Chapter 18 Dayton
Dayton
The moon is high tonight, bright and unrelenting, a silver coin cast into a sea of stars.
Its light spills through the windows of my room in Keep Wolfhelm, painting the stone walls in a cold, pale glow.
I stare at it, unblinking, daring it to stir something primal within me.
But the beast no longer controls me. My curse is gone.
I’ll never tire of staring at the night sky as a man. For years, the moon was my tormentor, my manacles. But now, it is nothing more than a beautiful, indifferent thing. I flex my hands. No claws, no fury, no pain.
All because of her.
The thought of Rosalina sends warmth curling through my chest. She saved me. No, she believed in me so that I could save myself. Now I am free.
The sound of soft footsteps pulls me from my thoughts.
Rosalina stands in the doorway. Her hair falls in dark waves over her shoulders. She’s still wearing the heavy woolen dress we took to Castletree. This day has felt endless.
“You’re staring,” she says, her lips quirking into a smile.
“How could I not? You’re…breathtaking.”
Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t look away. Instead, she crosses the room and comes to stand before me, so close I can see the way her lashes catch the moonlight.
“Come on, Day. I’m a mess.”
“Then you’re my mess.” I cup her face with hands that tremble, not from fear but from the overwhelming realization of just how much this woman means to me. “Rosie.”
Her smile softens, and before I say anything more, she leans in. Our lips meet, and the world stills. Every time we kiss, it feels like the first—electric, consuming. Her hands slide up my arms, anchoring me as the kiss deepens.
When we pull apart, her forehead rests against mine, her breath warm on my skin. “Dayton,” she whispers, her tone shifting to something heavier.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Keldarion,” she says, stepping back but keeping her palms on my chest. “I left him to watch over Caspian. But I can’t say the meeting went well.”
“Tell me everything.”
Rosalina explains it all, including that Kel himself had gone to the Below.
Had he gone for Rosalina’s sake, like Ezryn?
No, it must be something more. The icy bastard doesn’t even know Rosie and Cas are mates.
If I had to guess, his own feelings drove him down there. Not that he’ll ever admit that.
I nod as she finishes. “You trust Kel to watch over him and not toss him to the wolves?”
“It’s strange, but I do.” Her hands slide down to take mine. “I have to get through to Keldarion. Convince him to trust Cas and break his curse. It’s the only way we save the staff at Castletree and he’ll have enough power to protect Winter from Sira.”
“Trying to convince Kel to do something he doesn’t want to do…that’s a tall order. I’ll help in any way I can. It’s one thing I love about you. You never give up on anyone.”
“Thanks, Day.” Rosalina squeezes my hands, and I sense a weariness in her. “We’ll face it together.”
Rosie is right. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it as a team. I pull her into my arms, holding her close as I stare out at the moon. “You can’t help anyone if you’re too tired to stand. Let me take care of you now, okay, baby?”
“What did you have in mind?”
A grin spreads across my face. “I want to show you why I chose this room in particular.”
Threading my fingers through her hair, I nod toward the door that leads into the bathing chamber.
She raises a brow but lets me guide her. The moment we step inside, the brisk air brushes over our skin. A faint mist curls from the room’s centerpiece: a massive wooden tub carved from dark, polished timber. The stone floor beneath our feet is cool.
I move to the tub, kneeling to twist the brass valve. A soft rush of water spills in, steam rising in lazy tendrils. I glance over my shoulder to see Rosalina wandering farther into the room, her eyes catching on the far wall.
She stops in her tracks, lips parting. “Dayton…”
I follow her gaze and smile. A wall made of ice, its surface so sheer it might as well be glass. Beyond it, the night stretches endlessly, the stars bright against the ink-black sky. Snow drifts down in soft spirals, caught in the wind.
She steps closer, her reflection shimmering in the ice.
“Places like this let me stand Winter a little better,” I admit, moving to her side.
The ice was shaped centuries ago by the fae who built Wolfhelm, enchanted to remain solid, never melting.
It’s a reminder of the Winter Realm’s strength, a symbol of what this place once was—and what it could be again.
If Kel ever gets his head out of his ass.
“Beautiful.”
I watch her, captivated by the moonlight dancing across her features. “It’s nothing compared to you.”
She turns to me, her eyes warm and filled with something that makes my chest ache in the best possible way. “You always say that.”
“Because it’s always true.”
I gesture toward the tub, now full and steaming. “Come,” I say, moving to shut off the water. “You’ve had a long day, and you deserve to relax.”
