Page 4 of A Bond of Ice and Glass (Crowned By Wings #2)

S hortly after Lochlan leaves, Nymala arrives to help me get ready.

I watch her enter the room with renewed wariness.

If Lochlan says I’m not to trust this witch, then I shouldn’t trust her.

I should trust him . In my heart I know this, but I like to make up my own mind about people, and for some reason, there’s a part of me that wants to know if what he said about Nymala is true. Why did she kill his stepfather?

“One of the things I hate about these lands,” Nymala says as she steps into the room, “are the winds. They’re more brutal this close to the sea—especially in winter. And it’s always winter here.”

“Is it?” I glance out the window, to where thick blankets of snow cover the landscape. There had been no snow when I left the convent. Just how far away am I? “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen snow.”

“Oh, yeah. Lots of it. You’d better get used to the snow.

” Nymala strides over to the wardrobes and begins rummaging through them, pulling out and putting back several items. She carries a pile of clothing over to the dressing area.

“This is actually our summer, believe it or not. Warmest we’ve had on record. ”

I stare at her, watching as she hangs each item on the divider.

“So, we must be quite far south?” I ask, standing up from the table.

“As far south as you can get,” she replies. “The little dot on the bottom of the realm map, surrounded by all the water? That’s where we are.”

I visualise the realm map. Having studied it all my life, I know every kingdom and sea in the realm, but I don’t recall there being any inhabitants in the outer isles. Not after they were wiped out in a war long ago.

If we really are out in the isles, I wonder how they kept their existence quiet for so long? And why didn’t Loch mention it to me?

I make my way over to the dresser. Even from across the room, I catch the glowing chain on Nymala’s wrist, surrounded by countless others. But this one is subtly different. It glows, a similar gold colour as her magic. Nymala follows my line of sight, and her fingers tighten on her hips.

“He told you.”

It’s not a question, but I answer anyway. “Loch said you’re a prisoner here.”

Nymala’s demeanour visibly changes. Her shoulders tense, and her throat jerks. Then she takes a sharp breath through her nose and shakes her head.

“Well, you don’t need to worry. I’m not going to off you.” She lifts her hand with the chain on it and shakes it. “Even if I wanted to, I can’t. I’m bound to serve and protect Noble’s house for the rest of my life.”

As I walk towards her, my instincts scream to me that I should be wary of this woman, even with her magical restraints. But there is something about Nymala that reminds me a lot of myself. A woman condemned before they’re even allowed a chance to speak.

I step behind the divider and pull the nightdress off my body, hanging it over the side when I’m done. Nymala takes it and I watch her shadow move on the other side.

“Why did you do it?”

Her shadow stops moving, hesitating for a moment, before disappearing. Drawers open and shut from somewhere in the room.

“I was defending myself,” comes her reply after a long, tense moment. “A story for another time. Lochlan’s warned me not to take too long. He’s waiting for you downstairs.”

The disdain in her voice for Lochlan is clear, and while it makes sense since he’s one of her captors, it still surprises me.

Those at the convent who knew Lochlan seemed to always like him.

Even Elliot, the little suck-up. I wonder what happened to him and all those still at the convent.

Were they happy we managed to escape? And what of the girl who pretended to be me?

I hope she wasn’t found out and punished for it.

I shudder to think what Sister Gabriella would do to her.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I grab the undergarments hanging on the divider, and pull them on, then the lilac, fur-lined leggings.

A matching tunic follows them. I fasten the laces at the neck and tie them into a bow.

Similar laces adorn the heavy winter boots that Nymala slips behind the divider.

I slide my feet into them, thinking about what she said.

We all have a story to tell, and something tells me that hers has been particularly brutal.

Something I can relate to. I decide not to press her.

If Lochlan trusts her around me, that’s good enough for me. He’s always looked out for me.

Nymala is holding a thick white cloak when I step out from behind the divider. I turn around and she drapes the heavy material over my back and clips it around my shoulders. The broach securing it in place at my throat is of a silver wolf. I touch it with my fingers.

“You’ll need gloves too,” Nymala says, picking them up from the dresser and handing them to me. “The village isn’t far from here. You could walk it, if you’re feeling strong enough.”

“I’m feeling a lot better,” I admit.

