Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

C larice watched the crowd. Despite Niklaus’s plan, many of them still looked scared and nervous. A mother pulled her children closer, while an elderly couple gripped each other’s hands. A shopkeeper Clarice recognized from her walks through the village stared at the ground, twisting his hands together.

This was supposed to be a time of celebration, not fear. The decorations for the Wintertide festival hung limply in the still air, their cheerful colors a stark contrast to the nervous mood that had settled over the square. The ‘old ways’ might sustain them, but for how long? Even in the short time she’d spent here, she’d seen how deeply the village relied on power for everything from heating to food preservation.

She pressed closer to Rudi, seeking his warmth and strength. Glancing up, she noticed the shadows under his eyes from their long journey, the way his shoulders drooped with exhaustion. But something else caught her attention—his antlers had begun to emit a soft, steady glow, barely noticeable in the morning light. The glow seemed to pulse gently, like a heartbeat made of light.

As she watched the subtle illumination dance across his antlers, she remembered the heating crystal in the cave, how it had responded to his energy during his fight with the ice beast.

Her heart pounded as she stepped forward again. She lifted her chin, channeling every ounce of confidence she could muster.

“The old ways are not all we have,” she said, her voice ringing out across the square. “Rudi can recharge crystals.”

The words hung in the air like frost. She turned back towards him, seeing the shock register on his face. Behind her, whispers rippled through the crowd—some curious, others dismissive.

Blitzer’s harsh laugh cut through the murmurs. He stepped forward, his lip curled in a sneer that made her stomach clench.

“You think he can save us?” His voice dripped with contempt as he gestured dismissively at Rudi. “He’s a freak who doesn’t belong here.”

Some villagers shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze, while others nodded along with Blitzer’s assessment.

Her cheeks burned with anger at their quick dismissal, at how easily they fell back into old patterns. But she refused to let Blitzer’s cruel words shake her conviction. She stretched out her hand toward Rudi, her palm upturned in silent invitation. Their eyes met and she poured all her faith, all her love into that single look.

He stepped forward, his head high, his gaze never leaving Blitzer’s sneering face.

“Call me a freak if you like,” he said quietly. “But I can recharge the crystals. I’ve done it before.”

His voice was steady, but she could hear the pain behind his words, the years of being taunted and ostracized. She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it tightly. His grip tightened on hers in response, and she could see the gratitude in his eyes as he looked at her. She squeezed his hand gently before releasing it to retrieve the power unit that controlled the village’s festive decorations.

The metal was cold against her skin as she lifted it carefully. Tiny crystals winked inside the casing, their glow dim and weak. She placed it in Rudi’s hands, letting her fingers brush against his as she did so.

The villagers pressed closer, their breath visible in the frigid air. Even Blitzer watched with narrowed eyes, his earlier sneer replaced by a flicker of hesitation.

Seconds ticked by. The unit remained dark in Rudi’s trembling hands. He turned to her, his eyes wide with panic and desperation. Her heart ached at the fear she saw there, the terror of failing in front of everyone who had ever doubted him. She couldn’t bear to see him tormented by the weight of everyone’s expectations. She went to him, close enough that the warmth of his body enveloped her despite the bitter cold.

“I believe in you, Rudi,” she whispered, her voice meant only for him. The rest of the world fell away – the watching villagers, Blitzer’s sneering presence, even the biting wind – until there was nothing but the two of them. “I know you can do it.” Her hand found his cheek, thumb stroking the soft texture of his skin. “I love you.”

She rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. In that kiss, she poured everything she felt for him – her trust, her faith, her complete and utter belief in his strength. She felt him trembling beneath her touch, felt the moment he began to respond.

A collective gasp from the crowd made her pull back. His antlers had burst into brilliant light, more radiant than she’d ever seen them. The light intensified until she had to squint against its brilliance. Her heart raced as she watched the crystals in his hands mirror that radiance, pulsing with energy that seemed to flow directly from him. Suddenly, the decorative lights strung throughout the village square flickered and blazed to life, casting warm, colorful patterns across the snow.

The massive tree at the center of the square lit up next, each crystal ornament catching and reflecting the light until it shone like a beacon against the dark winter sky. Colors danced across the gathered faces—red, blue, green, and gold—transforming the tense scene into something magical. As if by unspoken agreement, the villagers began to sing, their voices joining together in a chorus that echoed through the square. Her heart soared, tears pricking her eyes at the sight of her mate providing the light and energy for the festival.

