Page 64 of Knot A Trace: Part Two

“Food first,” Landon adds, as if reading my mind. “Then we’ll talk.”

He cocks an eyebrow slightly, as if daring me to argue with him.

“Fine,” I huff. “Cereal is fine.”

He smirks. “I know for a fact you don’t like cereal,” he says, leaning against my kitchen island with his arms crossed.

I gape at him. “Is that so? And what makes you say that?” I demand, embarrassed he called me on my bluff.

He cocks his head slightly. “Because the only box of cereal you had was unopened and expired a year ago.”

I huff and roll my eyes.

“Don’t lie to me, Miss Bloom,” he says, amused. “You know I can always tell.”

Damn him.

But it’s hard to argue when Landon gifts me one of his dimpled smiles, and I cave in and request an omelet.

I was hungrier than I thought.

Landon sits a respectable distance from me, watching from the opposite end of the couch as I enjoy the best breakfast I’ve ever had. He sips his coffee, eyeing me with a pleased little grin on his face.

“You’re so full of yourself,” I say in between bites.

“I can’t help if I’m a perfectionist,” he quips. “I have no interest in giving you anything but the best.”

I freeze, and he notices.

“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he sighs. “That’s not my intention. I’ll stop saying those things, if you’d like.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s not that,” I whisper. “I’m still not used to all this. You, River, and Vincent.” I motion to the soft blanket wrapped around me. “The little things you’ve done to make me feel safe and welcomed. It’s overwhelming, and it can be hard for me to accept after everything.”

He nods and looks away, his gaze focusing on the coffee table in front of us. “When you…disappeared,” he says stiffly, “something shifted in me, permanently. As if my very existence is now tied to you.”

I stare at him, dumbfounded.

That only happens with a mating bite.

Doesn’t it?

“And I know that might be strange to hear, since we’re not bonded,” he adds, “but...there’s a pull to you that I can’t ignore. So, the bare minimum to me is making you a simple breakfast or providing you with a soft nesting blanket.”

I blink.

“And I’m sorry,” he continues before I can say anything, “that I couldn’t find you sooner.” His voice cracks and he turns to me, guilt in his expression. “It was something simple that I overlooked. I could have…I should have?—”

“Landon. Don’t,” I say, my voice wavering.

“Regardless, it will never happen again,” he says solemnly. “I swear to you, Skylar.”

I don’t realize I’m crying until I can feel the tears drip down my cheeks. “You can’t promise that,” I say.

But Landon shakes his head. “I can, and I will,” he vows, his voice low. “If anyone tries to hurt you again, they won’t succeed.”

It’s not that I don’t believe him.

But after everything that’s happened, I’m not sure he should make that promise.

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