Page 58 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
Mathar snorted and rolled his eyes. “Yes. My idea of enjoyment is stealing women away in the middle of the night and having her accuse me every five minutes of being a kidnapper.”
Dryden raised his hands in surrender. “I didn’t realize she’d riled you up this much.” But his king still sounded like it amused him.
Mathar took off his horse’s bridle and hung it up beside his stallion’s stall on a metal hook. Then he leaned a shoulder against the wooden post and sighed. “Adorra figured out I was the one who killed her husband.”
“How?” Dryden’s eyebrows nearly shot off his face appearing flabbergasted that she’d be able to figure that out on her own.
He shrugged. “I have no idea. She just put two and two together when she saw me in the dark. Like I said before, she is an intelligent one. All she had to do was see me in the dark, and she made an accurate guess as to who I was.”
“She may have been taking a shot in the dark.” Dryden reasoned. “No pun intended.”
“It was one hell of a shot because she aimed correctly.” He was still amazed Adorra had been able to put it together. He’d figured that night was just one big blur of action for her, but she was clearly able to handle tough situations without losing her mind.
“What did you tell her?”
Mathar turned back to his horse and uncinched the saddle strap from around the horse’s belly and hefted it onto the top of the stall gate nearby. “Nothing. I didn’t want to get into it when we still had part of our journey left. I also told her that Jasmine would be able to answer any of her questions.”
“That was probably a wise decision.” Dryden nodded his head as he handed Mathar a couple of brushes. “Adorra will most likely respond better to her sister than you when she hears the news.”
Mathar looked Dryden in the eyes. “You best keep on eye on Adorra. She thinks we’re holding Jasmine against her will and abusing her. I can’t warn you enough about that woman.”
Dryden strode up to him and patted him on the shoulder with a hand. “That’s the exact reason why I’m tasking you with watching over Adorra. You will be her shadow from now on.”
“Me?” Mathar felt like this had to be a cruel joke Dryden was playing on him.
“Yes. You know her the best out of everyone in the castle. I couldn’t think of a better person to watch over her.”
“Jasmine knows her better.” It sounded lame, even to Mathar’s ears, but he couldn’t do this. Being her shadow when she had an inkling of his involvement in her husband’s death?
“Jasmine doesn’t have the time to watch over her sister, and I need someone without a blood connection to watch Adorra. Jasmine might take pity on her.” Dryden folded his arms in front of his chest. “You won’t.”
Mathar opened his mouth, ready to protest this decision, but Dryden held up a hand, stopping him short. “No arguments, Mathar.” His king’s obsidian eyes flashed with authority. “I know I promised you some time to relax when you got back, but I need someone to watch her, someone I trust wholeheartedly.”
He wasn’t sure what he’d done to be tortured like this, but he wasn’t comfortable refusing his king. Dryden wasn’t the type to hold it against him if he refused, but he also enjoyed being on his king’s good side. It came with a lot of benefits.
And he was still hoping Dryden would bestow a piece of land to him in the nearby valley. All he wanted was the simple life. A cabin. Growing his own food and possibly a family, but he was still undecided on the last one. After the horrible childhood he’d had, he wasn’t sure what type of father he would be.
Tonight, Mathar planned on indulging in some strong spirits. Perhaps that would help him forget Adorra’s soft body. His cock was already hard at the simple thought of being her shadow and being near her constantly.
“I’ll do it.” He grunted.
“Good. I’ll let you finish up then. Once you’re ready, I expect you to begin your new duties.” Then Dryden headed off.
Mathar scowled at his king’s receding back. He better be granted a piece of land for all that he was doing for his king. It was the least that was owed to him.
Adorra spun in a circle, as she surveyed the room her sister had guided her to inside the castle.
“I hope this room will suffice. I haven’t had much practice at being the future queen, and I’m making it up as I go.” Jasmine said uncertainty.
“It will do nicely. Thank you.” Adorra rushed to reassure her sister. The room was quite large with a great fireplace which already had a fire roaring inside it that pumped off heat in immense waves. Finally, she would be warm. She let the fur she was clutching fall from her shoulder and basked in the heat of the room.
Jasmine shut the room door behind her and ushered Adorra forward. “I had some hot water brought up here the moment we knew of your arrival.”
“You knew?”
“Of course. We not only have guards placed in the forest around the castle but word spreads quickly through town when another human is being brought among them.” Jasmine smiled fondly as she spoke of the ice giant people.
“Of course.” It made perfect sense to Adorra that the word would spread quickly. Humans weren’t a normal sight around here. People had a hard time resisting something new to stare at. That was the same in any culture.
