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Chapter 12

       The closer we got to the mountain, the more distant Terif became. His silent, brooding, stares at nothing in particular grew twice as long, his strong shoulders never seemed to ease out of the stiffness that had fallen over them, and he barely said a word- Not that that was anything new. His strong features never seemed to drop that emotionless mask, but every once in a while it would slip and I could see the anxiousness he tried to hide.

       He was worried about something, incredibly so. And it was really starting to freak me out. I had never seen him act so uncertain before.

       "What's wrong?" I asked softly as we stood side-by-side at the railing of the small merchant ship, the air cold as ice as we watched the frozen water give way under the heavy weight of the boat. He drummed his strong fingers against the wooden rail.

       "There is nothing wrong. I am just ready to get off this ship." His gruff voice growled as his bright golden eyes scanned through the thick, icy fog surrounding us. I knew his wolf-gaze could see through the white mist clearly, as if it were never there to begin with. Sadly, I could not.

       "Is spending time with me that bad?" I asked with a soft laugh, just to ease the tension strumming through the large wolf-borne, but he only grunted in response.

       Oh.

       Maybe spending time with me was that bad.

       "I do not like spending much time away from the Mountain." I was surprised at the rather soft voice that passed his hard lips, but I didn't question him as I stared down at the icy water. "I am just anxious to be home."

       I bit my bottom lip and nodded beside him. Yes, I knew what he meant. I knew what that was like. I was beyond excited to be back in the North, but I wasn't sure if that was because of nostalgia, or the King waiting for our arrival. Besides, I was extremely ready for a warm bath. Besides some luke-warm water in a bucket, I hadn't been able to properly wash myself since the Lower Kingdom.

       "Land-ho!" A voice shouted from high up the ship's tall mast, and I barely had time to register the fact that the vessel's speed was slowing before Terif had turned and took off for our luggage. Alright then.

       "The snow will be falling harder the higher up the Mountain we travel." His dark voice growled as he slung his bag over his shoulder and reached down to grab ahold of mine. I wrapped the thick cloak tighter around me with a frown. Was he really going to carry both of those the entire time?

       "And the temperature will continue to drop."

       "Is it very cold in your kingdom?" My voice was soft as it passed my lips, my breath leaving my body as warm steam in the freezing air.

       That was more-or-less a rather ridiculous question. This was the North, it was going to be cold regardless of where we went. But I never spent a true winter on the mountain before, I had no idea how freezing the snow could truly be. His bright golden eyes slanted over to mine.

       "On the outskirts, yes. But the King has a central heating system underground that pumps warm air throughout the lower village. Besides," He growled as he stood near the ramp of the boat and waited for the ship to dock. "We are wolves. We were born to withstand the winter."

       I let out a small sigh and rolled my eyes. And there was that superiority complex I was so starting to miss. I honestly envied how proud he was of his kind, of their wolven-nature. It made me yearn for that kind of loyalty and pride in something.

       It wasn't long before ship pull into the almost deserted sea-side town, and my eyes widened when the white fog almost instantly cleared. How odd. Besides a thick floor of snow and ice, the streets were completely deserted. No sign of life or warmth in the entire town. I frowned as the ramp of the ship descended. Was everyone hiding in the safety and warmth of their homes?

       Terif gave a few 'goodbyes' and 'thank yous' to some of the crew members before disembarking with both of our bags clutched tightly in his grasp. I sighed and shook my head before falling slowly after him. For someone who seemed so worried to be returning, he sure was in a hurry.

       "Watch your step, my lady." His voice was still that dark grumble of a growl as he dropped his bag just in time to reach out and stop me from slipping on a thin patch of ice that had accumulated at the base of the ramp. I gave him a grateful smile as his large hand practically picked me up and helped me over the short ledge.

       He let out an irritated sigh when he let go of my arm and reached down for his bag once again. "Try to step where I step, otherwise you will be falling on your ass the whole way up the Mountain."

