Have you read Snow Shifters Part Two - The Palace?
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His chest heaved, body slick with sweat. His throbbing cock lay hot and wet on his stomach. The rug was soft beneath him, the fire flickering warmly beside him. He stared up at the dark ceiling, the shadows from the beams dancing. He gripped the ring tightly in his hand. Soft moans came from the body next to him. It had taken everything he had, each moan he swallowed as he kissed her was anothers.
She rolled toward him, but he hurriedly pushed himself up. She opened her dark eyes and pouted up at him. “You can’t be leaving so soon?” she whined.
He bowed awkwardly. “I’m sorry My Lady, I’ve already been here too long.”
A wicked smile curled her lips. “You have been here quite a while,” she purred. “My husband will be home soon.”
“All the more reason,” he muttered to himself.
She waved him away, rolling back to face the fire. He quickly gathered his clothes, pulling on black pants and a deep hooded top. He slipped the ring into his pocket as he made his way to the door.
“Oh Iys,” she purred. He froze, ice flooding through him. “Tell the servants to draw a bath.”
He let out a silent breath. “Of course.” He hurried to the door, slipping out without another word.
Prowling through the maze of castle passageways, he passed on the Countesses message. The frozen air was a relief as he stepped out into the night, stars twinkling across the sky. He trudged down the hill and slipped out the guard’s entrance. The guards watched him silently. He made his way through the pine forest until the smell of smoke reached him. A small snow-covered hunting cabin came into view, firelight flickered in the windows.
Warmth washed over him as he stepped inside, the tang of sweat and dirt filling his nostrils. A silhouette sat in an armchair in front of the fire, feet propped up on a small footstool and newspaper open in their hands. Another figure sat at a long scrubbed wooden table shoving the last bite of pie in their mouth, a small pile of food in front of them.
“Did you find it?” Iys asked, closing the door softly behind him.
The silhouette in front of the fire closed and folded the newspaper with a rustle. “Nope.”
Iys’ yellow eyes shot to the figure at the table. “Where is it Uller?”
Uller shrugged, humming something that sounded like “I dunno” through his bulging mouthful of pie.
“Are you sure you didn’t miss it?” Iys asked, moving in front of the fire, and holding out his hands.
Uller swallowed. “I know what I’m doing Iys. It’s not there.” He took a huge bite out of a chicken leg.
Iys sighed. He looked at Varjo. “You have my ring?”
Varjo silently slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out a ring with a yellow gem. “Do you have mine?”
Iys smiled. He pulled an identical ring with a blue gem out of his pocket. Varjo returned his smile as they swapped rings. Iys slipped it onto his finger with relief. He’d felt oddly naked without it.
“So, we have the ring but no staff. Vuur’s not going to be happy,” Varjo said.
Iys turned to watch the fire. “No, she won’t be. We need a new plan.”
They fell silent, listening to Uller chew. He swallowed loudly. “We watch and we wait,” he said, barely taking a breath before tearing into another chicken leg.
Iys exchanged a look with Varjo.
“Wha’?” Uller asked through his mouthful.
“How long do you think Vuur could wait without losing her cool?” Varjo asked mildly.
Iys chuckled. “A week, maybe two.”
Uller swallowed. “Alright, we start in the morning. How good are you two at tracking?”
Iys shrugged. “I’m reasonable, best when in leopard form.” He looked at Varjo.
Varjo shook his head. “It’s not my thing. Elsa does all the tracking.”
Icy surprised flashed through him. How had he not known Elsa did all the tracking?
Uller nodded slowly. “Alright then, in the morning we’ll head back to the castle. Varjo, you’ll stay around the castle. Observe the patterns of the guards, the servants, the visitors. Establish what is part of every day and what is unusual. Find us an opening. Iys, you’ll track wagons leaving the castle, find out where they’re going, who’s taking them, and what they contain. I’ll back track wagons that arrive at the castle.” He took a huge bite out of a corn cob.
“Where the hell did you get the food from?” Iys asked, watching him.
Uller had a slice of bread, lump of cheese, an apple, and two cookies left in front of him. “Swiped them from the kitchens.”
Iys raised his eyebrows. “Won’t they notice the food’s gone missing? They’ll know someone was there.”
Uller was shaking his head before Iys had finished. “Na, just think like a servant when you’re swiping the food. Take a whole roast goose and yeah, they’ll notice.”
Iys’ eyebrows climbed even higher. Did that mean Uller had seriously considered swiping a whole roast goose? Or had he swiped a goose and got caught? Probably the latter.
“An apple here, a pie there will slide,” Uller continued. “All castle staff pinch the odd snack when they’re in the kitchens.” He took another bite. “Va real trick is remem’ering which pocke’s to pu’ your food in, so you don’ poison yourself!” He laughed, spraying corn over the table.
Iys wasn’t sure whether to join in laughing or be afraid. A glance at Varjo showed he was just as unsure. “What do you mean get poison on your food?”
“Aren’t all your weapons dipped in poison?” Uller asked, confused.
Afraid it was.
***
Vuur stared into the flames beyond her bare feet, the white dress gown ending mid-calf. Her long fingers wrapped around a warm mug. The smell of sweet, creamy chocolate filled her nostrils. She released a breath, sinking deeper into the plush armchair. Behind her, the door opened with a soft click. Footsteps padded on the rug.
“She’s here,” came a whisper in her ear.
