Alek paced outside the apartment nervously, hoping this all hadn’t been a mistake.

He cared for Talia immensely, and even though he hadn’t gotten any closer to figuring out what was bothering him, he wanted to take the next step in wooing her.

Wanted to give her the finest of everything. Wanted to make her his queen.

But how could he when he wasn’t king of anything?

Still, when she looked up at him with those sparkling brown eyes, he suddenly felt like he had all the magic in the world, even with his powers gone.

He pulled at the collar of the uncomfortable suit he was wearing. The man who sold it to him had insisted on tailoring it to fit perfectly. Alek had never felt anything like it and wasn’t sure he was sold on modern clothes if they made him feel this confined.

But when the door finally opened to reveal Talia, he forgot any discomfort at all.

If her outfit was the female match to what he was wearing, he’d wear them anytime at all.

She was stunning, but then she was always stunning. But tonight, she looked completely different from before. She was wearing a dress that hit just below her knees, baring perfect little calves and ankles tucked into little leather boots. The dress was red, showing off her olive complexion, and she had a little black jacket over it as well.

Her dress was cut low in the front, revealing generous cleavage, and Alek couldn’t resist a protective look around to make sure no one in the vicinity was watching.

Talia was for him alone.

How he would keep from being a jealous beast until they were safely alone in a quiet corner of the restaurant, he didn’t know.

It didn’t help that her dark curls were pulled back from her face and drawn into an elegant knot at the side of her neck so that her face was beautifully framed.

Her lips were full and glossy with red paint of some kind, and her cheeks held extra flush. Something glittered just above her eyelashes, making her gaze look bright.

She was a fully modern woman, and she completely had his heart.

He put out an arm for her, wondering if he was in a dream to wake up in another time and have someone so beautiful by his side.

All thoughts of being lord of winter seemed to vanish as he got to be just Alek who was in love with Talia.

She took his arm and walked down to the car he’d hired, a long, black one that Chelle had insisted would wow Talia.

The driver got out to open the door, and Alek tried not to glare at him as he made sure to be the one to hand Talia in. When he got in after her, he had to admit Chelle had a point about the vehicle. The seats were soft, and there was plenty of room to sit together and talk. He could even sit across from Talia, as he was now.

Watching her sitting there so beautiful, he felt something like trepidation. Something he was pretty sure he’d never felt in his days as lord of winter.

“You look amazing tonight,” he said, wondering why his throat was suddenly dry.

She laughed, the sound musical. “Thank you. I haven’t worn this since the dean’s banquet at my graduation. I’m glad you like it.” She flushed slightly. “You look handsome as well.”

He puffed up at that, making her smile. “I’m glad you think so. I’m beginning to think modern clothing isn’t so terrible after all.”

The rest of the ride was fairly quiet, and when they arrived at the restaurant, he prepared himself for her response.

From what he’d noticed, Talia was a fairly simple person who preferred her lab to fancy places. But he hoped that just for tonight, treating her like a princess would be okay.

She gasped as he handed her out of the vehicle, looking up at the fancy restaurant in front of them. “Oh God, did you pay for this?”

He wrinkled his brows in a scowl. “Of course. I’m the lord of winter. I provide for my woman.”

She smiled up at him. “You know, I’m not even mad when you do that anymore. It’s just so… you.”

Her acceptance caught him off guard, so he simply led her into the restaurant, tucking her hand into his. When they were seated at their table, he addressed her question properly. “I told you we had gold ore to sell.”

She sighed. “You shouldn’t have had to do that for me.”

“Why not?” he asked curiously. “You’ve done everything for me. Hosted me at your place. Taken care of my friends. Kept others from discovering me.” He played with his cuff nervously. “And besides… I like you.”

She blinked, looking up at him. “I like you, too. But you know my mentor will be coming back soon, and things will be changing.”

“I know,” he said, reaching over to take her hands. “And we’ll face that together. For now, I just want to enjoy tonight.”

“I agree,” she said, smiling at him as the waiter came over. “And I know you worked hard on this, so I’m just going to try and have fun. Not that it’s hard with my current company.”

Every compliment from her warmed him completely, and just seeing her there was enough to make him forget the events of the afternoon that had troubled his heart.

His mind returned to their time in the lab, the intimacy between him. His plans for later that night, if she should want more.

He swallowed awkwardly at the thought, glad when their food arrived.

It was delicious as always, and Talia told him about fascinating things she’d learned at the library. Myths from Siberia, things that didn’t apply to him but that she found interesting.

And he just loved listening to her. Could have listened to her witty thoughts and insights all day.

But when the food was gone and a romantic song came on, she simply rested back in her chair with a happy look on her face. “I want to thank you. This has been amazing.” She looked wistfully at the veranda across the restaurant where the music was coming from. “It’s such a beautiful night.”

He stood immediately, offering his arm. “Let’s go see more of it.”

She looked up in surprise as she stood. “Really?”

“Of course,” he said. “As the lord of winter, it’s my job to take care of my subjects.”

She nudged him in the ribs but then laughed, allowing him to lead her over to the balcony.

There was a large black instrument there that Talia called a piano, and she walked past it to the ornate stone railing and rested her hands there, swaying gently to the music.

Alek couldn’t resist coming up to her and wrapping both arms around her, trapping her in his warmth. She looked up at him, turning in his arms to face him, putting her hands around his neck, just barely able to reach.

He smiled and began to dance with her in small circles, both his hands on her waist.

It wasn’t anything fancy, but he’d seen it done on TV and wanted to do it with her. Wanted to hold her close and watch her hum in pleasure to the music.

“No one’s dancing,” she said with an embarrassed smile as he swung her out in a small circle before pulling her in again and catching one of her hands in his.

“We are,” Alek said. “That’s all that matters.”

She gasped and looked up, and Alek realized it was lightly snowing. He loved the look of the tiny sparkling crystals as they fell on her dark hair.

They melted instantly, as fleeting as each of these precious moments with Talia in his arms.

Hopefully, he’d have a lifetime full of them. Enough to cover a mountain, if each moment was a particle of snow.

She smiled up at him nervously. “I didn’t know you could dance.”

“I’m lord of winter. I can do anything,” he said sardonically. Though he knew it wasn’t technically true, at least right now, he felt that way in her arms.

Surely, at some point, he’d regain his powers. And everything between them would work out.

She came in closer, resting her head on his chest. “I don’t know how this is happening. I just can’t keep a clear head.”

“Me neither,” he said. “A few days ago, I wasn’t even aware I still existed. Everything was pitch black. Now I’m more alive than ever, and somehow it feels like this is my world. And yet…”

“Things are still uncertain,” she said quietly.

“Yes.”

Though, not his feelings for her or the way he knew he would fight to stay by her side no matter what his past revealed to him. He had awoken in this time and place for a purpose, and he hoped it was to make her happy for the rest of his life.

She was thoughtful and quiet for a moment, so he just rested his head on hers and swayed, enjoying the music.

Then he felt her hand on his cheek. Warm and soft and comforting. “I do want to know where this goes,” she said softly. “I’m not ready to let you go.”

“Me neither,” he said, spinning her out in another little twirl before replacing her hand on his arm as he swept back into the restaurant. “So I’m glad you said that, because I still have a few things planned.”

Her grin widened as he led her back to the table so he could pay the bill and take her to their next destination.

The night was only bound to get better, and it was already the best of his life.