Everyone was dealing with the cramped quarters differently. The Death Elf princess seemed to have retreated into herself, her eyes becoming more forlorn with each passing day. She drank copious amounts of tea, sitting by the fire from dawn until dusk. Daegal watched over her like a hawk, the Fortune Elf barely speaking to anyone else unless it was time to relay his visions.
Right now, Ryllae sipped an herbal tea as red ribbons of magic floated around her. She didn’t even seem to notice them.
When Maiela wasn’t Looking ahead into the future with her brother, she and Kysha spent hours with Olwine. The trio played every type of card game under the sun as they murmured at the table.
And then there was Aileana.
With each passing day, my bonded mate grew more and more agitated. It had taken me a long time to cajole her away from the door, where she’d practically worn a hole in the ground with her pacing. Day and night, she waited for the storm to ease up enough to go outside. The earth was calling her; she said. Beckoning her.
I worried about her far more than she knew.
Aileana pushed herself onto her elbows. Her brows furrowed as those emerald eyes passed over my face. What’s wrong?
Reaching over, I brushed a lock of hair from her face. I didn’t want Aileana to know I was worried about her. It wasn’t that I didn’t think she was strong—I knew she was. I’d seen her kill Edgar. I worried because she did so much, and sometimes, she forgot to take care of herself.
The gods must have been smiling down at me, because Maiela looked out the window and let out a whoop of joy, saving me from having to explain myself.
“The storm is over!” she yelled; her voice filled with excitement.
“Thank the gods,” I groaned. “We can finally leave.”
Stealing a kiss, I stood, bringing my mate with me.
Aileana raised a brow. “Don’t think you can just kiss your way out of this conversation, dragon of mine. I know something’s wrong.”
Smirking, I brushed my lips over her knuckles. “Oh Aileana, that’s where you’re wrong. I can kiss my way out of practically anything.”
“I’m serious, Xander,” she hissed.
The fire in her voice warmed me from the inside out.
“As am I,” I assured her. She continued to stare at me, her hand landing on her hip as she opened her mouth to speak again. I kissed her once more, unable and unwilling to resist the temptation. “I promise, I’m fine.”
I could tell that she thought this conversation wasn’t over, which didn’t surprise me in the least. I might have been a dragon shifter and a renown assassin in the Four Kingdoms, but my bonded mate always seemed to see right through me to my soul.
“Come on, you two.” Daegal’s voice came from near the fireplace, where he pulled on his boots. “I’ve Seen the future and another storm is quickly approaching. We need to go.”
“We’re coming.” Brushing her lips over mine, Aileana added, “This conversation isn’t over.”
But it was postponed. At least for now. Thank the gods for small mercies and reprieves from infuriatingly persistent mates.
* * *
Pullingthe hood of my cloak firmly over my hair, I opened the door. A gust of wind blew into me, carrying shards of ice into my lungs. Even with my dragon’s heat, the cold slammed into my bones.
“Thelrena help us all,” Aileana muttered from next to me.
One god didn’t seem like enough to deal with this situation. When we had arrived, there had been a few feet of snow on the ground. That was no longer the case. Now, it reached more than halfway up my chest. A thick layer of ice was on top of the snow, packing it all down even further. The seven of us stood pressed together at the open door, staring at the wall of white.
“Well, I guess we’re climbing out,” Maiela said, stating the obvious.
We quickly formed a plan. We would send out our packs and snowshoes first, following quickly behind.
“Maybe the forest floor isn’t so icy,” Kysha said, her voice filled with hope.
“Don’t count on it,” Ryllae grumbled. “I’m here. Everything always turns out poorly when I’m involved.”
Daegal wrapped his arm around her. “Don’t say things like that,” he murmured. “You’re perfect.”