Her smile softens, and before I say anything more, she leans in. Our lips meet, and the world stills. Every time we kiss, it feels like the first—electric, consuming. Her hands slide up my arms, anchoring me as the kiss deepens.
When we pull apart, her forehead rests against mine, her breath warm on my skin. “Dayton,” she whispers, her tone shifting to something heavier.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Keldarion,” she says, stepping back but keeping her palms on my chest. “I left him to watch over Caspian. But I can’t say the meeting went well.”
“Tell me everything.”
Rosalina explains it all, including that Kel himself had gone to the Below. Had he gone for Rosalina’s sake, like Ezryn? No, it must be something more. The icy bastard doesn’t even know Rosie and Cas are mates. If I had to guess, his own feelings drove him down there. Not that he’ll ever admit that.
I nod as she finishes. “You trust Kel to watch over him and not toss him to the wolves?”
“It’s strange, but I do.” Her hands slide down to take mine. “I have to get through to Keldarion. Convince him to trust Cas and break his curse. It’s the only way we save the staff at Castletree and he’ll have enough power to protect Winter from Sira.”
“Trying to convince Kel to do something he doesn’t want to do…that’s a tall order. I’ll help in any way I can. It’s one thing I love about you. You never give up on anyone.”
“Thanks, Day.” Rosalina squeezes my hands, and I sense a weariness in her. “We’ll face it together.”
Rosie is right. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it as a team. I pull her into my arms, holding her close as I stare out at the moon. “You can’t help anyone if you’re too tired to stand. Let me take care of you now, okay, baby?”
“What did you have in mind?”
A grin spreads across my face. “I want to show you why I chose this room in particular.”
Threading my fingers through her hair, I nod toward the door that leads into the bathing chamber.
She raises a brow but lets me guide her. The moment we step inside, the brisk air brushes over our skin. A faint mist curls from the room’s centerpiece: a massive wooden tub carved from dark, polished timber. The stone floor beneath our feet is cool.
I move to the tub, kneeling to twist the brass valve. A soft rush of water spills in, steam rising in lazy tendrils. I glance over my shoulder to see Rosalina wandering farther into the room, her eyes catching on the far wall.
She stops in her tracks, lips parting. “Dayton…”
I follow her gaze and smile. A wall made of ice, its surface so sheer it might as well be glass. Beyond it, the night stretches endlessly, the stars bright against the ink-black sky. Snow drifts down in soft spirals, caught in the wind.
She steps closer, her reflection shimmering in the ice.
“Places like this let me stand Winter a little better,” I admit, moving to her side. The ice was shaped centuries ago by the fae who built Wolfhelm, enchanted to remain solid, never melting. It’s a reminder of the Winter Realm’s strength, a symbol of what this place once was—and what it could be again.IfKel ever gets his head out of his ass.
“Beautiful.”
I watch her, captivated by the moonlight dancing across her features. “It’s nothing compared to you.”
She turns to me, her eyes warm and filled with something that makes my chest ache in the best possible way. “You always say that.”
“Because it’s always true.”
I gesture toward the tub, now full and steaming. “Come,” I say, moving to shut off the water. “You’ve had a long day, and you deserve to relax.”
“And what about you?”
“I’ll relax once I know you’re comfortable.” I grin, grabbing a soft linen cloth and draping it over the edge of the tub.
She hesitates for a moment, then moves to me, placing her hands on my chest. “You’re quite princely when you try, Day.”
“I’ll always try for you.”
She holds my gaze, her cheeks flushing. I work the ties of her dress loose, the fabric slipping from her shoulders and pooling at her feet. My fingers trail over her bare skin, careful and reverent, like she’s something sacred. And to me, she is.
