Frost Bite

Chapter Thirteen.

Blythe.

I met Alister's eyes from across the Courtyard, my own turning from blue to black then back to blue once I blinked. He grew uneasy, rolling his shoulders to stop their muscles from tensing as I stood perfectly still, not bothering with a fighting stands. I could feel my wolf scratching at my mind, wanting to be set free and for the first time since the fight with the previous Commander, I let go of the chains binding her. My eyes turned completely black and a slow, sadistic grin crept its way onto my lips. In the blink of an eye we stood in front of Alister, less than a foot away. He stumbled back a step then raised his fist, aiming for my chest. She danced around him, moving faster than humanly possible until she was stood with her back pressed up against his, her head tilted back and starring up at the sky "You know-." she began, her tone slightly deeper than mine with a growl to her voice. Alister turned, his movements faster than Griff's but much slower than my wolf's. He lifted his elbow to strike her in head while he moved but she sighed heavily, bending to duck underneath his elbow then came back up to wrap her hand around his throat. She tightened her hold when his hands hurried to grip at her wrist and arm, attempting to pull it away but getting nowhere. She was stronger "I wasn't done talking yet" she scolded him, leaning in so that her nose almost brushed up against his, his face starting to turn red from the lack of oxygen. She smiled at the sight of him trying to struggle underneath her grip, desperate and afraid. His eyes shot down to her mouth where our canines had extended to nearly twice their normal size "As I was going to say before I got so rudely interrupted-." she said, tightening her hold on his neck and causing a strangled, gurgling sound to come from his lips. Saliva ran down from his lips to his chin as his eyes frantically searched for a way out. She leaned in closer, eyes narrowing onto his facial features as if to study them "If you had just kept our mouth shut you wouldn't have ended up in this situation" she bit out past clenched teeth then let go of his throat. He reared back, his head tossed towards the sky as he gripped at his neck, coughing loudly and wheezing to catch his breath as the color returned to his face. She turned way from him to glance over the others, their bodies tensing as she watched them. I pulled her back down into the depths of my mind, eyes once again glowing blue "Let this be a lesson to you all!" I called out, my voice higher and without a growl, canines slowly starting to retract along with my claw. Alister was hunched over, spit dripping from his mouth onto the snow as he tried to get his breathing back under control "Being a Knight of the Royal Guard means being equal to the man who stands beside you" they glanced at each other, tall men, shorter men, muscular and slender all locking eyes for a split second as I turned, gazing down at Alister with pity in my eyes. He was so obsessed with his nobility that he saw himself as a god compared to his fellow Knights "Noble, commoner, you all hold the same responsibility of protecting the Capital" my eyes shifted to the crowd beyond Alister where Griff was watching with his lips slightly parted and eyes wide with not fear but admiration. I moved around the nobleman, my movements slow and calculated like those of a predator stalking its prey "Therefor you will respect each other, you will work together as one" I stopped behind Alister's hunched form and raised my leg, placing my foot firmly against his rear "Or else there is no place for you here!" I kicked, sending him toppling over, face first into the snow, causing a loud roar of laughter to come from the people who stood around the Courtyard, observing. Aron chuckled from the side lines, a grin plastered across his cracked lips as he met my eyes with his single eye. I patted Alister's back as he coughed, sitting on his knees in the snow and leaned down close to his ear "Your sword, Sir" his head whirled around to look at me with wide, fearful, angry eyes. I smiled then headed for where he had left his blade leaning against the stone, castle wall. I took it in hand "No, please no!" the world around us fell silent as everyone watched me, heading towards him with his own sword that I unsheathed as I approached him, Dropping the sheath in the snow by my feet to point the tip of his blade at the center of his chest "I, Blythe Redwood, Ninth Commander of the Royal Guard now relieve you of your title as a Knight" I stuck his sword into the snow in front of him then turned to address Griff while the nobleman yelled out threats from behind me, telling me that I would be sorry and that he would get me back for his humiliation. I motioned for a few Knights to take him away, dragging him off as he continued to curse my name. I ignored him, his treats meaning nothing to me and turned my attention onto the commoner's son "Meet me in the forest West of here, tonight" with that I headed over to assess the rest of the Knights, letting each of them take a swing at me without bothering to let my wolf take control. Only one man managed to land a blow, he had the name of Row and was a man around Aron's age with a braided, white beard and a rough face that made him look as if he wanted to devour your soul. He was an experienced fighter and also happened to be Griff's uncle which gave me hope that the younger man could become a skilled fighter like I envisioned him to be.

