Page 142 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

“Then freeze to death,” he said. He opened his bag and moved his hand around blindly until he felt a small bundled-up blanket he had packed. It was a bit damp from the rain soaking through the material, but it was better than nothing. The prince removed his soaked coat and wrapped himself in the blanket, using the bag as a pillow, and laid down.

She continued to shiver, rubbing her hands down her legs, still trying to catch her breath.

“I’m not going to bite, Nola,” he said. “We will freeze to death if we do not warm each other. The temperature is going to drop, and we are drenched.”

He is right, she told herself. Dammit.

Nola reached out, feeling the soft material he was wrapped in. The prince was well prepared before they came on the island, and she would be an idiot to refuse.

“Fine,” she said stubbornly.

She moved quickly before she changed her mind. A smile crinkled Elijah’s mouth before opening the blanket and cocooning her inside. His muscular arms wrapped around her and pulled her close against his chest.

“You know,” he said. “It would be better if you took off those wet clothes—”

“Not a chance,” Nola said, her voice stammering from the cold. “I’d rather freeze to death.”

The breath of his quiet chuckle tickled the side of her cheek, and guilt wrapped her mind—confused and bothersome. She believed him to be cold-hearted. But was he?

He gave her a tight squeeze.

“Goodnight, Nola,” Elijah said before closing his eyes.

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