Page 39 of Frost Bound

The human crossed her arms over her chest, effectively ending Neve’s gawking. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I’ll take a bedroll by the fire, my lord. I’d like to be near the heat after the ride we just had.” She smiled softly at Eyri. “Thank you kindly for the offer. Enjoy the bed.”

Her attention turned to Flyka. “If you could show me to the privy, I would be most grateful.”

Flyka arched her brows at Neve in question. He nodded, and she gestured to the door. “Let’s go.”

The two females hustled out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Olwen whistled. “I’ve always wondered what those humans have under all their layers. Not as displeasing as I thought it would be.”

Neve scowled at him. “I doubt she missed your perusal.”

His friend shrugged. “Chalk it up to curiosity,lae reillov. And all I have to say is that my curiosity is piqued.”

Neve walked to the hearth and pulled his bedroll from its waterproof sheath, laying it parallel to the fire. “You can have her.”

“You’re giving her your bedroll?” Eyri asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Neve tossed his hands in the air. “Someone has to sleep in that bed, and she made it clear it wouldn’t be her. So, Eyri, you’re the shortest of us. You can sleep there.” He held his hand palm up and wiggled his fingers. “Hand it over. I’m using yours.”

His cousin groaned. “I’m going to have to sleep at an angle.”

Olwen thumped his chest and eyed the bed. “There’s no way that thing would hold my weight.”

“And Flyka?” All three of them smiled at the same time. She’d be sleeping by the door. If anyone tried to get in, they’d have to go through her first.

Eyri tossed his bedroll to Neve. He laid his out near the window, opening it just a crack. The cold air brushed over his skin. He pulled his shirt off and hung it next to the fire. Next, he placed his boots and socks near the hearth. He crawled into his bedroll and stretched out while Eyri and Olwen both got ready for bed, before going to arrange the room next door. They returned and settled in, the crackling fire filling the silence.

Neve found himself staring at the door. The women had been gone for quite some time.

As if his thoughts had conjured them, the door opened and the princess and Flyka entered. He stared, his teeth grinding together. The littlevalleswore one of his shirts as a night dress—one that he’d given to Flyka a long time ago. It hung off the princess’ shoulder, showing more pallid skin. She wore a pair of green hose beneath that clung to her like a second skin. Her vibrant rose-gold hair was braided back from her face. Her nose was still red, her lips a soft pink.Saloescoloring was bizarre.They changed colors like some of thegermals—little fish that lived in the Lake of Glass.

She moved straight to the bedroll before the fire—his bed—and curled up in a tiny ball. The blankets shivered as she got comfortable. A sigh escaped her, and it made something inside his chest clench.

Neve turned his back to the human and stared at the wall before closing his own eyes.

Her comfort was none of his concern. She was here for one purpose and one purpose only.

Peace.

If such a thing were possible.

Chapter Fourteen

Dahlia

Dahlia bolted upright,disoriented and groggy as thunder rumbled above. She rubbed her eyes and brushed a few hairs from her face. Her breath sawed in and out as she tried to calm her racing heart. It was only a storm. She pulled the covers up to her chin as a cold breeze drifted through the room. Glancing over her head, she glared at the open window. It was bloody storming. Why the devil was the window open?

Crazy giants.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but it wouldn’t come. A deep snore came from her right. Squinting, she spotted the mountain of a giant sleeping peacefully on the floor, his chest rising and lowering with his powerful breaths. Olwen was his name. He snorted in his sleep again, the loud snuffling seeming to rattle the rafters. How could anyone sleep with all that racket?

Lia shifted slightly and winced. Her body ached something fierce. While she knew how to ride, it had been quite some time since she’d ridden a horse—let alone the fuzzy, giant ones.Straddling the great beast made her feel like a contortionist. The inside of her thighs were raw and aching.

She inhaled deeply through her nose and frowned.

Rosemary and cedar.

Dahlia lifted the blankets to her nose. Not those. She dropped the covers and sniffed the collar of the massive night dress. There it was. Her muscles loosened as she took another whiff. The scent was pure comfort. Whatever soap the giants used, Lia couldn’t wait to get her hands on some. It made her mouth water.

---