She nodded, not taking her eyes off the fire. The footsteps retreated, the door clicked, and silence followed. A white figure appeared in her peripherals. It sank into the armchair next to her.
“What do you drink?” she asked the fire.
“Vodka.”
A smile curled her lips. The door clicked open again. A decanter of vodka and a shot glass appeared on the small table next to the white figure. She waited for the click of the door again before she flicked her eyes to the other armchair. Skadi had her head thrown back, empty shot glass hovering above her lips, blue tattoos stretched up her white throat. She set down the shot glass with a clunk, her icy blue eyes meeting Vuur’s warm yellow ones.
“You may have heard I have a slight… issue I need to smooth over.”
A cruel grin spread across Skadi’s face. “I’ve heard it can be problematic when a duchess’ cousin attacks an earl’s guard.”
Vuur let out a small laugh. “That’s one way to put it.” She turned her gaze back to the fire. Taking a sip of her hot chocolate, she watched the flames dance.
“We had it under control,” Skadi said. “We wouldn’t have left her there.”
“I know.” Vuur paused as Skadi knocked back another shot. “You’ll come with me to the Midwinter Masquerade Ball.”
“What am I getting?”
“Information.”
“Anything in particular?”
Vuur took another sip of her hot chocolate. “All of it., but I’m specifically looking for-” There was another knock on the door. She frowned into the fire. “Yes?”
“Vuur?” came a familiar soft voice.
She almost spilt her hot chocolate as she threw it on the side table. Forgetting about Skadi, she flung herself from her chair. A small figure with long black hair, wrapped in a deep purple dressing gown and gold slippers stood in the doorway.
“Elsa!” She shot across the room.
The small figure’s face split into a huge smile as Vuur grabbed her in a bear hug. Arms wrapped around her and squeezed tight. Lavendar filled her nostrils. Warmth filled her veins. Registering what she saw she, she pulled back with a gasp. Gently grabbing Elsa’s face, she ran a delicate finger down the huge pink scar which ran from one side of Elsa’s forehead, through her eyebrow, eye, and the corner of her lips, to her chin. Her eye was a milky pale purple. Tears gathered in Elsa’s mismatched eyes.
“Thank fuck you’re alive,” Vuur whispered, stirring the black hairs around Elsa’s heart-shaped face.
“The scar will continue to fade as it heals. It will never be completely gone though,” came a voice from behind Elsa.
Vuur tore her eyes from her best friend. A tall, slim woman stood behind her. She wore a long green and silver cloak, long brown waves of hair falling down either side of her face. Her green eyes were solemn.
“Aardé!” Keeping one arm around Elsa, she dragged the three of them into a hug. They squeezed each other. “Thank you for saving her.” She pulled away. “Come, sit by the fire. Lina, a mulled wine and glass of water,” she called over her shoulder.
She led them back to the fire, plopping herself back into her armchair, grabbing her hot chocolate. Aardé sat, but Elsa paused with her hand on the back of the last chair when she saw Skadi.
“What’s she doing here?” she spat, the smile sliding into a scowl.
Skadi chuckled. “Looking badass Elsa.”
Elsa’s mismatched eyes found Vuur, her dark purple eye pinning her furiously. “V you can’t have her here, we can’t trust her.”
“I helped you,” Skadi hissed.
Elsa’s eyes went back to Skadi. “I’m not stupid enough to turn down the help of the Shadows, but you’re unreliable. You turned,” she snapped.
“Bol broke our contract when he attacked me,” Skadi growled. “And we tried to help you get it back.”
“You shouldn’t have stolen the Staff in the first place! Now the other-“
“Enough.” Vuur’s soft snarl cut across them.
The women froze, staring daggers at each other. Aardé sat silently, eyes flicking between them. The door clicked and soft feet padded into the room. A tumbler of water and mug of mulled wine appeared with a small clunk on the side tables. The footsteps receded and the door closed.
“Sit, Elsa,” Vuur commanded softly. “Have a drink.”
Slowly Elsa sat. She wrapped her hands around her mug and brought it to her lips. Aardé took a quick sip of her water as Skadi poured and threw back another shot.
Vuur settled back into her armchair, picking up her hot chocolate and letting the sweet milky scent surround her. She took a long sip. “Will you two be at the Midwinter Masquerade Ball?”
Aardé nodded. “Verta has asked me to lead the Midwinter Service.”
“I’m having a mask made up to hide… this,” Elsa said, waving vaguely toward her face.
Vuur’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “Excellent, the more ears the better.” It was time to take a risk. “I need information on an orb.”
“An orb?” Elsa frowned. “Does it have a name?”
“Doesn’t matter what the name is.”
“What does it look like?”
Vuur shrugged.
Elsa paused. “Do you have any more information?”
“Employers never give you enough information,” Skadi chuckled.
Vuur let out a small laugh, but Elsa shot Skadi an annoyed look. “Vuur isn’t my employer.”
Skadi shrugged and downed another shot.
“Sorry Elsa,” Vuur said. “I can’t give you any more information.”
With a huff Elsa sat back and took a sip of her wine.
Vuur looked back into the fire. “Elsa and I will cover the main ballroom, Aardé, you’ll stick to Verta’s chapel and the altar. Skadi, cover the shadows.”
The women nodded, sending a flame of anticipation flaring in her chest.
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Read Snow Shifters Part Four - The Ball out 13 July!