Page 100 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
“You want to leave? Still?” Jasmine rotated in her seat and looked heartbroken that Adorra hadn’t reconsidered.
She wanted to stay. Her sister was here, and there wasn’t much left back in Arcaern for her, but there were still some things that she needed. There were items of importance back at the manor, things she didn’t want the king to take or give away to his other noblemen.
“I want to remain here with you,” Adorra said truthfully.
“You forgive us then?”
“For Edmund?” Adorra shrugged. “I think you did save my life, because I’m sure he did try to poison me, but I wish it hadn’t had to happen on my wedding night. It was traumatizing.”
“I can only imagine what you went through that night.” Jasmine shook her head, her curls waving around her face. “I had wished Mathar would’ve done it without you in the same room.”
“You can’t blame him for finding the perfect opportunity. The wing of the manor had been vacated to allow us, a newlywed couple, plenty of time alone. There was barely anyone around.”
Jasmine wrapped her arms around Adorra and hugged her close. “Mathar should be back at any moment. Trust me. Stay until he comes back.”
Adorra nodded as she wrapped her arms around her sister who still had yet to give birth. “I will.”
Mathar pulled up on his snorting horse as he entered the castle courtyard. The hooves of his horse caused a racket as the noise clattered off the cobblestones and was reflected back by the rock walls.
It’d been a week since he’d last seen this castle, and he couldn’t wait to find Adorra. He was ready… ready for a new start. This was their chance to show life and his father that they could find happiness.
Swinging a leg over the back of his saddle, he hopped down from on his horse. A stable hand rushed forward to take the reins and control his worked up stallion. He’d ridden his stallion hard, and that animal deserved a mountain of apples.
He heaved a small pack over his shoulder and flew up the stairs and busted through the castle doors. Popping his head into the great hall, he gave it a quick glance, searching for Adorra. He was ready to show Adorra what he’d brought back for her. If this couldn’t prove how he felt about her and convinced her to stay, then he wasn’t sure what he could do. Romantic gestures weren’t something he was used to, so he hoped it worked.
When he didn’t find her, he moved on to her chamber. He plowed through the halls, causing everyone in his path to jump out of the way. The moment he arrived at her door, he opened it… only to find it empty.
He was running out of places to check.
Mathar turned on a heel and rushed back the same way he’d gone. There was one last place he could check, the sunroom that’d Dryden built for Jasmine.
Barreling through the halls, he made it to the sunroom door in record time. Sucking in a breath, he placed a hand on the knob of the door, which was ice cold from the outside air, and turned it. The door creaked open on its hinges, and he walked through.
The warm air inside wrapped around him immediately, like a welcome embrace from a lover. Stepping into the sunroom, he closed the door behind him and slowly walked through the inside garden, until his eyes landed on the form of Adorra.
She was sitting with her back towards him, near one of the fireplaces. Pink roses bloomed all around her in a delicate display of color, highlighting her brown air. His knees almost buckled as his heart pulsed in his ears.
It was now or never.
She could either accept him or reject him, but she was the first woman who believed he could be more than the rumors of his father.
Rounding a corner, he pulled up beside her. “Adorra.”
Her head shot up. Her eyes went wide. “Mathar. Where have you been?”
“I went to get these for you.” Mathar lifted the pack off his shoulder and handed it over to her.
She held out a cautious hand, grabbed the strap, brought it onto her lap, and undid the top tie to look inside.
Adorra wasn’t sure what to expect, but she opened the tie with trembling fingers, her breath hitching in her chest. Then she peeled back the lid and her eyes caught on the gleaming jewels inside.
“Are these…?”
“Your mother’s.” Mathar filled in.
“But how…?”
“Your sister can’t resist playing matchmaker, because she told me that these would be my only hope of convincing you to stay.”
