Текст книги "Ties That Bind"

Автор книги: T. A. Grey

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Текущая страница: 21 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

CHAPTER 38

Kearny's eyes popped open as he groaned. Someone was jabbing at his stomach with something hard and unforgiving.

He jerked to a sitting position with his fists pulled tight ready to fly. A woman with dark skin, darker than Rosa's, stepped back from him, her hands raised in a defensive pose.

“I'm Nanu, the healer. I'm just stitching you up.”

He smelled her before he saw her. Rosa came up from behind him. She looked raw like she'd hadn't slept in days and her eyes were puffy and red from crying.

“What's wrong baby?” His voice sounded too hoarse from not being used. That and his tongue felt brittle as dried wood. He needed blood. She surprised him. She knelt over him pressing a dozen kisses across his chapped lips and holding his head in her hands. “It's all right. I'm okay.” She made a half-sob, half-laughing noise and pulled away, her lips trembling in a smile.

“I thought you were going to die.”

His chest felt entirely too tight at her words. He didn't know what to say so he just pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, his heart beating with an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time.

She stepped away after a minute. “Let Nanu stitch you up so we can get you out of here.”

He smiled at the order. “Yes, ma'am.”

Nanu stitched him up in no time and offered him pain meds that he refused. His stomach hurt but it wasn't anything he hadn't dealt with before. Once he got some blood in him he'd feel even better.

Rosa had to help him stand up. His legs wobbled like rubber bands and his upper body felt too heavy to be supported by his weak legs. He hated looking so frail in front of her; hated even more that he had to lean on her just to stay upright. She only smiled up at him and his worries eased just like that.

“I missed you.” They moved slowly out of the medical ward taking it one step at a time.

“I missed you too, bambino.”

They stopped at the foot of a staircase that looked so long the image of them spun in his head with a dizzy spell. But she only tightened her arm around his waist and helped him up the stairs one foot at a time. God, he loved her. He smiled at the thought and when she caught it and raised an eyebrow in question he merely shrugged. He didn't think she was ready to hear that yet. He'd tell her at the right time.

She helped him into a guest room furnished with two dressers, a huge arching window, tall ceilings, and an adjourning bathroom. The idea of a shower almost gave him enough energy to take one but after the journey up the stairs his muscles started to tremble from exertion. She pressed him against the bed and he fell on it with a groan. She instantly lifted his shirt to inspect his bandage.

“Are you okay? Did that hurt? Maybe I should get you that pain medicine.” She looked away in thought. “Or I could make you some. Maybe the healer has herbs or I can have that demon Draven port me back to my shop or—”

“Kiss me.” He enjoyed the surprise and pleasure that fleeted over her face.

“What?”

He would have laughed but his stomach felt raw and he didn't want to tear the stitches. “You heard me, Rosa.”

Her cheeks darkened with color and then she leaned down and placed her lips over his. Soft, smooth like silk or satin or some kind of fabric he didn't recognize. But no flimsy material could hold anything on her, not with the heat and pressure she added. Her scent teased him, soft and delicate. Fresh like a flower. Her tongue darted across his lips, wetting them, then pushed inside. He groaned. His body hardened at her womanly taste at the slippery glide of her much thinner, smaller tongue. His hand curled into her hair, pulling her closer but she broke away breathing in an unsteady way that made him grin.

“We can't...not until your wound is better.”

“That's a shame.” He meant it too.

She laughed a little. “Can I get you anything?”

His eyes fell to her neck. The animal in him wanted her to part her hair off her neck so he could see the pumping pulse there. His hands crushed the comforter in hard fists.

“Blood. I need blood.”

Her eyebrow flew up in that pretty way and another blush darkened her cheeks. Her hand fluttered to her throat. “Mine?”

His cock jerked in his pants at the huskiness in her voice. His turned equally low. “No, Tyrian will have some here.” Get out before I take yours. He wet his lips, his eyes closing as he tried to imagine what she'd taste like. That only made him harder, made his mouth drier though. “Please go.”

“You can have mine,” she said softly.

He tensed, the points of his fangs throbbing in time to his cock. She had no idea what she was asking, what it meant. He couldn't take her blood and not her body. No matter how much he wanted to feel her wet heat wrapped around his cock again, he couldn't do it. He needed to get strong again.

