Page 10 of Scales and Seduction

“You swear?” I press because this whirlwind of a day has entirely upended my life. If I can’t trust him, who can I even trust now?

Gideon’s smile slowly returns, sending a touch of heat through my chest. The slender fingers of his other hand come up to my cheek, hovering before he allows a brief touch with the backside of one of his knuckles. “I promise.” The way his eyes linger on me and the soft touch make my heart stutter.

We walk farther in comfortable silence, with Noodles bounding between us until the buzz of the town fades. The road slowly changes from concrete to a dry, dusty path hidden between a thick canopy of old, towering trees. The only sounds we hear are the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant tweet of birds.

Slowly, we grow closer to a small cottage that looks like it was plucked straight out of a fairytale. It has weathered gray stone walls with creeping ivy that grows bright pink flowers along it. There’s a chimney and a gnarled tree that stands beside it with its thick roots dipping into a babbling creek winding around the edges of the property. We have to cross a tiny wooden bridge before we make it to the yard, but from here the quaint cottage feels oddly comforting.

“You live here?” I tilt my head to take it all in. I spot the tree from his profile photo where he sat playing chess. It tugs a genuine smile from me to see something familiar.

“It’s a place I come to when I need a break,” Gideon replies quietly. “It’s private. I can fully be myself here.” The way his voice dips on the last bit sends a shiver up my spine, and I glance at him. There’s something raw there, something that feels unspoken.

I want to ask him why he can’t be himself, but the intensity of his gaze holds my tongue. That same slow, warm smilereturns, showing the edges of his fangs. I can’t pretend to understand what it’s like to be a prince.

“Besides,” he teases, “I assumed you would appreciate peace after today. Noodles too.”

Noodles has been so unlike himself since we came to this place. My surly, independent cat who’s known for his glares and grumpy meows has become so easygoing, making himself right at home at Silas’s like he belongs there. Even now, as he trails alongside us, he seems confident as he pauses here and there to sniff at a flower.

“It’s like he’s a different cat,” I mutter more to myself than Gideon.

He glances down at Noodles, his golden eyes softening as the cat investigates the base of one of the trees before hiking his leg up. “Maybe he feels at home here. Cats are very attuned to magic. It’s why, in your realm, humans worshiped cats or used them as familiars. They’re able to see between the realms.”

My gaze darts away, not wanting to see my cat piss all over the tree in this majestic forest. I hope he feels proud of himself for marking his territory and embarrassing me.

As we cross the small wooden bridge that connects one side of the creek to the other, I can see the porch of the house more clearly now. Its wooden beams have intricately carved patterns all over them, and there are lanterns hanging on either side of a brightly painted red door. On the left side of the porch is a collection of potted herbs arranged neatly on a small table. I can smell the faint scent of lavender and rosemary long before we climb the stairs.

I wonder if Gideon planted these himself. Being this secluded, maybe he enjoys gardening? The moment he swings open the door, allowing me inside, I’m surprised by the way the cottage looks. It’s not filled with expensive things but is a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort.

The walls are wooden panels that cross with the same wooden beams of the porch. There’s a large fireplace in the center of the living room, its mantel filled with little trinkets and candles. A rich hunter-green sofa sits in front of the hearth with a rich tan rug underneath it. There are large bookcases on each side of the fireplace filled with books and other little knickknacks.

“This is really cozy.” I hover to the side of the door as Gideon lets himself in with Noodles coming in right behind him. My cat heads automatically down a long hallway as if he owns the place, letting out a little chirp as he passes by my leg. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. He’s quite alright,” he says, smiling.

Gideon heads toward the kitchen, where brass pots and pans hang over the stove. This world feels like I’ve stepped into a fairytale filled with all the modern conveniences I’m used to. I haven’t quite figured out all the differences between our worlds yet, other than the one massive difference: monsters are real.

The longer the thoughts ruminate in my head, the more I feel like crying. I have to remain strong here. I have questions that need answers.

I need a place where I can be alone for a minute. I’ve had no time for myself since I woke up here. Right now, crying in front of this snake man feels too much. “Is there a bathroom?”

Gideon nods as his fingers brush over a cask of some sort of alcohol on a high shelf. “Yes, down the hall to the left of my bedroom.”

As I wander down the hall, my fingers graze the smooth wood of the walls. The cottage’s charm amazes me. It’s like something out of aBetter Homes and Gardensmagazine. Each step reveals more of Gideon’s world. His style is something between old vintage and modern. As I reach the bathroom, I notice the bedroom is across the hall. I can’t help but take a lookinside. After all, someone’s bedroom says a lot about who they are. I’m not snooping; I’m lost. At least that’s the lie I tell myself.

It’s like the forest outside crept indoors and made itself at home. The bed is massive, triple the size of a standard king, with carved wooden posts that twist up like vines with little leaves. The colors of all the bedding are burnt orange, hunter green, and a rich tan. The bed has more pillows on it than I can count.

In the corner, there’s a chess set on a table. The pieces are more snake people, carved from what looks like jade and quartz stone. It appears mid-game, like it was interrupted.

And then there is Noodles.

The little traitor lies happily sprawled across the bed, looking like a feline king. His paws stretch out at me as his green eyes lazily open to greet me.

“Well, I’m glad someone’s made themselves at home,” I whisper, making my way over to him to scratch under his neck. He purrs but barely moves when I speak to him.

I don’t think I’ve seen him this comfortable around someone else, and he seems perfectly content to be in this new place like he owns it. I guess that makes one of us. I’m still grasping at understanding why I’m here.

It’s strange to feel such a warm, inviting feeling when I think of her here and in my life. I’ve never wanted to make someone happy... not in this way. The feeling is all-consuming. An itch that needs to be scratched.

I hear Ruby in my bedroom instead of the bathroom and grin. I imagine her taking it all in by touching everything so lightly, afraid it might shatter under her fingers. Without thinking, I move for the room, leaning against the doorframe as she scratches her cat’s neck. In my hands, I hold two glasses of honey wine, made by Silas for his club. The faint smile that tugs at her lips as she pets that smug little bastard of hers drives me mad.

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