Ice Princess: The Winter Solstice Tribrid

Chapter 28

(Rian’s P.O.V)

After Morrigan mind linked me about an hour after she left for her run, I knew something was wrong and that she didn’t want to tell me. I didn’t think that it would be that she was attacked by a rogue, considering we typically don’t have a problem with them since we were the unofficial royal pack. I couldn’t help but be angry at her for not mind linking me right away, but I couldn’t help but be impressed with her magic and the fact that she could mind link the rogue in human form as well as in wolf form. I was carrying her back to our house in silence, too pissed off to speak without saying something I would regret. Stark wasn’t helping my anger either, his anger and mine were swirling together and it was clouding my mind. I knew Morrigan could feel it because I felt her trying to shrink back even though she was in my arms.

Try counting to 10, it’ll make you feel better.

I doubt that, considering it’s not just my anger. It’s yours too.

Well, she should have mind linked us when she felt someone following her instead of fighting the rogue herself.

Our conversation is interrupted by a mind link…from Morrigan.

You know that I can hear this conversation, right?

“Don’t get huffy with me, Morrigan. You know you should have mind linked me the moment you felt something was off.” I gritted out, trying to control my anger.

Morrigan whimpers, making it apparent that I wasn’t doing a very good job of that. We get back to the house and I get her upstairs to our bedroom, setting her gently on the bed. I walk back downstairs to get her some food and water; she would be hungry after that fight as well as exhausted. I fix her a simple triple-decker club sandwich with avocado and poured her a glass of iced water. Fixing an extra plate for myself, I go into the pantry next to the fridge and grab out two bags of chips for us. Grabbing a tray, I place our plates, water, and chips on it, carrying it upstairs to our room. I walk through the door, Morrigan still sitting on the bed in the same position put her down in.

“Eat. You must be hungry.” I say, putting the tray on the bed.

She grabs her plate and a bag of chips, eating slowly and eyeing me wearily in case I exploded at her. I grabbed my plate, and we ate our meal in awkward silence. By the time we were finished, it was about dinner time for the pack.

Morrigan cleared her throat and said, “Look, I know you’re mad Rian, but I didn’t have time to mind link you before the rogue attacked me. Mind linking you would have caused me to go blind for the few seconds it would have taken and that could have been the difference between my life and me dying.”

I sigh, “I know baby, I’m just upset that I wasn’t there to protect you. I really shouldn’t be mad at you, and in all honesty, I’m not. I’m mad at the situation. If that makes sense.”

“It does mo rí. I understand what you mean. Though I can confidently say that he wanted me dead, calling me an abomination.” She says with a shrug.

“Cormac and Killian are questioning him now to see what he says. Tomorrow when we get back from Eglarest, I’ll do my own questioning if they can’t get anything from him.”

“I’m nervous about tomorrow, and honestly, so is Winter.”

“What is there to be nervous about?” I question.

“I’m not sure, maybe it isn’t nervousness but anticipation? Like something BIG is happening tomorrow and I’m the center of it.” She murmurs, her eyebrows scrunching in thought.

“Well, the only way to know is to go there tomorrow. Though I’m not sure King Alstin will be all that warm and welcoming, he was rather rude on the phone.” I state, still slightly annoyed at the King.

“I know. Right now though, I just want to shower and go to bed. I’m exhausted.”

“Sorry love, no shower for you. Though, I am a very good nurse and can give you an extremely thorough sponge bath if you’d like.” I say seductively, waggling my eyebrows at her.

She couldn’t hold back her laughter and she doubled over, clutching her stomach from how hard she was laughing.

“I could always use some tender loving care from you, mo rí.” She giggles, with a slight wince from the pain in her shoulder.

With that, I get up off the bed, moving the tray and our dishes to the coffee table in the sitting area. Morrigan stands up from the bed and starts removing her clothes while I get a bowl, soap, towels, and warm water ready for her. I come out of the bathroom waiting for the water to get warm, putting a towel down on the bed.

“Lay down baby, I’ll be right back,” I murmur, kissing her forehead lightly.

“Make sure the water is Mordor hot love,” She calls to me as I walk away.

Mordor hot? What the hell does that mean?

It’s a human movie. Lord of the Rings and all that.

Wait, how the hell do you know that?

When you had a movie night with Cormac and Killian a few years ago, you guys were watching it. I stayed up and listened to it after you fell asleep.

Wow, my wolf is such a nerd!

I am not! I am a badass Alpha wolf!

Stark huffs in annoyance and lays down in the back of my mind, ignoring me. I make sure the water is to her specifications, whatever Mordor hot means, and I walk back out to the bedroom. I walk to her side of the bed and wet the rag, rubbing soap on it getting it nice and soapy for her. I start washing her uninjured side first, wanting to avoid causing her any more pain, her eyes close as she takes a deep breath.

“You okay baby?” I ask quietly making sure I’m not hurting her.

“It feels wonderful love.” She whispers back.

I continue with the rest of her body until it’s time to get to her injured side, she whimpers, and I can’t help flinching at the sound of her in pain. I’ve never been the loving type outside of aftercare when I’m finished with a scene, but I needed to do this, for her. I try to be as slow and gentle with my movements, again, something I’m not used to having to do. When she hisses as I pass over a few scrapes on her rib cage, I murmur apologies over and over again, truly feeling guilty that I caused her more pain.

“I’m almost done baby, I just need to get your back, and then I’m finished,” I murmur.

Using her right arm, I help her sit up and lean her against my body so that I can wash her back. There are a few scrapes but nothing too bad. She hisses out when I accidentally put too much pressure on one of her scrapes. I start to freak out on the inside, feeling like an asshole for that, while my outside remains calm.

“I’m so sorry baby, I didn’t mean to do that. I was about to lose my grip on the towel. I’m so sorry.” I whisper, trying to hold back the emotions running through me.

“It’s okay mo rí, I’m fine. It just stung a little, that’s all.” She whispers, kissing my shoulder through my shirt.

I’m supposed to be comforting her, but here she is trying to make me feel better about my mistake. I can’t help the small smile that plays on my lips thinking about the love I have for this woman.