Nixtoni.

I had sent for her, one of my servant girls running off to go inform her of my summons. I felt enraged, the veins on my arms standing out against my tan skin as I gripped the edge of the desk I was leaning against. My eyes were narrowed and my jaw tightly clenched as I thought about her, an image of her in that gold and navy gown flickering before my eyes. The night before when she had entered the room with Nazaiha, the way her eyes seemed to search for someone in the crowd, the way the strands of her hair frames her face perfectly and how her lips were pert in concentration. I stood on the other side of the room, watching her as the blonde went on about her prized show horse that her Noble father had bought her for her eighteenth birthday a few years prior. I ignored her story when I caught sight of Blythe, her dress flowing around her as she moved, the light catching her eyes as my necklace dangled from her exposed neck. She moved in circles with Nazaiha leading her in the dance until her eyes landed on Zane, who stood perched on a balcony. Relief clouded her features at the sight of him but when Nazaiha whispered something to her and her eyes found mine in the crowd, she looked broken, almost as if her entire world had come crashing down around her then she collapsed. I made to head in her direction but the blonde, Claudia gripped my arm, her brown eyes starring at Blythe in horror "Oh my, perhaps her corset was wound too tightly" she was saying. It was a common known fact that women often fainted due to their corsets being strung too tightly but something told me that wasn't what had happened. I turned my attention back to the gathering crowd around her when a familiar voice yelled out "Blythe!" Zaniel was rushing to her side, pushing Nazaiha away to get to her then carried her off into the garden after having announced that she needed some air. I wanted to go after them, my body coursing with jealousy as I watched them go but the ball went on as normal and Claudia was telling me about the time when she had first traveled North from their mansion in the South. I was snapped out of my memory when the door to my bed chambers was opened and Blythe ushered in by one of the Knights that were standing guard outside. My head shot up, eyes roaming over her form as the door was shut behind her. She wore a large brown shirt that clearly belonged to a man and nothing else, her hair down in its usual straight style, reaching to just below her shoulders. Her legs were left exposed up to mid thigh and her one shoulder was exposed from the shirt being far too big for her "My King" she greeted, bowing her head in submission towards me as her hands curled at her sides. She had an air about her, one that told me she knew exactly why she had been summoned and wasn't about to let me tell her what to do. She wasn't afraid of me, of my title like most women were, she was far from the timid, safe nature that Claudia Bernet exhibited. She was wild, stubborn and to the point, much like Zaniel "Lady Redwood" I greeted in return, the image of her head resting on my chest as I fell asleep coming back to me. I had felt so calm and relaxed in that moment that I had actually fallen asleep and managed to oversleep. When I woke up, she wasn't there but her note was, one that left me with a sad smile at the thought of me having to find a fiance "I apologize but I cannot allow for Lord Aron to be moved into your quarters as requested" I added, pushing off the desk and turning to arrange the papers that were scattered across it. I wanted to made it sound final, as if there was no room for argument by turning my back to her but she didn't hesitate in her response, her voice coming out as with the tone of a leader laced into it "It wasn't a request-." my back muscles stiffened and my hands stilled on the papers. Who was this Blythe Redwood that I was speaking too? Was she someone of high ranking among her kind or was she simply a braver version of the wolf I had met before? "I was simply informing you of the actions that I would take with or without your approval" her tone was demanding, enough