She didn’t like to lie. Lies had a way of growing and suddenly erupting and he did sound concerned. So she went for the truth in a roundabout way. “The pain has eased.” And the pain had eased… since yesterday.

“I’ll take you to Runa,” Tarass said.

“Let me give her a hug first, she’s such a sweet thing,” Twilla said. “Nettle, bring her to me. These old bones ache too much for me to take another step.”

Nettle took Snow’s arm and walked her the few steps to Twilla, then stepped away.

Twilla hugged Snow and whispered in her ear. “Be careful, don’t provoke the Lord of Fire or you may release the devil himself.”

Snow forced a smile, the old woman’s warning words frightening and alarming her, but she didn’t want anyone to see that. James had warned her time and again about making the Lord of Fire angry.

“You don’t know what he’s capable of, Snow,” James would say.

Tarass had shown her some kindness so was he truly as formidable as so many warned? And did she want to take the chance and find out?

Tomorrow.

She would go home tomorrow and this all would be over.

Snow laid in bed unable to sleep, the day’s events churning in her mind. She felt a twinge of guilt when she had seen how concerned Tarass had been when he had taken her to Runa.

Runa had even commented when they had been alone for her to examine Snow’s wound that Lord Tarass had seemed so anxious she had worried that he would remain in her cottage to see the wound himself. Not a proper thing for him to do at all. Still tender to the touch, Runa assured her that the wound showed no signs of turning putrid. She had been glad to hear that since she couldn’t see the wound herself.

Thaw laid sound asleep at the bottom of the bed, having moved there when Snow had disturbed him with her twisting and turning. She wished sleep would capture her and hug her tight, ridding her of endless, frustrating thoughts.

It seemed like forever before her eyes finally grew heavy and sleep drifted over her, and she was plunged once again into a nightmare.

The snowfall blinded, Snow couldn’t see anything. She called out for Thaw, but he didn’t answer her. She took a step and heard the snow crunch beneath her boots. She kept taking cautious steps one after the other, yet felt as if she remained in the same place since nothing changed around her.