“Because I cannot lose you. So I will do whatever it takes, even if you hate me for it.”
“I wouldn’t hate you.” I shook my head. “Never.”
He sauntered forward, leaning down and pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “You taste like salt.”
Smacking his arm, I wrinkled my nose. “You don’t exactly smell delightful either!”
He broke into laughter, and I reveled in the sound. Finally, that look of guilt was gone. “Shall we remedy the situation?” He asked, motioning to the back door leading to the springs.
“Out there?”
“Yes, out there.”
“It’s snowing.”
“It’s the Winter Court, Nairu,” he returned with a sly smirk. “Of course it is snowing.”
I clicked my tongue, narrowing my eyes at him. “Hilarious. Since you seem to have no fear regarding the ice-cold part before you hit the nice, warm water, you can go first.”
He shrugged. “I run hot.”
Cold nipped at my cheeks, turning them rosy the moment we left the warmth of the room. Bundled up in my shirt, leathers, and a cloak on top for good measure, I still found myself shivering. My years spent in the North had done nothing to brace me for the level of frigidity of the Winter Court. It would take almost no time at all to strip bare and plunge myself into the hot water, but I’d convinced myself—reasonably so—that I would freeze solid before I could make it.
Alandris, on the other hand, had already stripped down to his pants and was sauntering toward the water without a care in the world. He’d kicked off his boots before he’d even stepped outside. My toes curled in my own boots at the thought.
“There is something seriously wrong with you.” I cringed. “Get in already!”
He cocked a brow. “Eager to get me undressed?”
I averted my gaze. “I—I am worried about you. That is all.”
His laughter was almost enough to make me look up from my feet. “Of course, my apologies.”
A breath later, I heard the splash of water and raised my head enough to find his discarded clothes in a pile in the snow. Dragging my eyes up a little farther, I found Alandris chest deep in the hot spring, his eyes sparkling with teasing humor. “Your turn, Nairu. Should I turn away, like last time?”
My mind wandered back to the ‘last time’ in question—that crystal clear pool in the caves. It felt as though it was hundreds of years ago. My memories were incomplete back then. I’d been so hopeful at the time, and yet so hesitant. I wasn’t that same girl, not even close, but still, I hesitated.
I’d tried to convince myself that if I let Alandris in any more than I already had, there would be no going back. I’d endured so much, I was confident I could overcome anything. But he would be the one chip in my armor. Losing him would be the one thing I was incapable of overcoming. It would break me.
What I hadn’t realized was that it was already too late.
He’d already become my weakness.
“No,” I answered him, finally. “Don’t turn away.”
Surprise flickered on his features before they shifted into something different. Heated.
I threw my cloak to the veranda first, before grasping at the laces of my under-bust. Tugging at the laces, slowly, one by one, pulling them through the eyelets until that too was discarded behind me. My fingers, shaky from the cold, fumbled with the hem of my linen shirt.
There was nothing left to fear. Not with him. Never with him.My own thoughts spurred me into action, and suddenly, I couldn’t move fast enough. I tossed my shirt behind me and gasped when the cold air hit my chest. Wasting no time, I tossed off my boots and pants, and then I was jumping into the water until I was neck deep, gasping for air. The heat flooded my body at once, and I leaned my head back in relief, letting out a long breath.
“Not so bad, was it?” Alandris’ voice was closer than I’d expected.
I turned to look at him and found myself struck silent. He was beautiful. Had I not taken the time to admire it before? His long black hair was like strands of silk spreading out in the water all around him. His eyes were freckled with spots of teal and pupils ringed in a blue so light it was almost silver. The way they looked at me now made that silver almost look like liquid flame.
“You are magnificent,” he murmured, sliding closer yet.
I followed the trail of his gaze as it worked its way over me, lingering on each part of me as though he were seeing me for the first time. Taking note of every little detail as I had. My heart raced as I watched him, waiting.
