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He called for a soldier to bring steps as he led me to his horse and mounted. Once he got positioned, a soldier brought the stairs closer and helped me up. As Roar could steady me, I felt more secure—even if my rear nestled against his loins. Stars, there had only been a handful of times when I’d been so close to a male and in those moments we hadn’t worn clothing.

My chest flushed at the thought, and of replacing one of my lovers with the image of Roar. It was both an intriguing and odd idea that I wasn’t sure I liked. I thanked the stars above that he could not see how red my face became as I sorted through the emotions warming me from the core.

“Comfortable?” he breathed, his lips drawing close to my ears in a way that made me shiver.

“Much better.”

“Good.” Roar called for his soldiers and the sleighs to fall in line, and we trotted to the castle gates, which opened for us. “Now, smile, Neve,” he whispered. “Give them a love story to remember.”

I beamed and even leaned back so that we’d look like a couple in love. As I did so, Roar’s chest and strong arms cradled me and he whispered into my ear, his breath tickling my neck. “Best be careful, my lady. Or I might start to think you’re not pretending.”

“Apologies,” I muttered as, once again, heat climbed my face.

“I did not say I didn’t like it.”

I was grateful for the fae who approached and waved and demanded our attention as we rode out of Guldtown, because I didn’t know what to say to Roar. His hard body behind me was tempting, and he’d made it clear that he wanted me.

And yet, I still wasn’t sure it was smart to push our new friendship further, to make the farce a reality. I might be attracted physically, but my heart wasn’t convinced, and another part of me still could not fathom why his was.

Chapter 17

In the moon’s silver light, I descended the sleigh’s steps and took in the longhouse two-story inn that had been built partially into the side of a steep, snow-covered hill.

“Well, it’s nicer than the last two.” Clemencia rubbed her hands over her arms, and ducked her head to avoid a particularly blustery gale. “Perhaps we’ll get more than one blanket apiece. Or maybe because it’s built into the hill it will be naturally warmer? I’m not used to such a design.”

Nor was I, but one could hope that the inside of this inn would be warmer and cozier than the rest. Since we’d left Guldtown three days prior, the snow had only fallen heavier and faster, putting us many hours behind schedule. The wicked winds that blew through the forests and down the ribbon that was the Queen’s Road wasn’t helping matters either.

In our traveling troop, spirits were down and more often than not, fae shivered beneath their heavy cloaks as they rode. Truth be told, the persistent chill had even gotten to me, but I tried not to complain. I rode in a covered sleigh, largely safe from the howling wind. Most of the poor soldiers and servants riding along with Roar could not say the same.

“I have a good feeling about this one.” I tried to be positive and looked for Roar. Thanks to his flaming red hair, I found him quickly.

The warden was speaking to the captain of his guard, but sensing my gaze, he turned and waved. I pointed to the door, and Roar gestured for us to go inside.

I hooked my arm through my lady-in-waiting’s. “Come, Clemencia, my lord will join us later. Let’s get an ale and stew to warm our bones.”

Her face lit up, and together we shuffled down the narrow, snowy path until we reached the inn. No sounds came from inside.

“Maybe we’re the only ones staying here?” I pressed into the door, only to find it quite heavy, probably to keep out the raging wind. Another shove of my shoulder and the door creaked open a crack.

Music blasted, making me gasp as I got a glimpse inside. How wrong I’d been about our group being the only travelers.

We stood frozen upon the threshold, taking in the revelry, the likes of which I hadn’t seen in a long while. A tavern filled the lower level of the inn, and inside fae from every race drank, ate, and sang along to a song. A few even danced. Candles flickered on top of the tables, illuminating the area and spilling wax upon the wood. This inn appeared clean, not always a given along the Queen’s Road, and also large enough to fit most of our soldiers inside, also, not always a given. I hoped there were ample beds as well so that most of Roar’s people wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor. Overall, the ambiance was pleasing, and the tavern seemed safe.

“Close the bloody door!” someone shouted, and we scurried inside waving our apologies.

Clemencia exhaled a long breath. “Shall I get us food and drink? There’s a table tucked away just over there that you can sit at, my lady.”

“I’ve been sitting all day. I’ll join you at the bar.”

Together, we walked through the crowd, garnering no notice now that we weren’t letting in the wind. I enjoyed the pleasant change of anonymity. Our caravan had left the far reaches of Roar’s western territories late this afternoon and ventured into the midlands of Winter’s Realm. At every rest stop, local fae stared and whispered about the visiting warden and the female he fancied.

“Good evening, mi’ ladies,” a towering, muscular barkeep slurred. From the look of him, I was certain that he, unlike Althea, was a pureblooded troll. He had the distinctive small head and upper fangs. “Where are you riding from?”

“Guldtown,” Clemencia answered. “With the Warden of the West and over one hundred of his soldiers. A few of his household too. If you do not have a spare pot of stew on the fire, I’d suggest righting that error immediately.”

The troll’s dark eyes widened. “You don’t say?”

“I do.”