We’d just gotten back from the public skate. Every year the city froze over one of the squares, and turned it into an ice rink. Neither one of us wanted to get off until it became too crowded for us to even hold hands. If there was one thing that truly bonded Emma and I, it was our love of the ice. We’d dropped our skates off at the university before rushing back into town. Though we’d been in Dolinska all day, we hadn’t even seen half of the Winter Hunt activities.
There was the sound of shouts as red and green ribbons were hung from the stage in the square. Workers were getting the stage ready for the Choosing ceremony, which would be held later on tonight. Delmare and Stefan were both participating, as well as Odette and Theo. Near the stage was a huge Christmas tree, decorated with hundreds of ornaments and lights.
Emma laid her head on my shoulder. “I wish we could’ve gotten to experience this last year but… you know.”
I did. The Winter Hunt had been canceled because of the King’s Contest. If I could go back in time, I wasn’t sure if I would ask Emma to compete again. Since I’d let my cares over the monarchy go, I felt so free. The weight on my shoulders was gone, replaced with nothing more than focus for my mate and our quest to find the crystals. Nothing else mattered.
“I have a surprise for you,” I told her. “A bit of an early Christmas present.”
“Really?” Her eyes brightened.
“Yes. Climb on.” I changed into a wolven, and Emma settled on my back as we bounded through the snow. We left the streets of Dolinska until we were back on the university campus. I took a turn, and we ended before the same groundskeeper cabin we’d enjoyed a year ago.
Emma slid off my back, and I changed. I stepped inside the cabin and lit the log in the fireplace. The firelight illuminated the room, and Emma’s expression became bewildered as she witnessed the various twinkling lights lining the ceiling. The cabin had been decorated for the Winter Hunt, with stockings hanging on the mantle and a Christmas tree in the corner adorned with blue, gold and silver ornaments. The cabin smelled like cinnamon, and the reindeer bedspread looked warm and inviting. Holly and garlands hung from the rafters, with a cranberry wreath on the door. Across the bed and all over the floor were rose petals, a bucket of champagne sitting on the table with two empty glasses.
We removed our coats. I popped and poured the champagne, before toasting to Emma. “Your good health,onawilke.”
Emma smirked before she swallowed her glass. “Gonna need the whole bottle, then.”
We refilled our glasses, then sat on the rug in front of the warm fire. Emma dragged a knitted blanket off the couch and adjusted it over our legs as I reached behind us. Underneath the Christmas tree was a small blue present. I grabbed it, then turned to place the gift on her lap. “For you, my little wolf.”
“If I had known we were doing this I would’ve brought your present,” Emma said as she began to unwrap it.
“Nonsense. It’s my treat to spoil you.”
Emma’s jaw dropped as she opened the box. She reached down to dangle a necklace off her fingers. The silver chain was composed of large square diamonds. A circular sapphire pendant an inch in size dangled from the chain. Her hand sagged as she held the elaborate strand, as it was heavy.
“Ethan, this is gorgeous,” she whispered. “Where did you find such a thing?”
“This is going to shock you, but… it’s actually an Unseelie necklace.”
“What?!” Emma held the necklace away from her, like it was cursed.
“It’s not like the dark necklace you used in the tournament,” I explained. “Arthur helped me to make this one. It’s from the royal treasury— a wolven heirloom. It’s tradition for a prince to give his mate something from the Malovian imperial jewel collection during their first Christmas together. I asked Arthur to infuse the sapphire with a little Unseelie power, so you can fill it with your own magic, and pull from it when needed.”
“That’s incredible. It’s beautiful, Ethan.” She turned the sapphire, to observe its glitter in the firelight. “I’m not sure where I’ll wear it, except at formal events. It’s far too grand to parade around school— unless you want me to make the other girls jealous.”
“We actually get into a lot of trouble at parties and balls,” I pointed out. “I’ve no doubt it will come in use at some point.”
Emma nodded. “Fair. This is such an elaborate gift, Ethan. The diamonds in the necklace alone must be worth millions.”
“Don’t go saying you refuse to accept. I won’t allow it.”
Emma rolled her eyes and placed the necklace back in its case. “Of course not. I know better. Thank you. You put a lot of thought into it. I’ll wear it the first chance I get.”
“I wanted something you could use. And something that would draw attention to your pretty face.”
“It’ll certainly make an entrance,” she said as she glanced at it again. She’d never had something so expensive or precious in her entire life, save for perhaps the sapphire in her sword. But that was the wolven stone— that didn’t really belong to her. The necklace I’d picked out was hers, and only hers. She was worth the grand sum I paid for it a hundred times over.
I gave a look upward. “Oh, look. Mistletoe.”
Emma’s smile was sly as she noticed the mistletoe hanging directly above our heads. “You did that on purpose.”
“So what if I did.”
I silenced her with a kiss. Emma’s fingers graced the side of my face as I began making love to her lips with my own, drawing out the movements so they were slow and sensual. I invited Emma’s tongue into my mouth, but our dance was soft and gentle as I tangled a hand into her red hair. She came closer to me, climbing into my lap. I wrapped my arms around her hips and held her as her legs enclosed around my form, urging me to come nearer. I took my time, savoring the way she tasted and enjoying each sensation as it ran over my core. My wolfish instincts demanded I hurry, go faster, but I told them to wait. Emma bit softly down on my lower lip, and I let out a groan that a shifter could only make when he had his mate near.
The fireplace crackled in the background, and as I continued kissing her, it grew too warm for the blankets— or clothes, for that matter. Emma yanked off her shirt, but I grabbed her wrist before she could discard any more items.
