by Lily Thomas
“Let me explain further.” And hopefully, he would explain it well enough. “Giants had to deal with humans when your people came here. At one time, we ice giants had territory down near where even you probably live, but we decided the mountains were the best area for us. We’ve taught ourselves your language so that when and if we have dealings with humans, we will know exactly what they are saying.”
“I didn't know your people had lived anywhere else other than the mountains.”
Dryden started to respond, but right as he was about to say something else, Jasmine muttered, “But giants can’t be trusted, either. We’ve had dealings that have gone sour before with your kind.”
He growled down at her. “Who invaded whose land?”
She looked back over her shoulder at him but said nothing, because he was right. The humans had settled here for some unknown reason to start their lives anew.
Jasmine would have to learn to watch her tongue around his people, but he let her comment slide, at least, for now. They had both been taught to hate the other since a very young age, even though he wanted her with a lust like never before. His cock would not stop pestering him.
Maybe as she lived among them, she would develop different views of his people. Perhaps she could come to learn about them in a different light. Their people weren’t as different as she thought they were.
Jasmine knew Dryden was cross because of what she’d said, yet he didn’t continue to disagree with her. Grudgingly, she did admit that humans hadn’t been the first ones to this land. She had no idea why her people had left their original land, but here they were.
She snuggled deeper into the fur cloak. The cold was starting to reach its icy fingers around her again. The temperature was slowly dropping as they proceeded farther into the mountains.
It still puzzled her how these ice giants dealt with this extreme environment. Then again, if she had been raised in it, she may very well think it was only natural and normal to be shivering all day long. Although the ice giants didn’t appear to shiver, even without any clothing on.
A couple more hours stretched past, and Jasmine found herself growing immensely bored. Nothing was happening, and soon her head drooped in drowsiness, but right before she fell completely asleep the urgent need to use the woods made itself known.
Jasmine stared out at the forest they were traveling through. She would need to hike up her skirts to pee, and in this kind of weather, she wasn't too keen on the task before her. Her butt would surely freeze off.
The urge grew more urgent as the horse's gait jostled her about. There was no way she would be able to hold it in. She didn’t even know how much longer this journey would go on for.
Without turning to face Dryden, Jasmine asked, “Would you mind if we stopped for just a little bit?”
At first, she was unsure whether or not he’d heard her request. This wasn't something she was comfortable asking. It wasn’t something she’d ever had to bring up in polite company before.
Then he responded. “You must speak up, Jasmine, assuming you’re even talking to me?”
“Yes, I am.” She spoke in a louder voice, but still not wanting anyone to overhear her. “Can we please stop?”
There was silence behind her. Could he still not hear her? Would she have to yell it to the whole world?!
“Stop riding? We have a pace to keep up, Jasmine.” He sounded firm, probably still upset from her earlier comments about his people.
“Fine! I need to use the trees!” she burst out. Her bladder was putting so much pressure on her, and she wanted the horse just to stop moving before she released it all right there on top of the saddle.
Dryden pulled on the reins abruptly, causing the horse to snort back at them, and making her bladder complain at the sudden halt in motion.
Dryden called out in their language, and then the riders before them stopped, as did the ones behind them.
Embarrassment flushed through her. Now everyone would know what she was going to do. Unbelievable.
She was confident he hadn't tried to make it obvious on purpose. Not that it mattered. The moment she got off the horse and headed into the woods alone, it would be evident to everyone what she needed to do.
Still, Jasmine couldn't help but feel humiliation by such a natural act.
After he called the stop and finished talking to his men in their own language, he turned to her.
“May I assist you?” he offered from behind her.
“Yes, please.” Jasmine knew she wouldn’t make it down on her own.
He gripped her upper arms and swung her down to the snow-covered ground.
“Be sure to be quick about it. I don't want to have to go in search of you because I will drag you back here kicking and screaming.” When he said the last sentence, he pointed a gloved finger in her direction.
Jasmine could see in his eyes he would follow through with his threat. Weirdly, she did have to admit a little thrill went through her at the thought of him coming after her and dragging her back. Her imagination was good at putting together what her punishment might entail, and she feared she might like it. For a lady, she was thinking a little too much about his naked body.
As she turned to head off into the woods, his voice rang out from behind her in warning, “Be aware, Jasmine, there may be mountain cats lurking in the area. We don’t need you becoming a snack.”
The tiny hairs on her nape and arms stood on end, and shivers crawled up her spine, causing her to pause mid-step.
“Did you have to bring up the mountain cats right now? Truly?” She was about to walk into the woods for who knew what distance by herself. “I don’t need the thought of those giant cats roaming around out there with me while I’m unaccompanied.”
“It is better for you to be aware than to be eaten alive.” His silver hair blew around his shoulders in the slight wind.
Jasmine frowned at him. “Thank you for such a cheery thought.”
Slowly, she walked over the snow-covered ground, hoping Dryden would give her enough time to walk away, do her business, and then come back. Jasmine didn’t need him coming after her just because she was taking time to be careful.
