Page 56 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
“For you all to be living in fur tents with bones littering the ground.” She felt a bit silly saying it out loud.
Mathar snorted. “We aren’t a bunch of barbarians.”
She was coming to realize that now that she was getting such an up close and personal look at their life. “I just hadn’t expected it to look so normal.” She could easily see it being her home.
The horse carried them forward and into the waiting village. Besides the material, they used it looked like any human village. The castle and village were made from a dark stone that almost looked black.
As they traveled through the busy village, she watched ice giants as they went about their business. Everything looked so normal and peaceful. She could almost forget she was in an ice giant village.
Then the ice giants around them slowly noticed her presence and a lot of open stares were cast her way.
Her cheeks heated.
Great.
What a sight she must present. Here she was riding in front of Mathar in a soiled dress and in a serious need of a bath. She wasn’t representing her people very well. She should have changed into one of the dresses Mathar had offered her, but she’d been unwilling to soil one more of those fine dresses.
She wasn’t sure if it was just her or not, but more ice giants seemed to flood the streets as children ran around spreading the news of Mathar’s return.
Adorra scrunched up into her fur trying to make herself look less noticeable.
“They are only curious.” Mathar’s voice broke the silence.
“Easy for you to say. These are your people.” Adorra felt his chest heave as he sighed behind her. She wanted to say something more, but then they broke into the castle courtyard, and her head leaned back to take in the towering spires on the castle. Their castle had to be twice the size of the one Arcaern had.
Then a voice she never thought she’d ever hear again called out her name, “Adorra!”
She faced back to the castle entrance and saw Jasmine. Jasmine! There she was! Adorra’s mind froze for a second as she took in the sight of her sister.
Her sister’s skin was glowing with health and vitality. She looked unharmed physically, but that didn’t mean there couldn’t be emotional harm lurking deep under her skin.
Tears flooded her eyes. She couldn’t help herself. Here was her sister, alive and well. She was more thankful than any words could describe. Her throat closed up with the overwhelming relief that flooded her.
“Help me down.” Adorra rushed before her emotions completely cut off her ability to speak.
Mathar’s hands wrapped around her waist and lowered her to the ground over the side of his horse. The moment her slippered feet touched the ground she tore off over the cobbled courtyard, meeting Jasmine halfway and hugging her younger sister.
Then she pulled back slightly as she gazed down at her sister’s stomach in shock. “You really are pregnant.”
“I am.” Jasmine beamed her eyes lighting up with joy. “But we’ll talk all about that later.” Jasmine’s arms hugged her tight. “Mmph, it’s so good to see you again.”
Adorra did her best to shove down her shock that her sister was actually pregnant. She’d been hoping Mathar had been lying.
“I’m so glad to see you’re okay.” She pulled back again to study Jasmine.
Jasmine radiated as a smile grew across her lips. “I’m so happy to see you once again, Adorra. I’ve missed you more than you’d ever know.”
“I think I might have some idea.” Adorra smiled fondly at her sister. “I’ve missed you just as much.”
Then she glanced over Jasmine’s shoulder to spot a fierce looking ice giant standing not too far away. Quickly, she reached out to grab Jasmine’s hand and pull her away, but Jasmine slipped out of her grasp like a slippery fish. With a few quick steps, Jasmine went to stand beside the ice giant who’d been watching them.
“This is Dryden!” Jasmine announced cheerfully like they weren’t in an ice giant courtyard. “He is the king of the ice giants,” Adorra eyed him, “and he is to be my husband!”
All she could do was stare at her sister as her eyes bugged out of her head. She wasn’t sure what she should say, and everyone was staring at her, waiting for a response.
She shook her head, her hair swinging over her shoulders. “I don’t believe it.”
“It’s true.” Jasmine sent a dazzling smile up at the ice giant beside her. “We are going to be married.”
