Page 75 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
Chapter 18
Adorra sat in front of the fireplace in her chamber wondering if she might be able to find a reason to stay here with her sister. She could go back to the manor, but what would she tell people when she got back there? How could she explain away her sudden disappearance, and then her return? It wasn’t like she had any family that could’ve been sick.
She could say she was kidnapped, but there might be some questions. She could always answer them with vague, easy to remember answers, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to play such charades. One slip and everything would come crashing down around her.
Then there was her sister. Jasmine may have recruited ice giants to kill Edmund, but… she was her sister and the last blood relative she had left.
The glitter of the gold band laying on the floor called to her. Rising off the edge of her chair, she walked over and scooped the gold band up with a couple of fingers. As she turned it around, a few tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
It was so similar to the one Edmund had given her.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you,” Adorra said to the gold band, hoping he knew she regretted his death. “I love my sister, and I hope you understand. I haven’t forgiven her, but I can’t turn my back on her either. For all, I know the ice giants were the ones who influenced her decision.”
Striding over to a small chest at the foot of her bed, she opened up the lid and placed the gold band in there among the blankets. One day she’d be able to wear it without it bringing back memories, but it would take some time before that happened. She closed the trunk lid and went back to sit at her fireplace. She loved the warmth pouring off of it in waves. It felt so good.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in!”
A female ice giant walked through the door. She stopped once she saw where Adorra was sitting and bowed. “I’m Sath. I’m to be your handmaiden while you remain here. Jasmine sent me.”
Adorra smiled over at the woman. “I’m fine by myself. I already have a guard posted to me.”
The young woman smiled at her. “I’m not here to be a second pair of eyes. I’m just here to be your handmaiden.” She smiled again. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to serve the sister of our queen.”
Adorra raised a finger. “Soon-to-be queen.” She still had time to convince her sister to escape with her before the nuptials were performed.
“Yes, our soon-to-be queen’s sister. It’s an honor.” The woman continued to babble on, but Adorra smiled politely, letting the woman get it out of her system. “All of us women are envious of your good fortune to have Mathar with you at every waking moment.”
So he was a catch. Surprise surprise.
“Well, soon you will have him near as well since he’s my guard.”
“That’s true.” The woman’s cheeks heated. “All the other women will soon be envious of me as well. We’d all love to have him to ourselves.” When Adorra said nothing, the woman continued, “He can be quite the beast in bed from what I hear, but he pleases his bedmates very well.”
Clearly, this woman had no idea that Adorra had already been involved with him. Otherwise, these ice giants had some very open conversations about sex.
“I don’t need you right now,” She interrupted the woman’s babbling. She was tired, and she didn’t need to hear about how much of a catch Mathar was with all the ice giant women. She was doing her best to forget about him and not have any flashbacks to all the sex they’d shared.
“But?”
“I don’t need you right now.” Adorra said sternly. Why did people have a hard time leaving her room?
“Of course.” Sath bowed and left, closing the door behind her.
“Finally.” Adorra sighed as she sank back against her chair. She needed to rest before she went down for the next dinner. She knew she’d told Jasmine just to send a plate to her room, but she couldn’t hide up here. She had to face the people around her and show them they couldn’t break her down.
“Who is that woman?” Adorra pointed across the great hall to Sath who was currently vying for Mathar’s attention along with a few other women. She was relieved to see a scowl on his lips. He didn’t appear to be amused by the attention the women were throwing at his feet.
“Ah, Sath, your handmaiden,” Jasmine said as she swallowed a bite. “What more do you want to know about her?”
“How did you come to pick her?” The woman had seemed innocent enough back in Adorra’s chamber, but she wondered if Sath had been trying to prick her by explaining how much of a catch Mathar was in this castle.
Jasmine shrugged. “She used to be my handmaiden. I figured you could use one since you were used to them.”
“I don’t want the woman as my handmaiden.”
“Did she do something?” Jasmine rotated her entire body towards Adorra.
“No, nothing like that. I just don’t need her.” Adorra motioned to the fur dress she was wearing. “These clothes are a lot easier than human clothing. There’s no need for a handmaiden. She’ll end up frustrating me.” And reminding Adorra where she was.
