by Lily Thomas
She shook her head, her hair swinging over her shoulders. “I don’t believe it.”
“It’s true.” Jasmine sent a dazzling smile up at the ice giant beside her. “We are going to be married.”
“Jasmine, you don’t have to do this. If he forced you,” the ice giant king growled at her, but she ignored him, “I’ll help you.” Then he snorted like she was a moron, and she sent the ice giant king a glare.
“Like you’d get far.” The king spoke directly to her. “You can’t whisk her away without her permission.”
Jasmine raised a hand and placed it tenderly on the king’s arm. “She just needs time to see you as I do.” Then she leaned up on her tip toes and placed a kiss to the king’s lips.
Adorra couldn’t help the cringe that overtook her face. Her sister was in worse shape than she could have ever imagined if Jasmine believed this was true love. She’d slept with Mathar, but that had been lust and nothing more. She wasn’t in love with Mathar. Jasmine wasn’t seeing this straight, and she needed someone to help her see the light.
Jasmine strode over to her and grasped Adorra’s hands in her own. “I know you don’t understand any of this, but come with me. I know you’ll want a bath and some clean clothes.” Jasmine frowned. “I remember my own journey all the way up here, and once we got to the castle, I was so excited to take a bath.”
“I wouldn’t mind warming up my bones.” Adorra agreed, and it would allow her some time to think up a plan on escaping and convincing Jasmine that none of this was real.
“I can get you some clean clothes, but they’ll be furs.” Jasmine held up a hand. “It was weird at first, but I can assure you that their dresses are way more comfortable than anything in our court’s fashion. No corsets.” Jasmine whispered the last part like it was the best secret in the land.
“That’s not necessary. Mathar stole some dresses when he kidnapped me.”
Oh, good! I’ll have those brought to your room but consider wearing a fur dress. It would help you blend in while you’re here, and help you not to stick out like a sore thumb. And they’re warmer.” Jasmine pulled her away from the men and towards the castle doors.
Adorra just watched her sister. She looked so animated and happy. So far, there were no outward signs of trauma. “How can you be this happy as a captive?”
Jasmine pursed her lips. “I’m not a captive.”
“Would they let you return home if you wanted?”
Jasmine paused as she continued to lead Adorra to the castle entrance. “I’m not sure. Dryden has worries about humans marching up here and bringing the war to his people, but if I insisted, I believe he would let me go.”
“Then why don’t you ask him?” Adorra insisted. It would make her task so much easier. Either Dryden would let them go, or it would prove that Dryden wasn’t who her sister thought he was.
Jasmine scoffed. “I don’t wish to leave, so there is no point in asking.”
“Perhaps you’re afraid of what he might say.” Adorra pressed as they walked up the steps to the doors.
“I know you can’t see what I see… not yet anyway, but I’m not going to let you think I’m unhappy. Not for a second Adorra.” Jasmine paused as they entered the castle and placed one of her hands against Adorra’s cheek, “I know you’re the elder sister, and you want nothing more than to protect me, but I’m an adult and hoping to get married with your blessing.”
“I know you’re an adult, Jasmine. I just want to make sure you know this isn’t a life for you.”
Jasmine frowned at her and resumed guiding her through the castle.
Clearly, this was going to take a lot of convincing on her part. But first Adorra needed a bath and some clean clothing. Then she could come up with a plan of attack.
Mathar led his stallion over to the barn. Its hooves drove a relaxing beat against the cobblestones under their feet. “You’re a good boy.” He patted the horse on its thick neck. “I pushed you hard, and you deserve some rest.” So did he. He couldn’t wait to kick up his feet now that his mission was done.
“As do you, my friend.” Dryden’s voice called out.
Mathar turned to see Dryden catching up to him. “Do you need me?”
“Not all.” Dryden shook his head his long silver hair dancing around his shoulders. “Quite the opposite. I think you deserve some time for yourself. Now that Adorra is here I’m hoping Jasmine’s happiness will be complete.”
