Page 99 of Of Rime and Ruin
She’s good with animals, I’ll admit. The cranky mount has taken a liking to the princess. It pushes its snout into her hand, snuffling as it searches for treats. Nahla laughs and tucks a bit of jerky between its fuzzy lips.
My chest tightens, and I look away. Would she still like me—ashim? I hope so. It’s only a matter of time before she finds out. And then what?
“Come. I’ll walk you inside,” I say, before the dark thoughts can creep in.
She looks up and smiles, mischief dancing in her eyes. “Depends on where you’re taking me.”
“Your room, of course.”
Her face falls. “Of course,” she echoes.
The joy of the hunt is crumbling already, like ice into a frothing sea.
She rearranges her expression into a blank slate. Is she unhappy with me? Tired from the journey? I should get herinside, where it’s warm and comfortable. Deirdre can brew a pot of tea, or hot chocolate. Females fucking love chocolate.
“Come on, then,” I grunt.
She pats the snowbear one last time, then follows me out of the stables. Our snowleathers crunch on the snow, the only sound between us.
Has she had hot chocolate before? Suddenly, I’m overcome with the need to see her nose-deep in a mug of cocoa, milk froth clinging to her mouth. I glance at her lips as hunger churns my stomach.
Nahla keeps her gaze on the ground, her mouth set in a firm line, following me wordlessly. The sooner we get that hot chocolate, the better. Something is bothering her; that much, I can tell. My hand flexes at my side, straining toward her. Will she recoil if I hold her hand?
Probably.
I ball it into a fist instead.
When we reach the castle, the captain greets us with a quiet salute and opens the door.
“Ah, there you are, love!” Deirdre exclaims, hurrying to meet us. She skips me completely, rushing to snare Nahla in a motherly inspection. “Let’s get you warm.”
Nahla brightens as the housekeeper fusses over her, removes her tattered cloak, and presses a hot cup of tea in her hands.
“Good to see you too, Deirdre,” I grumble, removing my cloak.
The housekeeper shoots me a sassy look and dips her head. “Sire, I only have so many hands.”
Nahla lifts her cup and takes a long, seductive sip. Her lips part around the porcelain with the promise of something more.
Amusement tightens my eyes. “Go ahead and get her warm.”
“Hold the door, Captain!” Lucas’s voice rasps behind me, with the sound of crunching snow. The healer rushes inside on a gustof wind, dusts the snow from his cloak, and stomps his feet on the rug.
The princess glances over her shoulder as Deirdre guides her down the hall, away from me. I nod at her, reassuring. The hot chocolate can wait, then. We’ll have some with dinner.
“A successful hunt!” exclaims Lucas.
I sigh, dragging my gaze away from Nahla’s retreating form. “Indeed.”
The healer claps the captain on the shoulder, pulling him inside. “Captain, I hope your days without us were uneventful. No certain… casualties.”
The captain glances my way, a careful strain in his gaze, and my heart leaps into my throat. I swallow it. Bad news, then.
So why do I feel relief?
Dizziness prickles the edge of my vision. I prop my hand on the wall to steady myself. If my subjects are dead without me, it meansI’m not the perpetrator, after all.
Could it be true?
