Chapter 1
The snow fell thick and slow, the kind that muffled the world into something softer, quieter. Lantern light glowed along the stone path leading to the outdoor hot springs, each step crunching beneath fresh powder. Steam rose in pale ghosts from the water, blurring the sharp edges of the mountain night.
Eira Nyström sank deeper into the pool, shoulders relaxing as the heat seeped into her bones. She had timed it carefully—late enough that most guests had retreated indoors, early enough that the water still felt private. Snow landed in her dark hair, melting instantly, tracing a cold line down her neck before the warmth erased it.
She closed her eyes.
This was her ritual. Storms. Heat. Silence.
The sound of footsteps broke it.
Eira stiffened, eyes still closed, telling herself it was just another guest. Resorts were full of them this time of year—couples chasing romance, families chasing tradition. She kept her expression neutral, calm, as she heard the low murmur of someone muttering under their breath, the scrape of boots being kicked off.
Then the air shifted.
Not physically. Something subtler. Heavier.
Eira opened her eyes just as the woman stepped into view.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dark hair pulled back loosely, already damp at the ends from the steam. Confidence radiated off her in a way that felt careless, almost aggressive, like she took up space because she could. Her robe hung open at the collar, skin already flushed from the cold.
Their eyes met.
The woman froze.
Recognition slammed into Eira’s chest so hard it stole her breath.
Oh.
Of all the places. Of all the nights.
Alva Lindström stared at her like she’d walked into a memory she’d tried very hard to forget.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Snow continued to fall. Steam curled between them like a living thing, obscuring and revealing in turns.
Alva was the first to recover.
A slow smile tugged at her mouth—not warm, not friendly. Sharp. Assessing.
“Well,” she drawled, voice low and rich, carrying easily over the water. “This is awkward.”
Eira straightened, lifting her chin. “You’re blocking the steps.”
Alva’s eyebrow arched. “Still polite. Guess she didn’t break that.”
The jab landed exactly where it was meant to.
Eira’s fingers tightened against the stone edge of the pool. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Alva laughed softly as she stepped closer, stopping just at the edge of the water. “Of course you don’t.”
She shrugged out of her robe without ceremony. Eira’s gaze betrayed her, flicking over bare shoulders, the confident line of Alva’s body, the faint scar tracing one collarbone. Alva noticed. Of course she did.
“Relax,” Alva said, smirking. “We’ve both seen worse.”
Eira’s lips thinned. “Some of us prefer discretion.”
“And some of us prefer honesty.” Alva stepped into the water, heat hissing around her skin as she descended opposite Eira. “Guess that’s why neither of us kept her.”
There it was.
Eira inhaled slowly through her nose. “You don’t get to talk about her like that.”
Alva leaned back, arms draped along the stone, utterly at ease. “Funny. She said the same thing about you.”
The words were sharp, but there was something else threaded through them—curiosity, maybe. Or satisfaction.
Eira met her gaze steadily. “How long did you last?”
Alva blinked, then laughed outright. “Wow. Straight for the throat.”
“You brought her up.”
“Fair.” Alva tilted her head, considering. “Six months.”
Eira’s expression didn’t change. “Eight.”
Alva clicked her tongue. “Damn. Guess you win.”
“This isn’t a competition.”
“No?” Alva’s eyes flicked over Eira again, slow, deliberate. “Could’ve fooled me.”
The steam clung to Eira’s lashes, warmth flushing her cheeks in a way she resented. “I don’t see why you’re still here.”
Alva shrugged. “Because the water’s hot. The view’s nice.” Her gaze lingered pointedly. “And it’d be rude to leave.”
Eira snorted despite herself. “You were never concerned with rudeness.”
“That hurt.” Alva pressed a hand to her chest, mock wounded. “I’m wounded.”
“Good.”
Silence fell again, heavier this time. Snow continued its slow descent, flakes landing on bare skin only to vanish. The mountain loomed around them, dark and indifferent.
Eira became painfully aware of Alva’s presence—the heat of her body through the water, the way her confidence seemed to bend the space between them. She hated it. Hated how familiar it felt, how easily her pulse betrayed her.
“You always look like you’re judging people,” Alva said suddenly.
Eira frowned. “Excuse me?”
“Like that.” she gestured vaguely. “That calm face. Like you’re already disappointed.”
“And you always look like you’re waiting for a fight.”
Alva grinned. “Takes one to know one.”
Eira shook her head, turning away slightly, gaze drifting to the dark treeline beyond the pool. “You should enjoy your soak. I’m sure there are plenty of other places you’d rather be.”
“Are you dismissing me?” Alva sounded amused.
“I’m suggesting.”
Alva watched her for a long moment. Something in her expression softened—not kindness, exactly, but interest. “You know,” she said quietly, “she hated that you never got angry.”
Eira’s jaw tightened. “And she hated that you always did.”
“Guess we covered all her issues between us.”
Their eyes met again, and this time the air between them felt charged, humming beneath the steam. Eira noticed the flecks of gold in Alva’s eyes, the way her smile lingered even when she wasn’t speaking. Alva noticed the elegance in Eira’s posture, the quiet strength that refused to bend.
Opposites, Eira thought with a flash of irritation.
Dangerous ones.
Alva stood first, water streaming down her skin as she climbed out. She grabbed her robe, pausing just long enough to glance back.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening, Eira.”
Eira stiffened at the sound of her name. “Goodnight, Alva.”
Alva’s smile widened, something unreadable flickering behind it. “Merry Christmas.”
She disappeared into the snow, leaving ripples in the water and a silence that felt far too loud.
Eira sank back against the stone, heart pounding despite herself.
Of all the places.
Of all the women.
And somewhere beyond the steam and falling snow, the storm was only just beginning.
