WINTER

The next morning, after taking a long bath and getting dressed, I went downstairs into the hall and found Valtor waiting there. He was already prepared, just as he had said the night before that he would escort me. My head throbbed painfully from the lack of proper sleep, but the moment my eyes found him, a smile tugged at my lips.

“Hey,” I greeted softly. “You’re already ready.”

I walked up to him, and without a word, his arms slid around my waist, pulling me flush ...