Tessa’s POV
The moment Erin and Seth returned after a couple of hours, I had left them with Sasha to head upstairs to my room for a shower.
Sasha had dozed off again after we had a long chat about what she had gone through and the fear she had felt in the woods claiming ‘the cold was the worse part‘ making me shiver.
I stepped into my room, and hovered towards the stack of books resting on the small desk by the window. I hadn’t noticed them before, too caught up in everything that had been going on.
Curious, I pulled one closer, flipping through the pages, but almost immediately, my heart sank. The text was obviously in Russian curvy letters and strange symbols that made no sense to me.
I let out a long, tired sigh, setting the book back down gently.
I missed reading. I missed getting caught up in another world away from my own.
I moved to gather fresh underwear, a towel, and a change of clothes, knowing Kane had been spending time with Kion and the others in Russia to finalise our next move for tomorrow.
I sank onto the edge of the bed for a second, running my fingers through my dirty hair, feeling the exhaustion settle deeper into my bones. The days blurred together at this point the war, planning, fear and moments like this, when I faced the quiet alone, I felt the
–
weight of everything pressing down on me all at once.
And then, just as I was about to close my eyes, the door creaked open.
Kane stepped inside, his presence filling the room instantly as a rustle of shopping bags clambered in with him.
The faint scent of pine and smoke clung to him from wherever he’d been. His eyes searched mine, and in them, I saw something I hadn’t seen in days a spark of something softer, lighter, like a promise?
–
“I have a surprise for you,” he said, voice low but steady as he attempted to hide whatever he had behind his back.
My curiosity sparked, but before I could ask, he raised a hand, a gentle warning not to interrupt him.
“Go take a shower,” he said, stepping closer. “Wash your hair. Get ready like you’re going somewhere special.”
I blinked, confusion knitting my brows. “Kane-*
“No questions,” he cut in with a smile that was both teasing and serious. “Just trust me.”
1/4
420
Chapter 123
I stared at him for a moment longer, trying to read the depths behind those dark eyes. There was something urgent in his tone something that told me this wasn’t just a simple errand or distraction.
Slowly, I nodded.
He reached out, brushing a soft strand of hair away from my face. “I’ll be waiting.”
I crossed the room to the bathroom as he watched me, the tiled floor cold beneath my bare feet.
Turning on the water, I let the warm spray wash over me, feeling the tension start to melt away with the heat. I closed my eyes, running my fingers through my damp hair with the apple scented shampoo, wondering what Kane’s surprise could be.
My heart fluttered at the thought…
For the first time in what felt like forever, hope crept in alongside the steam.
The water finally slowed, and I reached for the towel, wrapping it around myself as I stepped out of the shower. The bathroom mirror was fogged, my reflection hary and softened by steam. I blinked slowly, still trying to shake off the heavy weight of the day.
My fingers worked through the damp strands of hair, gently squeezing and pulling the excess water out before reaching for the blow dryer
Kane had thoughtfully left plugged in on the counter.
I turned it on, the low hum filling the quiet space. As I worked the dryer over my hair, warm air chasing away the chill, I let my mind
drift, wondering about Kane’s plans.
The thought of him- always so serious, so focused on survival and strategy- taking the time to arrange something special for me pulled
a smile from my lips.
Finished drying, I ran a brush through my hair, smoothing the strands until they fell neatly past my shoulders.
I took a slow breath, feeling a flutter of nervous excitement.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I blinked, and there it was- laid out across the edge of the bed in perfect, deliberate order- something I
hadn’t expected at all.
A gorgeous blue glittering dress.
I approached it, my jaw slack with surprise.
Soft fabric, satin and fitting, as I gasped gentle as soon as my fingers touched it.
It was the kind of dress that felt like it belonged in a different world- one of elegance and freedom, far away from the harsh realities we’d been living in lately.
2/4
22:28 Tue, Feb 3
Chapter 123
Beside it, carefully placed, were a pair of silver shoes. Sleek and classy heels, the kind I felt like I hadn’t had a chance to wear in years.
They seemed almost too delicate for the rough world I knew, but somehow, the thought of slipping them on made me feel hopeful and
alive.
Then there was the bag, a silver clutch to match, completing the outfit as fresh tears brimmed in my eyes….
Kane had thought this through, planned it, wanted to give me a moment to feel beautiful again.
My breath caught.
For the first time in a long while, I felt the stirring of something close to joy.
I folded my arms, staring down at the dress and shoes, and whispered softly, “Thank you so much, Kane.”
“Don’t thank me, put it on!” He encouraged, as I smiled and watched him turn to give me a second.
The quiet in the room wrapped around me as I began to change, the dress slipping over my skin like a promise that, despite everything, we still had moments like this- moments to hold onto.
The dress felt like a secret as I lifted it over my head, the soft fabric sliding down my body, fitting snugly around my waist and flowing
gently to just below my knees.
It hugged my curves in a way that felt unfamiliar but not uncomfortable- more like a quiet celebration of something I’d forgotten I could
still be.
I caught my reflection in the cracked mirror across the room. The dress softened the tiredness in my eyes, made me look like someone who still belonged to a life beyond fear and survival.
I slipped on the heels, fumbling with the clasps, before securing them and standing up.
“Okay…” I announced with a breath, as Kane slowly turned to face me, his usual stern expression melting away into something softer, in
awe.
His eyes swept over me slowly, lingering on the way the dress caught the light, on the way I stood a little taller.
“You look… fucking incredible,” he said, voice low but full of something I hadn’t heard in a long time- pride, admiration, something like
love.
Heat bloomed in my chest, and I smiled shyly, twisting a loose strand of hair around my finger.
“There’s something else, hold on…”
3/4
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
