Page 12 of Bite the Power
Sister.That explained it. Elora possessed the same commanding presence as her brother, though hers came wrapped in a more approachable package.
"I'm your personal field guide, apparently." Elora's smile held genuine warmth along with a hint of mischief.
Tessa poured herself coffee and took a sip, the caffeine hitting her system like a much-needed lifeline. "I thought Eli would be accompanying me today. Plus, I really don't need a personal guide."
"Trust me, you do." Elora's expression turned serious. "The ice has been unpredictable lately. Crevasses opening without warning, weather systems shifting faster than expected. Kaidan doesn't take chances with his guest's safety."
"So, Kaidan personally requested this arrangement?"
"Personally ordered it, actually." Elora's grin returned. "My brother has very strong feelings about protecting what he considers his."
Something in her tone made Tessa's pulse quicken.His.Why did that word send heat spiraling through her?
"He seems like he takes his leadership seriously."
"Obsessively so." Elora leaned back in her chair. "He's been king for seven years, ever since our father died. Sometimes I think the weight of protecting everyone in Frosthaven will crush him if he doesn't learn to delegate."
Tessa found herself leaning forward, hungry for any insight into the man who had dominated her thoughts all night. "That's a lot of pressure for anyone."
"Most people see the stern king facade and assume that's all there is to him." Elora's blue eyes sparkled with sisterly affection. "But Kaidan has a sense of humor buried under all that royal responsibility. He's actually quite charming when he lets his guard down."
Charming.Tessa tried to imagine the imposing man from yesterday cracking jokes or relaxing enough to show a lighter side. The image sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.
"I find that hard to believe."
"Maybe you'll get to see it for yourself some time." Elora stood, gathering her empty mug. "He doesn't let many people past his walls, but something tells me you might be stubborn enough to break through them."
Before Tessa could process that comment, Elora was moving toward the door of the kitchen. "Ready to explore? The morning light on the glaciers is spectacular, and I want to show you the research zones before the weather turns."
Tessa drained her coffee and followed Elora to the equipment room, where they bundled into heavy parkas and loaded their backpacks with field gear. The familiar routine of preparing for fieldwork grounded her, reminding her of why she'd agreed to come here.
The moment they finally stepped outside, the brutal cold hit like a physical force. Tessa's breath crystallized instantly, and the pristine snow crunched beneath their boots with a sound like breaking glass. The landscape stretched endlessly in every direction—rolling white dunes punctuated by towering ice formations that caught the morning light and threw it back in prismatic rainbows.
"My God," Tessa breathed, her words forming small clouds in the frigid air. "It's beautiful."
"Wait until you see the aurora at night." Elora adjusted her pack and started toward a ridge that overlooked the frozen sea. "Kaidan says the lights have been more active lately. Another one of our environmental mysteries."
As they trudged through the snow, Tessa couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into something far more complex than a simple research assignment. The Arctic held secrets—she could feel them humming beneath the surface like the seismic activity that had brought her here.
And at the center of it all was Kaidan, the golden-haired king whose touch had awakened something in her that she'd thought was safely buried with her childhood dreams.
The ice beneath Tessa's boots groaned ominously as she followed Elora across a particularly treacherous stretch of frozen terrain. Each step required careful consideration—what looked like solid ground could easily be a thin layer concealing a deadly crevasse.
"Watch the darker patches," Elora called over her shoulder, her breath forming crystalline clouds in the bitter air. "The ice is thinner there. Last week, one of our scouts nearly fell through when the ground shifted without warning."
As if summoned by her words, a subtle tremor rippled through the earth beneath them. Tessa felt it travel up through her boots, a low vibration that seemed to emanate from deep within the Arctic itself. She paused, pulling out her portable seismometer to capture the reading.
"How often do these tremors occur?" Tessa adjusted the sensitive equipment, watching the needle spike and settle.
"More frequently lately. Sometimes several times a day." Elora navigated around a jagged ice formation with the fluid grace of someone who'd spent her entire life in this hostileenvironment. "Kaidan thinks they're connected to the unusual weather patterns we've been experiencing."
Kaidan.Even hearing his name sent an unexpected warmth through Tessa's chest. She forced herself to focus on the scientific research rather than the memory of his hand in hers.
"It's fascinating how you've adapted to these conditions." Tessa tucked the equipment back into her pack, genuine admiration coloring her voice. "I've dreamed of working in the Arctic for years but seeing it firsthand... the beauty is almost overwhelming."
Elora's smile held warmth. "Most humans find it terrifying rather than beautiful. You're different from what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
