I followed alongside him, my eyes still wandered around, taking in the scenery with my mouth slightly agape. I didn’t speak despite the thousands of questions running through my mind. I merely walked with him, occasionally stumbling over something, but he caught me each time with a chuckle, and we would continue on as if I hadn’t embarrassed myself. In stride with each other, he pointed out several aspects of the city out to me, and I intently listened.
Never in a million years did I think when I got up that morning that this was how the day would end.
Chapter
Two
Nirevale
Kane walked me over to the portal center. Each portal arch was guarded by the race that set it up. To the tall, armored, Viking-esque guard at the portal we walked up to, Kane tossed some gold, and they gave the go-ahead nod for us to go in.
"Ready, little one?" He reached out for my hand.
My attention snapped back when he addressed me, blushing slightly, realizing his name for me was a reference to my size. "Not really?" I replied nervously. The last time I’d gone through one, I left my own planet behind. And he’d already mentioned something about the portals not working right. So, needless to say, I wasn’t sure what I would find on the other side of this one.
Kane reached down and offered me his hand again. "It won't hurt. It just feels like you are falling mostly. Then you land back on your feet like you walked right into another room." He waited for me.
"Well? Unless you have my coordination. I literally fell through the one that brought me here, but I didn’t feel anything. I was just here and picking myself up off the ground.” I looked at the portal for a long moment, my hand making its way to his before I said anything again, my gaze fixated on the watery oval framed in a metal arch before us. "Alright. Now is good a time as ever, I guess."
Kane smiled down at my warm hand in his as he pulled me into him. I went to look up at him to nod that I was ready when I realized something I hadn’t earlier. This entire time, I held his hand, but this time, my mind registered that something was different. His hand was not the same temperature as mine... not by a long shot. But before I could say anything, he wrapped his free arm around me, told the portal guard to send one of their representatives to his home, and we stepped. Together, he walked us into the portal, lifting me off the ground slightly as we went through.
As if no time had passed, we landed. He looked around and set me back down on my feet. “We are in the town of Nirevale, the social center of the Doshanesh, the prominent race in the far Insakappen region. It was over a week’s journey from Eldercairn if we had traveled by carriage, drawn by what you would consider a horse-like creature; albeit a taller and more muscular version than the ones you would be used to seeing on your own planet.”
“Well then.” I blinked, wrapping my arms around myself as the cold seeped in through my thin clothes.
"Not so bad right?" He smiled, still holding my arms as I steadied myself.
I pulled into myself and started to shiver. "Well? The trip was fine, but..." My teeth started to chatter a bit. "You weren't wrong about needing more clothes. But I now know why the cold doesn’t bother you."
Kane pulled off his fur lined, long, leather coat and handed it to me. "This should help. It will be big on you, but we can get you some clothes here if you would like." He waited for me to take it before he started to walk.
I took the coat and wrapped it around my shoulders, trying to bundle the fabric up so it wouldn’t drag on the ground like some wedding dress train. "Clothes would be good. Especially before I ruin this beautiful coat." I offered a weak smile. "Thank you." But I didn’t budge from my spot.
He stopped and turned back. “Are you wanting to stay there and freeze to death?”
“Are you not going to say anything about my comment?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh. Yes. Sorry.” He bowed to me mockingly. “You are most welcome, my lady.”
I huffed. “No. My comment about your ability to stand the cold.”
“That? Because I am from the north and acclimated to the colder climate? Yes. Very observant. May we take our leave now?” He turned to keep walking again.
I still did not move. “No.” I wanted him to acknowledge it, not just pass me off like a naïve human.
This time, he spun back and, in a blink, appeared right in front of me, bent over slightly so we were eye to eye. His voice low, almost a growl. “If you are referring to me being a vampire? Then yes. You would be correct. And while the people are aware of my kind and of my status, I do not care to remind them of it. Humans do not rule this planet, little one. And you’d be well advised to keep that in mind. So, if you would kindly join me in getting you some winter clothes so we can proceed, it would be in your best interest.” He kept his stance for a moment, his face inches from mine. Then, he let out a quick breath and stood back up, turning and
