Page 5 of A Winter Romance
But’s Aryn’s eyes were already closed.
Sero shuffled towards him. Long dark eyelashes rested on high cheekbones. He didn’t seem to be shaking anymore. His breathing seemed even. Surely that was a good sign. Sero tucked the furs around Aryn’s shoulders more tightly. Aryn was obviously exhausted, but Sero didn’t think he seemed to be in immediate danger anymore. Or he hoped he wasn’t, at least.
He had pretty features, with his small, straight nose and round, full lips. Young. Perhaps early twenties? It was a lovely face but also delicate looking. It was the sort of elegant-looking face he expected in a city, not in these mountains.
Taking a bite of the loaf, he gazed out the entrance into the gently falling snow. He didn’t know how long it would snow and how long they would have to stay here. If he was alone, he could head out and go back to the village. But not with Aryn.
He pressed his lips together. He’d left the village for some peace and quiet, to get away for a few days. Instead, he was now nursing Aryn. And not just nursing him; he’d need to somehow get him back to Bordertown, where he belonged.
He held in a sigh. He’d needed this trip. To mourn his recent heartbreak. To try to forget Ketho. They’d met when Ketho had been visiting his family in the valley, where many oreads, including his oread side of the family, lived.
Ketho had stayed a few months. He was beautiful and wild. They’d been lovers through the summer and autumn. Sero had fallen in love.
Ketho hadn’t.
So now here Sero was, almost thirty and alone. As a youngling, he’d thought by this stage of his life, he’d be married with several children, but another Winter Solstice approached, and he’d be spending it alone. Again. He had no one to share mulled wine or hot chocolate with, no one to exchange Solstice gifts or enjoy the Solstice festival with, and no one to curl up with by the fire on the long, dark, cold winter nights.
His mother, recognising his low mood, had stood in his kitchen as he moped. “Take your troubles to the mountains and the forests, my darling. They will soothe you and give you strength.” That was what she always said, ever since he was a youngling. So he’d followed his mother’s advice.
He took another bite of the loaf, absently tasting the dried fruit. Next time, he’d add more honey. Perhaps a pinch more cinnamon.
He glanced at Aryn, still soundly asleep. This wasn’t at all what he’d had in mind when he’d left the village. He’d planned to spend the days climbing and wandering. Just him and nature. Instead, he was stuck with some unprepared twit from the city. A man who had now taken the only bed. He groaned. It would be a long night.
ChapterFive
For one split second, before he opened his eyes, Aryn thought he was back in his apartments in Bordertown, surrounded by soft warmth. In a few minutes, he’d ring the bell for a bath. He’d take his time selecting his outfit for the day and then eat a light breakfast by the fire.
The smell of smoke and damp filled his nostrils. He opened his eyes.
All thoughts of his bed and apartments evaporated as the horrible memories flooded back. He was in a cave. He’d been lost in the mountains, freezing in the snow. His horse had thrown him and bolted, taking all his belongings with it. Then he’d been saved by Sero, the half-nymph.
The cave was darker than when he’d fallen asleep. The glow from the fire allowed him to see Sero sitting and gazing into the flames.
A mixture of gratitude and shame washed through him. Sero had seen him at his worst. He’d clearly been unimpressed with Aryn, from his clothing to his lack of navigational skills. Aryn felt foolish for getting himself into such a situation, for needing to be rescued, for failing. Again.
And why did it have to be someone so handsome to see him so pathetic? Aryn’s eyes roamed over Sero’s almost naked light-grey body, taking in his long hair, like white silk, hanging to his waist. The shadows played off his tight, toned, muscled body. He looked to be tall, about the same height as Aryn. He remembered Sero’s brilliant silver eyes staring at him.
Whilst he’d probably looked like a half-frozen rat. He groaned.
Sero looked towards him, eyes glowing in the firelight.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
Sero moved around in the cave and poured something from a kettle into a mug.
“Can you sit up?” he asked, walking towards Aryn.
Aryn sat but held the fur blankets around his shoulders with one hand, not wanting to lose their protective heat.
“Drink this.” Sero handed him the mug.
Aryn took a sip of the liquid. It was sweet and fragrant. He took another sip, the heat from the liquid spreading through him.
“Are you hungry?”
As if hearing the question, Aryn’s stomach growled.