“You look a lot better. No offence,” she adds with a wry grin. It fades quickly as a shadow drifts over her face. “The fresh air would do you good, but they want to drive there.”

“They?” I glance up from pulling the gloves on. The soft brown mink reminds me of Lochlan’s eyes. “Is someone else coming with us?”

“Noble,” Nymala replies with slightly less disdain. “His lordship is eager to meet you.”

My pulse skips at that. The thought of meeting Lochlan’s brother makes me feel… nervous for some reason. What if this Noble doesn’t like me? I’m a guest in his home. By rights, he could throw me out in the streets if he wanted to. Not even Lochlan could stop him.

I follow Nymala outside, catching my reflection in one of the many mirrors on the corridor walls.

I braided half of my hair back after breakfast and tied the bottom with a rubber band I found in the dresser.

My rose gold hair stands warmly against the lilac of my clothes.

My cheeks are slightly hollowed, and my eyes are shadowed, no doubt from being ill.

Fresh air will definitely do me good. Weirdly, I’m looking forward to it.

It feels like months since I’ve been outside and felt the sun on my skin.

Once we pass through the maze of hallways and down the grand staircase, we enter the foyer. Lochlan waits for me at the entrance, dressed in all black, his dark cloak trailing behind him.

I smile at him, but it’s the taller man beside him who pulls my focus.

He must be Loch’s brother. I take him in as I cross the distance between us.

Noble’s hair is a light blond, instead of brown like his brother’s, and his skin is tanned.

Strange if what Nymala said is true and that it’s always winter here. Noble must travel a lot.

His clothes are fashioned after his house colours: a deep royal blue tunic and cloak, with silver and gold embellishments.

Brown leather boots that sit below the knee.

He runs a hand through his slicked back hair, causing a few loose strands to fall into his eyes.

It’s only once I’m up close I’m able to see that they’re blue.

They have the same alond-shaped eyes and thick dark lashes framing them.

Lochlan steps forward to greet me. The smile on his face lights up his features, like it always does when he sees me. My stomach used to fill with butterflies at that look on his face. Now… it’s like there’s an emptiness where I know the feeling should be. I smile back at him regardless.

“Lena, you look… incredible. This is my brother, Noble?—”

The male cuts him off. “The snow pixie awakens!” He steps around his brother and, when I’m within reach, takes my gloved hand before I can extend it.

“Noble. Welcome to our home, Princess.” His lips brush over my knuckles, and I feel my cheeks flushing from the contact.

His eyes lock with mine. “May you find great comfort under our roof and warmth by our hearth.”

I pull my hand back slowly and dip my head at him. “Th-thank you. I’m so grateful to you and Loch for letting me stay here. I’m sorry to have caused trouble already.”

Noble straightens with a lopsided smile on his face. “No trouble at all. Well, maybe for him,” he adds, winking at his glowering brother. “He’s worn several holes in the ground from all his bloody pacing. Never seen him so worked up before.”

“Noble,” his brother grits out. Lochlan’s own gloved hands clench by his side. “Let’s go. I don’t want Lena to miss the market.”

“Why, of course not!” Noble offers me his arm, still grinning at me. “Shall we, Princess?”

I glance at Lochlan, unsure what to do. I don’t want to cause any tension between them. But it’s also extremely bad manners to refuse the lord of the house’s hospitality, and he’s already been so generous by allowing me to stay here…

I loop my arm through his. “Thank you. I’m looking forward to seeing the market.”

“You’ll love it. Tons of useless tat to fill your pockets. It’s the food I always go for.”

Lochlan falls into step beside me. He grumbles something under his breath.

I glance at him curiously, but he says nothing and keeps looking ahead.

Slowly the guards open the heavy oak doors, allowing in swaths of warm winter sun.

Its light filters over me, and I close my eyes for a moment, savouring its warmth against my skin.

I can’t remember the last time I got to do this.

It feels like months—years—I’ve been cooped up in that bed.

Has it really only been days?

I open my eyes. Outside, six black horses stand ready before a fancy blue and gold carriage. It reminds me of my parents’ carriage, except theirs was lavender, and their insignia wasn’t of a silver wolf, it was… I frown at the carriage, trying to remember my parents’ insignia.

But it’s like there’s an empty space in my memory where the answer should be. Why can’t I… remember?