Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
ISABELLE
O utside, outside, outside.
As soon as I left Adam’s office, the words got louder and louder in my head. I couldn’t think about anything besides those words. More than ever, I felt the desire—no, the need —to get outside. I couldn’t stand one more second in this beautiful prison, trapped with Adam Stone.
I ran to the front door, yanked it open, and rushed out into the snow.
Now, ten minutes later, I can admit that wasn’t a good idea.
While I didn’t die driving up this mountain, I’m going to die out here. In the middle of the night, in a forest surrounded by a snowstorm, with no one out here to hear me cry.
And crying is exactly what I’m doing.
I’m freezing cold, trying to pull Lily’s short robe around my middle. When I first escaped, I ran as far as I could in the calf-high snow, straight into the trees around the castle. I only made it for about five minutes before I turned around and realized I was completely lost. These trees are packed tightly together, and I can’t see the castle at all. I thought I could follow my footprints, but it’s too dark for me to see where they are. Plus, I’m such an idiot, I didn’t even put on real shoes. I’m actually wearing the fluffy bunny slippers.
Now I’m shivering, trudging through the snow, completely soaked from my knees down, with no idea how I’ll find the castle.
I find a tree stump and sit down, taking a moment to rest. Now my backside is wet, too, but I don’t even care. I’m exhausted, sleep-deprived, lonely, homesick, scared… The list is endless. I wish I never came here in the first place.
Maybe when the sun comes up, I’ll be able to find my way. Maybe I’ll have enough light to see my footsteps.
But the snow keeps falling, and I’m losing faith that I’ll be able to get out of here.
My body shakes, and I’m colder than I’ve ever been. I’m a Southern California girl, born and raised, and I only spend time in the snow if we’re taking a day trip to go skiing. Which I rarely do, and even then, I’m wearing multiple layers and covered in a waterproof jacket and pants. This is a brand-new experience, and I’m worried it’ll be my last.
But…wait.
I think I hear something.
“Isabelle!”
Is that Adam’s voice?
“Isabelle, where are you?” A flicker of light, its source a distance away, flashes over me.
There’s no way. My heart picks up speed with the hope of being rescued.
“Here! I’m here!” I call. But my voice is too quiet, too weak from the cold.
“Isabelle!”
I try again. “Here!” It’s a little louder this time, and I see the light pointing in my direction.
I summon my last bit of courage and stand, slowly making my way toward the light. But my foot slips and I fall straight into the snow.
This could not be any worse.
“Isabelle!” Adam’s voice sounds above me, and his firm hands grasp my waist and pull me to standing. “Are you all right?”
I can’t even answer him. A minute ago I was sure I was going to die out here, and it feels like my brain is frozen along with my body.
I look up at him, and I must be short-circuiting, because he looks like a Viking warrior saving me from death and destruction. My breath sticks in my throat, and I’m sure I’m going to faint.
His blue eyes watch me carefully, and I’m shocked to see them soften. “You’re shaking,” he says.
“I’ll be fine. I just need…” I choke out a sob, because even though I’m so thankful he’s saving me, what I need is to go home . I don’t want to be stuck here anymore. I want to leave this place and forget I was ever here.
Adam doesn’t wait for me to finish my sentence. With one arm around my waist and the other under my legs, he scoops me up and holds me against his chest.
“Wha—what are you doing?” I manage to say through chattering teeth.
“Carrying you back to the castle,” he grunts, walking through the snow in the direction he came. “You need to get dry clothes and sit in front of the fire immediately.”
As much as I want to argue with him and maintain my dignity, I can’t deny how incredibly nice it feels to be curled up against his chest. The warmth from his body seeps into mine, and for a delirious moment, I rest my head on his chest. Man, this guy must work out.
His head ducks to look at me. “Yes, I do work out. ”
Oh, my lord. “Did I say that out loud?” My eyes widen, my stomach erupting in butterflies.
Adam just smirks down at me and keeps walking.
Thoroughly humiliated, I consciously keep my mouth shut as Adam navigates through the forest and emerges at the front entrance of the castle. Half of me fills with relief at the thought of warmth, but the other half dreads the idea of being trapped there with him.
But he did come to rescue me.
And he didn’t just send Lionel or one of the other footmen. He came out here himself. I look up at him, wondering why he made the effort to come get me in the snow. I guess he’s not a murderer after all.
“Lionel!” he calls as soon as we enter the castle. “Get Brigette. Isabelle needs new clothes. And start the fire in the study.”
“Yes, of course,” Lionel replies, then rushes away.
“I’ll be f-fine,” I say, my teeth chattering.
“You’re risking hypothermia,” Adam says, his voice gruff. “Don’t argue.” He looks down at me, and I’m surprised again by the softness in his expression. “Let me take care of you.”
I’m completely speechless. What girl doesn’t want to be taken care of by a strong man? I’ve been sure he hates me this whole time…but maybe it’s just a front.
He brings me to my room and gently lays me on the bed, where Brigette has already laid out a fresh set of clothes. She’s wearing a robe and looks worried.
“I’m fine,” I say weakly, and she looks even more nervous.
“Call me when she’s dressed,” Adam says. “I’ll be waiting outside.” He exits the room with heavy, dramatic footsteps.
“What were you thinking?” Brigette asks, rushing to take off my wet clothes .
I ignore her question. “I can do it myself,” I say, even though I really can’t. My muscles feel like they’re solid, immovable.
She waves me off and continues peeling the clothes off my body. I’d be embarrassed but I’m too cold. “You could have died out there!”
“I’m well aware,” I mutter. She doesn’t speak anymore, just bundles me up in new clothes and slippers, but I’m still freezing.
She looks at me when I’m fully dressed, and I think she’s even more nervous than before. “Mr. Stone! She’s ready. Please hurry!”
He rushes back into the room and scoops me up again.
“This is really unnecessary,” I protest, even though I’m frozen to the bone.
“It’s really not,” he replies, and he doesn’t stop moving until we’re in the study. He sets me down on a wingback chair next to the fire and wraps a furry blanket around me.
The fire finally seems to do something to warm me up. My whole body is shaking, but I can feel the cold start to decline.
“Your lips are blue,” he says.
“I’ll be okay,” I whisper. “I’m starting to feel better.”
He watches me, and I can tell he’s debating something. After a moment of hesitation, he unwraps the blanket from around my shoulders.
“Hey!” I cry.
But he doesn’t listen. Instead, he picks me up from the chair and sits on the thick, plush rug with me in his lap, wraps the blanket around us both, and holds me tightly, rubbing my arms with his hands. The combination of his warmth with the fireplace does seem to work even better, but again, I’m rendered speechless from this gentle act.
I look up at him. “Why are you doing this?”
He inhales deeply—I can feel his chest expand—and then exhales. His jaw clenches before he decides to speak. “My sister, Lily, got lost out there once when she was five. I remember…” He swallows hard. “It was terrifying. And you’ve never been here before, so I knew you’d get lost, too.”
There she is again. The mention of Lily is the one thing that brings any kind of softness to Adam. He’s not going to say more, and he doesn’t need to.
So I respond the only way I know how.
“Thank you.”