They continued to travel for another day. Faris checked his compass and they continued heading West.
Aiko leaned into her mate, the last night felt like the best night of her life. After he satisfied her with his hand and mouth, Faris cleaned her up and snuggled with her all night, keeping her pressed to himself, wrapping his arms and legs around her as if he were a squid.
She had wished to touch him, too, but he instructed her to sleep,, and she wondered if he was not yet ready to share his body with her.
’One step at a time,’ she reminded herself before falling asleep.
"Your wolf is swift and quick, I would love to meet him someday." Aiko was watching from the window when Faris chased and killed that vampire
The innate hatred she carried for the vampire kind made it extra thrilling for her to watch her mate annihilate them—the pride for her mate rose several levels in her eyes.
"He is dying to meet you too. After we stop for the evening meal, maybe we can let our animals out and take a run in the forest," Faris suggested, guiding the carriage forward on the thin path. The snow was thickening in the area and it was becoming difficult to keep it going.
Aiko loved the idea and squeezed his arm in approval.
"We need to clear the path ahead, or we will be stuck; I think more snow is coming." Razial glanced at the skies; dark grey and gloomy clouds covered them like a blanket, predicting more snowfall.
Listening to Razial’s words, Cassandra poked her head out and called out to Faris so he could halt the carriage. Siroos confusedly watched her as she opened the carriage door and stepped out.
"I will clear the way but we might need to find shelter soon."
Siroos dismounted his horse and approached his mate.
"You shouldn’t be using your powers again. You already pushed your limits back in the village."
He could sense she hadn’t recovered fully and didn’t want his mate to be exhausted.
"I am fine, Siro. Don’t worry."
Lotus followed her sister out.
Cassandra moved and stepped ahead of the carriage, lifting her hands. She let her power gather until her hands glowed with this warm energy, turning it into a tidal wave. Cassandra let it flow through her hands and onto the path of fallen snow.
The white cotton-like ice began to melt away, sizzling, and evaporating instantly.
"Fascinating!" Aiko remarked in awe.
"That’s my SIL," Faris proudly answered.
Seeing how the brown pathway emerged like a snake between the blanched was quite a sight.
They watched and waited until the path was forged so they could move further.
Razial’s eyes longingly wandered towards Lotus. Wishing to catch a glimpse, she watched the path appearing with keen interest.
Now that he had gotten the taste of her skin, he couldn’t resist her.
Cassandra was exhausted. Sensing her tiredness Siroos gathered her up and took her back inside the carriage.
"No more usage of your powers. I know you want to help but you are exhausted. Sleep now," Siroos sternly passed his orders and turned to Lotus. "Keep an eye on her."
"Oh! I will give her some sleep potion so she can stay put if she won’t listen," Lotus nonchalantly said, putting her arms protectively around her sister.
Soon they began to move again. Cassandra fell asleep soon, trying to replenish her energy.
The CAFLRS continued for another day but the weather conditions worsened.
The girls woke up exhausted and cold when they halted again, it had gotten darker outside, the snow had begun to fall heavily, and the freezing wind whipped all around them making it impossible to move ahead.
Siroos jumped down from his horse and opened the carriage door.
"We can’t move any further, a storm is coming. We need to look for shelter," he explained.
Razial, Aiko and Faris joined them as the wind whipped all around. The snow was now bringing hail with it and it was difficult to even hear each other.
Razial proposed. "I have an idea. I can build an ice dome and we can reinforce it with a protection spell. We will be safe inside and can easily observe our surroundings too."
"That’s a great idea." Faris liked it.
"I can always portal us back and when the storm passes we can return," Aiko offered. It seemed like a great idea but then they wouldn’t be sure when the storm had passed and would have to check again and again.
"Let’s go with the idea of a dome. We can take the portal option if the storm doesn’t stop in the next few hours," Siroos said while keeping his arm around Cassandra to keep her warm. She was still exhausted.
"Staying here will save us time but if the storm continues there’s no point in all of you staying trapped here. See for a few hours and if it will continue, I will advise all of you to return and get some rest. I can stay here and borrow Lotus’s ring to call you people when the storm ends."
Razial’s words had weight. Siroos wanted Cassandra to get a good night’s sleep
The winds had picked up and howled like angry spirits as they took shelter under a sturdy tree. The horses neighed and Cassandra used her powers again to calm them down.
Razial stood in the centre as he raised his hands, letting his powers sprout. The air around them began to crystallise into one giant dome-shaped structure. The glass-like ice conjoined like puzzle pieces, forming a thick and insulating layer of ice all around them.
"Wow! This is so mesmerising to watch," Aiko exclaimed as Razial completely entombed them under the icy structure. Lotus stepped forward and stood by the commander’s side.
"Not bad," she commented without looking at him although she could sense his ravenous gaze on her. Letting her magic seep out Lotus reinforced the dome so the storm wouldn’t let it cave in.
Cassandra cast her spell so the air inside would be warm.
Aiko, Cassandra and Faris set up their makeshift beds while Siroos tied the horses to the tree they were sheltering under. Razail had also taken the tree under the dome.
They sat watching the storm for hours but it only worsened and now they were too cold and tired. Since the moon was blotted out, they used the lantern Ames and Tara had given them.
Cassandra was curled up in Siroos’s lap as his body heat kept her warm. Aiko snuggled with Faris. She had gone to sleep.
Razial and Lotus awkwardly sat close to each other but none of them was touching. Although both of them were dying inside to get their hands on each other.
Lotus unlike Cassandra and Aiko was fully awake and Razial wondered if she was too uncomfortable.
"You people should return to Dusartine for the night. There is no point in exhausting yourselves when we haven’t even entered Grimhollow. I will stay here and call you people back." Razial spoke again and the mutual consensus was reached.
Everyone wanted a hot bath and a warm bed to sleep in.