An Eternal Wintre

Chapter 14

At the edge of the Rein Forest stand several men from Mal's search party. They all wait for their prince and when they see him break through the line of trees with Anai pressed against him, they salute, asking no questions.

One man brings a horse for them to ride on. Mal helps Anai up onto the horse before getting on himself and snapping the reins hard on the horse's neck. Its hooves stamp the ground in a specific pattern before trotting towards the castle. I'm here, the horse says in Anai's head. Name's Quinn. Been ordered to watch ya while ya in the castle. He grows silent as they enter the castle's courtyard. Anai swallows hard.

Prince Mal handles Anai with tremendous care, helping her off the horse before sending it away with a servant. "Let's get you properly cleaned up," he says and smiles gently at her. She can only manage a small nod while he holds her close and leads her back into the prison of a castle.

Heat slides over her cold skin and seeps into her clothes as they walk through the halls towards her chambers. Instead of entering her room, she's led into the prince's rooms. He shuts the door quietly and gently pushes her to the bathroom. "Ruby is away on a trip with family for now, and the other maidservants are currently asleep or indisposed of so you may use my personal wash room for the night. Everything you need should be on the counter by the basin." She leaves him as he's taking off his coat.

Anai lets her fingers run over the countertop towards the shampoos and soaps. All the scents set for men, nothing for a lady. "Perfect," she says and smiles, picking up a bar of soap and a bottle, then turning on the water. She lets it run cold and stay that way before slipping in.

Freezing the water slightly, she relaxes for the first time in weeks. The soap feels good over her skin, making it feel smooth once more as it should be. Pleasure filled tingles flow through her body as she runs the shampoo through her tangled hair, pulling at it.

Skin completely polished clean and her hair smooth, free of tangles, she wraps a towel around her body and steps out of the tub. Cold wood kisses her feet.

She finds Prince Mal sitting at his desk, bent over a piece of parchment, pen in hand and scribbling away. Muscles in his back tense and relax as he scratches something out in frustration before correcting it. Candlelight casts a seductive glow over his tanned skin and she fights herself to look away at the dresser.

Praying he doesn't turn around, she drops the towel and rummages for something to wear. "Bottom drawer," Mal says. Anai bends down and pulls out the bottom drawer to find woolen clothes. She turns and looks at the back of her enemy. How can someone be so kind to a stranger? Remorse almost clenches her heart, but she shrugs it off and dresses.

"Thank you," she murmurs.

"Feel free to leave the towel in the bathroom along with your dirty clothes. Someone will be by to clean them up tomorrow morning." Picking up the wet towel, Anai puts it in the pile of clothes she left on the floor and hears the prince. "You're welcome to sleep here tonight. I'll use the couch."

Soft linens caress and embrace Anai as she slides into the prince's bed. It was indecent yet neither seemed to care much.  Anai turns her body to face Mal. He never looks at her or utters another word. 

Anai falls asleep to the scratching of pen on paper.

***

Birds sing brightly outside the window to Mal's room and wake Anai. Grumpiness wasn't something she was accustomed to but this morning she felt it full-on.

Rubbing fiercely at the sleep in her eyes, she opens her left eye and catches the prince sleeping on the couch, his breaths even. Up and down his chest goes. It'd be so easy to freeze him right there and then but Anai must stick to the plan. This wasn't about her, but the shifters.