It didn’t take long for Willow to let her know that her wound did well and would heal if she rested and didn’t do anything too strenuous.

It wasn’t long after that Willow had Snow in a nightdress and tucked in bed, Thaw curled up asleep beside her. “You will stay with me and Slatter until I deem you fit enough to return home. Unless, of course, you wish to reconsider my offer and remain here with Slatter and me. We both would love to have you live with us.”

Snow reached for her sister’s hand, Willow having sat beside her on the bed. “I appreciate it, but I think it best I stay at Macardle keep.”

“If you change your mind, you are welcome here any time,” Willow assured her. “Now tell me what brings so many tears to your eyes.”

Snow shook her head. “I don’t know. I suppose it’s everything. The ordeal of getting lost in the snowstorm, Finn being killed, having to stay with Tarass.”

It wasn’t lost on Willow that her sister didn’t address Lord Tarass accordingly.

“Was he insufferable as usual?” Willow asked.

“He rescued me. He put his own life in danger to rescue me and he saw me kept safe,” Snow said, not realizing she was shaking her head as if she was just comprehending what he had done. “Thaw even made some peace with him.”

Snow was thinking of how Thaw went to Tarass for help when she suffered a nightmare and she wondered what she would do if her nightmare returned, not having Tarass there to soothe her. But she didn’t say any of that to her sister.

“So he treated you well?” Willow asked.

“He did,” Snow said without hesitation and rubbed at the bump in the back of her head. “He even wrapped himself around me as I fell down the keep steps, saving me from suffering far worse than a bump to my head.”

“Who would have thought the Lord of Fire could be chivalrous,” Willow said.

“Maddening as well,” Snow said, but with a laugh and recalled the times he had ordered her about. Her smile was wiped away by a yawn.

“Your body tells you it is time to rest and heal,” Willow said and stood to help her sister stretch out beneath the blankets. “Nap and we will talk again later. You are safe now.”

Snow whispered as she snuggled under the blanket. “I was safe with Tarass.”

Willow closed the door quietly behind her and went in search of her husband. She almost bumped into him when she turned a curve on the staircase.

“I was just coming to see how your sister was,” Slatter said, taking his wife in his arms and planting more than a light kiss on her.

“You tempt me,” she accused with a laugh.