by Aurelia Skye
They glared at each other for a moment, so she put up a wary hand without looking at either of them. She was still entranced by the train. She’d never ridden on the Earth version, so she was impatient to board and see if it was as exciting as it looked.
It seemed like magic when a fur cape appeared in Marek’s hands. He draped it across her shoulders and turned her to tie the satin bow himself. “Don’t worry. It’s faux fur.”
She looked down to admire it and grinned when she realized the fae fabric had become fur leggings and a soft cashmere sweater. Kriss put up the hood for her, and she was toasty warm again when they started boarding the train.
The royal couple went first, followed by Milo and Marek, who paused at the top of the step to turn back and offer her a hand up. She took it and followed, with Kriss just a step below her. North didn’t let out an easy breath until all six of her men were on the train. She didn’t like being separated from them—any of them. As the group settled on benches built into each side of the train, she looked out the window to see more of the icy side of their realm. After a moment, she forced herself to look back at the people across the aisle, trying to appear approachable and friendly.
It was difficult and awkward trying to make small talk with those around her. She felt mostly at ease with her guards, especially after they had all bonded the previous evening, but was certain Marek’s family stared at her with icy disregard. She hoped that was simply her imagination, coupled with her own insecurities. Either way, she wished it was all over, though her father would’ve been the first to remind her wishes were an unproductive waste of time.
Suddenly, she wondered if they really were. If there was magic, could she just wish for whatever she wanted? She added it to her list of mental questions to ask one of the men when she had an opportunity, not uncouth enough to verbalize the question at the moment.
The ice train moved quickly, and what seemed like a sparkling glacier in the distance soon manifested itself as a palatial structure the closer the group drew. North craned her neck to stare, no longer caring if she looked gauche in her eagerness to see.
The palace seemed formed directly into the mountain, as though part of it. There were distinct features carved from ice, including several turrets and a tower, but it was a harmonious blend of building and landscape.
It was also freaking huge. That was an unsophisticated thought, but she barely spared a thought for chiding herself about it. It was hard not to seem like a wide-eyed ingénue with the wonderous sight before her. “It’s magnificent.”
“Yes, it is.” The king spoke the words quietly, with perhaps a hint of warmth that had been missing when he briefly spoke before. “It’s a magnificent sight, but even more importantly, it’s structurally sound. It stood during a siege that lasted for a hundred and ten days the last time.”
Sensing an opening, she licked her lips and asked, “When was that?”
“Almost six hundred years ago. We’ve had an existing cease-fire for the last four hundred and fifty, since the Council unified and deemed it necessary.”
Perhaps she’d asked about a sore subject, considering the king sounded irritated as he answered. She nodded, deciding not to ask anything more.
As though Marek could feel the curiosity burning through her, he added, “An outsider from the Baelic realm was tasked with ending the Civil War and bringing us all in line.” He said the words mockingly, with a hint of defensiveness.
“His solution was a doozy,” said Kriss, breaking the silence he’d maintained since they all boarded the train.
Marek nodded. “Balthazar married my ancestor, who was Queen at the time, and split the world.”
“Literally,” added Kriss.
North forced her gaze from the castle to look out the windows across from her, over Milo’s shoulder. She could see some of the Fire world in the distance. “Your world wasn’t always like this then?”
Kriss shook his head as she looked back at him. “The geography was far more homogenous at one point. It snowed where there were volcanoes, and rivers bigger than Earth’s oceans cut through the side of the plane now called Celestina instead of the smaller trickles they call rivers over there these days.”
Her eyes widened at his words. “How did he have that much power?”
“Training and discipline,” said the king firmly, with a note that suggested he was done discussing the whole subject. “That’s something Marek will certainly guide you through, North.”
“As will I,” said Kriss. His words were somewhere between promising and threatening.
It was instinct to reach out to put a hand on his thigh, squeezing lightly as a reminder to keep it civil. “I’m looking forward to training with both of you.” That was a lie. She wasn’t looking forward to any of the training, or anything that was expected of her with this whole Trueblood gig. She’d happily give it all up for free and return to her life in the cabin.
A surge of melancholy shot through her at the thought of not seeing the six men surrounding her ever again. There was a pang in her chest at the thought of never having met them, and she was forced to admit that perhaps the situation wasn’t all bad.
They arrived at the palace a short time later, where there was a bustle of activity from them and the servants as the group split up, with various people showing them to their rooms. Kriss stayed close by, and she wanted to cling to his hand, sensing he was miserable. She wasn’t quite miserable, but she definitely felt out of her element and would’ve appreciated the comfort of his hand wrapped around hers as much is it would’ve given him support.
Marek stopped after they had climbed several staircases, and she was feeling a bit winded. He pointed to a door before looking at Kriss. “That’s your room.”
Kriss smirked at him. “Did you give me the dungeon? Just remember, I’ll be happy to show you the same hospitality.”
Marek rolled his eyes, but didn’t answer.