to cause my blood to start boiling. I slammed one hand down on the surface of my desk and turned to address her, teeth clenched and eyes narrowed, about to remind her that she was only a commoner before I had given her the title of Commander, to say that her life was mine to control and that at any moment I could have her killed for having stolen my mothers necklace but I froze when my eyes met hers and she spoke once more in a much gentler tone "You are to marry soon" there was something in the way her features darkened, her eyes filled with sorrow and her shoulder slightly drooped that made my heart ache and the anger melt from me. She was truly broken, in pain as those words escaped her lips, she was suffering as she stood before me trying her best to keep her composure "I will be marrying Lady Claudia Barnet of Dyrim within the week" her eyes seemed to lose their color when I had answered her silent question. She nodded, her head turning to the side to gaze at the bed where we had previously laid together. She knew that I wanted her for myself, she knew that she belonged to me but she also understood that we could never be husband and wife, King and Queen "Then-." she began, her lips parting ever so slightly as she continued to gaze down at the bed sheets "Let me be with Aron" her sad eyes moved to lock onto mine from across the room and I could see the silent plea hidden in them. This was a request, one that made my fists tremble at my sides at the thought of her being with that Huntsman, a man whom I considered an old friend "I will not-." she moved across the room, her feet dancing across the marble until she stood directly in front of me. Her sudden actions caused my words to die out in the back of my throat and my rage once more to be replaced with shock "Let commoners be with commoners, let Nobles be wed-." she was talking about us, referring to her and Aron as the commoners and to Claudia and I as Nobles. Her hand moved to rest on top of mine that was still curled on the desk as she continued "Let that be what the people see" her touch made my hand tingle with a need to touch her, to caress her curves and allow my fingertips to dance across her pale skin "And let us be together in the shadows-." she whispered as if she was afraid that someone would hear her. When her eyes met mine I could see the small glimmer of hope in them that made my green ones soften slightly "It will be our secret to keep" her suggestion registered in the back of my mind a few moments after she had said it. She wanted us to be with different people for the sake of the citizens of Vextin but to still be together in private, to have an affair of sorts behind the backs of the ones we would pretend to love in front of the people. My eyes lowered to her neck where my necklace would usually be but it wasn't there, it was gone, as if she was trying to hide the fact that she had any type of bond with me from those around her. I reached up with my free hand, brushing the back of it against her cheekbone until I could fully cup the side of her face. She was far more beautiful than Claudia could ever hope to be which made me fearful of Aron who would surely take advantage of her. Such a gorgeous young woman, faking interest in him would cause him to think he was worthy of her. I frowned at the thought of him touching her, of him kissing her but I sighed when I realized that there was no other way. I would be touching Claudia, giving her a child to bare that would hold the Royal name therefor I couldn't expect her not to touch him, it would be wrong of me to ban her from having such relations just because I wanted her for myself. I nodded my head, slowly then leaned down to place a peck to her lips, feeling my need for her grow with every passing second that she stood in front of me "I will allow for you to be with him-." I began, leaning my forehead against her to peer into her eyes. The fact that I had to marry a woman of nobility was weighing on her, causing dark circles to form underneath her eyes and her expressions to be almost exhausted "But you are mine and you always will be"