       I frowned at the brisk tone in his voice, but didn't bother replying as I followed his large figure away from the white fog rolling off the freezing ocean. Something was obviously bothering him- something more than just homesickness. He was concerned about something, and I had an inkling feeling that it involved the King.

       I hoped I didn't actually get him in trouble.

       It wasn't long before we were traveling away from the little sea-side village and up the snow-trotted path of the Mountain, not even an animal in sight. I breathed in the fresh, freezing air and let out a content sigh. I was happy to be back on the Mountain, back in the snow, happy to go see the King- if that nervous excitement brewing in my chest was anything to go by.

       Just as Terif had said, the snow and sleet seemed to faller harder from the sky with each forward step we took, and I had to stop on more than a few occasions to catch my breath and blow warm air into my freezing hands. Terif didn't bother hiding how much my little stops aggravated him.

       "We will have to stop here for the night." He growled on an irritated sigh when we reached a little clearing not even half-way up the mountain. The snow was started to fall too heavily for me to see through, and the damp cold had started to creep into my cloak. I shivered and sucked in deep, freezing breaths as I sat slowly down on my trunk.

       "R-Really? We're not even half-way up the Mountain yet." It's not that I wasn't thankful for the long-awaited break, I just figured he would have wanted to go nonstop until we reached his home- no matter how disastrously freezing it became.

       He snarled and flashed those golden-eyes at me before dropping his bag to the ground. "No, and we won't ever be if we keep going at your ridiculous pace." He snapped before turning around and heading for the thick patch of trees surrounding us. "I'm going to find wood for a fire." His voice was a hard snarl as he snapped over his shoulder before disappearing into the snow and ice-covered trees without so much as a glance back.

       I frowned and huddled further into my cloak in a desperate search for warmth. And here I was thinking we were actually being friendly to one another now. I let out sigh and pressed my face into the warm fabric surrounding me. I just had to remind myself that he was nervous about something- anxious about something. Hopefully he would relax whenever we reached the kingdom.

       I jumped as the loud sound of crashing wood reached my ears and I lifted my head from the warm cloak to see the General crouching down low across from me, two fire-stones clutched tightly in his hands.

       "I thought you didn't need the warmth. Being a wolf-borne and all." I murmured sardonically, if only to get a different reaction out of him. I was starting to miss his taunting, sarcastic amusement. His golden-eyes flickered up to me and narrowed before dropping back down to the two sparking stones he hit together.

       "I don't. This is for you." His voice had softened some-what, but it only caused my mouth to pull into a frown. I definitely did not miss how bipolar he usually was.

       The fire started quickly, despite the dampness of the wood, and he took a seat on the cold, snowy, ground across from me. I curled my knees to my chest and rested my heavy head against them. Night had not fallen yet, but the sky was still dark from the blizzard billowing down the mountain, and my body was cold and drained. I was growing ridiculously tired.

       "I am sorry for snapping at you." Terif's deep voice came out as a soft grumble over the crackling fire. I raised my head and blinked over at him, but his golden gaze stayed locked on the flickering flames.

       "It's okay." I mumbled softly as I pulled the hood of the cloak over my head and curled my knees tighter to my chest. The heat from the fire slowly melted the snow surrounding us, but did little to stop the large flakes falling from the side.

       He was quiet again as I leaned against the cold log behind me and felt my heavy eyes begin to close. "Get some rest, Lady Emrie. I will not allow you to stop as much as you have been tomorrow."

       I let out a distressed sigh before rolling my eyes behind closed lids. Oh joy.

-&-

       I had woken up covered in a thin layer of snow and ice. The fire had long since died, and I was positive the only reason I had not frozen to death during the brutally freezing night was because of the large wolf that had curled up at my side. Terif's dark fur had tickled my nose, but I didn't care as I pressed myself into the warmth of his back.

       I wasn't sure how long I had been sleeping, but all I could remember was shivering and groaning at the impossible cold until his large, animal body curled up at my side. I had latched onto him like a new born cub.

