Oh, Gods. The mountains had gotten the worst of the storm. “Charlotte went up the mountain?”
Chapter Eighteen
THE CABIN IN THE MOUNTAINS
Charlotte
Charlotte flipped Julian’s body over, brushing the snow off of him and trying to shake him awake.
“Julian! Julian, wake up. Julian!”
His skin was cold to the touch, but his body was warm, and at least he’d had the sense to bundle up and to cover his face with his scarf.
She pulled it back to check if he was still breathing.
“Come back tomorrow,” he groaned. “We’re closed.”
“Oh, thank the Gods,” she said. “I’ve got to get you inside. Can you get up?”
“Charlotte?” Julian’s teeth were chattering. “That you?”
“It’s me. Come on before we freeze.”
Charlotte helped Julian up.
“Ow!” he yelled as he put weight on his right foot. He leaned onto Charlotte, nearly knocking her over.
“It might be broken,” said Charlotte. “You’ll need to let Keir take a look once we get off this mountain.”
Ifthey got off this mountain. Charlotte was much shorter and smaller than Julian and supporting him as they climbed the last steps of the snow-covered path to the dwarf’s cottage was a challenge, especially on the stairs.
But when they made it to the door, it was clear no one was inside. “We have to go in,” said Charlotte. “I hope he’ll forgive us, but we’ll die if we don’t.”
“Look,” said Julian, kicking something on the ground with his good foot.
It was the curled-up corner of a sheet of paper. A note buried under the snow.
Charlotte picked it up and read it aloud.
Mr. Blair,
Hope you didn’t come. I’ve left for the mines to ride out the storm. If you’re here, stay as long as you need. I left some wood by the fire.
-Thordin
Charlotte didn’t need to be told twice. She pried open the door—it was tough against the cold wind with the weight of Julian on her shoulder, but she managed it. Inside, she gently helped him into the first chair she could find.
“I’ll get the fire going,” she said. When she turned back to look at him, he had removed his cloak and scarf and was taking off his shirt. She froze, panicking. “What are you doing?”
“My clothes are soaked. I fell coming up the path. I don’t know how long I was there in the snow. Not long, I’m guessing, since I’m still alive. But I can’t keep these on.”
Fair enough. It wasn’t like Charlotte minded nudity. Korrigan fashion could be a bit…minimalist, especially in the warmth of summer.
But it was different with Julian, at least it was now. She was sure they must have gone swimming in their underwear at least once as children, but things were different then.
“Aren’t you freezing too? That hat of yours is soaked.”
Julian’s voice was right behind her, leaning on a dresser to hold himself up, but she was nervous to turn and see his state of undress.
