Mostly.
I glance back at Noxlyn.That could explain away the fact that he looks like he will indeed eat me.
Why?
I’m pretty sure I’ve told you how awful his bonded is.
Oh yeah. He doesn’t like it when you do that.
I want to facepalm my forehead, but I don’t. Sudden movements and all that.Why didn’t you tell me you tell him everything? I would have kept my comments to myself.
No, you wouldn’t have.
I pause a moment.Okay, yeah. I wouldn’t. But seriously, Rauk really is a jerk. Today, he—There’s a snort, and the air suddenly smells like sulfur. I nod.Okay. Yeah, got it. Don’t talk bad about King Jerk—I mean Rauk.Redara settles over next to Noxlyn, right up against his side. It kind of surprises me. I figure he’s going to push her away, but he shocks me by lowering his head and dropping it over the top of hers. My eyebrows hit my hairline. I watch them a moment and start to wonder if coming here was a bad idea, a very bad idea.Uh, you guys aren’t going to go at it or anything, right?
Maybe.
I close my eyes.Could you maybe not? I’m standing right here.
You’re the one who chose to come here.
Yes, and I’m regretting that right now.Noxlyn snorts again and stands to his feet.You know what, I’m going to go up near the front.Redara not answering me is answer enough. I hightail it out of there and make my way back through the cave towards the entrance. When I get near the opening, I look out and study the area for alittle bit. You can see what I believe is the entire Dragon Kingdom from here. It really is gorgeous. When it gets too cold to continue to stand there, I back away and sit against one of the cave walls. At least with the wind howling up here, I can’t hear what’s happening back there. Small miracles. I’m not sure how long I sit there, but it’s long enough for my backside to go numb. I stand and move around for a little bit and try to get my blood pumping. It's gotten colder in here, and I’m freezing. I shiver and try to blow heat into my hands. “This place is so cold.” I do love the beauty here, but the cold is really intense. After unsuccessfully trying to warm up, I walk back to the cave wall and drop down again. I watch as darkness begins to fall over the kingdom and regret coming here probably for the hundredth time in the last few hours. I drop my head against the wall and close my eyes and will the time to pass. I finally hear sound, and hope flares in my chest.
You ready to go?Redara asks.
Yes! Finally!
I can sense Redara more than see her in the dark. But it’s not Redara that walks through first. I barely scramble out of the way as Noxlyn comes through. I jump back when he spits a spray of fire on the ground a few feet from me. “What in the world?!” I shout and scramble backwards.Why did he just shoot fire at me? Is he trying to kill me?
He’s just mad,Redara sends back.
At me? What’d I do?
His bonded is making him bring you back to the house.
Shock rolls through me.Rauk?
Pretty sure that’s his bonded,Redara says with snark. I can tellshe’s in just as much of a mood as Nox is, and I don’t say another word as I reach her side and begin to climb. I’ve barely settled on her back when she runs towards the opening, following Noxlyn. As soon as we clear the entrance, she flaps her wings, and we soar. The light of the snow makes it brighter, and I can see a little as we fly. I can admit it’s still beautiful, but I don’t enjoy it as much now. I’m frozen and exhausted and ready to be back at Rauk’s creepy palace.
The flight doesn’t take long, and we land next to Nox on the landing area. Nox doesn’t waste a minute getting out of there. Redara’s behind him a moment later, leaving me by myself to face Rauk alone. I watch them fly away and disappear in the night sky.Thank you,I send, not expecting a reply. I walk over to the door and turn the handle. Thankfully, it turns easily. Once I’m through, I close it behind me. I study the door a moment, wondering if I need to lock it.
“Where were you?”
Rauk’s harsh words rush over me, and I turn around slowly and merely lift an eyebrow. “Hi, to you too.”
His eyebrows are bunched together, and his scowl is as deep as ever. “I told you I needed to talk to you.”
“Ohhhh. Was that when you sent the man with the eye patch to fetch me?”
“You should have come with him.”
Now, it’s my turn to scowl at him. “I’m not an animal to order around, Rauk.” The use of his name seems to startle him for just a beat. “Now, I’m freezing and hungry. So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to find something to eat. Actually, even if you do mind, I’mgoing to anyway.” I stride past him, intending on heading to the kitchen.
“Why aren’t you wearing warmer clothes?”
“I’m wearing the warmest clothes I own,” I call out without looking back. When I get to the kitchen, Elowen isn’t there. I’m surprised at the small stab of disappointment I feel. I see a towel covering something, and I lift the towel to see two bowls of some kind of orange mush as the base and meat and other veggies over the top. There’s a glass bottle next to the dishes that I sniff.
“You pour that over everything,” a gravelly voice says from nearby. I don’t look in Rauk’s direction.