“You’ll want to watch that one,” Mathar warned him. “She might not strike you as a runner, but she’s intelligent and calm, which means she could be a problem. If anyone were going to escape and make it a success, it would be that one.”
“Noted.” Dryden nodded. “But I doubt she’ll leave without Jasmine.” Mathar opened his mouth, but Dryden rushed to add, “I’ll have someone keep an eye on her.”
“Good.”
“How did the journey go then?” Dryden asked as he followed Mathar into the stables.
Mathar shrugged. “Easy. No one saw me, and she was like Jasmine. Stubborn and filled with a million questions.”
“Sounds like you might have enjoyed it.” Dryden teased him.
Mathar snorted and rolled his eyes. “Yes. My idea of enjoyment is stealing women away in the middle of the night and having her accuse me every five minutes of being a kidnapper.”
Dryden raised his hands in surrender. “I didn’t realize she’d riled you up this much.” But his king still sounded like it amused him.
Mathar took off his horse’s bridle and hung it up beside his stallion’s stall on a metal hook. Then he leaned a shoulder against the wooden post and sighed. “Adorra figured out I was the one who killed her husband.”
“How?” Dryden’s eyebrows nearly shot off his face appearing flabbergasted that she’d be able to figure that out on her own.
He shrugged. “I have no idea. She just put two and two together when she saw me in the dark. Like I said before, she is an intelligent one. All she had to do was see me in the dark, and she made an accurate guess as to who I was.”
“She may have been taking a shot in the dark.” Dryden reasoned. “No pun intended.”
“It was one hell of a shot because she aimed correctly.” He was still amazed Adorra had been able to put it together. He’d figured that night was just one big blur of action for her, but she was clearly able to handle tough situations without losing her mind.
“What did you tell her?”
Mathar turned back to his horse and uncinched the saddle strap from around the horse’s belly and hefted it onto the top of the stall gate nearby. “Nothing. I didn’t want to get into it when we still had part of our journey left. I also told her that Jasmine would be able to answer any of her questions.”
“That was probably a wise decision.” Dryden nodded his head as he handed Mathar a couple of brushes. “Adorra will most likely respond better to her sister than you when she hears the news.”
Mathar looked Dryden in the eyes. “You best keep on eye on Adorra. She thinks we’re holding Jasmine against her will and abusing her. I can’t warn you enough about that woman.”
Dryden strode up to him and patted him on the shoulder with a hand. “That’s the exact reason why I’m tasking you with watching over Adorra. You will be her shadow from now on.”
“Me?” Mathar felt like this had to be a cruel joke Dryden was playing on him.
“Yes. You know her the best out of everyone in the castle. I couldn’t think of a better person to watch over her.”
“Jasmine knows her better.” It sounded lame, even to Mathar’s ears, but he couldn’t do this. Being her shadow when she had an inkling of his involvement in her husband’s death?
“Jasmine doesn’t have the time to watch over her sister, and I need someone without a blood connection to watch Adorra. Jasmine might take pity on her.” Dryden folded his arms in front of his chest. “You won’t.”
Mathar opened his mouth, ready to protest this decision, but Dr
yden held up a hand, stopping him short. “No arguments, Mathar.” His king’s obsidian eyes flashed with authority. “I know I promised you some time to relax when you got back, but I need someone to watch her, someone I trust wholeheartedly.”
He wasn’t sure what he’d done to be tortured like this, but he wasn’t comfortable refusing his king. Dryden wasn’t the type to hold it against him if he refused, but he also enjoyed being on his king’s good side. It came with a lot of benefits.
And he was still hoping Dryden would bestow a piece of land to him in the nearby valley. All he wanted was the simple life. A cabin. Growing his own food and possibly a family, but he was still undecided on the last one. After the horrible childhood he’d had, he wasn’t sure what type of father he would be.
