Page 33

Chapter 10

Matitus drapes his arm over my shoulders, tugging me toward him as we follow Silas outside. We go around to the doors and as soon as they open, I feel an icy blast of cold air. The harshness of it makes me shiver when I feel something heavy draped over me, making me look up. Silas has draped a fur cloak over my shoulders. I tug it closer. It’s warm and thick. He then moves in front of me and ties a belt around my waist, holding the cloak closed. Then he steps aside and motions for me to step out. I do. I feel a cloak pull over my head as the wind whips my face harshly. They walk me around the castle grounds. Snow has blown in overnight leaving a dusting of snow on everything making it colder today.

Peering at the three of them, I notice none have coats on. Dragus is walking around in just an undershirt.

“Aren’t you cold?” I ask, making them stop.

“We don’t get cold, we breathe fire,” Dragus answers laughing.

Duh, Elora.

As we continue around the castle grounds, I notice the ridiculous amount of guards watching us—well, me. Their red eyes glisten brightly, watching my every move. I step closer to whoever is beside me, bumping into them, trying to get away from the man standing on the brick wall whose eyes are glued to me. An arm goes around my shoulder and glance up and see it is Silas.

“They won’t hurt you, and I would kill them if they tried,” he says before glaring at the man, making him look away.

The snow grows thicker as we come to the lawns out the front. I scoop some up, resisting the urge to drop it as my hands ache from the coldness while I roll it into a ball. Silas peers down at me and raises an eyebrow. Matitus and Dragus both have their backs to us as they walk ahead.

Silas mirrors me and does the same as his lips turn up in a smile.

I lift my hand and throw the snowball at Dragus. It hits him in the back, making him freeze. As he turns around, Silas lobs his, hitting Matitus in the face.

“Oh, someone wants to play,” says Matitus, a devious smile lighting up his face. He scoops up some snow, and I dart behind Silas just in time for it to miss me.

“Missed,” I say before sticking my head around Silas and sticking my tongue out at them. They grin, and I hear Silas laugh. I bend down gingerly, using Silas as a Dragon shield. I mold up more snow backing away quickly. This time I throw my snowball at Silas. He freezes before turning around, Matitus and Dragus are in fits of laughter.

“I thought we were on the same side,” he calls, balling up some snow. I squeal before taking off. He misses, and I laugh, running around the side of the castle scooping up snow as I mold it into the perfect ball. Just as I go to turn around the next corner, I stop and realize no one is behind me. I peek around the corner, no one is there, either. I hear someone whistle, and I look around before I suddenly get pelted with three different snowballs. I squeal at the coldness making me shiver.

Peering up, I notice all three of them standing on the roof.

“That’s cheating,” I scream.

Dragus jumps off the roof, and lands on his feet with a soft thud in front of me.

“Show off,” I mutter as he lands effortlessly. I still have the snowball, and I stare down at it in my hands.

“Don’t you dare; I came down, didn’t I?” he says as I raise the ball and then throw it straight at his face. He tries to block it, it just smashes all over him.

“That’s it, you’re gonna get it now,” he says as I take off running. The cloak becomes damp from the snow, making it heavy and slowing my pace. Not that they can’t easily outrun me.

Silas drops off the roof in front of me and I dart off in another direction, only to run into Matitus, I run past him and grab the back of his shirt hiding from Dragus and Silas—using him to block incoming snowballs.

“What are you doing, little one?” Matitus asks.

“Using you as a shield,” I say.

“And what makes you think I am on your side? You hit us first.”

“Because I said you’re on mine, now.” I giggle, maneuvering as he tries to reach behind himself to grab me.

Silas lunges for me and I move only to jump back when Dragus does the same.

“If I help you, what do I get?” Matitus asks. I think before answering.

“What do you want?” I squeal as Silas tries again. Matitus blocks him, making Silas growl.

“Fine, I want a kiss,” he says, making me laugh and Dragus scoff.

“Of all the things you could ask for, that’s what you ask of her.”