“Barefoot?” Elden wrapped his hands about my waist and pulled me off his lap. Cold struck me as I left the warmth of his embrace. He grabbed a hold of my frozen feet, then swore, pulling his hands back. “Your feet are like icicles!”
“D-delicate h-human, remember?” I chattered.
Still Elden rubbed his large warm hands over my feet and legs, bringing a slow heat and circulation.
“S-so,” I started through chattering teeth. “This tentdoesgrow with more people in it.”
Elden stopped what he was doing and stared at me, glowing citrine gemstone and anger flashing in his cold eyes. “You didn’t know this, but you went out to save our horses all the same?”
“I f-figured it had some kind of m-magic.” I stammered.
“You are like ice.” Elden huffed as if it were a great personal failing of mine. “You need my body heat. Come into my bedroll with me.”
I reeled. “Go into your bedroll? R-really?”
Elden huffed, “If you do not warm up you will get hypothermia. Then you will die, and your magic will be no good for my people.”
“So, you only want me for my m-magic,” I murmured.
“I thought that was pretty obvious, Little Baker.” Elden smiled that crooked smile and despite the frozen popsicle I was, my stomach dipped and heated at that smile. At the way his eyes sparked and said,fight with me.
“Y-you’re impossible.” I grumbled.
“An impossible king who loves pastries.” Elden brought me chattering over to his bedroll. He lay behind me and wrapped his strong arms about my shoulders and waist, then covered us in the many blankets of his bedroll. I stuffed my frozen feet between his knees and he yelped.
“Sweet Evergate,” he mumbled. “Your feet will send me into shock next.”
I smiled, despite the shivers that wracked my body, but with every breath, every trembling, my heart and body calmed. The Elf King’s fierce heat leached into me like a hot oven. The only sounds were the soft breathings of the horses and the almost silent brushing of snowfall outside.
“Thank you,” I said into the falling darkness.
“Anything for you, Noelle,” Elden rumbled. His voice sent heat and chills spiraling down my back. My toes curled.
He’d said my name. I was ashamed by how the sound of that one word in his deep baritone could be enough to undo all the anger and annoyance I’d ever felt toward him. My heart kicked up, pounding through my chest as I laid in the large, strong arms of the king.
I was not only thoroughly thawed but warm. Truly warm, from the top of my head tucked under the king’s chin to the tips of my toes currently stuck between Elden’s knees. The hard planes of Elden’s chest and abdomen pressed against my back. I blushed furiously, then rolled my eyes at my ridiculousness. I needed the body heat. That was all.Calm down.
“So,” I said into the waiting silence.
With a deep chuckle that reverberated through my spine and through my back, Elden said, “Yes, Little Baker?”
“I don’t know!” I sighed. “It’s just, a bit strange being held by you.”
“Strange?” I could hear the smile in his voice.
I huffed. “Yes, strange. I’m supposed to dislike you greatly for all eternity, and here you are, keeping me alive.”
Another laugh, this one a bit heartier. “How about I tell you a story to help you sleep?”
I peeked up at the male who held me and did not see a smirk on his stoic face.
“Fine.” I grumbled, “But I will still greatly dislike you in the morning.”
“Fair enough.” Elden’s chest and throat vibrated, sending wild chills down my back. His voice was so soothing, like melted honey, and yet deep and throaty. And in this position? He may as well have been tickling me.
“Far beyond the stars on a distant moon lived an ancient elf. He worked spinning the moon moth’s silk into little men…” And so Elden began his beautiful tale.
My body relaxed to the gentle cadence of Elden’s voice. I leaned into him and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
