Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
When I’m done, I put all my things away, then peruse the sparse bookshelf. I spot a book about minotaur origins and scoop it up so I can settle on the bed with it. It soothes me, hearing the pages flip. Feeling the paper under the pads of my fingers.
I’m about halfway through the book and yawning when I hear a knock at the door.
I freeze. It must be nearing midnight by now. Who could that be?
I blink at the door a few times. Maybe Rynthea wants to ask me something. Or Algar needs a word. Or we’re about to be under attack again and they’re trying to warn me as quietly as possible.
I climb off the bed, fully alert now as I head to the door.
My eyes widen when I crack it open and see…
“Thane?” I whisper.
His buffers are gone, and he’s swapped his black tunic for a fresher one without sleeves. The muscles of his arms ripple under his warm, brown skin as he reaches up to scratch the back of his head. He’s not even wearing his mask. He looks…normal. Almost mortal, really.
“Is everything okay? Are we in trouble again?” I ask, ready to gather all my stuff and run if so. We can hide in the bunker again.
“Everything’s fine,” he says, holding a hand up to calm me.
“Oh.” I wrap my fingers around the edge of the door, opening it a bit wider. “Do you need something?”
His throat bobs up and down as he sighs. “I’m really not good with this sort of stuff.”
“What sort of stuff?” I ask, and it’s now that I notice one of his hands is hiding behind his back.
“I just came to give you this.” He brings his hand around and offers something wrapped in a white cloth. I grab it, open it a bit, and a flood of warmth rushes through me. I can’t help but smile when I see what he’s given me.
“Honey loaf?” I look back up at him, tears springing to my eyes.
“I, uh…I asked Penju right after dinner if they sold any in Winstoft. He said they did, so I rode there to grab a slice. That was the last one their bakery had.” He shrugs a shoulder. “I thought it might cheer you up a little, since the maobi didn’t do the trick earlier.”
A soft laugh escapes me. “She helped a little.” I study the honey loaf again. It’s cold, but it looks soft and delicious. “You went all the way to Winstoft for this?”
“It wasn’t a long trek with Pearl.”
I smile even wider. “Aww, you just said her name. Someone’s getting attached.”
“Okay, don’t lose your mind over it.” He rubs the top of his head with a small smirk.
I step closer, taking his free hand in mine and squeezing it.
“This is really sweet, Thane.” Our eyes connect again. “Thank you.”
He seems coy all of a sudden—gaze drifting, features softening. He’s clearly not a man who receives lots of thank-yous. “Just making sure you’re, you know, okay and everything. We still have a long journey ahead. It won’t get any easier from here.”
“I know.” And yet I’m still committed, albeit terrified. I’m not giving up on Analla. I release his hand, studying the honey loaf again. “Do you think they’ll come back?” I murmur, lifting my head. “The people from the Grim.”
“I don’t know, but I’ve cast a few spells around the inn to protect us. I’ll know if someone approaches.”
“Okay.” I breathe a sigh of mild relief. “Good.”
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Zaira.” His face is serious again, determined. I can tell he means it.
“I sure hope not with all the coin I’m paying you,” I tease.
I expect a laugh, but he only stares at me a moment or two before nodding. “Get some rest,” he murmurs. “I’ll see you at first light.”
“Okay.”
I watch him drift through the hall. He stops at his door and is about to grab the handle, but he pauses. He turns his head, looking in my direction again. Looking at me.
I wave. “Good night.”
He opens his door. “Good night, Zaira.”
When he disappears inside, I close my door and press my back to it. As I look at the honey loaf again, a huge smile sweeps over my face.
I’m not even sure I can eat this with all the butterflies flapping around in my belly.
He went all the way to Winstoft for a single slice of sweet bread—and not just any sweet bread, one of my absolute favorites. He brought it by so he could check on me and see if I was okay. I might as well melt into a puddle of goo because that’s the sweetest thing a man has ever done for me.
I laugh softly as I break off a piece of the loaf and pop it into my mouth.