He looked her straight in the eyes. “That means a lot to me. I promise to take you up on that as soon as I can do sit-ups without breaking my stitches. But right now, if I take your neck...” his mind wandered off as he envisioned taking her inner thigh right next to her pussy. He almost started panting. “If I do then I'm going to fuck you. It's going to be hard and fast, and now is not the time, baby.”

Her chest rose and fell in fast waves but she slowly backed up then fled out the door. Shit. That hadn't gone well. As his mind tried to figure out if he'd ever see her again or if she'd just gone to get him some blood, he also thought about the demons that had attacked him.

They were good. Trained like fucking assassins, which made since. They'd had a purpose coming to Telal's headquarters: to kill Telal and everyone in their path. Kearnyn didn't wish to be in Telal's shoes right now. He couldn't begin to understand how he felt. He'd never really known his own five. Some died of illnesses before they were even twelve, and, well, those who were still alive turned their backs on him when they found out what he'd become. Like it was his fault. He ground his teeth but stopped as his fang almost cut his tongue.

Sometime later, a soft knock sounded at the door and Rosa came in with a plastic container filled with red. His tongue watered. She gave him a wobbly smile and handed the container to him. He tore it out of her hands and was chugging it in big gulps in the next second. He closed his eyes in pleasure. He hadn't realized just how thirsty he'd been. His taste buds opened up, absorbing the delicious taste. The blood fueled his body moistening his muscles and cells, powering him up. He finished the entire container and wanted more but he refrained from asking her to get some.

If he took too much he could make himself sick. He wouldn't vomit the blood up but he'd get tired and lethargic from overeating and it'd take him at least a day to adjust to it.

She took the empty container from him and set it aside. “Can I sleep with you?”

He almost laughed because there was no way she wasn't sleeping with him tonight. “Yeah, get over here.”

She pulled off her dress and he groaned. She wore nothing under it. Not a stitch on her beautiful body. Only all natural woman, just how he liked it. She didn't flush with embarrassment either and he smiled. Good to know she was adjusting to him, because he planned to see her body a lot more in the future.

She cuddled up next to him but didn't touch his stomach.

That night, he slept like a rock.

CHAPTER 39

After slow, passionate lovemaking with Lily, Telal grabbed a quick shower and dressed in some clothes provided by Tyrian. The clothes weren't his usual fair but they fit. Plus, he had to admit, wearing suits got bothersome. Not enough pockets and even the smallest of spills resulted in a dry cleaning bill. The money didn't bother him but it always felt like a hassle, one necessary to his job.

The forest green cargo pants, black tee, and boots worked out better than he thought. If he were fully equipped with his favorite weapons, his knives since he'd always favored them in hand-to-hand combat, he'd have enough pockets to put all his extra gear. Lily came up beside him with a satisfied expression that showed just how sated he'd made her. His chest swelled with a mixture of possessiveness and pride. He had the urge to grin at her and say, “Yeah, I did that, baby.” But he didn't. He wasn't going to make himself look like a fool even if he did feel that way.

“Ready?” she said.

Nodding, they went downstairs to a meeting he'd call with everyone. All the Bellum sisters were there along with their mates and even Kearnyn felt well enough to attend. Rosa sat next to him, their hands clasped together.

Telal's stomach felt jittery. He'd awoken early in the morning and had lay there with Lily wrapped in his arms as he'd thought…planned. He weighed the pros and cons of all the possible situations the best he could. He'd miss something, he knew. Last time he'd had no idea his brother was the king or his father dead. At least in some ways that knowledge might help him to succeed. He still teetered on the edge though. What he really wanted to do and what needed to be done were two different scenarios. And in this case, not just for him, but also for Lily and his people, he had to do the latter.

Lily tried to pull him down in the seat by her but he pulled away. He needed space from her right now. He stood in front of the group and crossed his arms.

“I'm going to overthrow Alrik from the throne.” His eyes caught Lily's expression and he frowned. She looked sad or disappointed. Isn't this what she'd wanted? Why she'd supported him?

“Share the details,” Tyrian said.

“Since we have no choice but to drop in announced we can't use stealth to our advantage. They're going to see us. I believe since Alrik has sent assassins after us he may even be expecting an attack.”

“I and the Warriors will back you,” Tyrian said. His mate gasped and squeezed his hand in a tight grip. Telal looked away from the emotional sight.