“And what about you?”
“I’ll relax once I know you’re comfortable.” I grin, grabbing a soft linen cloth and draping it over the edge of the tub.
She hesitates for a moment, then moves to me, placing her hands on my chest. “You’re quite princely when you try, Day.”
“I’ll always try for you.”
She holds my gaze, her cheeks flushing. I work the ties of her dress loose, the fabric slipping from her shoulders and pooling at her feet. My fingers trail over her bare skin, careful and reverent, like she’s something sacred. And to me, she is.
I take her hand again, leading her to the tub. “Careful,” I murmur as she steps in, the water rippling around her. She sinks into the heat with a soft sigh, her head tilting back against the edge.
“Are you going to stand there and admire me all night?” she teases.
“That’s the plan.”
Her laugh fills the room, and I lean down to press a kiss to her temple. I sit on the side of the tub, my hand resting on hers. The ice wall glimmers, and outside, the snow continues to fall.
“Well, are you coming in?”
I brush my lips against her knuckles. “Think there’s room for me?”
Rosalina’s eyes gleam with mischief as she shifts forward. “We can manage.”
My heart quickens as I shed my own clothes with far less grace than I’d shown helping her. She watches, her gaze trailing over me appreciatively.
I step into the tub, settling behind her. The water is deliciously warm. It’s no hot springs at Castletree, but it eases the tension from my muscles. Rosalina leans against my chest with a contented sigh, and I wrap my arms around her.
For a long moment, we breathe together, letting the warmth wash over us. I press a soft kiss to her shoulder, inhaling the scent of her skin—lavender. Ahh, well, that makes sense. She had been close to Cas earlier.
I never thought I’d say this, but I’d be content to simply hold her. I’m not sure my Blossom agrees. She arches into my touch. The feeling of her soft body writhing against mine sends an ache of need I’m unable to ignore.
“Rosie.” My cock grows hard.
She must feel it too, because she slides against me.
“Tell me what you want, baby,” I say. “Cuddle in the bath? Done. But if you want more…”
She turns her head, meeting my gaze over her shoulder. Her eyes are dark, pupils dilated with desire. “Touch me, Day.”
I savor the softness of her skin beneath my palms. Her breath catches as my fingers brush the undersides of her breasts. I cup them, feeling their weight, the way they fit perfectly in my hands.
Rosalina sighs, a soft, needy sound that makes my blood sing. I roll her nipples, teasing them to hardness as she arches into my touch. Her head falls against my shoulder.
I trail kisses along her neck, nipping at her pulse point. Rosie shivers, her hand reaching back to tangle in my hair. The water laps around us as she shifts, pressing herself more firmly against me.
“Day,” she breathes, her voice thick with want.
Now, caressing her stomach, I trace lazy circles on her skin. She parts her legs in invitation, and I groan. I let my fingers dip between her thighs, exploring with featherlight touches.
Rosalina gasps, her hips jerking. I hold her steady with my other arm, my lips brushing her ear. “Relax, love.”
She nods, melting against me. I continue my gentle ministrations, circling her. I keep my movements slow and deliberate, relishing every gasp and shiver.
“Stars,” she moans, “how are you so good at this?” She rocks against my hand, seeking more friction.
I press my lips to her neck, tasting the salt of her skin. “I’ve got you. Let go, Rosie. I’ll catch you.”
My fingers move faster. My cock is hard and throbbing, nestled against the curve of her back, but I ignore my own need. Right now, this is about her.
Rosalina’s moans grow more desperate. The water sloshes, spilling over the edge of the tub, but neither of us pays it any mind. I can tell she’s close.
I slide a finger inside her slick heat, groaning at how tight and wet she is. Rosalina cries out, her inner walls clenching around me.
“More,” she pants, pushing her hips down to take me deeper. “Please, Day.”
I oblige, slipping a second finger in to join the first. The stretch makes her gasp. I scissor them, savoring the silky texture of her arousal coating my skin. My thumb finds her clit, rubbing circles that make her thighs tremble.
“That’s it, baby,” I murmur against her ear. “Take what you need.”
Rosalina sways against my hand, riding my fingers as soft mewls spill from her lips. Her body goes rigid, and then she’s coming undone, crying out my name as the pleasure crashes over her. I hold her through it.
“You’re so good. So good for me. Use my hand, baby.”
She becomes limp in my arms, chest heaving. I press kisses to her cheek as she comes down, my fingers still stroking her through the aftershocks. Her skin is a flushed bright pink.