       The wolf clutched under my fingers tips was still besides the steady rise and fall of his chest, and I pressed my chilly face into his soft fur as he let out a loud snort. His breath turning to steam in the freezing air. I pulled away and let out a tired yawn. He snarled.

       "Good morning." I mumbled with a sigh as I pulled slowly away from the warm body and rubbed the sleep from my face. The wolf rolled to his front and shook the snow from his thick brown fur with a low growl before standing tall on all fours.

       I blinked up at him with wide eyes. No matter how many wolf-bornes I have, or will ever see- I will never get over how large his kind were. His wolf seemed to grunt in greeting before he turned and disappeared between the thick trees. My gaze followed after him.

       Was I supposed to follow him?

       The large, human form of the General that I was actually used to walked back out of the trees a moment later, his hand tying his large cloak back around his shoulders. I gave him a sheepish smile.

       "Thank you-"

       "Don't mention it." He growled as he bent down and lifted his bag from the ground. I frowned before standing slowly to my feet.

       "But still-"

       "I'm serious, my lady. Don't."

       I frowned at the hard gruff in his tone, but snapped my mouth shut as he reached down and grabbed my bag off the floor. "Let's go. I would much rather sleep in my own bed tonight." He snarled before turning his back towards me and started up the path once again.

       I wrapped the cloak tighter around my chilly body before trying to hurry after him. Why couldn't he ever just accept a stupid thank you? I sighed and pulled the hood farther over my head. The long, warm, material worked wonders against the freezing cold.

       We hiked up the large, snow encrusted mountain in silence- for hours. The General seemed even more anxious than he had the day before, and his shoulders only seemed to tense with each passing hour. I had to bite my lip constantly to keep from asking what was wrong. He would only refuse to tell me anyway.

       We crossed his territory just before sunset, and I couldn't help but notice the small smile that pulled on his hard lips. He truly was happy to be back- although the tension in his shoulders did not ease.

       I wanted to stop and stare up at him in wonder. Seeing a genuine smile on the wolf-bornes face was such an oddity that I wanted to store it in my memory for every. But he was hurrying further up the mountain before I could. I was freezing anyway, the snow was falling as heavily as rain, and the cold had seeped past the cloak nearly an hour ago. I was more than ready for a nice, warm, fire.

       "I doubt the King will want us walking right through the village and into his castle." Terif finally spoke once the sharp peaks and terraces of Eirik's home came into view.

       My heart skipped in my chest. We were close, and getting closer with each passing step. I would see him tonight. I would see the King before the day was over, and my chest was suffocating my heart at the thought. I let out a shaky breath.

       "I'm sure my absence was noted, and I doubt walking through the town with a strange Underling will go unnoticed. We will have to enter through the tunnels beneath the castle." I wanted to frown at his words, but I found myself nodding anyway. No one knew about me, or that I even existed. The King wanted it that way. Besides, just being there was enough of a thrill for me.

       Unlike the last time I had traveled into Eirik's territory, there were guards patrolling a good mile away from the gates- but one nod from Terif had them scurrying on their way. They were bigger than any shifter I had ever seen, but the General and the King still towered over them. It was... interesting.

       I followed the large wolf-borne further into the dense trees of the snow-blanketed forest, and continued trudging through the thick cold until he pulled us to a stop at the base of a large rock formation. "I have informed the King of our arrival." Terif announced as we walked slowly up to the two soldiers standing guard over a large metal door.

       I frowned and blinked up at him in confusion. I had been with him since we left the ship, and I hadn't seen him use that black little stone that seemed to show the King since we were at sea. "But how-" His golden-eyes flashed and the look on his face was his usual 'don't bother asking because I won't answer' mask. I sighed and shook my head. Why did I even bother?

       "Delta General." The soldiers send in unison and bowed to the large wolf-borne standing a few steps ahead of me before they turned and motioned for the large door to open. I tried to hide my gasp as I gazed up in shock as the giant hunk of metal seemed to move on its own. Whoa.

