Frost Bound (Entangled with Trickery #1)

Neve

Chapter Twenty-Three

Neve

The shivering eventually stopped.

And the fevers raged.

Then came the hallucinations.

Neve sat on a low stool near the fire, his hands clasped between his legs, elbows on thighs. It was well into the night, and yet he couldn’t sleep.

It had been four days since their wedding. Four days since any clarity had entered the valles ’ gaze. Four days since she’d glared at him.

Sweat dripped down his back and he reached back and pulled his black linen shirt off, laying it over his left knee. Nonnae kept the room sweltering. She said the human needed it. It would help break the fever. She needed to sweat out the sickness.

The princess thrashed, tossing her blankets off, legs splayed awkwardly. Neve grunted as he stood from the stool and edged around the mattress on the floor.

His gaze paused on her wrapped thighs, smelling strongly of herbs and honey. He closed his eyes in shame. He’d never forget the sight of her thighs. Neve couldn’t imagine the pain she’d been in. When had it started? Their very first night in the rain?

He opened his eyes as he knelt on one knee and tugged down the shift one of his people had given her. Even now people camped outside the hut, praying for his loviaye .

Neve had expected to be met with open hostility at taking a human bride. But it seemed his people near the Seed had accepted it. They were tired of war. Everyone was.

He huffed out an angry breath. No one had told him that prolonged exposure to the rain, sleet, snow, or cold, could cause illness. The conversation with the widower of a human wife had been enlightening and concerning.

Humans would get sick if they got too hot or cold. Extended exposure to the elements caused death, or loss of limbs. A narrow birth channel meant death. They’d had to cut the babe from the vallos ’ wife. The change of color in their skin expressed emotion, as did the way they moved the colorful part of their eyes.

“You should have told someone,” he growled down to the valles , her eyes twitching behind her thin closed eyelids.

As if you made it easy.

He grunted, and pulled the blankets back over the top of Dahlia.

Her eyes flew open, staring sightlessly at the ceiling, before turning on him. The pupils were blown wide, and the stench of fear filled the air. Her mouth gaped open, and she screamed.

He hated these dreams the most.

Neve held his hands up. “It’s okay, Dahlia. You’re okay. I won’t hurt you.” She stilled for a moment, and he tensed at her wild-eyed look. “Don’t do it.”

The little human bolted, clumsily scrambling from the bed. He slowly climbed to his feet as she wobbled in front of the flames.

Please don’t fall backward. Seittae . Please.

She pitched forward, running for the door.

Neve intercepted and caught her around the waist. She swiped at his face, so he tossed her over his shoulder, his ribs protesting, before stalking back to the bed. Her fists pounded weakly against his spine, but the blows didn’t hurt.

The fight left her as quickly as it came.

She went limp on his shoulder, and he carefully lowered her into the bed as sobs escaped her. “I want my mum,” she cried, fat tears rolling down her gaunt cheeks.

Her plea tugged at his heart. There were so many times in his life he’d wished for his mommar .

The door creaked open, and he craned his neck to see Nonnae watching them.

“I’ve got her,” he murmured. The healer nodded and closed the door as he turned back to the princess. “It’s okay. You’re not alone.”

She blinked up at him, no recognition, but calmer just the same. “I’m scared of the monsters.”

“I’ll protect you,” he found himself saying. “There are no monsters here.”

Her attention shifted to the fire. Her breathing increased, and a wet cough sputtered from her lips. “They always come for me. Always. Fangs, horns, death in their eyes.”

She spoke of Loriians. He was one of the monsters from her dreams.

“They wouldn’t dare harm you,” he whispered. “They are there to protect you, to fight for you. They are your champions. You are their reilleve .”

He started to pull the mess of blankets back up when she seized his hand, her fingers only wrapping around half of his wrist, her emerald ring catching in the firelight. He followed the limb back to her creased face. “Don’t leave me to the darkness.”

Neve stared at her distraught heart-shaped face and made a choice. He lifted the covers and slid in next to her. She released a shuddering breath but burrowed into his chest. He stared down at her golden-red hair, his arm held in the air. He laid his arm around her waist and cupped the back of her head, before laying his head down. She was burning up, her breath and skin, leaving his own feeling tacky, and yet he didn’t move. Over her head he watched the flames, and tried to regulate his breathing, running his claws through her wild, sweaty hair.

Her fluttering pulse slowed until all the tension fled her body, a soft snore escaping her.

What are you doing?

He closed his gritty eyes.

Probably making another mistake.