With a sigh, Kriss moved around her, squeezing her hip as he passed by, and opened the door. She didn’t get to see much, but from the glimpse she caught, it appeared to be lavishly appointed and wouldn’t be considered a dungeon by anyone’s standards.
Then it was just her and Marek, and he walked beside her as he led her down the hallway, past two other doors before stopping in front of one painted a pale shade of gold. “And the gold room is for you.”
She moved back as he leaned forward to open the doorknob for her before pushing the wood open, so she could slide inside.
North walked a few steps into the room, and her jaw dropped again. It was beyond luxurious. Compared to the size of the cabin in which she’d grown up, it was almost ridiculously large. The huge fourposter bed would’ve easily held her and all six of her guards.
She blinked as her mind provided an image of that, which instantly made her squirm and dampened her panties. Clearing her throat, she tore her gaze from the purple brocade bed curtains to continue letting her gaze wander around the room.
There was a sitting room, another door off of it that Marek identified as the dressing room, and finally, another door that revealed an en suite bathroom with a sunken tub big enough to swim in. She shook her head, marveling at the wonders around her, and finding it almost impossible to believe she was standing there. “This is amazing.”
He shrugged, seeming blasé about it. “It is the nicest guestroom. We usually reserve it for visiting dignitaries. Caius has stayed here more than once.”
She nodded at the tidbit of information, but didn’t ask for further names. They didn’t matter, because chances were, she wouldn’t recognize any of them anyway.
He took her hand, and she held onto him as he pulled her gently across the room to the door hiding the dressing room. He opened it a moment later, and she gasped at the sight before her. Clothes of all types were crammed into the closets. There was an excess of fabric, and far more clothes than she could wear in a lifetime. “I can borrow these?”
He flashed a grin. “Of
course not. You can have them. Feel free to take anything you want with you, and wear them as you’d like. Most of these are classic pieces, but you’ll have an occasional update to your wardrobe at every visit.” He moved closer, standing behind her with his hand on her hip. “I hope that will be frequently.” He almost growled the word as he lowered his head to rub his cheek against hers. Then he turned his head further, and his lips tickled her earlobe. “I want very badly for you to choose me, North.”
She shook her head, pulling away so she could turn to look at him. “How can you say that? You don’t even know me.”
He shrugged. “And yet I can’t deny how I feel. The moment I laid eyes on you, I wanted you to be mine.”
She frowned skeptically. “Is it some kind of magic thing?”
He grinned. “It’s more of a sex thing, but far more complex than just that.” He took a step forward, twining his hand through her curls. “You have no idea all the thoughts crowding my mind, and all the things I’ve thought about doing to you. All the ways I’ve dreamed about taking you…” He trailed off before clearing his throat. His gaze moved to her lips for a moment, and North was certain he would try to kiss her.
Instead, with a sigh that sounded a lot like regret, he released his hold and took a step back. “Dinner will be promptly at eight, and I’ll come for you a few moments before. Wear something ridiculously frilly and fabulously feminine.”
She eyed the plethora of choices around her. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem. Is that the norm for dinner?”
He shrugged. “The norm is something formal and stuffy, but I hate the idea of you hiding your curves in something sedate, or diminishing your aura with a dark color like gray or black. I’d much rather see you flirty and feminine.” His ice-blue eyes darkened slightly. “Or naked.”
A flush filled her cheeks, and it took every ounce of strength she had not to stammer or further reveal her embarrassment at his words. “I can guarantee you I won’t be joining the royal family for dinner without clothes on.”
He chuckled. “That’s a shame, but probably for the best. I wouldn’t want Milo to see you and try to steal you away.”
North opened her mouth, about to tease him about his brother’s obvious interest in Lyssa, but held back. She didn’t want either one of them to be in trouble, and she had no idea how relationships between the Fire & Ice beings happened, if they ever did. She didn’t want to inadvertently start an incident.
Instead, she licked her lips. “Thank you for showing me to my room, and for all this.” She waved a hand to encompass the dressing room. Then she looked down at her current garment, which was now a perfectly structured sapphire-blue suit with a long skirt. “Why can’t I keep wearing the fae fabric?”
He shrugged. “You can if you want, but it does need to be washed regularly, just like any other fabric.”
She made a slight sound of comprehension. “Point taken. I’ll see you for dinner then, Marek.” It was a dismissal, but she was still slightly surprised when he actually turned around and left the dressing room. A moment later, the door to the suite opened and then closed, indicating she was alone.
She’d been craving that state since stepping through the portal, wanting a chance to regroup and marshal her thoughts, but now that she was there alone, she hated it. She wanted any of them—no, all of them—surrounding her. She was still confused about what she was doing, or what she was supposed to accomplish on her visits to the realms, but had no doubt about that.
Marek arrived at the appointed time, and she was ready in a black and red dress. Unlike the one she’d worn to the previous evening’s event, this one didn’t look like a young girl’s dress. It definitely showed she was a woman, and she liked the appreciation in his gaze, which was mirrored in five other pairs of eyes when they stepped into the dining room.
