Page 75 of Throne of Ice and Blood
Leaning down, he kisses me with such aching softness that my heart almost bursts.
“So fucking perfect,” he whispers against my lips. “You’re so fucking perfect.”
A small noise comes from the back of my throat.
And as I kiss him back, I can’t for the life of me understand how I’m supposed to make myself remember that one crucial fact that I must never allow myself to forget.
That Draven and I are supposed to be enemies.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The back of my neck prickles. Again. It takes all of my willpower to just keep walking casually down the street. I have already checked that I’m not being followed, but I still can’t help but feel as if I’m being watched.
Part of me wonders if it’s my subconscious trying to tell me that this is a stupid risk. That Kath was right and that Kyler has just listened to one too many bedtime stories in his life. Could there actually be another fae from the Seelie Court living in this city? If there is, then where did she come from? How did she get out of the Seelie Court? Is she a previous winner of the Atonement Trials who somehow managed to escape? But then why would she stay in the city?
That paranoia pulses through me again.
While continuing down the street, I cast a discreet glance over my shoulder.
But just as I already confirmed the last time I did that, Draven is in fact not lurking there behind me, waiting to catch me and drag me back to the castle.
After I pulled that stunt in his barracks a few days ago, and the incredible but very treasonous sex that followed it, Draven has kept a close eye on me. It wasn’t until today that he finallysnuck away during the night when he thought I was sleeping. Luckily for me, Kath had managed to drop off instructions for me during those days when Draven was glued to my side. So now, I know where to find this mysterious fae woman. If she exists, that is.
I sweep my gaze over the street behind me again, but no Shadow of Death materializes from the darkness. And no other dragon shifters or humans either, for that matter. Only the trees that line the wide street stare back at me like silent sentries. Their barren branches rustle as a strong fall wind whirls between the houses.
Drawing my hood up further, I turn my gaze back to the road ahead.
The map that Kyler drew has led me to a part of Frostfell called Ember Hill, which, from the looks of it, appears to be one of the richer parts of the city. Grand houses, with actual lawns and fences around the property, tower over me on both sides of the street. During the summer, when all the trees that line this street are covered in vibrant leaves, this area is probably really beautiful. Now, with the barren trees and bushes on both the street and in the yards, it has an almost haunted atmosphere.
Glancing down, I check the hand-drawn map I’m carrying once more. According to Kyler, the mysterious fae woman is supposed to live in the white marble house with the blue door up ahead. I suppress the urge to yet again check the street behind me and instead continue walking until I reach the indicated house.
Just like the other houses on this street, there is a short stone wall around the property. Though it looks to be more for aesthetic purposes than to keep invaders out, because it’s low enough for me to jump over, if I want to. But seeing as that would be rather rude, I decide to use the small gate instead.
It swings open on silent hinges. I cast one last look over my shoulder to check that the street is still empty. It is. After drawing in a bracing breath, I turn back to the house and stride in through the gate.
The grass surrounding the mansion-like house is well-kept, and bushes and trees and flowerbeds have been placed in an artful pattern throughout the entire yard. Since it’s fall, none of them are in bloom. But it still makes me think that the person who lives here values nature. Could it actually be a fae?
Nervous apprehension sweeps over me as I close the final distance to the dark blue door. No light comes from the windows. Mabona’s tits, what am I even supposed to say? It’s the bloody middle of the night and I’m just showing up at her house unannounced. What if it’s a dragon shifter who lives here? What if she thinks I’m a burglar and has me arrested instead?
Coming to a halt right in front of the door, I lick my lips and draw in another long breath to steady my nerves.
This is a stupid risk. Coming here is an incredibly stupid risk.
But that still doesn’t change the fact that I need to do this.
If I’m going to get Isera, Lavendera, and Alistair out of this city, I need this mysterious fae woman.
Straightening my spine, I raise a determined hand and knock on the door.
Nothing happens.
I knock again.
For another few seconds, only a dark and silent house watches me.
Then flickering candlelight appears in one of the upstairs windows.
My heart lurches.
