“Within the hour,” said Frisk. “We need to find shelter. And fast.”
The damn princesshad distracted me. I was accustomed to traveling alone. If I were by myself, I never would have missed the signs of a blizzard.
It didn’t help that the giant stag was slowing us down so much. On foot, I might have been able to make it back to the pixie caves before the blizzard hit. But with Eira and Mauro? Not a chance.
“Did you spot any caves nearby?” I asked Frisk, digging through my pack until I found my scarf. I wrapped it around my neck, ensuring it covered my face as much as possible.
“There’s a small cavity about half a mile south,” Frisk said. “It’s not very wide, though, and it won’t fit all of us.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Mauro said. “My fur will protect me.”
I cut a glance at the princess, who was shivering, her arms wrapped around herself. Her cloak wasn’t doing very much to ward off the chilly wind.
She would die of frostbite before morning. Damn feeble humans.
I nodded at Frisk. “Show us the way.”
The fox turned and hurried down the slope, his bushywhite tail bobbing behind him. I trailed after him, but Eira hesitated, her brows drawn in concern as she looked at Mauro.
“Go,” he snapped. “I’ll find my own shelter for the night and rendezvous with you after the storm.”
“Mauro—” she said uncertainly.
I tugged on Eira’s arm. “We have to go.”
She jerked out of my grasp, shooting me a glare. “Don’t touch me.” With a huff, she strode past me, following after Frisk.
I bit back a curse, then gave Mauro one last parting glance. “Be safe.”
He only grunted in response.
As much as I disliked my situation, I had no qualms with the stag. I didn’t want him getting hurt.
I jogged to catch up with the Snow Princess. The white dragon was now perched on her shoulder, wings outstretched and trembling as if she might take off at any moment. Frisk’s steps were quick and swift, and Eira kept cursing under her breath as she nearly slipped and fell at each turn. I kept grabbing her by the elbow to catch her before she fell on her ass.
After the third time, she seethed, “I saiddon’t touch me.”
I released her arm, my brows raised at the note of hostility in her voice. “Fine.”
A moment later, she slid. A yelp escaped her as her ass met the cold, hard ground. Just as I suspected.
I couldn’t help but laugh. I offered a hand to help her up, but she smacked it away.
“Wipe that smirk off your face,” she said as she clambered to her feet. “Stupid, smug assassin.”
“Why are you so grouchy, anyway?” I asked, shoving myhands deeper into my coat pockets. “Aren’t you often annoyingly chipper?”
Her nostrils flared as she continued after Frisk, who lingered to allow us to catch up. “I don’t like leaving Mauro behind,” she muttered. “Besides, we might have outrun the storm if I—” Her mouth abruptly shut, and her face flushed.
“If you what?” I prompted.
Her eyes flashed, and she shot me a murderous look.
“If you… were faster?” I offered. “Taller? Less talkative? More nimble?”
She shoved my arm. “If I hadn’t drunk the Winterwing Brew, asshole.”
“Ah.” I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh at her again. Now that our roles were reversed, I could suddenly understand why my anger brought her so much pleasure. This was downrightdelightful. “Yes, I suppose flirting with mewouldseem like a poor use of your time when we have a storm to avoid.”
