Page 130 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
A fire springs up in the middle of the space, and Bree is the first to dismount and head for it, his ears flicking away the snow that’s settled on them.
“Thank fuck,” Caed grumbles, abandoning his mount to do the same. “I thought you were trying to march us to death.”
The warmth is welcome, and I slide one of my fluffy red earmuffs back from my head so I can hear them better. Lore’s hat has been a welcome companion, even though I’m certain it would do more good on his head.
I wait for him to help me down, but Drystan tugs on Blizzard’s reins before he can.
“I have something to show Rhoswyn.” He glances up at the clear night sky. “We’ll be back by dawn. Don’t wait up.”
“Hey, sharing is caring!” Lore protests.
But it’s Bree who lays a restraining hand on the redcap’s shoulder. “Not tonight, Lore. Besides, I think the snow is making your hat turn pink faster. You should top it up before Rose notices.”
Drystan is already riding away, so I don’t get to see Lore’s outraged expression, but I do feel it as he blinks onto Blizzard’s rump, snatching the earmuffs from my head hastily. He’s gone again with a swift, panicked kiss to my cheek.
Drystan heads for the nearest ridge, and the second we’re over it, the wind returns with a vengeance.
“Where are we going?” I ask, yelling to be heard over it.
Either he doesn’t catch my words, or he simply doesn’t feel like answering, because he remains silent at my back as we slowly plod through the snow and up another forested hill.
And then, I see why.
My gasp is ridiculously loud in the quiet stillness of the night, but I couldn’t have held it back if I’d tried.
Before us is an immense, snow-covered valley that goes on for miles, bisected by multiple dark rivers that cascade down from waterfalls carved into the slopes of the vast mountains above. Eventually, all of the streams of water join together, forming a rushing river that flows down to the southwest and out of sight, and along the banks of that river is a tiny town, with its wooden temple and A-frame cabins glowing peacefully amidst the blanket of white.
“This is one of the better views of the valley of Winter’s Fork.” Drystan dismounts and pulls me down after him, adjusting my cloak around my shoulders even though the heat of his magic isstill keeping me warm. “I thought you’d want to see it from up here.”
I do. With the stars above, and the bright light of the moon reflecting off the snow, the entire scene is absolutely breathtaking.
His footsteps crunch in the snow as he abandons Blizzard and leads me a little farther from the dark treeline.
“Thank you,” I breathe, scared to speak too loudly in case I break the serene atmosphere. “It’s beautiful.”
“As are you.”
My cheeks flush as Drystan’s hands caress my shoulders through the thick fabric of my cloak. His thumbs dig in, massaging stiff muscles while the soft hum of contact between us helps to relax me even further.
One hand drifts higher, collaring my throat from behind and tugging me back against him until my ass bumps against the bulge in the front of his leathers. There are so many layers of fabric between us, but for a second, I swear I can feel the heat of him through all of them.
Leaning down, his breath fans over the back of my neck as he murmurs, “Now, take off your clothes.”
Here? In the snow?
My determination not to do it is solidified as he chuckles darkly, then continues, “Did you think I’d forget that I promised to spank you for offering your cloak to the damned Fomorian?”
Oh, shit. He’s serious?
“And let’s not forget all the other times you’ve put your life in danger for the blue idiot. I have one rule, huntress: no putting yourself in danger. You broke it. Either use your safe word or take off your clothes.”
“He’s my mate, Drystan.” I won’t budge on that. “I’d do the same for any of you.”
“And when you do, you’ll get spanked for it until you accept that Danu made us indestructible to protect you, not the other way around. Now. Clothes. Off.”
I’m hesitant, but the few times my males have spanked me in the middle of sex tingle at the edge of my memory, teasing that damned insatiable curiosity. And beyond that… I have the urge to play with him, just a little.
“But you told me I couldn’t take my cloak off while we were outside,” I reply, fluttering my eyelashes innocently. “I could be buried in an avalanche, or get lost or?—”
