Return of the Crowned Heiress

With a place to stay, Felicia helped Stephan sit down and gather more dry branches. After all, the mountains were full of them.

He wasn't idle either. Though he didn't have a lighter, he had a small folding knife. She watched as his slender, deft fingers struck the blade a few times, producing sparks. She handed him a bundle of fluffy grass. A few tries later, the sparks caught, and a small flame began to grow.

Felicia smiled. "I'll leave this to you and go get more branches."

It was still hours until dawn, and their small pile of branches wouldn't last nearly that long.

Stephan stopped her. "No need. You keep the fire going; I'll gather more."

But she didn't listen, replying as she walked out, "You're injured, so rest. I'll gather some more, then I'll check your wounds."

Though he hadn't said a word of complaint, she could tell he was badly hurt.

She went back and forth several times, shivering as the cold night air hit her wet clothes, which clung to her even tighter. She sneezed a few times, her head feeling a bit dizzy. Thankfully, the branches she brought back were enough to keep the fire going for a while.

She placed the branches beside the fire, closed the hut's door, and sat across from Stephan. On this bitterly cold night, only the fire offered any warmth.

there was a new problem-how would they

clothes until

to have the same thought, turning away from her with a

he had no interest in

Under normal circumstances, she

have teased him, but right now, she was too cold to joke She figured he felt the same. The fire provided minimal warmth, and she

off her damp clothes, wrung them out, and placed them near the fire.

a few flips, the clothes

et vel.

She put them back on relieved that

He stayed still, with his

sighed. "Okay, it's your turn to warm

But he didn't move.

"Mr. Russell?"