Page 10 of Trapped with the Ice Queen

"So, what's the plan now?" she asked, more to break the loaded silence than anything else.

"Survive the storm," Alex said matter-of-factly. "Keep the fire going, ration the food, wait it out."

Vivienne frowned. "That's it?"

"That's it," Alex confirmed.

The simplicity of the answer grated on Vivienne. She was used to plans, to action, to doing. Sitting still and waiting felt intolerable.

They fell into silence again, the only sound the scrape of Alex's spoonagainst her bowl and the constant howl of the wind. Outside, the storm showed no signs of weakening.

After dinner, Alex began organizing their supplies, stacking cans and folding blankets with deft efficiency. Vivienne watched from the table, her mind still turning over the events of the day. The cabin felt different in the darkness, smaller somehow, yet also safer than she wanted to acknowledge.

"Let me help," she said finally as she stood.

Alex hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. Grab those blankets."

Vivienne reached for them just as Alex did, and their hands touched.

Vivienne froze, her fingers brushing against Alex's calloused palm. Her breath caught as the warmth spread up her arm, mingling with a deep ache.

Alex seemed equally affected, her posture stiffening as she slowly drew her hand back. "Thanks," she said quietly, turning away.

Vivienne stood there for a moment, her pulse racing. She pressed her lips together, refusing to let the vulnerability show.

As Alex worked, Vivienne sank back into the chair by the window. She stared out at the storm, its fury unabated, and for the first time, she allowed herself to admit how helpless she felt. Not just about the storm or being stranded, but about the way her body seemed to react whenever Alex was near.

Her chest tightened, and she wrapped her arms around herself. The storm outside was unyielding, but the one inside her felt worse—a storm of fear, frustration, and something dangerously close to desire.

She glanced toward Alex, who was now tending the fire. The flickering light caught the strong lines of her face, the quiet competence in her movements. The same qualities that had irritated Vivienne earlier now seemed to draw her eye, much as she tried to resist.

Vivienne hated that she felt comforted by it.

Hated even more that she didn't hate it at all.

4

ALEX

Alex woke with a start, the cabin's quiet morning air chilling her to the bone. The fire had long since burned out, leaving only the faint smell of ash and the cool bite of winter seeping through the cracks in the weathered logs that made up the walls. Her neck ached from the awkward angle she'd slept in on the couch, and her muscles protested as she stretched, groaning softly.

The night had been long—too long, in fact. She hadn't expected a restful sleep, not with the storm howling outside like some angry, primordial beast, but she hadn't anticipated just how restless it would be. Viviennehad taken the bed, of course, as if she were entitled to it, leaving Alex with nothing but a thin blanket and the lumpy couch. Despite her irritation, Alex had bitten her tongue. Arguing with Vivienne in the middle of the night wouldn't help either of them, and she'd already been through enough that day. So, Alex had endured it, listening to the storm outside rage on as she stayed in her corner of the room.

She wasn't sure what bothered her more—the fact that Vivienne had claimed the bed so easily, or the way Alex had silently allowed it. Maybe it was the look in Vivienne's eyes as she settled in, that blend of entitlement and exhaustion. She wasn't used to people like Vivienne—used to luxury and ease—but there was something about her that nagged at Alex, like an itch she couldn't quite scratch.

Now, though, watching her chest rhythmically rise and fall, Alex felt an odd wave of protectiveness. The thick quilt was pulled up snugly, and Vivienne's face was softened in sleep, no longer guarded or sharp. She looked beautiful and almost vulnerable. A side of her Alex hadn't seen yet, and it madethe frustration that had built the previous day feel distant, almost irrelevant.

Alex huffed softly, the sound barely audible over the relentless howling of the wind outside. She rubbed her eyes, trying to push the thoughts away. She shouldn't be feeling this way. She should be annoyed, very annoyed, by Vivienne's snide remarks and constant complaining. Yet here she was, watching her sleep like some kind of fool. There was no reason to pity her. Vivienne clearly had it all. But somehow, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than she let on.

Alex forced herself to focus. The storm was getting worse, the wind slamming against the cabin's small windows with a force that made the weathered walls tremble. It wasn't safe to stay still for long. She needed to check the firewood and reinforce the windows again before the temperature dropped further. The storm would have them trapped for weeks if they didn't stay on top of it.

The cold air hit her like a slap as she stood, and she winced, pulling her thick wool sweater tighter around her shoulders.The cabin was drafty, the cracks and crevices around the windows and door letting in icy gusts that seemed to seep into her bones. She glanced at the bed once more, then crossed to the nearest window, peering out into the whiteout conditions. The blizzard was relentless, blurring the world into an indistinct haze of white, the trees and hills swallowed by the endless flurry of snowflakes. Alex had seen worse, but this felt different, heavier somehow, more ominous. She needed to make sure everything was secure.

She moved to the woodpile by the door, assessing what was left. It wasn't much. Enough for the morning, but if the storm didn't let up soon, they'd be in trouble. Alex grabbed another armful of logs, their weight familiar in her calloused hands, and stacked them carefully near the dormant stove. Her movements were quick and instinctive as she sorted the wood by size and dryness. Every minute counted. Her thoughts briefly drifted to Vivienne, still sleeping, but she pushed them away. She didn't have time to babysit someone who couldn't take care of themselves.

But still, as she worked, she noticed the soft sounds from the bed. Vivienne shifted, the rustle of sheets and creak of old mattress springs cutting through the eerie silence. Alex glanced over, expecting to see her still asleep, but instead, Vivienne's gaze met hers from across the room. Her eyes were half-lidded, not quite awake but not far from it either, and there was a vulnerability there that unsettled Alex more than any sharp retort or haughty comment ever had.

For a moment, Alex froze, caught in the quiet rawness that shone through Vivienne's bleary stare. Her face was pale in the weak light filtering in through the windows, and Alex saw something in her clear blue eyes—something fragile, something human. It made her chest tighten.

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