“So will my men.” Lyonis' mate didn't look scared but nodded slowly as if she was ready to take arms and go down there with him. He almost laughed. The Bellum family was so diverse yet similar it rattled his mind.

“We'll go late at night so most of the royalty will be asleep. I don't want innocents dying if we can avoid it. We'll storm the castle. But Alrik's mine.” His eyes met the understanding nods of the group. Seeing their acceptance actually helped him to resolve to do this, he realized. He felt better after getting their agreement, like he wasn't doing this alone.

“When do we start?” Lily's curious question, met with her soft beseeching gaze, made his chest pull tight.

“Just so we understand each other, you're not going. None of the women are.”

Anger darkened her face and she stood, her voice almost a yell. “What? You need us down there. Me especially and what about Rosa? She can help with any healing if it's necessary.”

Telal didn't voice the fact that whether Rosa wanted to go, even if he'd allow, should be her decision because he honestly didn't want to fight with her. He cared for her and whether or not he made it out of the rift as king, he wanted her to be safe in Tyrian's castle.

“You are not going. None of the women are. Rosa will stay here and help the injured after it's done.” He paused. “Besides, we can't take a legion of men with us. Only a small group.”

“Why?” Chloe said.

“Because I can only port in as many people as I can touch. It'd take hours to port in even half the Atal Warriors, and that will only exhaust my powers. I'll need them to go up against Alrik.”

Tyrian nodded. “He's right. Even with Henry, Draven, and Rayn helping to port people in. Sitting around while waiting for more help to arrive isn't going to help the surprise attack.”

“I'll make a detailed list of who's going, though if you don't want to you don't have to go. It's entirely up to you. I'll get the list out by the end of today. We'll attack four days from today.”

Lily's eyes widened. Had she realized that he'd planned the attack around her new moon? He did. He wanted to be here for this, to be with her for his final days. Hopefully by then his powers will be back in full force.

“That's all for now.” The room cleared out except for Lily who came at him with a pointed finger and hard steps.

“I'm going with you dammit. I haven't sat around this whole time planning to help you just to sit here twiddling my thumbs while you could get hurt.”

“It'd bother you if I got hurt?” he said softly. The notion gave him a peculiar feeling in his chest, something like happiness.

He thought she might explode from her reaction. “Bother me? My god I—”

She stopped and the silence that followed was deafening. It felt as though the floor just dropped out from under his feet and he was free-falling in the air with his arms and legs kicking nothing but air around him. Then he landed with a crush that jarred him back to reality.

“You love me?” His body felt strained and tense, torn between wanting to flee and squeeze the life out of her.

She crossed her arms and looked away, a bright blush covering her cheeks. “I do not.” Her stiff words brought a smile to his face and a joy in his heart that he'd never felt before.

“Don't lie to me, Lily.”

She gawked at him. “Don't use the imperial voice on me. We've had sex.”

“What does that have to do with it?” He hadn’t realized he liked her switches between mood and until now. She was just so...cute. God, now he was going to blush.

Her mouth opened and closed several times. “That means you can't order me to do anything.”

He couldn't help himself. He stepped forward, lowered his voice. “If I told you to take off your clothes for me you would.”

Her eyelids drooped but then shot right back open. “Nope. Nope. Don't turn this around like that. I'm going with you and you can't stop me.”

“I couldn't take it if you went with me.” He hadn't meant to say something so blatantly true but she'd broken down something inside him, and he didn't want to lie to her. She deserved better than that.

Her expression softened. He couldn't keep from touching her anymore so he threaded his fingers in her hair. Her eyes narrowed on his, bright and clear. “You love me.”

His hand fell from her hair, his lips dropping into a flat line. “No.” Those eyes, he swore, were trying to see inside him. He took a step back, ready to leave. He didn't need this foolishness from her, not now.

“Stop.” It wasn't the command but the plea in her voice that kept his feet from moving. She flattened her hands against his chest and he stretched out his neck to loosen the muscles before looking away. He couldn't look at her like this, pleading. It made him feel raw inside. Scratched with vicious nails from the inside out. It reminded him of being a child in the rift and his brother Alrik begging him to take him into the fields to play. He had the same plea, the same eagerness, and the same wide eyes. God, his heart felt crushed.

“You do, don't you?”

“This isn't about me,” he said after a minute.

She took a deep breath and it came out shaky. “Okay then. Let me tell you something.” He stiffened, but something strange happened, his heart started pounding. Not the pounding of arousal or fear but the hard slow steady thump of anticipation, building and building inside him until the beat of it resonated in his ears. He wanted to hear what she said. Had to hear it.

