AFTER THAT, WE lay there for a while, breathing hard and covered in sweat. Soren’s fingers absently rubbed my shoulders and I leaned into his body, one leg between his, allowing him to shield me from the world. There were many times where being short was annoying and a hindrance, and this was definitely not one of them. I loved the way I could feel so totally protected by him. Even with all the chaos going on, it was one thing I could always rely on. And I was also glad that I even accepted those feelings in the first place, knowing before the Hunt, anything other than coldness would have been unbelievable.

He pressed his pale blue lips to my forehead, and I buried my head in his chest. “We’re going to have to get up and make a game plan soon,” I mumbled into his body. “Tell the people that we trust. Figure out what we’re going to do, how.”

Soren sighed. “Well, the cat’s out of the bag for Seppo, Rosamund, and Diaval. Satu should know, too, if she doesn’t already, and is waiting to approach us about it. As for the rest … I have people on my guard and as my advisors, but I wouldn’t say I trust them. I trust that I can outmaneuver them should I need to, and I trust that it’s more likely for them to get stabbed in the back than me, but not much else.”

I groaned. Typical Permafrost relationships. “Maybe you have white hair not because it’s a genetic issue; maybe it really is stress. Fuck, hearing that makes me stressed. I’m so tired of having to worry about everyone’s intentions.”

Soren cradled my face in his palms, lifting my head to look him in the eyes. “You’re stronger than you know, Janneke. But know that I would never allow anyone to come even close enough to harm a hair on your head.”

“That’s what worries me,” I said. “I’m the stag. I’m much less easy to get rid of than you are.”

“Are you calling me easily replaced?” he asked, mock offense in his voice.

“Promise that if you end up protecting me, you’ll let me protect you the same way. We’re partners. We protect each other. Not me, you or you, me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it being any other way,” he said. “No matter what the future holds.”