Kriss looked miserable, so she made a point of going to sit beside him even if it disturbed the prearranged seating pattern. She wasn’t sure if it did, but wasn’t going to let that stop her from offering him silent comfort and support. She put her hand on his thigh and squeezed gently before his hand folded over hers and squeezed in return. She couldn’t imagine how much strength it took for him to be in the Bolos’ home when they were clearly engaged in a Cold War, even if there was a cease-fire in place.
She was relieved to see it was a small gathering of just her guards and the royal family, which was stressful enough. At least she didn’t have to deal with a large crowd like last night and all eyes on her.
That wasn’t entirely true. All gazes seemed to rest on her constantly, whether they belonged to her guards, Marek’s family, or the servants who brought out the myriad courses. It was by no means relaxing, but not as intense as being the subject of more than a hundred sets of eyes.
She did her best to make polite conversation and answer questions, but couldn’t remember much of the evening later. It was a relief when it all came to an end after a scrumptious dessert and strong ice-wine. She was feeling pleasantly tipsy and relaxed from the unaccustomed alcohol, and when the six men escorted her to her room, two of them slipping inside to check it out despite what should’ve been a complete lack of danger, she briefly toyed with the idea of asking them all to stay.
She didn’t want to be alone, and she didn’t want to be without them, but North was afraid what kind of message her request would send. What would they expect from her if she asked them to stay? She couldn’t imagine any of them demanding something she wasn’t ready to give, but it wasn’t fair to put them in the position of hoping she would offer something that was nowhere near being on the table yet.
She certainly couldn’t ask just one of them to stay. The others would feel slighted, and she couldn’t decide which one she would ask anyway.
Besides, she was supposed to be trying to choose between the six of them, not flirting with or seducing all of them. She couldn’t deny how her nipples tightened at the thought of being with the six of them, and she still couldn’t believe Caius expected her to pick.
How would she ever choose the best match among the six of them when they all seemed to be complementary to her in some way? She could only hope spending more time with each of them would clarify her choice, because she was incapacitated at the moment just by the thought of having to pick just one to ask to stay with her in her room for the night. She couldn’t face the task of choosing just one for a lifetime. It might be better to pick none than just one.
Chapter Two
A light tap on her door woke North the next morning. She was snuggled in her covers and wanted to ignore it, but it came again and more insistently, making it impossible to do so. Smothering a yawn, she rolled out of bed and reached for a fur robe hanging there. She’d left her fae fabric out for one of the maids to collect last night for washing, and with it gone, so she wore nothing besides the robe.
When she reached the door, she half-expected it to be one of the staff returning her fabric, but it was Marek instead. He looked disgustingly awake and seemed raring to go. “What do you want?” The question came out grumpier than she’d intended, and she yawned again.
Though his eyes twinkled, he had the good sense not to smile at her morning grumpiness. “We’re going to work on your powers, princess. Get dressed.”
“You could try asking,” she muttered.
He rolled his eyes. “Will you please get dressed so we can practice water magic?” The question dripped with sugary sweetness that should have been enough to make her gag.
With a sigh, she stepped back and opened her door wider. “I guess you want to wait in here for me too?”
He shrugged disease crossed the threshold. “I can send for some breakfast, if you’d like?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure I’m hungry.” About that moment, her stomach started rumbling. It startled a laugh from her, which considerably brightened her mood despite the lack of sleep. “I guess I am hungry.” Without waiting for a response, she turned from him and went into the dressi
ng room, where someone had unpacked the mall bag she’d brought with her.
She really missed her fae fabric as she reached for a pair of leggings and a long T-shirt. The cloth was perfectly soft, and some kind of rich cotton, but it couldn’t compare to lightness and softness of the fabric Orin’s sister had woven.
She took time for a quick shower, deciding Marek could wait for that. Just like in the room she’d used at the Council headquarters, there was a big box of makeup, but she had no idea how to use any of it and skipped over the cosmetics. After shoving her wavy brown locks into a messy ponytail, she bounced out of the bathroom, a spring in her step at the smell of something delicious wafting through the room.
Marek sat in one of the wingback chairs, and there was another across from him. Either he or one of the staff had moved a nearby side table to act as a dining table, and breakfast waited for them. It was still piping hot when she removed the cloche and stared down at it for a moment. “What is it?” She poked hesitantly at the fluffy pile of light-purple…substance.
“Scrambled peana eggs and ground molinyn.”
She arched a brow. “What’s molinyn?” She wasn’t certain what peana was either, but since it could lay eggs, it was probably some kind of bird. Despite the strange light-purple shade, it did look like scrambled eggs when she looked closer. She was no closer to identifying the stark white starchy stuff beside it though.
“It’s a type of grain that thrives in subzero temperatures. We can grow it here in the valley, but the best quality is high in the mountains.” He took a moment to taste it. “This is definitely from the mountains, so you should enjoy it.”
“Do I put anything on it?”
“Some people like it with butter.”
She arched a brow. “Goat better?” She and her father had kept goats at their property for several years, until the last one had died a couple of years back.
He shook his head, looking a little surprised. “Cow.”
