“She was already asleep when I brought the hot brew to her,” Nettle said, casting an eye at the tankard that sat on the chest beside the bed. “I didn’t want to disturb her so I left it there in case she woke. Snow told me earlier that it wasn’t necessary for me to stay the night with her. She said she preferred to be alone. What do you wish me to do, my lord?”

Tarass didn’t question the lass’s words, since it would be just like Snow to say that. “You can leave, but return at first light.”

“Aye, my lord,” Nettle said, but didn’t make a move to leave.

And she wouldn’t until Tarass did and that thought annoyed him. It wasn’t that Nettle didn’t trust him, she was doing what was proper, not leaving a female guest unattended with a male. And if he dictated otherwise, tongues would wag and Snow’s reputation could be ruined.

“Add another long to the fire, then you may take your leave,” Tarass ordered and turned and left the room, taking the stairs to his bedchamber on the above floor.

With the night cold and the wind howling outside, Nettle added three more logs. One would burn fast, but three would take more time and keep the room warm. She walked quietly to the bed and adjusted the blanket over Snow’s shoulder and smiled when she saw that Thaw was cuddled against her sound asleep. She tiptoed out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar so when she returned in the morning she could enter without disturbing Snow, if she still slept.

Snow struggled to make her way through the snowstorm. She couldn’t see anything in front of her, but she heard Thaw barking and she had to get to him. She kept her hands stretched out in front of her and stopped abruptly when she heard a growl. Her hand went to her cheek, having thought she felt something wet at her face. Or was it the snowflakes hitting her cheek?

She saw it then, the dark shadow beside her, not a blurry gray shadow, but one as dark as night and she screamed, “Tarass!”

Tarass woke with a start, sitting up and glancing around his bedchamber. All was quiet, the fire low, which meant he had been asleep for some time. He couldn’t understand what woke him, then he heard it.

A bark that drew closer until it was outside his door.

Snow!

He rushed out of bed and wrapped his plaid around him as he hurried to the door. Thaw continued barking and when he opened the door, the pup ran to the stairs, stopped, and looked back at him.

“I’m coming, Thaw,” he said and rushed down the stairs behind the pup.

“Tarass!”