“Shh.” Garrin’s strong arm slipped beneath her back and lifted her upright. He placed a bowl to her mouth, and she flinched. “The bowl is made of ice, but you must drink the water. You are dehydrated.”
Lex sipped and experienced the sensation of freezing from the inside. She winced and turned her head. The coat Garrin had laid over her was losing the heat from his body. She shifted and pulled it closer. “I’m so cold.”
Garrin murmured something off to the side, then his face was in front of her again. “The coat contains our magic and protects against the worst of the cold, but not all. You retain heat better when I carry you, but we must rest for the night and give you more food. You’re not eating enough.”
Her body shook, her tongue thick. “I told you I wasn’t strong enough. Not for this. Not for anything. We have to go back.”
A haze of regret crossed Garrin’s cool gaze. “We’ve traveled for several weeks, and—”
Her eyes widened. “Severalweeks?”
“—there is no turning back if you are to survive. We must get you to Dark Kingdom as soon as possible.” He reached to the side, then held out something brown. “Eat more leaves.”
She made a face, her memory hazy but clearing the longer she stayed awake. “You’ve been feeding me those. They taste awful.” She looked past Garrin at the frozen landscape. The cool wind cut through her flesh, and her throat bobbed. “How has so much time passed without me knowing?”
“Zirel is a healer, but he can also blur memory to some degree. We felt it best for you not to remember much of this land.”
If only she could forget the entire experience. “When will we be past the snow?”
Garrin’s expression stiffened, and Zirel and Amund glanced at each other. “Not for a while,” Garrin said.
She’d never forgive Garrin for taking her to this place. She might not have had much back home, but at least she’d been safe. “Jas said he sensed the cold.” She looked at Garrin. “Youare the cold.” Her tears chilled and froze in their descent before she could wipe them away. “Should have listened to him. Should have listened…”
Amund leaned closer, crowding her along with Garrin. “What is she talking about?”
“Lex,” Garrin said, his tone low and commanding. “You will not be harmed. This is my land, and I will protect you.”
“Protect me? But the snow…” She shook her head, visions of an avalanche making her heart race. “This is torture.”
Garrin’s strong throat bobbed. He glanced off, and when his gaze returned to hers, it was hard and unyielding. “You must eat and drink more, but you cannot allow yourself to panic. It drains you of energy.” He took off his glove and set a shockingly warm and gentle hand on her cheek. “Be calm, Lex. You are safe. The snow cannot hurt you.”
She wanted to lash out at his arrogance. Instead, she looked into Garrin’s bright eyes and saw an emotion that mirrored her own. “I’m scared.”
Zirel moved closer, but Garrin raised his hand in a staying motion. “She must get used to this land.” He sat beside her, and that was when Lex fully saw her surroundings.
The snow and ice and mountains—she couldn’t stay here. It would smother her. It would stomp her out like an ant on a roadway. She moaned, and her head throbbed.
Garrin pulled her to his side, his arm wrapped tightly around her. He placed his gloveless hand on her forehead, where he stroked her hair back beneath her hood.
“It’s too cold. The snow,” she said, but her breathing slowed at his touch, and she no longer felt the sharp blade of panic she had a moment ago. The vision of the avalanche was still in her mental periphery, but blurred and harder to grasp.
“If you remain calm, Zirel won’t need to make you unconscious—”
She turned sharply and stared at him. “Is that what you’ve been doing to me?” She hadn’t believed him when he said they’d been here for weeks. It seemed impossible, but if he’d been knocking her out and messing with her memories?
Lex tried to move away, but Garrin held her close.
“The land frightens you, making you incoherent,” Garrin said. “Our actions were necessary.”
She squeezed her eyes closed. “None of this is necessary. Why didn’t you return me when you could?” Lex felt lightheaded, her chest moving up and down too rapidly.
“Control your breathing, and I will build a dwelling to keep you warm tonight.”
Her palms clenched and the wind on the mountaintop whipped the fur lining of her hood. “You aren’t listening to me. I wouldn’t need a dwelling if you hadn’t taken me!” This time she scooted away, and he allowed her.
Garrin stood and looked off. “If I could save my people any other way…”
Lex’s eyes burned with tears she held inside. They’d only freeze on her face anyway. “AndI’myour best option?”