“Telal, I love you. I wasn't going to tell you yet but I don't think I have much more time.” Her voice faltered, thickened with sorrow. He barely managed to refrain from ordering her not to cry and pulling her into his arms. The only reason he managed not to grab her was because her words had rooted him in place like a statue. He was frozen, slowly trying to absorb her words. He just learned that it was one thing to assume Lily loved him and another to hear the words from her mouth.

“If you go and... don't come back. What am I supposed to do?” Her clear eyes wobbled then tears spilled down her cheeks. The sight of them crushed his heart in a brutal fist. He felt humbled. No one had ever loved him like that, said those words to him and meant it like she did. He felt so undeserving. Like a dirty old fool.

“Then you understand why you can't come with me, Lily.” He pulled her into his arms if only so he didn't have to see her tears anymore, which were really droplets meant to crush a man's soul.

They held each other for what felt like a long time. She was the first to pull away. He hesitated to let her go. Her face had dried of tears and he felt his shirt wet from where she'd laid her head. A part of him was actually proud, happy in fact, that he'd been able to help her stop from crying in some way.

He looked down at her and caught her smile; it curled from a grin into a full-blow smile that melted his heart. “You do love me.” Then she stood up on her toes, kissed him, and left the room with a certain bounce to her step.

Telal stood there, baffled, confused, and elated for some time. He swallowed over his dry throat and raised his hand to stop her, but he didn't know what to say. It might take him some time to work through all his emotions and everything that had just happened, but he did know one thing. He loved Lily Bellum.

CHAPTER 40

Each day that passed felt like a noose being wrapped tighter and tighter around her neck until the bristly rope cut into her skin, cutting her. Anytime she tried to speak to Telal about letting her go, he simply changed the subject, usually by kissing her senseless. Her skin felt itchy everywhere, she couldn't stop scratching it, and this time it had nothing to do with the juice. God, the juice. She didn't even miss it now. Okay, she did miss it. If she had some of that in her system, she wouldn't be pacing back and forth across the living room while her stomach felt like insects were crawling inside.

Two more days. She had him for two more days. She wanted to scream; she wanted to cry. Most of all, she wanted to go with him. Not just because of him but because her mother was down there in that dank and dirty cell. What if something happened to him? Then how could she free her?

Oh god, oh god. Tears did fall from her eyes and she brushed them away hard, hurting her eyes in the process. It didn't matter. The little sting of pain helped to take out the heavy weight over her heart.

“Lily?” said a soft voice.

Lily turned to find Willow and Chloe at the door to the living area. They both wore expressions of understanding. Lily shook her head. She didn’t need to see them now. Not now. They couldn't help her. Telal had already made his plans. He was taking Kearnyn, Tyrian, Lyonis, Draven, Rayn, Henry, and Jackie and Thane. Everyone had been ported in. Now they all just sat like sitting ducks for the day to come. Her stomach squeezed tight and she wished she could still eat food just so she could throw up to try to ease it.

“Hey, hey. Come on now. Everything will be fine.” Chloe wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she wanted to throw it away, push her away. She didn't want to stop pacing; had to keep moving.

He loves me. I love him. We're supposed to live together like Chloe and Willow have gotten to do.

“You know we understand what you're feeling.”

Lily snapped. “Oh really, Willow? And how's that?”

To give Willow some credit she didn't flinch, didn't even cock a brow. But she did flip her off. She actually chuckled at that. So characteristic of her sister. “Did you forget that we have mates, too, who are going down in that demon hell? Like I want him going there. I've been in the rift.”

True. “But that was different. You were in a sub-layer. Where he's from is...pretty. The sky a hazy pink and orange. Everything looks more vivid there. The grass is greener. Thing smell different. Not bad, just different.”

“That's all fine and dandy but it still doesn't make us feel better,” Willow said.

“I get it. I do.” Lily walked to a window. Chloe'd made Tyrian put bars over them to keep anyone from accidently falling out. He'd done it without hesitating. “I love him.”

“I know.” Her sisters both said it at the same time and shared a little laugh.

“How does he feel about you? It's so hard to tell with him,” said Chloe.

Lily sighed. “He loves me, but I don't think he'd admit it.”

