Chapter Six
Boraleashe
The Chill is Bone-Deep
The walk back to the palace was long but festive. The people were still excited, lining the cobblestone paths, scrambling to get one last look at their foreign guests. Flowers and garland were tossed at their feet as they passed.
Boraleashe balked at the hint of jealousy he felt toward Notalus when praise and cheers were shouted for him and his lord consort. He had no right to feel jealous because his brother had found something good and real in the earth realm and was brave enough to go after it despite the risk.
Boraleashe stayed close to his viceroy while he fired off numerous questions about his and Theodor’s conversation in the small store. His confidant got his hopes up when Boraleashe admitted that, yes, Theodor appeared to still be interested in him, but only him… not the curse.
“This is exceptional news!”
Boraleashe shook his head. “Theodor Cavalerie is a highly sought-after bachelor—”
“And still…” Adresin stressed. “He is without a king consort.”
“Certainly not for a lack of options.” Boraleashe almost made a fool of himself by stumbling over his own boots.
A man in pretentious silk linens was presenting Theodor with such a massive bouquet of flowers, fruits, and gods knows what other bullshit that it blocked half the bastard’s face.
“Please stay calm, lord. It’s only a…”
Boraleashe could no longer hear what Adresin was saying, his vision turning red after Theodor accepted the offering with a polite smile.
He could’ve overlooked the expression of gratitude as Theodor being courteous.
But there was no reason for Theodor to allow the man to lean into his personal space and whisper something in his ear.
A sharp pain hit Boraleashe in the center of his chest that almost made him double over.
“Lord…” Adresin touched his shoulder, and Boraleashe shrugged away the comfort. He didn’t want to be touched. “Perhaps you should rest before the evening’s festivities.”
“I will not be attending any dinner or festivities,” Boraleashe fumed, his eyes locked on Theodor.
“You are the guest of honor. You will insult your brother if you do not show—”
“Leave me,” Boraleashe ordered his court.
He didn’t want to listen to reason; he just wanted to stop feeling as though his trip to Fhomhair may have been pointless. He thought he had a chance of getting Theodor to understand his predicament, and as always, doubt and reality reared its ugly head.
The suitor departed with a pleased smile on his stupid face. Boraleashe wanted to send a shard of ice through his eye socket. Theodor glanced in his direction, his broad smile falling from his face and replaced by a confused frown.
Did he really not know the reason for Boraleashe’s unrestrained fury? Well, if he didn’t know, then he’d help him understand. Theodor headed his way, but Boraleashe turned his back on him and made his way to the front of the court with Notalus.
His brother was so damn happy he took no notice of Boraleashe’s sour mood.
“Boraleashe, my husband and I were heading over to the orchard fields to observe the new harvest of blue beans if you’d like to join us.”
As horrific as that sounds. “No, thank you,” Boraleashe answered. “I think I’ll go back to my room for a rest.”
“That’s a good idea.” Notalus nodded without argument.
After his brother walked off, Boraleashe continued to glare at Theodor, who was still engaged in what looked to be an intimate conversation. He could just imagine the number of young, beautiful suitors vying for the king’s hand.
Boraleashe’s anger rippled through him, multiplying in every cell until it began to seep through his pores. He was a master at not showing emotion—he was a titan with a frozen heart—so he reacted in the only way the curse allowed. With rage, fear, and pain.
His wind came fast and frigid.
His viceroy tried to stop him. Icicles formed on Boraleashe’s fingertips, and a light dusting of frost settled around him before he took off into the too-warm sky.
“Uggh.” The heat was god-awful in this realm. He couldn’t stand this damn temperature.
He forced colder air from the north and used it to propel him to his quarters on the other side of the palace.
In Amárach, he could sail on a blissfully cold wind for an entire day and never tire of the comfort.
If Boraleashe couldn’t handle the elevated degrees of autumn, then he was positive he’d die of heatstroke if he visited Zepharali in the Summer Lands.
But here, everything was scorching, and Boraleashe’s body couldn’t stand it.
Perhaps that was what was spurring his irritability and unacceptable behavior and not that piece-of-shit vulture who’d made an attempt at what he so desperately wanted. No, needed… He needed Theodor.
Boraleashe landed on the balcony, careful not to cause too much damage.
He stormed into the room, leaving a trail of frost behind him.
His hands tingled, and his pulse raced. He paced back and forth for a few moments.