       A dark tunnel appeared before us, one lit by large torches held high along its ceiling. I blinked up at the dim light. Who would have ever that something like this rested inside the mountain?

       Terif nodded his head at the guards before stepping into the large tunnel and gesturing me to follow. I did, slowly, and beamed up at the large rocks over head as I stepped past the guards. Their curious gazes followed us into the underground cavern, but they made no move to speak as we walked further away from them.

       I jumped and let out a small squeak when that large metal door closed loudly behind us. Terif chuckled. "That wasn't funny." I snapped and huddled further into my cloak as I glared at his large back. The snow could not reach us here, and despite the surprising warm air that wafted over us, I still felt a chill roll down my spine.

       "I find all your little surprised noises amusing."

       I could feel the familiar heat of embarrassment crawl up my neck and I huffed before grumpily keeping my mouth shut. I did not make surprised little noises. "Do the guards know about me?" I asked softly a few silent minutes later as we began to walk up a rather steep rise in the tunnel. Terif grunted.

       "No, only I and the other Generals know about you. But the guards are smart enough to not question any of us, or our motives. They will not speak of seeing an Underling to others."

       We were quiet again as we walked the rest of the lengthy tunnels to where-ever part of the castle he was taking me. I tried to pay attention to the many twists and turns of the dark corridors, but I ended up only confusing myself and giving up. These caverns were a labyrinth.

       I was just about to announce that I needed a break, my breathing hard in my chest and my legs screaming at me to stop, when Terif suddenly veered into a small side tunnel that was almost too narrow for his large body. My brows furrowed together, but I followed closely behind him. The small hallway led to an even smaller door, one he paused outside of before looking back at me.

       "You have a passion for talking and asking questions." The General spoke softly, his gold eyes flashing in the dim light as they gazed over at me. His jaw clenched. "Don't. Not unless the King says you can." I frowned at that, at the way his voice hardened as that emotionless mask he loved so much fell back into place. I could only nod.

       His hard eyes stayed locked on my gaze a moment more before he pushed the small door open and eased out onto a red carpeted hallway with bright lights hanging high above the ceiling. My breath caught in my throat as I followed slowly after him, my eyes wide in awe. The hallway was magnificent, and ten times taller than any building I had ever been in.

       Stone, and marble statues lined either side- their hard, dark scowls like proud armor as they gazed soullessly at one another. I tried not to flinch and hide behind Terif as the one beside me suddenly slid along the floor and hid the door we had just came from.

       "Wow..." I murmured into the large, deserted hall as the General began walking along the thick red carpet. I hurried to catch up to him.

       "Yes, it is very beautiful." He spoke lowly, his deep voice resonating around the marble statues and stone pillars surrounding us. I could only nod in agreement.

       "Where is everyone?" I asked a moment later as he turned a corner and lead me down a smaller, not as extravagant hall.

       "In their houses, or chambers. It is getting late, and the King does not like people wandering around at night during the heavy snow."

       Oh.

       I was too busy staring out the snow-encrusted windows lining the hall that I nearly bumped right into his large back when he suddenly stopped outside a large, dark, wooden door and dropped our bags to the floor. Loud, male, voices sounded through the heavy wood, but were too muffled to make out clearly. My heart thumped heavily in my chest. The King was on the other side of that door. I could practically feel it.

       I stared up at Terif as he gazed down at the silver handle, his shoulders stiff as his jaw clenched. The nervous, anxiousness from before was back in full force, and resting heavily on his wide shoulders. It tugged at my heart.

       "Terif-" I started softly, my hand reaching out to rest reassuringly on his arm, but he was opening the door and stepping inside before I could. My hand fell heavily to my side. He just refused to let anyone help him in anyway. It was aggravating.

