Page 419 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 27

Rossa was in the practice yard, taking aim at the archery target, when the screams started. She was supposed to be in the kitchen, helping Sal prepare tomorrow's Yule feast, when the whole town would come to the great hall to celebrate Christmas, but after she'd managed to tip a whole pot of honey on the flagstones instead of on the roast boar, and set one of the puddings on fire…Sal had shooed her out, saying she had hands enough to help her with the feast preparations. Sal said she'd call her if she needed her, so not to go far.

Rossa had sighed, knowing there would be no such call. She'd promised Mother she'd stay until the end of the feast, for it was rare enough that they came to the castle, and her people needed to see her. To know she shared their celebration and their sorrows, as well as the bounty of her table.

Rossa hoped Sal didn't tell Mother she'd almost set the table on fire, too.

But that meant she was stuck in the castle grounds, unable to head into the forest to spend the day with Snow, or even continue her hunt for those pilfering pigeons.

Those bloody pigeons…

It was almost as bad as being stuck in a scarlet wool gown that swished everywhere she went. So much for being a silent hunter on swift feet.

But she could still shoot, and while her skirts might impede her movement, they were no obstacle to her magic, so when she heard screams coming from the bailey, she brought her bow and arrows with her.

So that she might aim them at…

She blinked.

Maids ran screaming, for with no guards at the gate, now the mountain passes were closed and no one could enter or leave the town from outside, he'd wandered straight in, with no one to stop him.

"Shoot it!" one of the maids shrieked as she ran past Rossa into the castle proper.

But Rossa could not even bring herself to lift her bow.

"Snow?" she asked uncertainly. Surely there could not be more than one monstrous white bear in the mountains, but with the maids screaming so… "What are you doing here?"

The bear turned – for he stood on his hind legs, taller than any man – and stared at her. Then he lifted one enormous paw and pointed at her.

"It's Christmas, Snow. I can't go into the woods today. I'm needed here," she said, knowing even as the words left her lips that they were a lie. She wasn't needed, here or anywhere. For all that this was her family's castle, she had no place here. In the forest, it was different, but here…

Snow inclined his head, as if he understood. Then he bowed deeply, making her wonder if he truly had been a knight before he'd been transformed, and turned to go.

Her heart twisted within her, somehow wringing what moisture there was in her mouth until it was almost too dry to speak. Yet she could not bear to see him go, not when he'd come here to see her. It was Yule, and he was here, and the one person she wanted to see most of anyone. "Come inside, Snow. I haven't had my midday meal yet. I'm sure there's food enough in the kitchens for us to share."

She crossed the bailey, then threw open the doors to the great hall. Gritting her teeth, she took the folds of her skirt in both hands and performed her best curtsy, the sort her Father insisted she know in case she ever had to go to court and meet royalty.

Snow inclined his head, the way she imagined a king might, and went inside.

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