“Then he and Tyrian have that in common. Tyrian was so adamant about not feeling anything for me. Yeah, that didn't last long.”

Lily nibbled her lip. She'd been thinking about this ever since he announced his plans. She was going to go with him. She didn't have much magic, but she'd made half a dozen potions when he wasn’t around. She couldn't test them out but Rosa assured her they'd work. They'd both enspelled the potions, really nothing more than small vials of foul-smelling liquid, to freeze the target in place. It should last anywhere up to thirty minutes. They'd run out of supplies so she'd only been able to make six. She'd have to use them wisely. She also had Rosa get several of the daggers she'd enchanted with electricity. If she had to use one, she would.

Could she tell her sisters about her plan? Or would they run off and warn Telal. “Can I trust you guys with something?”

They nodded. Lily sat on the floor in front of them so she could whisper. She didn't need any prying ears to pick up on this. “I'm going to the rift with Telal. I'm going to have Rosa make another potion and take us there. This time since we're leaving from the same place as Telal we'll arrive in the same place in the rift, too.”

“Are you sure about this?” Willow didn't tell her no, didn't condemn her for what she wanted to do. Lily supposed she was surprised because she'd always felt like the odd man out with her sisters being fraternal twins.

“I'm sure.”

“Have you had any visions to think you could help?” Chloe's brow pinched forward in consternation.

“No. I haven't had dreams in a while.” She left out the part that the juice she made helped to assuage them. And, that the last dreams she'd had were of a black man with evil energy around him. Alrik Demuzi. She'd stay away from him in the rift. She'd free her mother, help out if she can, then get out. If luck prevailed she might not even have to see Telal and he'd never know. Well, until he realized her mother was in their bedroom.

“Why not?”

Lily ignored Chloe's probing stare. “I don't know; they just dropped off. I'm going to bring mother back.”

The sisters stiffened but nodded almost in unison like they'd choreographed it. “How...damaged is she?”

Lily frowned, the image of her mother rocking and shaking in her cell coming to mind. “Very.” She didn't know what else to say so she left it at that.

Her sisters hugged her one at a time. Lily squeezed them back, her heart swelling in her chest. “Take care and be alert,” said Willow.

“Be careful,” Chloe said, giving her one last squeeze before leaving.

Lily started to leave but stopped. She felt better. The tension and worry in her had been alleviated; it wasn't completely gone, the worry still sat there but not like it had been. She afforded her first smile of the day and went in search of Telal. If she only had two days before he left for the rift and she snuck in behind them, then she wanted to spend the days with him.

She found him in the bowels of the castle, deep under it where a staircase seemed to never end. Strong, tall, strapping warriors moved around corridors glancing her way as she passed them. In a room at the end of the hall she found Telal sitting inside on a padded floor that looked like it was used for sparring or wrestling. He wore a white t-shirt which looked glorious across his golden skin and muscled body and a pair of loose fitting white pants.

She knocked softly then entered. He didn't turn to look at her. “Telal?”

No response so she crept forward and laid a hand on his shoulder. Suddenly he grabbed her waist and slammed her to the mat, his lips catching hers. She laughed against his mouth, feeling winded. The move didn't hurt her but she felt stunned, shocked. His lips slid over hers creating a stir of feelings that warmed her.

He pulled back something close to a smile on his lips. “What are you doing here, lilit?”

“The name's Lily not lilit. I came to find you. I missed you.”

He did smile now, and when this demon smiled she felt like she'd just been granted some kind of unique gift. The smile lit up his whole face, softened his eyes, and made them brighter.

“I know your name...Lily,” he said softly. He closed in on her then caught her lips in a caress she barely felt, then he nipped at her, tugged on her lip, and traced it with his tongue. “So you came to play?”

Her heart kicked up several beats. “No, well, sure, but no.” God, what was she saying?

His smile disappeared, turning his look into something dark and wicked. He stared into her eyes, simply looking at her until she started to squirm.

“You are beautiful.”

She pursed her lips as a blush came over her. She hated blushing; it was her job to make others blush. “Thank you.” He kissed her again, his lips consuming her, making her thoughts fog and derail like a runaway train.

“Come on. I want to take you somewhere.”

She barely had the “huh” out of her mouth before he led her upstairs and ordered her to wait. He bounded up the stairs, came back a few minutes later in thick winter wear and boots. He carried a woman's snow coat in his hands and a scarf.

