Chapter 40

Avery took the pan of dirty water out the back door of the kitchen. She carried it a few feet away from the door and threw it onto the frozen ground. She stared up at the dark sky.

The stars were out, shining brightly and the nearly-full moon was large in the sky. She turned around to go back in the house and gave a soft shriek of surprise.

Tristan was standing in front of her, staring silently at her.

“My lord?” She hesitated.

It had been three days since the party, and she’d hardly seen him and not spoken to him at all. There was something off about him tonight. He looked bigger and stronger, his shirt sleeves were straining at his arms, and his usual dark scruff was almost a full beard.

She took a step toward him. “Tristan?”

She placed her hand on his arm and let out another soft shriek when he whirled her around and shoved her against the side of the house. He put his hands on either side of her head and leaned in until he was almost, but not