Page 25 of Blood Beneath the Snow

The prison was settled inthe low foothills to the west of the city. Behind it rested the mountain range, which continued far north into the wastelands. The peaks were covered in thick snow, and white flakes fell from dark skies, dampening my hair.

I rode hard, the fury within me building and burning as the tall, dark structure grew closer. I wished it would break like a wave reaching its peak. The longer it twisted, the more hopelessness climbed to meet it. Soon my anger would morph to despair.

Tears stung my eyes, and I chose to believe they were from the wind whipping against my face. I had to keep fighting, keep trying to come up with a way to help Freja escape, to keep Arne alive.

But how, when I was being rapidly stripped of all my autonomy?

The thundering of my horse’s hooves against the path was matched by another rider, gaining speed until they pulled aside me. I took a moment to steady myself before I looked up. Who had followed me from the temple? My mother, keen to give me another lecture on how useless I was?

When I finally turned my head to the side, my eyes were met with a dark mask.

Startled, I sat up straighter in the saddle, continuing to urge my horse on at a steady pace. The Hellbringer—gods above, that was really him—stared at me when I pulled my sword from the sheath buckled at my waist.

My heart thundered. Was he here to kill me?

I had no experience fighting on horseback. My first swipe with my blade was too wide, and he only had to lean slightly to avoid it. Wrist shaking from the effort of fighting one-handed, I readjusted my grip and swung again.

Another sorry attempt.

Anger had festered beneath my rib cage all morning, but now it erupted to a boil. “I hate you!” I screamed over the wind, knowing he was close enough to hear me. “Get it over with and kill me already!”

The dead-eyed mask only stared back at me, his mount keeping pace with mine. I pulled on the reins, bringing my horse to a sudden halt.

The Hellbringer continued on, his cloak billowing behind him, revealing the dark plated armor covering every part of his body. He didn’t slow or even glance back at me.

My nails dug into my palms, and I let out a scream, the only way I knew to release the emotions mounting in me. I panted as I watched him grow smaller in the distance, turning slightly north. No interest in going to the prison, then. So why had he been on the same path as me in the first place? Why dare show himself when he knew I would try to kill him?

More thundering hooves echoed from behind me and I whirled, sword still drawn, to see Volkan ride into view. When he arrived at my side, he was gasping for air. “Was that you screaming? Are you all right?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine. I saw—”

When I turned to point out the Hellbringer, he was gone. Vanished as if he’d never been there. I frowned. He hadn’t been riding nearly fast enough to make it past one of the other foothills and out of sight.

“What did you see?” Volkan’s voice was concerned.

“Nothing, I guess.” I turned and proceeded on my ride to the prison. No matter what, I would see Freja today. Only death would stop me, and it seemed the Hellbringer had no interest in killing me for now.

Assuming I hadn’t hallucinated him, of course.

I clenched my jaw. Impossible.

Your entire life is turning upside down,my thoughts whispered.Maybe you did imagine it. And if you didn’t, who would believe you?

When I arrived at the prison, tying my horse’s reins to the post out front, Volkan was still with me.

“You can go back,” I told him.

He shrugged and climbed down effortlessly. “I wasn’t attending the temple ceremony to appease your family. I was trying to get to know you better. If you’d rather be here, then I’ll join you.”

I regarded him for a long, silent moment, all too aware of the guards’ curious stares burning holes in my back. I took a step closer to him until there were mere inches between us and lowered my voice. “What is this?”

His eyes flicked to the guards, then back to me. “What do you mean?”

I wanted to shove him. “We aren’t in love. We’re getting married to fulfill a contract, nothing more. Stop pretending to care about me.”

Volkan studied me, crossing his arms as he did. “Revna. We might not love each other, but we’ll be spending the rest of our lives together. Doesn’t it sound better to be friends? I’m here because I don’t want my wife to be a stranger. Even if she’s my wife only in name.”

Anyone else I would have doubted. But everything about Volkan screamedgenuine. Each movement he made, every word he spoke, was with the intent to heal wherever he could. I clenched my teeth. I didn’t want to believe him, not when my experience with the godtouched told me at most they were capable of indifference.

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