Blythe.

I left Aron with Fay, instructing her to retrieve a simple book from the castle Library for him to read. It would counter the boredom to an extent and in the process help strengthen his right eye. I had changed into Zane's black coat before leaving, heading in the direction of the Courtyard. It was dark and only a few torches flickered near the walls, giving off only the faintest of light. The darkness did little to bother me, my eyes able to see in the dead of night, landing on two figures that stood near the heart of the Yard, one older than the other by a few years, both dressed in brown fabrics and carrying swords. I knew from their scents that the taller of the two was Griff and that the older was Row "Commander" Row greeted, bowing his head when I approached. Griff lowered his torch to catch a glimpse of me in the orange light, his eyes slightly widening when he realized that it was in fact me "My Lady" he quickly corrected himself, clearing his throat before he spoke. I gazed up at his towering build, noticing that he was squinting more than what regular human's would in the dark. I reached for the torch he was clinging too, tearing it from his hand to toss into the snow, the light instantly snuffed out by the chill of the North. At first he staggered back, blinking in every direction as if trying to see while both Row and I stood silent, watching him "He has trouble seeing" I announced as I examined him, his forehead creased while he attempted to make out any shapes or figures in the dark. Row glanced at me, both hands resting on the hilt of his sword that was placed in front of him in the snow like a cane "He is partially blind" he confirmed, nodding his head. I could see my breath leaving me in a gust of white smoke. The world was lightly illuminated by the moon, giving Row the ability to see well enough once his eyes had adjusted however Griff was struggling, he looked like a frightened giant with no idea where he was or what he was doing, falling back on his rear in the snow. He couldn't see anything and could only make out shapes and figures during the day. For a moment I found myself wondering how he had become a Knight if he was so visually impaired, being able to fight an enemy in the dark was part of their training, part of what is expected of a Knight "Your sword, Sir Row" I said, holding my hand out to him. He looked at me in surprise then held the hilt out for me to take. I tossed the sword up to instead catch the blade, my right hand moving to untie the brown fabric that was placed there to protect the delicately decorated hilt. Once the cloth was in my hand, I handed his sword back to him and began advancing on Griff. His hearing was remarkable since his head shot up to look in my direction when I was around ten paces away, able to hear the soft padding of my feet in the snow long before he could see me. It was often the case that if a child was born with a disability, unable to see or hear that their other senses would grow increasingly heightened as they got older, a type of coping mechanism designed by the human body to ensure survival "Be still" I said when I was stood beside him, my hand moving to rest on his shoulder as I moved around him to stand behind him with the cloth. I folded the fabric a few times then tied it around his head, making sure to cover his eyes fully. He began to struggle but calmed at my voice nearby "You struggle to see" he stiffened under me, my hands moving to tie the material together as he sat frozen in the snow. He had been too caught up in trying to see to even hear Row and I's prior conversation regarding his eyesight. He swallowed hard, a fear overcoming him, one of being stripped of his title as a Knight "Therefor you must learn to use your other senses instead" I stood upright, moving around him with his head following me until I was stood directly in front of his fallen form in the snow. I had summoned him there to help him with his fighting but instead I had gotten far more than I had bargained for "Stand" I ordered and he did as told. His hands and legs moving until he was stood once again towering over me. He was big which meant clumsy but he was also as blind as a bat after nightfall. Row stood silently off to the side, watching on, an old soul, a Knight of many years "You're big, clumsy and blind" I informed, watching him flinch with every word I said. He was a gentle giant from the way my words effected him, a kind of heart, commoner boy who never stood a chance from birth but there he was, the title of Knight bestowed upon him. He was a hard worker, one who fought for what he wanted "But against the odds, you became a Knight-." his ears perked up when my words struck them. I turned to look at Row, the older male stood stark, his face expressionless and his eyes locked onto Griff with a stern but gentle gaze to them "And that in itself is a bloody miracle" I could see a small smile tug on Row's lips but as soon as it was there, it was gone. Griff's hands balled into fists at his sides, he felt angry and disappointed in himself at my words but when I looked back at him and parted my lips to speak, his shoulder straightened and he was filled with relief and determination "I will help you but it will take time, patients and hard work-." I was most likely the greatest fighter Griff had yet to see apart from his uncle which meant that he saw me as a goal for himself to reach "If you can show me that you will give it your all, tonight, then I will teach you how to be a proper Knight" within an instant he was down on one knee, his head bowed with one fist in the snow and the other draped across his knee. His form reached up to my torso when he was knelt, a giant of a man. His weakness of being big could also be used as an advantage on the battlefield "Yes, my Lady!" a smile grazed my lips, one I knew he couldn't see and was partially grateful for it. He would think that I enjoyed training him which I did but he didn't need to know that. He would one day make a great Knight and I was determined to see that day sometime in my future.

Aron.

