Page 2 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
Something had happened to her sister, and Adorra hadn’t even noticed! She’d thought her sister was being stubborn and refusing to accept Lord Gothar, but she’d been gone… and she felt horrible for thinking such terrible thoughts about her sister.
Turning her face up towards the grey clouds that had taken over the sky, she let her tears mix with the drops of falling rain. It was as though the land was crying with her, and she prayed her sister would still be alive when they found her. She couldn’t even think about not finding her sister.
She’d lost both of her parents when she’d been young, and now her sister couldn’t be found. The world was a cruel one, but she refused to believe it would be that cruel to her, and right before her impending nuptials.
“My lady you will catch a cold if you do not return to the castle and warm yourself.” The soldier rode up next to her horse, trying to snatch the reins from her hand.
“Stop!” Adorra barked with authority. She was the lady of this land, and if she wanted to search the area despite the rain, then she would.
His hand froze in mid-air. Pulling it back, he tried again, “You can't help your sister if you become bedridden with a chill.”
Heaving a heavy sigh, she yanked the horse’s head around. Fine, the soldier had won, for now, but she would be back the moment the storm had passed. She had yet to give up hope on finding her sister. Jasmine was the last family member Adorra had left, and she wasn't willing to just let her sister go without a fight.
Kicking her heels into the horse's flanks, she hung on as it jumped into a gallop.
The sound of dogs baying as their human called them back accosted her ears. The fact that the dogs hadn’t been able to find any sign of Jasmine’s tracks caused Adorra to fear the worst.
Today the rain had defeated her. She was shivering and drained from being out in the cold for most of the day.
Edmund had expressed concern over Jasmine’s disappearance but had excused himself from the search party. She didn’t hold it against him. Jasmine and Edmund had never been close. It wasn’t like Jasmine had given him a reason to search for her with all the rudeness she’d thrown his way.
She took a glance behind her at the forest willing her sister to appear, but she didn't. Adorra turned her attention back to guiding the horse to the manor. It’s large hooves tossed up chunks of the soggy ground.
It only took them a few minutes to get back to the manor. Once she rode into the manor’s courtyard, a stable hand ran up to her side quickly taking control of her snorting horse who’d been riled up by the fast pace.
“My lady.” The stable hand held out a hand, and she took it, sliding off her sidesaddle.
Her booted feet hit the muddy ground below her, splashing dirty water up onto the skirts of her forest green riding dress. Shivers spread over her skin, and she quickly dashed for the manor’s doors. She pushed open the heavy wooden doors to find Lord Gothar and Keir sitting at a table in the hall playing cards.
Lord Gothar’s head shot up, and his sea-green eyes darkened for a second before worry spread across his face. “My dear,” he rose from the table, “you shouldn’t have been out in this weather.” He strode over to her and rubbed her arms vigorously through the fabric of her dress.
“I have to find her, Edmund.” Adorra glanced up at him, hoping he’d be able to help but knowing no one knew what had happened to her sister.
“Just look at yourself, Adorra.” Edmund motioned to her soaked clothing and the puddle that was developing around her boots. “You’ll catch a chill and die, and that won’t do your sister any good.”
“But?”
“No, no more buts.” He waved a maid over. “Take your lady upstairs and get her warmed up and changed into some clean clothing before she catches her death. Go now, Adorra.” He ushered her off. “I will have Keir pick up where you left off in searching for your sister.”
She nodded as another round of shivers overtook her body. Warming up did sound like a good idea, and the search would continue. Relenting, she let the maid guide her back to her room. They would find her sister. They had to find her sister.
“Everything will be alright miss.” The maid encouraged her with promising words.
“I’m not so sure.” There was a pit developing in her stomach, and she worried this would either never be resolved or result in someone finding Jasmine’s lifeless body somewhere in the forest.
“You mustn’t lose faith. Your sister is known for loving her solitude.”
“But for a fortnight? And no one has seen her?”
They entered another corridor. “It doesn’t look promising right now, I must admit, but Jasmine is an intelligent woman. We should believe in her ability to be fine despite the odds.”
The maid was right. Jasmine always had a way of bouncing back. She may have been bookish, but she’d also had an inner strength that only some could dream of possessing.
“Come on my dear.” The maid coxed her into her room where a tub of hot water waited along with a set of clean, dry clothes.
Once she was dry and in clean clothes, she would do her best to direct the men who were still outside looking for her sister.
