Galinor hovers by my door.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him.
“You’ll be all right?”
The family is downstairs, but I don’t doubt they are straining to hear our words. I step closer and whisper, “We’re still in Coppel, Galinor. I’m fine here for the night.”
He nods. “I know, I’m just on edge from being this close to the border. I wish Marigold would have traveled with us. Then you wouldn’t be alone.”
“I’ll be all right.”
He crosses his arms. “I heard your cries last night.”
I look at the floor. “They’re only nightmares.”
“I don’t remember you having them before.” He sets his hands on my shoulders. “We’re going to help your father. I promise.”
“I know.”
“If you need me, I’m only in the next room.”
He looks so serious, I laugh. “For a nightmare? Galinor, I’m fine.”
He finally smiles. “All right.”
I expect him to release my shoulders, but instead, he brushes his thumb against my neck. A lung-full of air catches in my throat, and I freeze. I’m mesmerized by the sensation, by his eyes, by the closeness brought on by our mission.
We still haven’t spoken of feelings. We’ve danced around it, but on that particular subject, we’ve stayed silent. But surely if I feel like this, he must feel something.
My heart races, making me light-headed, and I can barely breathe. Only when I feel his breath on my face do I think to close my eyes. I tilt my head, waiting.
He presses the softest kiss to my forehead, and my eyes fly open.
His lips curve in a very attractive smirk. “Goodnight, Anwen.”
I blink at him, speechless.
He opens my door and motions me in, his blue eyes bright. “Sleep well.”
To hold back a smile, I bite the inside of my cheek. I brush past him, trailing my hand over his chest as I step away. Once safely on the other side, I lean against the door and grin like an idiot.
Once I catch my breath, and my heart slows to anormal pace, I crawl into the quilt-covered bed. The room is cozy and warm, but I have trouble getting comfortable. Galinor’s face is in my mind when I finally do find sleep.
Then the nightmares come.
I wake with a headache and bleary, heavy eyes. It’s so quiet. I peek out a closed shutter. To my horror, snow blankets the ground. I close the shutters and rest my forehead against them. Finally, I pull on a gown with a woolen skirt and bodice. I had been saving it for Errinton, but it seems I’ll need it sooner than I had hoped.
Once dressed, I braid my hair and tiptoe into the hall. Galinor’s door is still closed. He rarely sleeps late, and I don’t want to wake him. I make my way down the farmhouse stairs.
The kitchen smells lovely, and Gwen gives me a warm smile when I enter. “Galinor is helping Helmar and the boys tend the cattle this morning. I hope you don’t mind. The snow took us by surprise.”
Apparently, he didn’t sleep late. What would the family think if they knew a prince of Glendon was herding their cows?
Gwen sets a bowl of porridge in front of me. Unlike the goop we made Ergmin, this actually looks edible. I eat while Gwen tells me about their farm, their boys, and the tiny village we’re in.
Sometime later, the door swings open, and the men stomp in, red faced and laughing. Galinor knocks the snow from his boots at the door and sits in the chair next to me. “Good morning.”
With his blue eyes bright and his cheeks pink from thecold, he sets his frigid hands on my neck. I squeal and swat him away.