And yet, the crystals’ brightness paled in comparison to the joy shining from Rudi’s face. He stood tall and proud, the glow of the crystals reflected in his eyes as he watched their vibrant dance. His expression held a mixture of awe and wonder as if he couldn’t quite believe what he’d achieved. She squeezed his arm, and he looked at her, his eyes bright with emotion.

“You did it,” she whispered.

He smiled then, not the hesitant, half-hidden smile she’d grown used to but a full, beaming grin that made his whole face light up. The sight of it made her heart skip a beat and she knew in that moment that everything had been worth it.

Rudi handed the unit back to her, his hands trembling slightly from the effort of maintaining such intense energy. He sagged against her, his strength waning after the exertion but the crystals in the unit remained bright.

“Come on,” she said gently, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Let’s go home.”

Together, they made their way through the crowd, the villagers parting to let them pass, their expressions filled with gratitude and newfound respect.

“Thank you, Rudi,” Miran said again as they passed.

Rudi nodded wearily but didn’t speak. She could feel him leaning on her more heavily now, his body drained from using his power. But she didn’t mind. She was so proud of him and what he’d done for the village, for her.

As they entered the cabin, the fokuso woke up and stuck its nose out of her pocket, chirping excitedly at the unfamiliar surroundings. She laughed and put it down to explore. Rudi gave it a weak smile, obviously still exhausted.

“Bed,” she ordered.

“Not without you.”

“I’ll feed the fokuso and be right there,” she promised, pointing him towards the bedroom.

He hesitated, then obeyed.

She put the kettle on, then quickly poured out a bowl of broth and a plate of dried meat. She put them down, along with a soft throw, smiling as the fokuso pounced on them, before making two mugs of tea, adding some healing herbs to Rudi’s.

She’d expected to find him asleep but he was sitting on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumped. She set the mug of tea down on the bedside table and knelt before him, taking his hands in hers.

“I’m too tired to take off my clothes,” he said ruefully.

“I think I can help with that.”

She slowly unfastened his shirt, sliding it back over his shoulder and letting her fingers linger on the soft suede of his skin. When she brushed across his mating marks, he shuddered.

“Stand up so I can take your pants off,” she whispered.

He obeyed silently, and her breath caught as she pulled them down. He was fully erect, his long, thick cock jutting proudly from his body.

“I guess part of you isn’t tired,” she teased.

He laughed and tried to reach for her but she pushed him back down on the bed, dancing away long enough to strip out of her own clothes. He gazed hungrily at her bare breasts as she knelt next to him on the bed.

“Let me take care of you,” she said softly, tracing her hand down over the ridged muscles of his stomach to his cock. The heated velvet slid smoothly into her hand and he moaned at her touch. His hand reached for her, and she guided it between her legs, letting him feel her wetness.

He groaned, and his finger circled her clit, making her arch and shiver. But she refused to let him do any more, gently pushing him back on the bed and straddling his hips.

“You need to rest,” she reminded him.

She positioned herself over his cock, her body already slick and ready for him. She worked her way down over him until he filled her completely. She began to move, her hips rising and falling in a slow, languid rhythm that sent waves of sensation coursing through her body. His big hand stroked her breasts as she rode him, his thumbs gently teasing her nipples. She arched into his touch, her breath catching as the pleasure intensified.

He gazed up at her, his eyes filled with love and desire as she moved, and she couldn’t resist reaching out to touch his antlers, now just a faint glow. She caressed them, feeling his cock jump inside her in response. A shudder went through him, and she felt her own body responding, tightening around his shaft as he groaned.

“Come for me,” he whispered. “Please.”

His eyes never leaving hers, his thumb circled her clit, sending sparks of pleasure racing through her. She gasped, her back arching as the tension built inside her. Her hips picked up the pace, riding him harder, faster, until she felt like a wild thing, chasing her climax with abandon. He held her gaze, his eyes locked on hers as their bodies came together in a desperate, frenzied rush.

He was so close, she could see it in the tension of his body, the way his muscles bunched and coiled beneath her. But he was holding back, waiting for her. Her hips moved faster, her body tightening around him as he continued stroking her clit.

With a sudden intensity that made her gasp, the pleasure crested and broke over her in a wave of heat, leaving her trembling and breathless as she rode out her orgasm. He followed her almost immediately, his hips bucking upwards as he spilled inside her with a groan. She collapsed on his broad chest, their bodies still joined as they basked in the afterglow. They fell asleep like that, entwined together, the sound of the winter wind outside a gentle lullaby as they drifted off.