She wasn't keen on the idea of going any faster over the snow since she had no idea what might be waiting beneath to trip her up. Her ankles were already sinking into the fluffy white powder.
Every once in a while, she would glance up as she heard the groans coming from branches overhead. Hopefully, none of the branches would give way while she was walking underneath them because some were large enough to kill her with a good blow to the head.
After walking what Jasmine thought must be quite a long distance, she turned to find herself still able to see the ice giants on their horses. They were some ways away, but because most of the trees and bushes had lost their leaves, and she could still be seen.
What she needed was a nice, low-to-the-ground, thick-branched pine tree, something that never lost its foliage in the cold of winter.
Spinning in a tight circle, she surveyed the land around her.
Then Jasmine spotted it. A few yards away there was a nice-sized pine tree that was low to the ground. It would hide her well as she attended her business in the woods.
As she slid behind the pine tree, the thought of the mountain cats made her pause and take a quick look around her. Better to be safe rather than sorry.
After she finished, she worked her way back to Dryden with hasty steps.
Even from such a distance, she immediately picked out Dryden among all his fellow warriors. There was a definite way he carried himself that drew all eyes to him. She could tell he was sure of himself and his abilities. She instinctively knew he was the leader of the group. Perhaps he was a general or a commander.
Jasmine wasn’t sure though since she had no idea how their social hierarchy went.
Her heart sputtered as she gazed at him.
Sure, he was an ice giant, but he was an ice giant who had shown her immen
se kindness. She was just getting to know him, and she found him to be more than just intriguing.
She wanted to see his other sides, but she couldn’t. She had to get back to her sister, and then she would probably never return to these mountains. Adorra would keep a solid eye on her once she returned, she was positive.
She might be attracted to Dryden, but it could never be more than a passing interest. He was a giant, and she was a human. No life or future was waiting for them.
Jasmine had a higher chance of escaping if she didn’t wait until they got to wherever they were going. Currently, there were fewer eyes to catch her running away.
If Dryden were taking her to a castle, she would be doomed to live with the ice giants forever, and her sister would be lost to the world.
Then again, within a matter of minutes these warriors would realize she’d gone missing, but in a castle, she might have a full day before someone noticed she’d disappeared.
A branch made a loud crack above her, interrupting her thoughts and falling to the ground just a few feet away. Jasmine jumped, panicked, and tripped over a hidden branch under the snow.
She fell to the ground and then leaped right back up. Looking down, she saw she had now completely covered herself in powdered snow.
Glancing up, she noticed that it was as she feared, all the ice giants were now watching her. They had all just witnessed her tripping and nearly getting brained by a branch.
Her cheeks flooded with heat as she turned to see the branch that had fallen.
It was a huge branch, and the cracking sound had scared her witless. She had a right to have been frightened. It was huge, and it could have caused her a significant amount of harm if it had fallen on her.
Brushing herself off, she glared at the branch and then made her way back to the party of ice giants who waited. This time, she was careful to listen to the branches above her and watch where she was placing her feet.
As she came up to the side of Dryden's horse, he put a hand down, and once her smaller one was fitted into his, he swung her up onto the back of his horse. He then put the warm fur cloak back around her shoulders.
Jasmine hadn't realized how cold she was and was thankful to have the warmth of the fur coat around her once again. She made sure the cloak covered all of her, even her toes and part of her face. Even though her toes were in her slippers, her feet were nearly frozen. She hadn't known she’d need thicker clothing when she went out to read in the barn.
“I’m glad you made it back in one piece. Are you alright? I saw you take quite the tumble in the snow.” His gaze flitted over her as if he was searching for any indication that she’d been harmed.
Jasmine felt a little snippy after her fall, but she heard and recognized his true concern for her well-being. “I’m fine, thank you for asking. I’m just glad I wasn’t hit by the branch when it came down.”
“We heard it crack from here. I regret your trip, but I’m happy you weren’t harmed and that the branch hadn’t been closer to you. One can never be too careful. Its weight could’ve easily broken your back.” His voice turned thick with emotion.
“Are you worried that I would’ve died?”
“I haven’t kept you alive this long just to lose you to a random branch falling.”
Her heart warmed from his concern for her safety. She didn't want him to fret about her, but it felt nice. It also confirmed that he would keep her safe.
“Well, I’m fine and warming up again,” Jasmine said, as she turned her head back to smile up at him.
She could see the emotions flicker within his dark eyes. He’d been concerned about her.
Her heart did a slight somersault in her chest, her breathing slowed, and eventually, her eyes drifted down to stare at his lips. She wanted to feel those lips against hers. She wanted to feel those lips all over her body.
As she thought about all of this, he ruined the moment.
“Glad you came back. You wouldn't have gotten far, and then you would’ve just soured my pleasant mood.”
Though she was sure he was just teasing her, she was still upset. Even though she did plan on making a run for it at some point, she was hurt he would think she would right now.
