Page 10 of Those That Defy the Realm

And it turns out the wolves agreed with me and aren’t beyond a bit of meddling when it gives those involved a shove in the correct direction.

“They’ll be mated by morning,” Ash says. “And hopefully by then Ty will have forgiven you.”

I stop to stare down at my companion’s knitted brows and cobalt eyes. “Do you think he was that angry?”

“Henry, he was pissed. Beyond pissed. Hell, I thought for half a second he was going to behead you there and then.”

“Shit.” My mood sinks as guilt blooms in my gut. After the snowball fight didn’t seem to work, I’d taken advantage of Ash’s little sister asking tons of questions about vampiric feeding habits. Rory admitted to not having tried vampire blood and I’d practically shoved my wrist onto her fangs. I knew Ty wouldn’t be happy about it, but his face had looked pretty crushed as he’d watched the interaction.

Vampire males don’t take well to their mates drinking another’s blood. Particularly when the mate bond hasn’t been made yet. It's not like there was a risk of Rory bonding with me during the exchange, I wouldn’t have risked that. But the feelings in Ty wouldn’t have been rational at seeing the female he loves drinking from an unmated male. Hell, he’d not even let her drink from the unmated wolves during our time here.

“Hey.” Ash’s hands come to my shoulders and he has to tilt his chin up slightly to look into my eyes. “Ty will get over it. He will know you weren’t making a pass at Rory.”

The guilt still swirls in my gut. Maybe I should go and find him to apologise.

“You did nothing wrong,” Ash says as if he can read my thoughts. “Well, you’re to blame as much as the rest of us. I think my whole family was in on the plan to get them together in the end.” He chuckles again and the sound does something to unknot my insides.

“You’re right.” I slowly exhale, the tension in my shoulders releasing. “I’m sure he’ll still be pissed but hopefully he’ll be too loved up to actually be mad at us. And if he is, I'll just have to stay here and hide out with you for the rest of my life.”

My attempt at lightening the mood makes Ash laugh properly this time. The sound echoes around us, bouncing off the trees and wrapping us in its warmth. “Who knows, maybe I had my own plans tonight. Maybe getting you kicked out of your accommodation was really a ruse so I could sequester you to my cabin and never let you leave.”

He winks and moves away as he starts walking again. I find myself laughing along with him and despite the threat, I follow him willingly.

Considering a life here, I don’t think it would be as harsh as the initial assumptions on the cold climate that I made. Especially with Ash and his family. He’s trapped here on this tiny unforgiving island, yet he’s a positive person, a good conversationalist and just… fun.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure the winter takes its toll, but there is a beauty in its brutality. And this community is close knit. It could be nice to be a part of something like this.

“Here we are,” he says from up ahead. My eyes lift from his back, where I’d been following him, to notice that a cabin has come into view. The trees are so thick here that it's only because of my heightened senses that I can make anything out in the dim pinkish light reflecting off the snow. Above us, I’m sure the Aurora is blasting a fabulous show, but underneath the canopy of the trees it's nearly pitch black.

The cabin is quaint. There’s no other word for it. It’s the complete opposite to the high rises I’m used to in the capital. It's completely isolated and small in stature. Quite a lot of the buildings here are, the base of them sunken into the ground to help preserve heat loss.

We take the final few steps down the sloped walkway to the entrance. I note the panel cut beside the main door. A fur covered insulated flap which Ash most likely uses when he’s in his wolf form. I’d noticed it on the other houses in town and asked him about it not long after we’d arrived.

He turns the handle on the human sized door, locks also not being a thing in this village where everyone knows everyone. Stepping aside, he gestures for me to enter first. Despite the regular height of the frame, I do still have to duck slightly, six-foot-six is practically giant to the wolves, and their doors reflect that.

Ash closes us away from the freezing elements outside and makes quick work of starting a fire. The entire cabin is one room, except for what I’m guessing is a bathroom. It's even cosier and quainter on the inside, complete with wood panelling, the scent of natural pine and hand made everything. From the heavy dining table to the intricate wool tapestries on the walls, each piece of furniture and decoration oozes with the love and care taken to craft it.

I adore it.

The fire on the side wall roars to life and quickly heats the space, as well as giving us a gentle amount of light to see with. We remove our outer clothing, hanging everything on the freestanding rack by the door.

“Sit, please. I’m just going to grab some water.” Ash motions to the couch positioned facing the fire and steps away to the countertop lining the far wall. He grabs two glasses and fills them from the tap as I ease myself into his plush leather couch after removing another jumper. I can’t help the groan I make at getting enveloped by the cushions and throws.

Ash laughs once more as he puts one of the glasses on the oak coffee table and sinks into the cushion next to me, bringing one of his knees up so he can face me.

“I know you probably don’t need to rehydrate after drinking but just in case.” He gestures to the second glass with the one he’s still holding before he takes a big glug of it. It hadn’t even occurred to me that he had got one for me, I’d assumed he wanted to dilute the alcohol he’d drunk with plenty of fluids.

“Oh, thanks,” I respond. “But, indeed, I don’t need it.”

“Do you never drink water? It seems so unnatural.” Whilst Ash grew up around vampires, he was young when the war broke out. His lack of knowledge, but curiosity for it, I find endearing. That will be the professor in me.

“I don’t need to consume any liquid, except for blood. Alcohol is still fun, and coffee is a luxury. The caffeine has little effect unless I drink litres of the stuff, but I still enjoy it. Water I rarely see the point of. Sometimes when it’s hot it can be refreshing. But it doesn’t have any functional use.”

“Do you need to feed now?” Ash drains his glass, places it on the table and offers me his wrist.

Tempting as it is, I decline. “Thank you, but I’m good. The dose you gave me earlier is enough.”

My fangs tingle as I remember the taste of his blood. Like all the varieties of wine, each blood type is different to the taste. Each has its own notes or subtle differences. Ash’s blood is certainly one I’ve greatly enjoyed since I’ve been here. One I shall miss when I leave with Ty and Rory in a couple of days.