Page 45 of Kingdoms of Tides and Twilight

Beyond the camp, a profound silence fell over them. The only sound was Damion's steady breathing and the soft crunch of snow beneath his hooves. As they descended the mountain trail, the path gradually leveled out, leading them towards a still forest. The trees, their silver bark barely visible beneath a thick layer of snow, grew sparsely in the high elevation.

Renya closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. The crisp scent of pine filled her lungs, evoking memories of Christmases past and the brief time she'd spent in the Pacific Northwest. For a moment, homesickness washed over her, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of rightness. This world, so different from the one she'd left behind, was becoming home.

As they entered a large clearing, Renya's eyes widened in wonder. The snow-covered ground reflected the moonlight, bathing everything in a soft glow. Steam rose from the center of the clearing, hovering in the cold air like a misty veil.

Grayden brought Damion to a halt, and they dismounted, their feet sinking into the soft snow with a satisfying crunch. Renya approached the edge of the pond, crouching down to get a better look. She peeled off one glove, her fingers already protesting the cold, and cautiously dipped her hand into the water.

A gasp of surprise escaped her as warmth surrounded her hand, the stark contrast to the frigid air sending a pleasant shiver up her arm. Before she could fully process the sensation, strong arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind. Grayden's chin came to rest on top of her head, and she felt, rather than heard, his contented sigh.

Renya leaned back into his embrace, savoring this moment of peace and solitude. With their impending journey and the looming threat of the Shadow Queen, such moments were precious and rare. She closed her eyes, focusing on the steady beat of Grayden's heart against her back, allowing it to ground her in the present.

After a long moment, Renya broke the silence, her voice tinged with playful sarcasm. “Well, was your plan to get me out here and freeze me to death? Because if that's the case, you should have just left me in the forest when you first found me.”

Grayden's laughter rang out, deep and joyous. Renya realized with a start that she'd never heard him laugh quite like that before. Even in the face of their challenges, he seemed different—lighter, more carefree.

“You first,” he said, releasing her and leaning against a large rock outcropping, his arms crossed and a challenging glint in his eye.

Renya surveyed the heated pool before her. Large boulders and rocks surrounded it, creating a natural shelter from the harsh mountain elements. As she drew closer, the faint scent of sulfur tickled her nose.

Taking a deep breath, Renya decided to be bold. She unclasped her cloak, draping it over one of the large rocks at the pool's edge. She could feel Grayden's gaze on her, hot and intense, as she continued to undress.

She removed her gloves and carefully extracted the dagger from her boot, placing it within easy reach at the water's edge. Her boots followed, landing with a soft thud in the snow. As more of her skin was exposed to the biting cold, Renya's movements became faster, eager to submerge herself in the inviting warmth of the spring.

What had started as a teasing show for Grayden quickly became a race against the elements. With a final, swift movement, she shed her undergarments and practically dove into the water. The transition from freezing air to scorching warmth was so abrupt it nearly took her breath away.

As she submerged herself to her neck, a sigh of relief and pleasure escaped her lips. The hot water immediately began to work its magic on her sore muscles, easing away the aches from her training session. She turned to Grayden, unable to keep a smug smile from her face.

Not to be outdone, Grayden began to undress, his eyes never leaving hers. Renya watched, mesmerized, as he shed his layers. Even in the frigid temperature, his body was a marvel, all corded muscle and quiet strength. For a moment, she allowed herself to simply admire him, marveling at how this man—this powerful, kind, sometimes infuriating man—had become such an integral part of her life in such a short time.

“Okay, you've proven your point,” she called out, her voice a mixture of admiration and impatience. “You're all kinds of masculine. You can brave the cold. I get it. Now come in here and kiss me.”

Instead of carefully entering the water as she had, Grayden moved to the far end of the pool and dove in headfirst. The splash sent a cascade of water around Renya, momentarily obscuring her vision in a cloud of steam. For a second, panic fluttered in her chest as she lost sight of him.

Then, suddenly, strong arms encircled her waist from behind, pulling her close. Grayden's body was already warm, and Renya couldn't hold back a moan of pleasure as his hands began to work at her shoulders, kneading away the tension. The combination of the hot water and his expert touch was heavenly, and Renya felt herself truly relaxing for the first time in days.

His calloused hands, hardened by years of wielding a sword, moved across her skin with surprising tenderness. Every few minutes, he would pause his ministrations to place a soft, wet kiss against her back, each one sending a shiver of delight down her spine.

The peaceful moment was shattered by the sharp crack of a breaking branch. Renya felt Grayden tense behind her, his hand already reaching for the blade he'd left at the pool's edge. Her heart hammered in her chest as she scanned the tree line, searching for any sign of threat.

A flash of white caught her eye, and she let out a relieved laugh as a small rabbit darted across the clearing, its nose twitching curiously. Beside her, she heard Grayden's sigh of relief as he replaced his sword in its sheath.

“I was worried there for a second,” he admitted, moving back to her side and resuming his gentle massage.

Renya turned to face him, taking in the sight of his wet hair, tousled and glistening in the moonlight. His eyes, impossibly green, met hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her collarbone before his hands resumed their exploration of her body, starting with her fingers.

As he worked, Renya closed her eyes, losing herself in the sensations. The warmth of the water, the soothing pressure of his hands, the crisp mountain air on her face—it all combined to create a moment of perfect contentment.

Suddenly, she felt something cold and hard slide onto her finger. Her eyes flew open in confusion, looking down to see Grayden silently slipping a slender ring onto her hand.

For a moment, Renya's mind went blank with shock. She looked up, meeting Grayden's gaze. His eyes, usually so confident and sure, now held a mix of uncertainty and hope that made her heart clench. Through their bond, she could feel his heart racing, his emotions a swirling mix of anticipation and fear.

A thousand thoughts raced through Renya's mind in that moment. It was too soon, wasn't it? She'd only known him for such a short time. She'd never even considered marriage before. Everything in her life had changed so rapidly, she'd barely had time to process it all.

But as quickly as these doubts surfaced, they were washed away by a wave of certainty. She knew, with a bone-deep surety, that she would never love anyone else the way she loved Grayden. The idea of spending her life with anyone else was unthinkable. Suddenly, marriage didn't seem like a scary, archaic concept. It felt right. Natural. Inevitable.

As the seconds ticked by, she could feel Grayden's anxiety rising through their bond. Before she could find her voice, he broke the silence, his words barely audible over the whisper of wind across the water.

“Renya?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically timid, his eyes searching hers for any hint of her thoughts.

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