Chapter 5

“I’m sorry, my lady and gent, but there is only one room left available. For your troubles, I’ll add in vouchers for a free meal at the tavern down the row. My brother runs the place.” Explained the woman behind the desk at the inn that Zarek and Freja stood in.

 

Due to an incoming blizzard, together they had decided it was better to rent rooms for the night rather than sleep under the stars.

 

Zarek wanted to keep going but Freja had grown used to having him as a companion, coming to enjoy his company. After giving Zarek puppy eyes and pleading as sweetly as she could, he gave in.

 

She didn’t like keeping up relationships with other people, but he was different somehow. There wasn’t an explanation she could think of, so she chose to go with the flow for once. This man was like a drug to her senses and she couldn’t get enough.

 

After a brief argument, they decided upon stopping at the next village.

 

The sky above had grown darker as they drew closer to the village. Grey clouds quickly covered the blue sky above and the wind grew harsh.

 

It was looking to be a tough storm coming.

 

Freja was grateful for the stall in her trip so she could put together a plan on how she’d actually kill the King.

 

Stupidly enough, she hadn’t thought of a plan as to how she’d get in the castle and close enough to complete her life’s mission. She was going to kill a damn dragon after all, a King. There were going to be guards everywhere.

 

Zarek stared down the woman as he forced himself to stay calm, Freja glowering at the clerk beside him, her arms crossed across her chest and her eyes narrowed.

 

Years of dealing with small chieftains who sought to undermine his authority had taught him valuable skills in handling his anger.

 

He was an animal at the end of the day and many times the human side lost in the battle of tempers.

 

A growl rumbled in his chest as he reigned the beast within.

 

Freja caught the barely audible growl come from Zarek, the deep sound briefly breaking her of her stare down with the clerk.

 

“If my companion and I are to share a room, are there at least two beds where we can sleep separately?”

 

Zarek tossed the clerk the smile he had given to many of his citizens over the years. It had worked to put people at ease so they would let down their guard and see him as an equal.

 

Someone who wasn’t a royal, much less a King.

 

The clerk, Leeta, blushed wildly.

 

“N-no, my lord. I-I’m sorry. Perhaps, my wife can offer a discount? She’s in charge of keeping the rooms in tip-top shape!” Leeta sputtered, her hands wringing together.

 

Another woman appeared from a doorway to their left, approaching the lot.

 

Small of stature and dressed in a floor length brown linen dress with her dark hair tucked under a scarf, she was middle aged like the woman Zarek and Freja had been speaking to.

 

“Hilda, my love, I offered them a discount.” Leeta’s eyes lit up as Hilda approached and joined her behind the desk, taking in the odd couple before her.

 

“Look, I will charge you half for the room, thirty coin. Take it or leave it. You and I both know that blizzard is going to be here by tonight in a few hours and there will be nowhere else to go. I suggest you take it or leave it.”

 

Freja’s eyes narrowed as Hilda reached beneath the counter to hold up a small iron skeleton key with a stamped square of iron showing the number eight attached to the ring.

 

Annoyance rose in Freja.

 

She didn’t like the attitude this inn keeper had given, but she was right.

 

This was their only option.

 

“Fine. You have a deal.” They agreed after some consideration.

 

Zarek paid Leeta as Freja took the key from Hilda, the woman smirking with a glint in her brown eyes.

 

Hilda had successfully talked them into it. They couldn’t pass up such a deal, especially when a storm was coming.

 

Freja led the way with Zarek following close behind as they left the couple behind the desk and climbed the stairs to the second floor where the rooms were.

 

Once in the room, they took in the room before them.

 

It was moderately large with a cobbled floor smattered with various fur pelts.

 

In the center of the wall to their right was a wooden bed with white linen sheets and a blue blanket on top. The bed was big enough for two to sleep comfortably and apart, much to the relief of Freja.

 

At the end of the rectangular room was a stone fireplace that was ready to be lit with some logs set inside and on the side in a wicker basket, enough for the night. To the right of the fireplace was a decent sized glass window with a perfect view of the mountains in the distance, the glass growing icy from the weather around the edges.

 

Two rough cut wooden chairs sat against the left wall with a small table in between them. It was perfect for two to have a meal.

 

Zarek immediately set his sight on starting a fire to warm the room.

 

Kneeling before the fireplace, he quickly lit a small fire with the provided steel and wool.

 

Freja dropped her pack to the floor and sank into a chair, pulling a blanket from another wicker basket, wrapping it around herself after tossing her cloak and boots to the side.

 

“It’s going to be a long night, I fear.” Spoke Freja as she watched Zarek tend the fire.

 

He turned toward her as she spoke, his dark hair falling over his cheek.

 

Those gold eyes of his pierced her soul as he gazed at her, noting she had shorn her cloak and made herself comfy.

 

“Yes. The good thing is that we at least have a fire to keep up warm once the storm hits.”

 

That same smile he had given the clerk came out as he dusted his hands of the dirt from the logs.

 

Quickly, he shed his wet boots and cloak, grabbing Freja’s and putting hers next to his by the fire to dry.

 

She nodded in thanks as she snuggled in the thick wool blanket.

 

It was so warm and chased the cold from her bones. Warmth coated her body like the sun on a summer’s day.

 

“Are you still cold? I can get a blanket from the bed...” Zarek gestured to the thick blue comforter on the bed.

 

He gazed at Freja in concern, his gold eyes full of some emotion she couldn’t place.

 

“S-sure. Why don’t we just both use it so we can warm up. You’re probably cold, too, huh?”

 

Pushing the blanket back, she rose to her feet, making her way to the left side of the bed and sat. She kicked the sheets away as she tucked herself in under the comforter and sheets.

 

Rolling on her side she watched as Zarek did the same, but much slower, to her annoyance.

 

“Took you long enough. I’m freezing.” The warmth spread back to her toes as she wiggled them under the sheets, her socks scratching against the wool fabric.

 

“My apologies. I don’t want to make this awkward with us being near strangers and having to share a bed.”

 

Secretly, he was thrilled he was this close to his mate. She was in the bed next to him and he admired her body when she was facing the other way. Everything he had seen in his dreams were as he had hoped.

 

He wanted to take her so bad, but he had to wait.

 

Unlike his father, he wouldn’t force a woman to be intimate with him.

 

He wanted her to fall in love with him.