       The room was rather big, with a large, stone fireplace lit at one end, and a grand, rectangular table stationed right in the center. Tall windows lined the far wall and it was easy to stare through them and out into the beautiful sight of the kingdom below. My eyes couldn't take in enough of the gorgeous sight.

       Six pairs of eyes turned to us from the table, and silence instantly fell over the room. My heart nearly stopped beating in the confines of my chest. "My lord." Terif bowed deeply in front of me, his large form bending at the waist as he spoke directly to the King- as if the other five were never there.

       The King of the North- who was staring over at me with eyes so lightning blue they make goosebumps rise to my flesh. My breath caught in my throat. This was so completely different than watching him as that blue apparition from the ship, or longing for him in my dreams. He was real now, we both were.

       Our eyes locked in that unwavering gaze we always seemed to share whenever we first saw one another, and all I could do was stand just inside of the room like a wide-eyed buffoon. Terif stayed bowed in front of me.

       "You are all dismissed." That voice that I had wished to hear for weeks spoke strongly through the large room, and sent an oddly pleasant shiver straight down my spine. His gaze still did not leave mine.

       The five very large, very quiet men sitting at the table with the King immediately stood and bowed their heads towards Eirik before heading for the door, all their gazes locked on mine and Terif's.

       "So, this is the famous Emrie."

       I jumped in surprise as my name passed from one of their lips, and my gaze finally tore from the King's so I could stare wide-eyed up at the light-haired man beaming down at me as he walked by. His dark green eyes glowing in amusement. A dark growl reverberated around the room, and sent another shiver down my spine when I realized it had come from the King.

       "Shut the fuck up, Eildor." Another man with dark hair and equally dark eyes growled before shoving the one who spoke out the door.

       The first man, Eildor, chuckled as I tried not to make it obvious that I cowered closer to Terif in slight fear. One General or the King I could handle, but having five insanely large, growling men surrounding me was going to making my head spin. I wouldn't have been surprised if I actually fainted.

       It wasn't until all five of the large wolf-bornes had left and closed the door behind them that I looked back up at the King. He was standing beside the table now, his blue eyes dark for once as his strong jaw clenched. "You may rise, General."

       Terif rose slowly from that uncomfortable looking bow, but remained passively quiet as I stood awkwardly to the side. The King's gaze was no longer locked on mine, and his attention seemed focused solely on Terif. I had no idea what to do. There was silence between the three of us, a painfully tense, hard silence until Terif began to walk forward.

       I stayed by the closed door silently, my eyes wide as I watched the two wolves. Whatever was happening, whatever was about to happen, felt like a private matter. I felt like I was intruding on something that I wasn't supposed to witness. And I was more-or-less right. I couldn't help the gasp that past my lips when Terif stopped barely a meter away from the King- and fell hard on his knees.

       "Forgive me, my King. I have failed you."

       The deep sorrow that filled the General's voice tore at my chest as he hung his head low and looked down at the hard ground below him, his whole demeanor completely miserable. My heart broke at the sight. But the King didn't seem to care.

       He stood motionless across from Terif, the hard expression on his face unwavering as he stared down at his General. His thick arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his large body leaning casually against the edge of the table as his blue eyes sparked dangerously.

       I felt my lips pull into a frown. What was going on-

       "I will graciously accept any punishment you deem fit-"

       "W-What? No, No!" I heard my voice suddenly stammer as I took a small a hurried step forward, my hesitation over the awkwardness quickly fading. Terif's shoulder stiffened, and the small growl that escaped his lips let me know how unwanted I was at that moment- but I didn't care.

       The King's blue eyes snapped to mine and my heart fluttered at the dark look shining back at me.

       "He- He didn't do anything wrong-"

       "He allowed you to be hurt."

       I wasn't ready to hear that dark, beautiful voice directed at me, and despite the fact that there was no anger in it, my breath caught in my throat. The tension in Terif's shoulders disappeared before they sagged even more than before.

       This is what he has been beating himself up over? Worrying about what the King would do to him because I had been hurt? No, that wasn't right. He didn't do anything wrong!

