Erik had asked me to meet him there. One of the pashmina wraps from the clothing chest was draped across the back of the vanity chair, so I snatched it up on my way out, draping it over the straps of the black cotton dress I was wearing. It wasn't like I got cold anymore, but I was pretty sure there were bruises developing on my arms. If Erik saw that, he'd flip out, and Leif was already making everything into a big scene. The last thing I wanted was some sort of confrontation between the two of them. It would only mean more gossip, more black looks from the jotun. As I slipped out the door and started down the hallway, footsteps echoing in the wide, open space, I wished I'd found a sweater with a hood so I could pull it over my face. It would have been comforting not to be recognized. Hopefully I wouldn't run into anyone on the way there. As if triggered by this thought, I heard the faint echo of footsteps from around the corner. Pulling the pashmina tighter around my shoulders, I straightened my back.
