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“What are we to each other, Nykor?” she asked, her tone warm and breathtakingly soft. Her dark blue eyes sparkled like sapphires, calling to me to come and claim her.
I stood up and took a step back.
“One moment you’re warm, nurturing, and caring, and the next you’re frigid and coldhearted. Dismissive. What is it?”
“I cannot be the man you want me to be,” I answered quickly.
“Why not?” she pressed. She took a step towards me, and I took another backwards, gritting my teeth as her scent assaulted my senses.
“It is not for you to understand. I will not explain myself to the likes of you,” I blurted out.
She jerked back like I’d slapped her across the face. The lines of her body tensed, and I watched as her chest rose and fell with her restraint. She licked her lips and leveled me with an icy glare.
“Then why save me? Why not just let the steward take me so that you could be rid of the burden of me?”
“He didn’t deserve you,” I said with a scowl.
“Then who does? You?” she pressed further.
This was going too far. I needed to get away before I did something I regretted. She moved towards me, reaching out and brushing her fingers against my forearm, and it took everything in me to pull away. I stepped to the right and forcibly moved her to the left, trying to keep my eyes level with her own instead of the rest of her beautifully bare body.
“Enjoy your bath. Dinner will be waiting in the other room once you’re finished,” I said, trying to keep as much emotion out of my voice as I could. I spun around and strode off without another word.
I could feel her eyes on me as I walked out of the room.
It took everything in me to not turn back.
CHAPTER13
Ella
When I finally emerged from the bath, he wasn’t there. Instead, there was a tray of silver platters full of more food than I could probably eat in a week, but I couldn’t bring myself to take more than a few bites. I picked at it during the course of the day, but he didn’t return. With a soft sigh, I gazed out the window at the frozen landscape spread out all around me. Overnight, the city had been covered with a soft blanket of snow, hiding the muddy tracks from merchant carts and the mucky ground covered with hoofprints from the horses and various beastly creatures pulling them.
The sun had drifted across the horizon. By my guess, it was somewhere close to dinnertime. I pulled the plush towel around me tighter, turning back towards the room. It was easy to find the clothes he’d purchased for me. I ran my fingers along the fabric of the elaborate gowns, taken aback by their grandeur. If I wore one, I had no doubt that I would feel like a princess.
When it was clear that Nykor wasn’t coming back, I decided to try everything on. Everything fit fairly well. I wasn’t sure how he’d figured out my size, but it was a massive relief to cover myself up again. I searched through everything for any undergarments, but there was a distinct lack of them.
With a disgruntled scowl, I gave up on my hunt and pulled on my favorite of the dresses he had chosen for me. It was strikingly different from anything I’d worn in the past, but it felt right in this frozen fantasy world. The gown was a dark navy blue, accented with light blue satin trim and embordered with metallic silver thread. There was matching white and silver lace along the hem that was reminiscent of the ebb and flow of the snowdrifts right outside. It was breathtaking.
I slipped on a pair of glittery white slippers. There was a short heel, but the beads of glass sewn into a swirling design really took my breath away. As a final step, I pulled a new, brilliantly white fur mantle over my shoulders. I slid my fingertips through the thick pelt, feeling as though the snow wolf was there with me in spirit. With a deep breath, I left the bedroom and went out through the entryway. My skin tingled as I passed through the threshold. I glanced up to see a series of symbols glowing over the door.
I furrowed my brow and hesitantly reached my fingers back through it. The place on my forehead tingled with heat and my hand warmed, but nothing further happened.
I was able to pass through the doorway without Nykor.
If he wasn’t going to return on his own, I was going to find him and bring him back. One way or another, I was going to make him admit his feelings for me whether he wanted to or not.
I knew he cared for me. I just didn’t know what was holding him back.
With purpose, I lifted my chin and strode forward, sprinting down the spiraling stairs until I reached the ground floor. By following the boisterous sounds of merriment and laughter, it was easy to find the main hall. There was a massive kettle full of mulled wine in front of the roaring fire in the enormous hearth, and I soon found a huge, piping-hot mug pressed into my hands.
For a while, I sat and enjoyed the sight of so many different creatures from so many various walks of life all gathering together. Some were selling their wares. Others had carts laden with pastries, grilled meat, and all kinds of tasty treats they were exchanging over silver coins. There were even what appeared to be pitchers of mead, red wine, and beer for sale in addition to everything else. It was as though an entire street market had taken over the great hall.
As the evening grew later, the celebrations grew more raucous. A band had taken to what appeared to be a hand-built stage to the right, and the central part had been cleared of tables and chairs to make room for a dance floor. It was already filling up with people. I grinned as men swung their women around, their joyous moods richly contagious.
I sipped at my mug of wine, enjoying the warm, spicy blaze in my belly. Nykor was nowhere to be seen, and I tried not to let that bother me. I was just about to get up and start searching for him once more, but my attention was quickly caught by something else.
There was a scream.
