Page 58 of Beholden
But as I passed through to the other side, I blinked the water out of my eyes and found that my horse was standing in a calm, shallow pool. Straight ahead, Curly and Ty had led their mounts out of the water into a dark cavern. They’d dismounted and Curly was already in the process of guiding his horse farther away from the waterfall. Next to me, Vilmar spluttered, wiping his eyes and combing wet strands of hair off his face.
“We can tie up the horses here,” Curly said. “And then we’ll hike back in where we can start a fire and dry out.”
“Won’t the queen’s guards see the light from our fire?” Vilmar scanned our surroundings with his keen gaze, likely not missing a single detail.
“We have a short while before darkness. After that, aye, we’ll need to be extinguishing the flames for the night.”
While Ty and Vilmar tended our horses and speared for fish in the pool, Curly disappeared through the waterfall to gather wood, staying in the water along the banks so the hunting dogs wouldn’t be able to track our scent. A short while later, he plunged back through the waterfall, keeping the majority of wood dry by shielding it with an oiled blanket from amongst our supplies.
He made quick work of starting a small fire, but even when the heat began to fill the cavern, I couldn’t stop shaking. As Vilmar approached with several fish on the tip of his sword, his brows furrowed as he took me in. “You’re freezing.”
“I shall warm soon enough.” I tried to keep my voice cheerful, but the cold made it wobbly.
Vilmar handed his sword to Ty who followed behind him, his spear stacked with fish too. “If you strip to your chemise,” Vilmar lifted his chain mail over his head, “your garments will dry quicker.”
Mortified at his suggestion, I retreated a step. “I cannot—”
“We shall turn our backs and give you privacy.” He continued to shed his own garments, dropping his weapons belt and then raising his tunic.
At the sight of his bare chest, I was the one to spin and face the darkness of the cavern. My face was suddenly hot, though I knew not why. I’d witnessed various states of undress during my months at the mine. Our close living quarters had made modesty difficult.
At the crunch of steps directly behind me, I stiffened.
“Gabriella,” he said softly, “you won’t make it through the night in your wet garments. You must at least take off the outer layers and allow them to dry.”
He was right. And truthfully, my chemise underneath was modest and of good, sturdy material. I wasn’t sure why I was hesitating. “Very well,” I said just as softly in return. “I shall go farther into the darkness and undress.”
I didn’t wait for his response and instead walked several paces until I was hidden in the shadows. I made quick work of shedding the emerald gown the duchess had arranged for me to wear to the Choosing Ball. Though it was undeniably beautiful, as the heavy, wet weight fell from my shoulders, I felt as though I’d been set free. I stepped out and kicked it across the cave floor. For the first time in months I was truly free from the burdens I’d been carrying. Grendel was captured. The sacrifices to him were over. And the fairest maidens in the land could now rejoice.
I’d accomplished the impossible, and now I could rejoice too.
I tried to smile. Instead, I shuddered, but this time not from the cold. This time the shudder came from a place deep inside, a place that had somehow filled with love for Vilmar though I’d tried not to let it.
I loved him. The realization rose swiftly and painfully, and I would have cried out except that I cupped my hand over my mouth to catch it.
“Come back to the warmth of the fire, Gabriella,” he beckoned. “We have no time to waste in our efforts to dry out.”
I wanted to tell him I couldn’t come back, that we had to part ways. This was the moment to do so. I needed to free him. To cling to him would be entirely selfish of me.
I glanced to where Ty was roasting the fish above the crackling flames. “Your Highness, we need to speak.” But even as I tried to force the words out, I couldn’t contain my shivering.
He stalked over to me, and before I could protest, he scooped me up and carried me to the fire. Though I was mortified to be cocooned against his bare chest, the warmth of his flesh seeped into me. Upon reaching the flames, instead of releasing me, he lowered himself to the ground until I was sitting on his lap. The heat from the flames toasted me from the front, and his body provided warmth from behind.
Still embarrassed by the intimate position as well as his bare chest, I conceded that his efforts were noble and naught more. Without his warmth, I would have frozen, and he knew it. Nevertheless, I didn’t allow myself to relax against him and instead held myself rigidly. Moments later, when Ty offered us cooked fish, I made a move to leave the comfort and warmth of Vilmar’s hold, but he curled his arm around my waist. “Stay,” he whispered.
At the plea in his voice, I made no further effort to distance myself. Instead, I gratefully relished each bite of fish. As the warmth of the meal settled inside, I closed my eyes, too tired to keep them open. Within seconds, I fell asleep.
Something jolted me awake. I was surprised at the warmth surrounding me. In fact, I was warmer than I’d been in a very long time. I started to stretch but then startled at the tightening of thick arms around me.
My eyes flew open to utter darkness, and memories of the previous day rushed into my consciousness—fleeing from the queen’s guards, the long day of traveling, and then hiding behind the waterfall. The steady cascade of the water told me we were still in the secret cave. But our fire was doused and everyone was silent.
I attempted to move again, but lips pressed against my cheek, halting me. I was suddenly aware of my position—Vilmar was leaning against the cave wall, I was reclining against his chest, his legs outstretched on either side of mine, and his arms wrapped around me, covering me like a cloak. Thankfully, he was no longer shirtless. Nevertheless, our predicament was less than proper.
Although my chemise was still damp, I’d dried out enough I could sit by myself. To linger longer with Vilmar would certainly be indecent.
I tried to sit up, but he bent in, his lips brushing my cheek once more before finding my ear. “Don’t move. Soldiers are searching nearby.”
Immediately, I stilled. In the distance beyond the sheet of running water, I caught the faint glimmer of light. Torches? My pulse sped with fear. “Do you think they will discover our hiding place?”