Images of Theodor touching him, whispering into him, and his seductive wind caressing his insides flashed across his mind too fast for him to stop them.
“Boraleashe!” Adresin exploded through the double doors to their quarters with the few members of their court trailing behind him. “How dare you make a spectacle of yourself like that? What do you think the king thought of your behavior? Do you think he thought it befitting of a consort?”
Boraleashe whirled around, gaping at his viceroy. “Consort! Have you lost your mind?”
“Theodor will not love you any other way. Please understand. You can’t sense his heart because of the curse, but it’s apparent he can somehow still sense yours.
And he’s the only one. We’ve searched so many realms, from the Impossible Plains to the Deadlands, for a remedy or for another that could get as close as Theodor did. And there is no one!”
“Leave me,” Boraleashe sighed, feeling defeated. It was a crippling sensation for a titan.
“My lord, please—”
“I said to leave!” he thundered, thrusting his hands forward and pushing his men out of his suite on a gust of ferocious, icy wind.
“I am seriously fucking this up,” he rumbled, dropping into the chair behind him.
He yanked off his robe and tossed it to the side, not caring that it hit the floor.
He pulled at the collar of his tunic, becoming frustrated when he couldn’t release the clasp.
Boraleashe was a second away from tearing the thing to shreds when there was a light tap on the door, and Notalus’ personal servant, Iulien, walked inside.
“I don’t require any services at the moment, thank you,” Boraleashe said curtly. “I just want to be left alone.”
Iulien began to hum a soothing melody that pulsated through the room like an echo.
Annoyance tried to grip Boraleashe’s throat, his lips pursed to tell Iulien to go back the way he’d come.
But a hint of relief started in his chest and spread throughout his limbs.
Iulien glided toward him, the humming sound growing softer and bolder at the same time.
Boraleashe’s pulse slowed to a crawl, his anger waning as Iulien guided him by his elbow toward the washroom.
“You have suffered a great deal, lord.” Iulien’s voice was angelic, and Boraleashe wanted him to keep talking, to keep soothing him. “You have traveled a long way for something very precious.”
Boraleashe thought of the treasure he’d come to Autumn for and the pain they’d both endure if Theodor did not leave with him.
His pulse quickened with panic, but the moment Iulien opened the double doors to the wash chambers, a breeze of cool air coasted toward him, creating a sense of peace he only felt in certain areas of his home.
Iulien slid Boraleashe’s tunic off his shoulders and assisted him into a tub filled with icy water. He sank down into frigid heaven, a loud, satisfying sigh fleeing his lips.
“Oh gods, yes,” Boraleashe moaned, reclining his head onto the thick padding Iulien propped on the edge of the tub.
“The Treasure will need more than you’re offering, Lord Boraleashe,” Iulien whispered after some time—or at least it sounded like a whisper. The soothing tone came from all around him, and Boraleashe found himself giving in to the sensation, allowing the cold bath to calm his irate spirit.
“What if I have nothing to give?” Boraleashe thought of the well-groomed suitor who’d approached Theodor.
“Your heart may be frozen, lord. But a titan’s heart is stronger than any curse, and his soul is touched by the gods… you must have faith.”
Boraleashe closed his eyes, sinking into the fragrance of pine and sandalwood, letting it course through his senses.
He felt weightless and heavy. Whatever oils and botanicals Iulien added to the water made Boraleashe feel as though he were swimming in the Lake of Eternal Ice, but he could still smell the sweet, aromatic scents of autumn.
If he concentrated hard enough, he could imagine he was in both places at the same time. The soothing sounds emanating from Iulien continued until Boraleashe drifted off into the most peaceful sleep he’d had in ages.
Boraleashe came awake slowly, his body feeling well-rested and revived from the ice bath. Iulien was there holding a thick cotton cloth to wrap around his body. Boraleashe stared in wonder, letting Iulien guide him from the wash chambers to his changing room.
“If you would allow me the honor, lord.” Iulien gestured toward some pieces he’d chosen for dinner.
Boraleashe frowned. “Surely it’s not time to dress for—”
“Yes. Dusk is approaching quickly, lord.” Iulien smiled while assisting Boraleashe with drying his hair.
Boraleashe was shocked that he’d been in that mind-bending bath dream for over two hours. He stayed in a persistent state of awe and contentment, enough for Iulien to dress him from head to toe, doing a far better job than his aides ever had.