“Put this on.”

“Whose is it?” She put the dark purple coat on. It felt cozy and soft and had a hood with white fur trim lining it. The white scarf didn't fit easily around the bulky coat but he helped her to wrap it around.

“Chloe's. She said you could borrow it.”

Two guards were stationed at the front door, if one could call it that; the two massive doors were made of some dark metal with gothic designs carved into it. The handles themselves with large rings that the guards grabbed and pulled open.

Telal grabbed her hand in his, the heat of him instantly warming her as they stepped out and into the snowy landscape of northern Norway.

Lily let out a sigh of wonder. She'd seen the view from her window a time or two, but it was another to really see it. To feel the cold biting at her cheeks and hands; to see the puffs of smoke coming out from their mouths. Snow seemed to go on forever as if the entire world was covered in it.

They walked down the steps and the first crunch of snow under her shoes made her smile. The snow didn't cover as much here. They must shovel it to keep it from getting too deep because from the castle to the fence which looked like it belonged in a high-security prison, the snow never looked to go much deeper than ankle deep. Yet, outside the gates the snow looked higher, climbing up nearly halfway up the gate.

“You like the snow.”

“Not usually but this is something else. The snow we get in Georgia is usually accompanied by ice and a lot of car wrecks. Out here,” he paused, “just listen how quiet it is.”

She did. The air seemed still but alive, the wind blew in the distance kicking up clouds of loose snow. It was quiet, peaceful.

Suddenly her heart felt like it was going to burst. “I love you!”

His jaw dropped then he fixed it. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I know.”

Fine, she'd let him get away with that for now only because they were sharing a moment together that she loved. Under her breath she said, “I know you do too.”

He didn't laugh but she caught his grin. “Come on, let's walk around.”

They kept near the castle where the snow only reached their ankles. The place felt like something out of the Dark Ages. The castle had parapets with armed Atal Warriors carrying bows across their backs and along the wall and even more guards paced the perimeter.

“Tell me about your life in the rift.”

He grimaced and didn’t speak for so long she didn't think he'd answer. “My parents weren't in my life much, but my father coached me to be a king. I spent hours every day learning how to govern people. When I grew older I realized I didn’t like how he'd been doing it.”

“Why?”

“The rich got to live in this lavish lifestyle while the workers who provided the jewels and clothing from hard-earned time got nearly nothing, living in decrepit houses. I hated it. Made me feel guilty.”

The castle was so large it took them nearly five minutes to reach the back of it. Only more snow met them. Lily could easily see a pretty little garden, maybe even a barbeque pit out here, but not with the snow. Maybe a hot tub, she'd have to mention that to Chloe.

“Alrik used to follow me around. Wanted to be wherever I was, used to hang on to every word I'd say. He also used to get me into a lot of trouble.”

Lily laughed thinking of the time she'd made it look like her sisters had trashed the bathroom while she'd been asleep. They'd gotten in trouble but later fessed up to the deeds. For which her sisters responded in kind by giving her a tittie twister and a noogie. Sigh, good times. Innocent times.

“Do you know why he changed...physically?”

His lips tightened. “I've given it some thought.” He said it so casually she knew he probably hadn't stopped thinking about it. “Either he's truly become corrupt in his heart and the evil of it has metamorphosed to alter him physically, or he's under a spell of some kind. I wouldn’t doubt either one.”

“What kind of spell?” Telal turned to look off in the distance and Lily suddenly had a great idea. Kneeling down, she scooped up some snow.

“One to control him, change him. I don't know. I know some dark magic but nothing like that.”

“Who would?” She packed the snow into a tight ball between her hands. The snow froze her skin, melting a little in her palms.

His shoulders tensed. “My mother and some of the royalty come from a strong line of black magic users.”

The snowball sailed through the air and plopped against the back of his head. Lily giggled, her hands flying to cover her mouth as powdery snow clung to his hair falling in specks onto his jacket. He turned slowly and her heart pumped faster.

The evil gleam in his eyes made her squeal and she took off running as fast as she could with the snow slowing her down. The snowball landed square in the middle of her back and she yelped even though it didn't hurt, falling into a fit of laughter. She turned to see him barreling after her. She knelt and deftly made another snowball. She threw it but he dodged to the side and missed it. Her heart raced even harder now, her laughter unstoppable. She made another and let it fly. The snowball landed straight in his face in a puff of white dust.