By the time Blythe returned, I had managed to read enough to cause my head to ache and my eye to burn intensely. The pain in my arms, chest and face was beyond anything I had ever felt before. My left eye, or what remained of it, stung and there was most likely bruising around the wound from the sharp pain I would get whenever I would try to touch it. Moving my arms was much more difficult than I had expected it to be, even holding Blythe's hand managed to exhaust me let alone trying to hold my own cup to drink from. I was annoyed, frustrated and bored with nothing to do but stare at the room around me and sleep. The servant girl had heated some water for when Blythe would return, having long since left for the maids quarters when the she wolf finally came back. What must've been only an hour or two felt like it dragged on for decades. She greeted me with a warm smile and I informed her of the water. She moved over to the fireplace, slipping Zane's Royal coat from her shoulders and allowing it to drop to the floor. Her nude form captured me, my single eye locked on her as she moved, the orange light from both the fire and candles dancing across her smooth, scar free skin. It was a stark contrast to mine, littered with cuts and scrapes, holes and gashes that had long since healed but left their mark. She ran her hands through her silver hair, gripping it in her fist and tugging at it on the back of her head a few times before letting go. It fell around her features, a few strands catching on her bottom lip while she moved, her breasts slightly bouncing with every step. She turned her back to me once she reached the fireplace, the pot placed directly in front of it to keep it warm. Her body bent when she reached for the cloth that had been placed inside, wringing it out with her small hands as the light framed her lower half that was pointing directly at me. I could feel myself stir, my fingers twitching beside me at the thought of touching her but I knew I couldn't. I was trapped, forced to watch her, to want her but there was nothing I could do but lay there, observing. My silk trousers tightened around my legs when my groin began to harden, an uncomfortable sensation that I couldn't ease. She stood, running the cloth over her skin, turning to rub it down the side of her body, to her rear where she wet one cheek then the other. Again she bent, my head tilting back to gaze up at the ceiling as I clenched my teeth, fighting the urges that overcame me. She washed her arms, her long legs and finally ran the cloth between her thighs, tossing it back into the pot when she was done to go over to the closet, tugging the gown that hang from the door onto her frame. It was a short gown, made of fine fabrics that was a similar shade to her hair. It dipped low between her breasts, leaving behind enough cleavage to distract any man. She tied it around her waist and pulled her hair from its neckline in the back just as there was a knock on the door. Her head shot up in the direction, something flickering past her eyes, familiarity, confusion, fear and an emotion that made my urges for her start to calm down. Relief. She was relieved but only for a second before she approached the door and slowly creaked it open to reveal the last person I was hoping to see. Nixon strode into the room, dressed all in Royal attire, when she motioned for him to enter. He stood with his hands behind his back, first gazing at the room then at the pot, then at Blythe and what she was wearing. When she shut the door, his attention turned to me, propped up in the bed by feather pillows and blankets "My King" I greeted, bowing my head to show submission towards him. As much as I despised him, he was still my King and could have me killed if he ever felt like it. He moved across the room, quickly, abruptly and came to a halt at the foot of the bed, his face stern and giving off no emotion "Look at you, letting a bare get the better of you like this" he extended his hand out to me, palm facing upward. Blythe tucked a few hairs back behind her ear as she moved closer, her arms moving to cross over her chest. Nixtoni closed his hand then let out a round of laughter "I thought you were a Hunter" I cracked a smile at his playfully mocking tone. We had grown up together, fighting with wooden swords and fooling around in the castle Courtyard from early dawn to late dusk. I could remember him telling me of his first time with a woman, a boy of sixteen, young, naive and inexperienced. He had come to me, asking for help since I had grown up seeing and learning what women enjoyed. I had grown up too fast, living a cruel and poor life that Nixon could never possibly know "I killed it" I shot back. His face grew clouded, darker at my words. The Royal family crest was that of a white bear, a white bear that I had killed with my bare hands. It was obvious what the connotations behind my actions were. The bear was him and he stood in my way of Blythe, holding her affections to an extent "White bear fur is rare, I'm sure it will fetch a pretty penny" was his casual response. He turned to glance in the direction of