Page 45 of Frost Bound

Olwen’s lips thinned, but he dipped his chin. “As you wish.”

The weather did indeed worsento the point where he could hardly see in front of his horse. Sleet and snow pelted Neve from the heavens angrily, as if berating him for taking a humanloviaye. There was no welcome to Lorriia. It felt like condemnation.

Some of the tension disappeared as he caught a glimpse of the old barn just ahead. He slowed his horse as Eyri sidled up next to him.Olwen rolled the doors open and waved his hand. Neve didn’t need to press the mount at all. Alastor practically pranced into the barn. Eyri, Flyka, and the human followed.

Olwen wrestled the doors shut, cutting off the wind and snow. It howled outside as if raging at being thwarted.

Neve sprang from the saddle and shook the sleet from his hair. While he had no aversion to the rain, the snow tended to seep into his bones after a while.

He turned to Flyka, who lifted her uninjured leg over the horse and perched sideways in the saddle.

She glared at the ground, and he frowned. His Haunt never did well when she felt vulnerable.

“Do you need help?” he asked softly, the scent of sweet hay and wet horseflesh filling the air.

She shook her head and peered toward the door. “No, Olwen will help me,” she said a bit louder than necessary. “Tend to the princess.”

Olwen strode toward them and helped Flyka off her horse. They limped to the side of the barn designed for living.

His mood soured further as he glanced at the bedraggled creature in the soaked brown cloak. Neve strode over to her, only catching a brief glimpse of her chin.

“Do you need assistance, my lady?” he asked through gritted teeth.

She hunched over farther, her cracked knuckles clenched against the reins. “No. I’m f-f-fine.”

Her raspy voice made him frown. She sounded nothing like she had this morning.

He crossed his arms as she slowly lifted her right leg from the shortened stirrups and twisted to face him. She jumped from the saddle and stumbled upon landing, her cloak wrapped around her awkwardly. Neve lurched forward and caught the princess by the elbows before she fell on her face.

What was wrong with her? This was the second time he’d kept her from falling on her face.

Her bones were so fragile beneath her skin. His fingers flexed on the wet fabric of her sleeve. He could crush her so easily if hewasn’t careful. Without his permission, his thumbs caressed the sides of her forearms.

“I said I’m fine.” Thevallesjerked out of his grasp, almost falling once again.

Neve scoffed. “Clearly.”

She tossed her hood back and scowled at him, her little blue lips turned downward. He blinked slowly. Blue lips? Her lips had been pink before. Were humans really so changeable? Could they shapeshift as well? Was he discovering a human secret?

Even as the questions ran through his mind, he couldn’t tear his attention from her mouth, pouty and bowed at the top with a fuller bottom lip. A low heat flickered inside his chest the longer he stared.

Blue looks good on her.

The errant thought jarred Neve out of his ludicrous musings. He took a big step backward, off-kilter. His hearts pounded in his chest as the princess ignored him and drifted toward the living area.

What the devil was that? Had he really been admiring the enemy?

There was something very wrong with him.

Neve tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling of the barn and rolled his shoulders.

It wouldn’t happen again.

At least he hoped.

Chapter Sixteen

Neve

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