       "No, he didn't. He saved me. Me and my friend! I was lucky to escape with just a bump on my head-"

       "My lady." Terif suddenly snapped, his head raising just enough to shoot that hard, golden gaze at me in clear warning. Shut up. Or at least, that's what I thought he was trying to tell me. I bit down hard on my bottom lip as he King's lightning eyes flared dangerously.

       Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

       "Just a bump on the head..." I didn't know how to feel when he suddenly leaned off the table and walked around the large throne-like-chair, those words heavy as he rolled them around his tongue. But I knew that hollow, sinking feeling in my chest when he wouldn't look at me again wasn't good.

       "My Lord-" Terif started again, but could barely finish speaking before the King cut him off.

       "The West Wing is hers, General. Take her there."

       My chest closed painfully around my heart. T-That was it? That was all I would get to say to him? Get to spend time with him? Had my words really angered him that much? I tried to swallow the painful knot that suddenly rose in my throat, and focused my gaze on a surprised Terif as he rose slowly back to his feet.

       "But North-"

       "Now."

       My breath caught in my throat when Terif gave him a small bow before turning towards me, his golden eyes practically murderous. I gulped and took a step back as he stalked towards. The King stood silently by the table the entire time, his blue eyes locked on something outside the window as he faced away from us. My heart ached at the sight.

       I don't know why I expected anything different. He made it quite obvious before that he didn't know what to do with me, and now that I practically talked back to him- he was probably regretting ever telling the General to bring me here. I chewed hard on my bottom lip to get my mind off the painful grip tightening around my chest.

       "After you." Terif growled as he held the door open for me, and didn't bother adding the 'my lady' part. He was really mad. I cast one more sad, pathetic glance back at the stoic king before walking back into the hall. The large wolf-borne followed after me, and slammed the door. I flinched.

       "General-" I tried to start as he bent down and picked my bag of the floor, but he was already stalking down the hall and away from me before I could speak. I frowned and hurried after him.

       "You can't really be angry at me." I spoke against the tense silence surrounding us as he led me up a step of marble steps and down another looking extravagant hall. He didn't answer, he didn't even growl or snarl!

       "You were practically begging him to punish you over something you couldn't control!" I finally shouted at his ridiculously large back in aggravation as he continued to stalk angrily down the hall.

       "I hit my head, so what?! People hit their heads all the time! It's nothing to feel responsible over-"

       "You don't fucking get it!" Terif suddenly snapped and turned on me with such a furious anger in his gold eyes that it actually made me take a step back in fear. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes widened at anger in his, but his gaze did not soften- if anything, he only grew angrier.

       "You didn't just 'hit your head', the back of your skull was cracked open and broken. You were bleeding out onto the street, and I couldn't stop it. You were literally dying. And I had to- I had to..." He couldn't finish speaking. His eyes were turning an odd black and his whole body began to tremble in that way it did before he shifted.

       My mouth fell open in horror, and I could only stare up at him in shock as his large body shook. My skull had been- been broken? He saved me from dying? Why hadn't he told me that?!

       He let out a shuttering breath and closed his dark eyes before leaning a heavy hand against the wall at his side. "You had almost died, Emrie. And that is my fault. I will undertake whatever punishment North deems suitable."

       "Terif, no-"

       "These are your chambers." His gruff growl interrupted me and leaned off the wall to nod to a decent sized door across from us. "I must return back to the King. I'm sure he would want you to make yourself at home."

       He dropped my bag in front of the door, and pushed past me before walking back down the hall without another word, or glance back. I could only stare after him, my own body shaking slightly. I had almost died- and I never knew. My skull had been cracked, broken.

       How in the hell did he save me?

-&-

SO I bet that wasn't the reaction for the King that everyone was expecting... But I hope you still enjoyed the chapter!

Shout out to my girl Swimmi79285 who helps me run the instgram page! And don't forget to check out my story Dark Seduction if you like steamy romances!