Page 40 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
“No. Shivering in anticipation of being even colder.”
Mathar chuckled as he tucked her closer to his chest, and she didn’t protest. “Let me know if you need another fur.”
“I will.” She might want to appear strong in front of him, but she’d do no one any good freezing to death. It was only sensible to accept any assistance he could give her with the cold.
He leaned back to his original position but kept an arm tight around her waist to make sure she didn’t go bouncing off the front of his saddle.
Adorra shouldn’t feel so flustered and bothered by him, but she did. It’d been a while since Edmund had been murdered in front of her, and she’d found herself wondering when she’d be ready to call another man hers. Maybe she’d be able to find a man after this adventure was over and done. If an ice giant could warm her, then there was a hope she might be able to open her heart to another Lord.
It gave her some hope. After Edmund had passed, she thought she’d never want another man in her life, which saddened her because she desired children. She yearned for children. The pitter patter of little feet was something she needed to have in her life.
Mathar leaned back in. “What do you think of the scenery?”
“It’s beautiful.” She said honestly. She was completely awed by the natural beauty around them when she wasn’t immersed in her thoughts. “We get snow in Arcearn, but nothing like this.”
Already, the snow was slowing the stallion down. The fluffy whiteness was slowly creeping up the legs of the stallion, but the stallion was still plowing through the pillowy white crystals at a brisk pace.
“Even ice giants can get sick of it.”
“I don’t see how.” Adorra shook her head and noticed how cold her ears were getting. Quickly, she moved the fur up higher to cover her ears a bit. “It looks like a winter wonderland. Something one can only experience in a good book.”
He leaned away from her again as he helped guide his stallion through the thick layer of snow that was now covering the ground.
Thoughts of Jasmine plagued her as they continued traveling. Soon she would see her sister again, and she couldn’t help the excitement that bubbled up inside of her. She just prayed Jasmine was alright and that she’d been able to adapt to such a formidable environment on her own without too many scars. She could only imagine having to live among ice giants.
“Jasmine better be alright,” Adorra warned Mathar.
She felt him lean closer, his warmth wrapping around her, and a small flush built up in her cheeks. “How many times do I have to tell you that your sister is doing well and happy?”
“Can you blame me for being concerned about my sister? She’s the last of my family that’s alive.” Possibly alive.
“She is doing fine.” His tone took on a softer note as he tried to reassure her.
Adorra would be the judge of that. He kept reassuring her, but after all that had happened in her life, she worried that nothing would ever go right for her. She felt like life was out to get her and rip away any happiness she was able to build.
“You’ll have to excuse me if I find it hard to believe you.” She turned slightly to give him a glare over her shoulder. “After everything giants have done in the recent past, I find it hard to trust you.”
“Yet here you are in front of me.”
“Because I can’t return home without knowing if you truly have my sister. It’s not like I can just turn my back on her.” Until Adorra knew, either way, she had a duty to keep going. There was no doubt in her mind that Jasmine would do the same for her.
They fell back into a comfortable silence. The only noise was from the stallion as he snorted in exertion, continuing to plow through the growing snowfall.
Mathar’s brawny arm was still wrapped around her waist, and to her amazement she felt comfortable there, riding in front of him. She should fear the towering ice giant behind her, but as of right now he hadn’t done anything to warrant any fear. He’d kidnapped her, but supposedly it was because her sister wanted her at her impending wedding.
Adorra was still shocked by that. Jasmine was obviously being forced to marry because there was no way her sister would agree to wed an ice giant. There was no way any sane human woman would consent to a marriage with a giant. Their people were too different and had seen too much violence to find common ground.
Not only that but supposedly her sister was pregnant. In some ways, Adorra hoped they had the wrong human woman back at their castle. She didn’t even want to think about how Jasmine wound up being impregnated by an ice giant.
A shiver spread over her as images of her sister being forced by one of these brutes afflicted her.
Adorra let her eyelids slide closed as she calmed her racing thoughts with some steady breathing. The more she thought about her sister, the more wound up she’d get. She just hoped there wasn’t too much more time left in their journey.
Mathar pulled up on the reins, and the stallion jolted to a stop. Her eyelids snapped open.
“What are we doing?” She glanced around her, but there was nothing but snow and trees around them. They weren’t at the castle yet.
“We’re stopping to stretch our legs and have a quick bite to eat. This will be the only stop I allow until night falls, so if there’s anything you need to do, now is the time.” Mathar warned her, his voice stone cold.