It insulted her intelligence. She knew if she dashed away now, he would catch her in a short amount of time. She wasn't completely stupid. She would wait until she had the chance to steal one of these immense horses. Then she might actually have a decent chance at getting away and quickly.
Jasmine grumped. “What would I have done? Trotted off in the snow without any food, or a horse? I would’ve frozen, or been eaten alive by one of those mountain cats.”
“Knowing you, I thought it might be a possibility. I have to admit I was prepared to go after you.”
Jasmine bristled. If she had fur, it would have been standing on end.
“Excuse me, but you know nothing about me. You barely even know me.”
Chapter 9
Dryden let the thought of getting to know her more drift through his mind. He doubted she would let him, but he was more than willing to try. Not to mention he would like to find out more about her past if he could.
Curiosity was killing him, and there was still the mystery of the lone rider who Mathar had seen. What was that man’s part in her winding up in the freezing mountains, other than dropping her off?
Since he had left her there in the snow, he’d clearly meant for her to die up here in the mountains. But again, the question floated through his mind of why exactly. What had Jasmine learned that someone would kill for?
Mathar pulled up beside Dryden as they continued to make their way through the forest.
“Where did you think we would set up our next encampment? We could probably get to the river before dark hits.” Mathar’s horse stepped in sync with Dryden’s as they made their way over the snowy terrain.
“I already thought the river would be a good place for our next stop,” Dryden confirmed.
“Hopefully your human doesn't feel the need to take another plunge into the frigid waters,” Mathar teased. “I don't know how I feel about going in after her again.”
Dryden shook his head and smiled. “I think she’s learned her lesson from last time. She knows the river is not the best way to get away from us if she wants to remain alive. I think it scared her a bit witless.”
“I’ll let the scouts know about your decision, and I will tell the rest of the men,” Mathar said, right before he split off and pushed his horse into a gallop to catch up to the scouts, who were ahead of the main group.
“Where is he headed?”
Dryden looked down at Jasmine sitting in front of him on the saddle. She was huddled deep into the fur cloak. Knowing her, she wouldn't ask him for another fur even if she needed one, but he could see her shake with the cold when the wind picked up for a second.
“To let the men know about my decision of where we will make camp.”
Reaching back behind him on his saddle, Dryden wrestled free another one of his fur cloaks. He wanted her to be warm, and he wasn't going to wait until she begged him for another one. Dryden knew she would wait as long as she could before she asked
He swung the brown cloak over her, adding a second layer over the other fur cloak. At first, he thought she might not have noticed, but then he heard a muffled thank you as she pulled the second fur cloak tightly around her body.
He smiled to himself. He liked having her in his arms and taking care of her. It gave him a sense of being. Weirdly, it was nice to have someone else to worry about other than himself or his people.
Things were looking familiar to Jasmine. The trees and scenery seemed to trigger something in her memory, and as the land sloped, she thought she remembered it somehow.
Was it just her? Jasmine sat up more on the saddle and eagerly looked around them as they proceeded through the forest.
Then the sound of rushing water hit her ears, and she sat up even straighter. They had to be nearing the river where
she’d tried to escape from Dryden before she knew he meant her no harm.
“Are you retracing your steps?”
“Yes, we are.”
It meant she was slightly closer to where they had originally found her.
She almost felt like laughing with glee. When she had woken in his arms, she’d thought Keir still had her, not an ice giant. Now she realized how lucky she was that it had been the other way around.
Keir wouldn’t have bothered to save her from the river.
Dryden drove her nuts every once in a while, but he had so far been very kind to her. She snuggled closer to him. Jasmine was curious about his people, to see how they lived, but the need to get back to her sister was pressing against her more and more urgently. There was no time for her to waste.
The thought put a sour taste in her mouth. Thinking of her sister made Jasmine feel desperate, and she could feel an ache in her limbs. If she could run all the way back to the manor, she would be off like an arrow.
Jasmine wondered how her sister was doing.
Jasmine knew Adorra. There was no way she had recovered from Jasmine's disappearance. She was willing to lay down a bet that her sister still stared out the window wondering where Jasmine was, or that Adorra's heart picked up speed every time the servants announced the arrival of someone at the manor walls.
Of course, Lord Gothar would convince Adorra that life had to go on. Jasmine was sure he would pretend to be the most adoring betrothed, trying to distract her from her misery. The sooner he got Adorra over her missing sister, the sooner they could continue with the wedding.
Her heart went out to her poor sister.
How had their luck turned so rotten?
Maybe it wasn’t all bad, though.
Jasmine turned to examine Dryden, as he continued to guide the horse around trees. She couldn’t let herself get too attached to Dryden, but she was finding herself intrigued and wanting to explore more with him.
If she did get back in time to save her sister, she knew Adorra would insist Jasmine stay at the manor. Jasmine also knew if she told Adorra about Dryden and even hinted at wanting to reach back out to him after she was safe at home, her sister would think she’d been brainwashed.