“Let me get you something to wear.” He walked toward the armoire. I watched him go, stunned to see the ice king fetching me clothing.
Who was this man?
He returned with a long shirt, and I took it. I was too tired to go back into the bathroom for privacy, so I made a spinning motion with my fingertip. “Turn around.”
He did as I asked, and I dropped the towel and pulled on the shirt. “All right, I’m good.”
He turned back to me, his gaze moving over me. The concern deepened, and he stepped forward and swept me up into his arms. The floor disappeared from under me, and I gasped, wrapping my arms around his neck.
As the surprise faded, I had to admit it felt good to get off my feet. It had taken all my strength to shower, and I was tapped out.
He carried me to the bed and laid me down, gently covering me with the blanket. I sighed as the comforter enveloped me, exhaustion already pulling at my mind.
He strode around the end of the bed, and I heard him kick his shoes off. There was a mirror on my side of the room, and I caught sight of him climbing into the bed behind me. He hadn’t taken off a single item of clothing.
It was for the best.
He also didn’t climb under the covers.
“You can—”
“No.” His voice was rough as he cut me off. “It’s better this way.”
His strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into the cradle of his embrace. Immediately, I felt protected. Loved, almost.
And he was right. It was better if he didn’t join me under the covers. I was wearier than I’d ever been in my life, yet my body still heated at the contact with his.
“Sleep.” He pressed a soft kiss to the back of my head.
I sighed and relaxed into him, the exhaustion taking me.
17
Sia
* * *
There was no sunlight as I woke in the comfortable bed. The dark shadows in the room were comforting, until memories of last night washed into my mind.
Lore was no longer in bed behind me, and I lay still, trying to get my head around what had happened.
I still had no idea what had happened, but there was definitely something I wasn’t remembering. I’d been dirty when I’d woken on the floor of this room. I’d had a role in that explosion, no question about it.
And yet, there had been no one else there. I’d made sure of that before I’d crossed the meadow.
I had been alone.
The witch with the deathly magic hadn’t been anywhere near me, even though Lore was convinced it was her.
“Did you sleep well?” Lore’s voice cut through my distraction, and I opened my eyes fully, spotting him by the window.
“Yes.” I must have made a noise if he’d known I was awake. “You?”
“I did.”
He was lying. I could hear it in his voice. And yet, he hadn’t left me. Not until morning. I’d woken several times in the night to find him behind me, still holding me close. This morning was the first time I’d woken without his touch.
It left me bereft.
Stupid.
I forced myself out of bed. I had no time to be mooning over him. I needed all my brain cells to work out what had happened last night.
“There’s breakfast on the table.” He gestured to a piece of furniture in front of another window. It was obvious he wouldn’t mention last night, and I was grateful for it. I’d turned to him for comfort, but in the light of day, I wished I hadn’t.
I went to the table and sat, ignoring the dark clouds outside and pouring a cup of coffee from a silver decanter. Fragrant steam rose toward my face, and I inhaled deeply.
I would figure out what had happened last night, but first I needed coffee.
Lore’s gaze burned into me as I sipped and selected a pastry from the tray.
“What’s going to happen this morning?” I asked. “Have you had any news about the explosion?”
“No. All of the fae courts will be convening at the site of the disaster in an hour. We’ll discuss it then.”
I chewed, the food tasting like dust in my mouth. “Doesn’t anyone have any theories?”
“Besides our theory about the witch with the deathly magic, no. And I’ve never seen anything like it. An explosion with no source of the blast.”
“You mean no gasoline or equipment that could have blown up?”
“Precisely.”
“What about magic?” I chewed my lip. “Would that leave a trace?”
“Yes. But I found nothing. Still, the clouds have been so low. She must be here.”
I nodded, then heaved a sigh and stood. “I’m going to get dressed. Can we go down to the site early so I can see it?”