Chapter 33
Kodi
Keeping my trap shut for an entire day without giving away my next surprise for Anya has been a special kind of hell.
It doesn’t help that she knows I’m trying to keep it from her, and she’s been doing everything in her power to convince me to give away my secrets.
As the sun finally begins its descent, we load into the rental SUV for the short drive to our destination.
Excitement makes it hard to sit still in my seat.
We don’t speak as we make our way, the silence comfortable.
Anya’s nose is pressed against the glass of the window.
I can see the reflection of her eyes flitting around, taking in the view and any information around us.
Steering the large vehicle into the parking lot, I smile at myself knowing there aren’t any signs that give away where we are. The owners keep as much light and distractions away from the parking lots, so it doesn’t obstruct the views once you’re inside.
Shutting off the vehicle and hopping out, I round the front to open her door and help her out. She accepts my hand with an irritated little scoff that shouldn’t make my dick hard, but here we are; I’ve never hidden that I love her little attitude.
We follow the crowd up and over the hill, gasps erupting all around us, even my jaw falling open. It’s been so long since I’ve been here, even I forgot how beautiful this place is.
The wonder, amazement, and love coursing through our bond lights me up with an effervescent kind of feeling, knowing she’s enjoying this as much as I’d hoped that she would.
Rising out of the earth in front of us is a gargantuan ice castle reaching for the sky. It was remodeled a couple of years ago to make it look like some princess movie that got huge, and now the kids get even more excited when they see it.
Apparently, the derpy little snowman out front is also similar to the movie because he’s being swarmed with screeching and giggling little ones.
Anya watches the happy children with a wistful gleam in her eye. I don’t know if she’s reminiscing about her not-so-child-childhood, or the thought of having our own someday. That thought does not help the desire I’m actively working to curb as we finally step inside.
Upon entry, the employees pass each of the guests an oversized fur coat to keep warm as we all move through the castle.
I pepper Anya with the company’s history and little tidbits of knowledge.
She’s astonished to learn that they manage to keep the structure up and running year-round.
It obviously takes more work in the warmer months, but they make it happen.
“What do you think?” I ask, hoping she likes it as much as I’m interpreting that she does.
Her eyes dance across the space, looking at everything around us that’s made entirely of ice: the floors, the walls, the furniture, the chairs, the light fixtures, the doors. Everything.
Her mouth opens and closes a few times before she finally squeaks, “It’s—this—it’s gorgeous, Kodi. Thank you for sharing this with me.” She closes her eyes as she kisses me, nuzzling her nose with mine, causing me to melt into a puddle at her feet.
“They even offer rooms made entirely of ice that you can stay in,” but I have a better plan for the night. I keep that last part to myself.
She smiles and shakes her head. “Even the bed is made of ice?”
I grin, wink and nod.
She shakes her head more vehemently. “Absolutely not.”
When we’ve finished our tour of the ice castle, we grab a quick bite to eat from the one of the food trucks they keep parked outside and make our way to another surprise she doesn’t even know is coming.
“Did it really take this long to get here?” she asks, breaking the comfortable silence in the car as she continues to studiously monitor our surroundings through the window.
Smiling wide, “We’re going a different way,” I tease, and she catches my tone immediately.
Her head whips to face me, eyes narrowing. “Where are you taking me, Northerly?”
“One more surprise, Anirniq.” I wink. “This one is for me though, too,” I add more quietly which relaxes her features a bit.
She waits with a fidgety impatience as I park the SUV next to nothing but a tree, quite a ways away from civilization. This is one of the old shifter’s hunting grounds, away from the humans where we can just be ourselves. In most directions, all you can see is night sky, snow, and a few trees.
As I mingled with the community last night, I also took the opportunity to let everyone know we’d be coming out here tonight, and that we’d like some privacy.
Her brows wrinkle towards each other as she turns her head this way and that, looking for why we’re here, completely oblivious to all I have planned.