Tonight, Mathar planned on indulging in some strong spirits. Perhaps that would help him forget Adorra’s soft body. His cock was already hard at the simple thought of being her shadow and being near her constantly.
“I’ll do it.” He grunted.
“Good. I’ll let you finish up then. Once you’re ready, I expect you to begin your new duties.” Then Dryden headed off.
Mathar scowled at his king’s receding back. He better be granted a piece of land for all that he was doing for his king. It was the least that was owed to him.
Adorra spun in a circle, as she surveyed the room her sister had guided her to inside the castle.
“I hope this room will suffice. I haven’t had much practice at being the future queen, and I’m making it up as I go.” Jasmine said uncertainty.
“It will do nicely. Thank you.” Adorra rushed to reassure her sister. The room was quite large with a great fireplace which already had a fire roaring inside it that pumped off heat in immense waves. Finally, she would be warm. She let the fur she was clutching fall from her shoulder and basked in the heat of the room.
Jasmine shut the room door behind her and ushered Adorra forward. “I had some hot water brought up here the moment we knew of your arrival.”
“You knew?”
“Of course. We not only have guards placed in the forest around the castle but word spreads quickly through town when another human is being brought among them.” Jasmine smiled fondly as she spoke of the ice giant people.
“Of course.” It made perfect sense to Adorra that the word would spread quickly. Humans weren’t a normal sight around here. People had a hard time resisting something new to stare at. That was the same in any culture.
“When you’re done with bathing, there is clothing here on the bed.” Jasmine motioned to a few articles of clothing laid out on the mattress.
“What about the dresses Mathar brought?”
“I wouldn’t wear them.” Jasmine shook her head drawing Adorra’s attention to the updo of her reddish brown curls. “You’ll stick out like a sore thumb, and those fabric dresses won’t keep you as warm up here in the mountains. The only way to stay warm are furs. Trust me on this matter. I only wanted them in case you refused fur clothing.”
Adorra wanted to protest, but she also didn’t want to draw too much attention to herself, so she relented. She’d keep the fabric dresses for a more proper time to wear them or when she got back to her people.
Jasmine sat down on the edge of the bed and cocked her head to the side. “Any questions I can answer for you?”
Adorra quickly stripped her dress off and threw her corset off in record time. The moment the restricting piece of clothing was off, she sighed in relief.
“I find it hard to believe you are truly happy here, Jasmine. I think you’ve been convinced you’re happy here, since you may have felt like you had no hope of rescue, but I want to reassure you that I’m here to get you out.” She looked over at her sister. “You can finally speak the truth now that we’re alone.”
Jasmine shook her head, and jewels Adorra hadn’t noticed before in Jasmine’s hair glinted in the light that streamed through a window. “I don’t want to leave, Adorra.”
Adorra stepped into the tub, and the moment her foot sank into the hot water, a sigh parted her lips. It was going to feel so great to finally get clean and relax. Then she slipped the rest of her body into the hot water.
She turned her head so she could look over at Jasmine. “Now that I’m here, you can rely on me to get us both out of here.”
“Adorra, are you even listening to me?” Jasmine asked looking exasperated as her hands flopped in her lap.
“I hear what you’re saying, but these aren’t your words, Jasmine. This must have been a trying time, and I don’t think you’re letting yourself hope for freedom.”
“I’m about to become a queen, Adorra. Why would I want to leave? I’m also about to marry the man I love.”
“He isn’t a man.” Adorra raised a hand out of the bath water and pointed a glistening finger at her sister.
“How about the fact that I’m pregnant?”
“I know.” Adorra thought about it. “Perhaps we can wait until you give birth, leave the child here, and then make our escape.”
Jasmine’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe you just suggested that I leave my child behind!” Jasmine raised her hands up to her ears as she shook her head. Then she launched herself off the bed and paced. Adorra followed her sister, her eyes having a hard time not staring at her sister’s round stomach.
“Would you want to bring a half ice giant child back to our world?” Adorra reasoned. “This would be the best place for the child. Our people would never accept it.”
