I can see. Some are higher and some are lower than where I stand. It’s barely dusk, and the sun has created a soft-orange and pink hue swirling through the sky above the mountaintops. The snow is dense, and all the trees are covered in pillowy white piles.

“It’s breathtaking.”

“Look up,” Nyx says, then a broad smile spreads across his face, almost taking my breath away. Gods, I want him. I look up, and Nyx waves his arm. Candles burst to life above us.

“You have a tree house,” I squeal.

There’s a wood cabin above us built high into the trees. It’s separated into two houses that are connected by a bridge that’s covered in candles.

“How do we get up there?” I ask breathlessly.

“With magic,” he whispers in my ear, his stubble brushing my cheek.

Nyx kisses my forehead while taking my hand, and we appear up on the bridge. The view is spectacular. Candles line the bridge tucked inside little lanterns. They’re dotted in the trees surrounding us as well, creating a warm glow. The bridge is dusted with snow, and I run across it to the larger cabin with Nyx in tow.

As I step inside, I’m greeted by the warm glow of a fire in a cobblestone fireplace. The space is open-plan with a kitchen, living room, and dining area all seamlessly flowing together. The ceilings are high and arched with a spiral staircase leading up to a loft that I assume is the bedroom. In front of the fireplace, I spot a large L-shaped sofa, its cream upholstery dotted with fluffy cream furs. I hurry up the staircase and find a spacious four-poster bed surrounded by sheer white curtains. The bed is dressed in a white down comforter, inviting me in. Although the house isn’t large, its coziness and romantic ambiance more than make up for its size.

“What’s across the bridge?” I turn to Nyx, who’s been following me as I “oooh” and “aaah” at everything.

“Let’s go find out,” he says, pointing for me to lead the way.

I sprint back across the bridge and into the smaller cabin. To my surprise, the entire cabin is made of glass with a ceiling like a giant sunroom. In the center of the room, I find a massive sunken-in tub surrounded by benches on all sides. The sight is breathtaking, and I can already feel myself unwinding in this serene space.

“It’s a stargazing tub. Wait until you see it when it’s completely dark out here,” Nyx says.

“It’s fantastic, and I cannot wait to use it.”

“Are you hungry?” he asks, and my mouth starts to salivate because all I’ve eaten today was a Riff.

“I’m starving.”

“Come on. Let's go eat in front of the fireplace, then we can take off a few layers of clothes.” He flashes me a playful smile.

I follow him back across the bridge into the main cabin. He helps me out of my jacket, then I remove my boots, sweater, and hat.

“Much better,” he says, walking over to the couch after having removed his boots and jacket as well.

“So what’s for dinner?” I raise a brow, looking at the backpack in his hands.

“I wanted to keep it simple, so I had the chef whip up some sandwiches. I hope that’s okay.” He hands me a sandwich.

“It’s perfect. Thank you.” I take the sandwich and don’t waste time biting into it.

We both eat relatively quickly, neither of us speaking much because we’re both really hungry.

“And for dessert…” Nyx says, making two mugs appear in our hands. He fills them with the hot chocolate Twig made, rainbow sprinkles floating at the surface. I lean back into the cushions and tuck my feet underneath me, sipping the hot chocolate. It’s delicious, and the warmth coats my stomach.

“When Twig said he made this hot chocolate special for us, was he implying he tampered with it somehow?”

“You know I wouldn’t put it past him, but he just wants us to have a good time.”

I’m not sure what that means. A part of me wishes I questioned Twig more about it before we left, but I keep drinking it anyway. It’s delicious, and I could use a good time, especially knowing what the coming days hold.

“How do we get from Nighthold to Cloudrum? How do we cross the Feral Sea?” I ask, moving to angle my body toward him.