the living room area, eyes flickering down to the floor beneath the coffee table "Unless, of course-." he began, motioning in the direction of the table "You would rather use it as a throw rug" my eye flickered over to Blythe. I was planning on having a dress or coat made for her with the fur. The white of it would look almost magical on her, against her pale skin with her blue eyes and silver hair. An ice princess of the North, wearing the Royal crest for a dress. It would make a nice gift to thank her for saving my life. Nixtoni followed my gaze, turning to look at Blythe before I spoke "Money and material things are of little value to me" I would sleep in the woods if I had to, hunt my own meals to eat, sell furs if I needed new clothes. A big room with a large tub and a feather mattress meant nothing to me and I was sure that Blythe felt the same, having spent most of her life in the forest, away from towns and villages, living off the bare minimum, stealing to buy or have only what is needed "I assume that includes your eye?" I couldn't help but chuckle at his joke while he pointed at his left eye. Blythe stayed silent, turning her head to glance off to the side at the corner of the room. Her shoulders pulled up slightly, as if to defend herself from things she didn't want to remember. An image of her tired face, weak and fragile came to mind, how she had pealed back my eyelid to take a look at my eye, only to vomit at the sight of it. Despite her exhaustion she still went on to cut it from its socket and stitched it up with her trembling hands "I have another" I joked, shrugging my shoulders as best I could in order to show her that it didn't bother me. Her eyes flickered over to my form and a small, sad smile grazed her lips for a brief moment. Nixon chuckled, moving around the bed to take a seat in the chair the servant girl had been seated in earlier. He cleared his throat "I suppose you are wondering why I am here?" he began. I stayed silent, only nodding my head as he leaned forward in his seat, his elbows propped up onto his knees as he shot a glance in Blythe's direction "Lady Redwood has requested for you to be permanently move into her quarters-." his words shocked me, just the fact that she had gone through the trouble to ask him for permission for me to move in with her was a clear sign that she cared for me. I looked down at the grey sheets, my fingers twitching "I am here to grant her request" both my head and Blythe's shot up to stare at him. I had thought he was interested in her, how could he grant such a thing if he wanted her for himself. My lips parted in question but before I could ask, he beat me to it, his hands folding together as he looked to the floor "It would appear that she has feelings for you and I am to marry within the week-." he met my eye, his face stern, eyes sad when he continued to speak, eyes refusing to move toward Blythe "I trust you will take care of her?" it was a King's request, a King almost pleading with me to protect and shield her from the cruelty of the world. I tried to sit up, to try and kneel before him but pain shot through my body, causing a strangled cry to come from my lips. Blythe moved to the foot of the bed "Aron!" she cried in a faint voice, her arms dropping from her chest to grip the sheets, pausing when I fell back into the pillows, breathing hard with a grin plastered across my lips. Relief clouded her features when she realized that I was grinning. I faced Nixtoni "I would kneel but I can't seem to move" he laughed at the sound of my ragged breathing through my nose and my shaky hands. My eye landed on Blythe. She was stood upright, her arms wound around her torso, hugging herself as she watched me with a mix of worry and fear "I swear on my life, before the goddess Athena, that I will protect her now and forever" her eyes softened at my words, filling with adoration as I turned to Nixon. He was looking at her with slightly narrowed eyes when I did. He smiled sadly at me then abruptly rose from his seat, pressing his palms into his knees as he stood "Well then, if you will excuse me, I have a fiance to entertain" he nodded in both mine and Blythe's direction then headed for the door, opening it and stepping out into the hallway. The door clicked shut behind him with Blythe watching him go, her arms dropping from her torso and to her sides. I wished with all my might that I could embrace her, hold her to my chest and whisper how much I cared about her into her ear. I longed to kiss her, those pink lips, so soft and alluring but all I could do was want, was long for what I knew she would give me if only I could move.

Author's Note:

Hello my lovely readers! This is as far as I have written Frost Bite. Unfortunately I will be finishing 'A Daughter's Love' before I continue working on this book. I absolutely love this story, I'm in love with Nixtoni, Aronis, Zaniel and Blythe as characters and because of that I will definitely finish this book later on. Please bare with me as I'm going to attempt to finish 'A Daughter's Love' in the next two to three months. 

Lots of love and werewolf hugs.