Warmers were already inside, radiating heat. I looked at him in surprise. "When did you prepare these?"
"Had Dmitri pick them up before we left." He averted his gaze. "I checked—nights here get brutally cold."
My nose tingled with emotion.
"Thanks," I said softly.
"Yeah."
We stood there in the darkness, waiting for the lights to appear.
About half an hour later, a faint green glow streaked across the sky.
"Look!" I grabbed his hand excitedly. "The aurora! It's starting!"
The green intensified, swirling and dancing through the night sky, blended with shades of purple and pink, painting the darkness like a living canvas.
"It's so beautiful..." I tilted my head back in awe.
"Beautiful indeed," his voice came from beside me.
I turned and realized he was staring at me, not the sky.
"I'm talking about the aurora."
"And I'm talking about you."
His gaze was so intense it made my cheeks burn.
"You... what are you even saying..." I looked away. "We should enjoy this rare sight properly."
"I'm enjoying what I want to see." He pulled me into his arms. "Noelle, you're more captivating than any aurora."
My heart pounded wildly.
I turned and wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest. His steady heartbeat echoed in my ear.
"Kholod."
"Yeah?"
"I'm really happy."
He tightened his embrace, pulling me closer.
"Me too," he whispered into my hair.
Over the following days, we explored the south coast's highlights—the dreamy blues of the ice caves, the floating icebergs of Jokulsarlon, the explosive geysers of the Golden Circle. Each place left me in awe.
And Kholod was always right there with me.
He'd hold my hand firmly during glacier treks, carry my gear when I was busy photographing, and suggest rests whenever I seemed tired.
He even figured out how to use my camera, though his compositions were still a bit rigid and documentary-like—I cherished every shot anyway.
On the third afternoon, we strolled the streets of Vik Town. The tiny village, with its cobblestone paths and colorful houses, felt like something out of a fairy tale.
"This place is so charming," I said, admiring the buildings. "Like a storybook come to life."
