Relief crashes over me as I all but stumble inside. Kael follows, bending low to get through the entrance. His shoulders almost brush the narrow walls as he straightens inside, his markings casting an eerie, mesmerising glow against the stone.
I sag against the wall, exhausted. “I never want to see snow again.”
Kael exhales a short, amused breath. “You say that now.”
I roll my eyes. “No, I mean it. If I make it out of this alive, I’m retiring to a fucking desert.”
He rumbles a low chuckle, and I realise something—I feel warmer already, even though I’m still freezing my arse off. The cave is dry, but that’s about the only good thing I can say about it. The air is thick with cold, pressing in from all sides. I huddle deeper into my blanket-coat, but the chill has settled into my bones, and no amount of fabric is going to fix that.
Kael sits beside me, still dusted with snow. He exhales, a warm gust of air against the frigid space between us. “There’s no wood for fire.” His gaze flicks to me, assessing. “But I can warm you another way.”
I blink, immediately suspicious. “Uh-huh.”
He doesn’t react, just continues, “Energy manipulation. I can transfer warmth through touch.”
My brows lift. “Oh. All right, then.” I pause. “Wait. You have to touch me?”
His glowing eyes remain steady. “Yes.”
I narrow my gaze. “Uh-huh. And this isn’t some elaborate excuse to get your hands on me?”
He jerks slightly, eyes widening, as if the thought had never even occurred to him. Then, just as quickly, his expression shifts—shock giving way to amusement.
He tilts his head. “Would it work if it was?”
I scoff, even as my eyes widen when he takes off his armour, revealing a light blue tunic. “That wasn’t a no.”
His lips twitch. “You’re cold. I’m offering warmth. That’s all.”
“Mmm. Right.” I rub my arms, shivering harder. My brain is still suspicious, but my body is desperate. Also, I’m starving. The faster I get warm, the faster I can focus on food.
I weigh my options. How do we do this without making it weird?
A few seconds pass, and I give up.Screw it.My fucks have all vacated the premises. With a sigh, I clamber over and plant myself directly on Kael’s lap.
He stiffens. “What?—”
I grab his hands, lift my shirt, and plop his palms onto my stomach. “Do your magic, Glowranth.”
His breath hitches, and I don’t miss the way his fingers twitch against my skin. He’s warm—hot, actually—and I immediately sigh in relief.
Then he groans. Loudly.
Oh.
He cuts it off quickly, but I hear it. I feel it vibrate through his chest. Do I like that I affect him? Fuck yes. Does that make me a little bit of a bastard? Probably. But having someone want me sobadly is… well, it soothes something raw inside me. Bruised ego? Check. Bruised heart? Maybe.
I pretend not to notice his reaction as I pull my bag close and start rummaging for food. His fingers flex against my abs, radiating heat, and it’s almost impossible not to clench or flex. This is the first time anyone’s been up close to my abs since I’ve had them, and I refuse to acknowledge how much I like the way his hands feel there.
Kael clears his throat, his voice slightly rough. “We should be able to leave at first light. If the storm eases.”
“Mm,” I hum, finding some dried meat and ration bars—at least that’s what I convince myself they are. “And if it doesn’t?”
“Then we wait.”
I glance back at him. “You’re worried about the Hendroy, aren’t you?”
“He won’t be easy to convince.” His voice is quiet. “But if we approach in daylight, we have a better chance of avoiding a fight.”
