Page 67 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
Turning on a stiff leg, she marched over to Jasmine. “Where is this thing that you want me to take a look at?” She was ready to get this over with and get back to the castle so she could hopefully get rid of this shadow that was following her, kissing her, causing her to desire something she shouldn’t.
Jasmine spun in a wide circle, grabbed Adorra’s hand and guided her over to the stall. “This was what I was referring to earlier.” Jasmine pointed down at the bracelet sitting on the table among other pieces of jewelry for sale.
Adorra smiled. “It is something that I would like.”
“Then consider it yours.” Dryden came up next to them and motioned to the ice giant behind the stall.
“No,” Adorra shook her head, “I couldn’t accept it.”
“Just accept the gift.” Jasmine criticized her. “It’s a gift, and you like it.”
“You’re right.” Adorra changed her tune. She was going to be among these people for the foreseeable future, and she knew she should just accept the gift. “Are you sure it isn’t too expensive?”
“You have no need to worry about that. I’ll be paying for it.” Dryden reassured her, and she could tell he was doing his best to win her over. Because he loved Jasmine? Adorra still thought that was up for debate, but it was looking more and more like Dryden might genuinely care for her sister.
“Thank you.”
Jasmine grabbed the bracelet and held it out for Adorra. “Here, try it on and make sure you like it.”
Adorra slid the gold band onto her wrist. “It looks wonderful.” And it did. All the etchings on the gold band had been lovingly carved into it.
Jasmine beamed with happiness as she hugged an arm around Dryden’s waist. “I told you she would like it.” Her sister turned her face up to gaze at the king. Love shone bright in her hazel depths and nearly floored Adorra with its intensity.
Adorra felt awkward ruining the moment, but she needed to get back to the castle. Mathar was still staring at her with interest, and she couldn’t keep watching the love connection between her sister and the ice giant king. It was overloading her mind, and she needed to get somewhere where she could digest this information.
“I wouldn’t mind going back to the castle.”
“Is something wrong?” Jasmine’s eyebrows drew down over her eyes as she placed a hand on Adorra’s arm.
“Not at all.” Adorra rushed to tell her sister. “This has been wonderful but overwhelming. I wouldn’t mind resting.” She explained hoping her sister wouldn’t insist on showing her something else that she thought Adorra needed to see in the ice giant village.
“You should probably rest as well, Jasmine. You’ve been on horseback for long enough today. We shouldn’t push it in your condition.” Dryden spoke up, and when Adorra met his eyes, she knew he was helping her. Relief washed through her. She was thankful he was helping her with her sister. Perhaps Dryden wasn’t as bad as she thought he was… perhaps.
“I feel fine,” Jasmine argued.
“You feel fine now, but you are with child, and we’ve been out for most of the day. A little time to rest wouldn’t be the worst thing.”
Slowly, Jasmine relented. “I suppose I may be getting carried away a bit. I’m just excited to once again have you around, Adorra. I’ve missed you.” She turned her eyes back on Adorra.
Adorra stepped forward and hugged her sister. A little surprise still pumped through her to feel the bulging of her sister’s stomach. “I know you do. And I am happy to find you alive and well. I thought I might never see you again.”
She released her sister, and with a little more convincing they finally got their small group moving back to the castle. Finally, she might be able to have a minute alone, somewhere Mathar wouldn’t be watching her.
Adorra sat on the edge of her bed and rotated the bracelet around her wrist. There was something familiar about it. She twisted the metal band around her wrist again until she was able to look at the design that had been carved into it.
Then it hit her. The band reminded her of one that Lord Gothar had given her before they were married. He’d called it a pre-marital gift. It had been one of the only gifts he’d given her, and she’d treasured it.
Her heart lurched in her chest. She’d thought she was over Edmund’s death, but it seemed like it would always come back to haunt her. Her throat closed up as misery overtook her once more. Ripping the bracelet off her wrist, she threw it across the room. It clattered against the stone walls until it found a resting place.
Once it was gone from her sight, her mind drifted back to Mathar.
She was confused on how she could miss one man so much that it made her heart ache while still finding another so attractive that her heart sped up with desire.
Which caused her to feel cross with herself. She shouldn’t be thinking about Mathar when she was still recovering from the loss of her husband. She felt like she should still mourn his death despite how many months ago it’d been. She’d loved him and had planned on sharing a future with him, and now she was daydreaming about an ice giant.
It was time to convince her sister that a guard wasn’t necessary. She couldn’t handle Mathar being her constant shadow. If she wanted to forget him, then she needed room to be between them.
Rising from the bed, Adorra walked over to her chamber door and stepped into the corridor. Once she started walking down the stone corridor, she heard someone fast on her heels.
