Chapter 3
Kindred spirit
3 months earlier
Ginna truly enjoyed riding, especially when the morning was as beautiful as this one. The first sunrays felt warm on her face, she smiled and glanced at the man riding beside her. She had run into him at the stables when she had been saddling a horse for a morning ride and he had insisted of accompanying her when he had learned that she was going by herself. He had been concerned of her safety. He looked just as serious as usual; there was no expression on his face.
Rebekah had named him "the ice prince", she said that he gave her the chills. Ginna hadn't really commented on that, she had no intention to tell anyone what she thought of Tristan de Martel. She was very much attracted to him; she had been ever since they had met. If she wasn't completely mistaken, he seemed to feel something for her too. He had often sought for her company, but there had always been other people around them. Excluding their encounter at the pond, this was the first time when they were alone.
"Lovely morning," she stated after a long silence.
"Yes, it is," he replied.
"You are very kind of accompanying me, my lord."
"Of course. As I said to you few days ago, you must pay more attention to your safety, my lady. There are all kinds of beasts out there."
"Yes," she murmured. "I know."
She knew a lot about beasts, she had learned that many years ago. Fortunately she didn't have to be afraid of them anymore. That was one good thing about her mother's spell.
"I am sure your father would also wish you to be more cautious," he continued.
"I doubt that," Ginna muttered before she managed to stop herself.
"You do? Why?"
Ginna bit her bottom lip.
"It's complicated, my lord. I do love my father and I believe he loved me, but…" She paused and sighed. "It's complicated."
"I see," Tristan replied. "And your mother?"
Ginna felt a sting in her heart when she thought about Esther.
"She has passed away."
"I am sorry."
"Thank you. How about your mother, my lord?"
She noticed that Tristan's expression tensed a little.
"She has also passed away."
"I am sorry for your loss."
"It was a long time ago," Tristan replied, his tone of voice was careless. That didn't hide the fact that he had loved his mother.
"My siblings hate our father," Ginna said. She really wasn't sure why she had just said that, she had certainly never talked about his family to anyone.
Tristan raised an eyebrow.
"Why is that?"
"They have every right I suppose," she murmured. "He was always a very harsh man."
"Hmm. But you do not hate him, my lady?"
Ginna bowed her head.
"No, I do not. I know I should, but… I guess I am a fool."
"I do not think so," Tristan replied.
"I believe you would if you would know everything, my lord."
Tristan was quiet for a brief moment before replying.
"Have your father ever hurt you?" he asked.
Ginna shook her head.
"No, he was always kind to me and I owe him a lot, but…"
"What do you mean you owe him a lot?"
Ginna hesitated; she had never talked about this to anyone, not even Elijah.
"Many winters ago he saved me from a man who was going to hurt me."
That young man had been a son of highly respected man in their village. He had asked Ginna to come and take a walk with him. She has had a crush on him and she had been young and naïve, so she had been foolish enough to agree. Things would have ended very badly if her father wouldn't have found her in time. Mikael had killed the boy without hesitation and Ginna had helped him to bury the body. It had been their secret ever since. Mikael had been even more protective of Ginna after that and he hadn't accepted any suitor who had tried to approach her. She hadn't had a problem with that, she had no desire to get married and become some beast's servant. Even though Mikael had killed Esther, Ginna couldn't bring herself to hate him.
"I hope your father killed this man," Tristan stated, he was clenching his fists.
"He did," Ginna replied.
"Good. I would have done the same."
Ginna couldn't help but smile.
"I am sure you mean you would have done that for your sister…"
"No, I mean I would kill any man who would try to hurt you, my lady."
Ginna looked at his callous face and saw that he meant what he said. It made her feel something she had never felt before. She stopped her horse and dismounted without saying a word. He followed her example. For a moment they simply looked at each other. Ginna didn't back away when he took a step towards her, she wasn't afraid of him. It wasn't because he wouldn't be able to hurt her even if he would want to. No, it was because no matter how harsh and cruel he was, she knew that he wouldn't hurt her. For some reason she felt safe with him.
A shiver raced up her spine when his fingers gently touched her cheek. His eyes were silently asking for her permission to continue. She gave him that permission with a smile and a nod. That was all he needed, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Her hands went on his chest and she tilted her head toward him with a gasp of surprise. Then he crashed his lips to hers. The kiss wasn't rough, but it had the strength and sureness of a man who knew what he wanted. No doubt he had kissed many women before her.
She was unable to react at first while her mind and body dealt with the shock of being so close to him, actually touching him for the first time. Slowly she started to enjoy all the new sensations. His lips felt warm and he tasted very good. She would have never expected to enjoy being so close to any man like this, but everything about him just felt right. He wrapped his arms around her waist, but his grip wasn't too tight or forceful. She had no idea how long their kiss lasted before he finally pulled away. When she looked into his gorgeous eyes she knew that she had found something many people dreamt of finding. Her kindred spirit.
