Page 61 of Frost and Death
The further we trek from Axidoria, the more distinguishable the differences are between my cursed winter and Aiyana’s season. Aiyana’s weather is light and delicate in the forest, my observant eyes noting the areas kissed by her nature and killed by my touch.
My heart constricts, seeing the harsh ice and dead trees showing no signs of life all because of my powers.
The thought of dooming animals as much as my people makes my skin crawl.
The crisp breeze blows against me, drying some of the blood that has soaked through. Small shivers reverberate through me but none for Jerrick.
The damn man is so fucking warm it pisses me off.
As if he senses my irritation at his perfection, he hums under his breath, breaking the silence between us as we rock in and out of sync on the saddle.
I glance at him, and my vexation takes deeper root at his chiseled jaw, the perfect scar, the small dimple coming to life as he glances down. How could I—
“Something amusing you?”
I dart my stare from Jerrick, knowing I got caught but hoping my blush doesn’t surface. Damn him and his good looks.
His gaze bores into me, and I squirm further into myself.
“Oh, come now, what else do we have to do with our time together?” he asks, trying to antagonize me more.
“I’d much rather ride in silence than be stuck speaking with you.”
“And here I thought we were getting along so well.”
“We donotget along. Your family killed mine,” I spit.
“Says who?”
His denial only furthers my own beliefs. But I cannot predict what he will do if I piss him off. All I do know is he charmed me, killed a priest, fought my fiancé, and kidnapped me. He very well is capable of killing my family.
Him and the entire wretched Mikkelson line.
To keep from goading him, I bite my tongue hard, drawing blood. I hate my inability to protect myself and my stupid reliance on him to stay alive.
If I knew how to harness my abilities, I could protect myself.
And if you knew how to harness your abilities, your people wouldn’t hate you,andyou wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with, Tove.
Jerrick weaves his way through Biala Forest as night sweeps across the sky. The light from the sun diminishes, the trees clear, and a cloudless sky illuminates the white glow of the moon.
With the temperature lowering, the wind picks up, swishing and whirling around us, and more shivers take hold of me the longer I remain on horseback.
Not even the heat emanating from Jerrick can stop my teeth from rattling and my exhaustion from tugging at me.
The horse slows to a quieter walk as Jerrick says, “We need to camp for the night.”
I nod curtly through trembling teeth, and he guides his horse down an unworn path leading to a small clearing in front of a cave.
I look at Jerrick.
“It’ll keep us warm and keep us away from any creatures here in the forest,” he says.
The closer we get, the more I shake uncontrollably. It is dark outside, but the cave itself is a void.
My anxiety rises as Jerrick halts the steed and dismounts from behind me, removing all I had for warmth.
“What if something is inside?” I blurt.