“Or maybe I should stay here with my child.”
“I understand you feel some attachment to your”
“Don’t even finish that sentence.” Jasmine interrupted her.
Adorra was having a hard time convincing her sister, but that was to be expected. After spending so much time here with the ice giants, it didn’t surprise her in the least that Jasmine had been a bit brainwashed.
“I love you, Adorra and I wanted you here for my marriage ceremony. I was hoping you could see how happy I am and accept it as the truth. Perhaps I was being naïve.” Then Jasmine stormed out of the room without another word, the door slamming closed behind her.
Jasmine did look happy, but Adorra couldn’t believe this was the right life for Jasmine. She would have to remain patient with her sister. She would take as long as was needed to convince Jasmine. She just hoped it wouldn’t take too long because she wasn’t keen on staying here among the ice giants for long.
She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the warmth of the water that hugged her tight. She could almost imagine herself back at her manor, and she let those warm memories take hold of her.
Chapter 15
Adorra shot awake in the tub, water sloshing around her at the sudden movement. Raising a hand to her eyes, she rubbed them vigorously. The journey through the mountains had taken a lot out of her, and she’d closed her eyes just for a brief second, which had turned out to last a little longer than she meant for it to last.
The cold water caused her to shiver, and she leaped out of the tub. The air in the room had chilled, the fire long dead. She had no idea how long she’d been asleep, but she was ready to find her sister again and slowly chip away on Jasmine’s resolve until she convinced her to come back to Arcaern.
Dashing over to a towel, she ran it over her body quickly gathering the droplets of water on her skin. Goosebumps raced over her skin as the cool air caressed her with icy fingertips.
Adorra glanced over at the fur dress her sister had left out earlier. It wasn’t a material she was used to, but when she reached out a hand and stroked it, the soft fur appealed to her. It was nothing like the pressed dresses and tight corsets the court had made popular.
Maybe there were some parts of ice giant life that weren’t so horrible.
She slipped the dress over her head and marveled about the ease of putting it on. There were no strings to tightened or tie. Then she saw the matching shoes laying on the floor and slipped her feet into them. The
cold melted away as the fur warmed her. She ran her hands down the supple dress, and she was amazed by how it flowed. It felt and acted like the material of her dress, but it wasn’t the same.
Glancing around, Adorra found the chamber lacked a mirror. She’d need to remember to ask Jasmine for one the next time she saw her sister.
Quickly, she ran her fingers through her hair, dislodging any knots. Using a spare ribbon that she’d had in her possession, she quickly tied her long hair up into a ponytail at the base of her neck. It would do for now, but she was going to need a maid if she was going to get her hair into anything fancy.
Hoping she looked decent, Adorra strode over to the door of her chamber and ventured out into the hall. When she saw there was no one around to ask directions, she picked a direction and headed that way.
In no time, she’d gotten herself all sorts of lost.
“Why can’t my life be simple?” Adorra muttered as she tried to get herself back to her chamber, but that too appeared to be a lost cause. “Where is everyone?” With how large the castle was, she would’ve expected it to be overflowing with ice giants.
She’d lost track of how many stairs and corridors she’d gone through. She wasn’t even certain she’d be able to get back to her room.
“Are you lost?” A soft voice growled from behind her.
Adorra twisted around on a heel and relief washed through her when her eyes landed on the ice giant woman standing before her.
“Yes. I was trying to reunite with my sister.”
“Ah, yes, Jasmine.” The woman said kindly as she smiled at Adorra. “She’s probably in the great hall having dinner with the rest of the castle.”
“Dinner?” Had she really slept that long in her tub?
The ice giant woman nodded. “Would you like me to show you the way?”
“Yes, please.” Adorra may not like the idea of living here for long or trust the ice giants, but that didn’t mean she was going to be rude. Honey always attracted other people better than vinegar, and right now she needed help on navigating the massive fortress.