She had a vague sense of a male that was beside her, his white hair blending with her red. And she believed that he was shaking her gently, bellowing…no begging. Holding her, protecting her but he was crying because she could feel wet tears on her throat.
“Wolf?” she asked confused.
His head jerked and his eyes were dark with mourning.
“Freya,” he said, pressing wild lips against hers until he stopped himself and moved them slowly and gently. A blissful craving shot through her and she wondered why she´d even had the thought to give up her immortality. “Don´t die, don´t leave.”
He brushed her hair away from his face. She reached her finger up to his cheek and melted his tears.
“I won´t. I could never leave you.”
It was the full truth and she felt her life returning to her, her strength coming back and she put her arms around Wolf, who crushed her against him. His hands moved on her back, arms and thighs, grabbing her with a zealous greed like he feared she would slip through once again.
“You won´t die,” he said his voice unsteady as if he couldn´t believe it. His eyes closed and then opened and when he looked at her she almost thought she would go blind from the light in them.
Freya shook her head.
“If I choose not to accept my soul, I can stay.” Freya looked at his face. “That was what I was trying to tell you before but you wouldn´t listen.”
Wolf paled and a quake of anger shot through him. He seemed to clash with his own emotions, with gaining control. Slowly he returned his gaze to her.
“Can you ever forgive me?” he said hoarsely.
“Yes, but only because you came after me. If you hadn´t I would´ve come back as Freya of the Haunted Ice Falls.”
A strained laughter left his lips and he nuzzled her throat.
“I love you. More than you can understand.”
Her heart knotted in her chest. They were perfect for each other.
“I love you too,” Freya smiled and then asked. “Will you take me to the river?”
Wolf was carrying her in his arms and carefully put her down into the water. He bathed her wounds and they slowly started to heal.
“That´s it, my sweet female,” Wolf said relieved, but his face still held tension. “I wish I could kill that fire fucker all over again.”
“Don´t think about that,” Freya said but Wolf shook his head.
“I don´t understand how he could have found us,” Wolf said and Freya bit her lip.
“Dasha told him,” she said and his eyes darkened.
“Then she has an unpleasant surprise coming,” he bit but Freya stroked his cheek to calm him.
“No, I don´t want you to retaliate. I want to put everything that´s happened behind me.”
Wolf seemed reluctant.
“But If I hadn´t reached you in time, if he had managed to take you away from Ice Falls…”
Freya clasped her hands behind his neck.
“But he didn´t. I´m here, right where I should be.”
Wolf pressed his lips harshly on hers.
“I should have never cast you out, but you don´t understand,” he murmured. “I was crazed with jealousy. I thought it would eat me up from the inside. I couldn´t stop thinking about how everything had just been a game to you and that all along you were longing for another male.”
“It was only a game in the beginning but then…then I couldn´t help but to fall in love with you.” Freya shot him a teasing look. “And Ice Falls and your castle of course.”
Wolf grinned.
“It’s all yours,” he said and then cleared his throat. “Although I must warn you that the left wing is in ruins.”
“Trashed it did you?” she asked with a crooked eyebrow.
“I wanted to destroy everything. Ice Falls meant nothing to me without you there.” He cleaned the last blood of her wound and it healed by itself. “Feeling better,” he asked and she nodded.
“Much better,” she said. “And I´m looking forward to not having nightmares about Swarog anymore.”
“You never have to worry about Swarog ever again,” Wolf said but then tension shot through him and he launched his upper body over Freya, snarling at something standing by the trees….
“Don´t mean to disturb,” a deep voice said. Freya didn´t know who it belonged to but someone’s sheer presence was almost unbearable and a pressure started to build in Freya´s head, making it feel like she was falling.
Dizzily she took a peak over Wolf´s shoulder only to see a male; dressed in dark robes with a hood so far down his face she could only see his jaw and mouth.
“Dorian,” Wolf bit out. “What are you doing here?” He had relaxed when he´d realized who it was but he still clutched Freya to his chest.
So that was the Draugar, Freya thought, finally understanding what Wolf had meant by their presence being unsettling.
“Rumor reached the Third Realm that Swarog has died by your hand.”
So soon?
“Correct,” Wolf said and Dorian gave a curt nod.
“I wanted to see for myself,” he said in that hollow voice. “Well done, Frost Bringer. We are one step closer to defeating Wryfell.” His head moved a little as if he was trying to catch a glimpse of Freya but then he kept his gaze down as if he didn´t want to scare her. “Your queen seems bothered by me. Perhaps it is best if we talk some other time.” He turned to leave.
“Wait,” Wolf said and the Dark One stopped. “Someone helped Swarog locate Ice Falls. We need to know who.” He looked at Freya. “Did Swarog say anything to you, something about who it might have been?”
Freya shook her head.
“All he said was that it was a malicious secret.”
Wolf turned to Dorian again but the Dark One was no longer there.
Freya shivered. “I´m glad he´s gone,” she murmured. “You were definitely right about the Draugar.”
“You´ve
