Page 11 of Definitely Dead

All of which could wait.

“You’re cold.”

Everyone acclimated after a while, but he remembered how uncomfortable it had been in the beginning. It wasn’t a normal cold either. It didn’t cause goosebumps or turn breath into smoke. It didn’t freeze the water or fog the windows.

It was the kind of cold that burned, that burrowed beneath the skin and numbed the bones. The kind of cold that lingered in the soul long after the physical pain had passed.

“A little,” Sunne answered with an embarrassed grin that made his nose scrunch.

He didn’t have a coat or a blanket to offer, but he could provide him shelter and something warm to drink.

“Follow me.”

He wanted to take Sunne’s hand, maybe wrap an arm around him to shield him from the brutal cold. He did neither of those things. Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode down the alleyway.

By the gods, he had never felt so fucking inadequate. He would eviscerate anyone who dared to breathe wrong at his mate, but he couldn’t even give him a moment of gentleness. He had been trained for battle, for violence. No one had ever taught him how to love someone.

Love?

Damn, he was getting ahead of himself. They had met five minutes ago, and he didn’t even know the guy’s last name. In fact, he knew almost nothing about him. Just enough to realize that he didn’t deserve him, but he also couldn’t walk away.

“Hey, Tyr. It’s Tyr, right?” Footsteps padded behind him, scuffing the stones and scattering debris. “Wait up. Where are we going?”

“The diner.”

Cian always had a fire burning inside for newcomers, along with a warm smile and a hot cup of coffee. He figured Orrin would still be there as well, and the prince would be able to give Sunne what he couldn’t.

Answers.

Reassurance.

A spark of light in the darkness.

“There’s a diner here? For dead people? Do dead people eat? CanIeat?”

“Yes, you can eat.” Stepping out of the alley, he turned onto the main street, a smile playing over his lips. No one ever asked these types of questions. “The food is kind of terrible, though, so I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”

Sunne laughed, the sound smooth as honey and just as sweet. “Bummer. I guess I’ll have to give up my cinnamon roll addiction.”

“You like cinnamon rolls?” He would have to ask Helen about stocking them in the bakery. And whoever else he needed to talk to about getting the ingredients.

“More than like.” Sunne chuckled again. “It’s a bit of a problem, really. I—oh.”

Alerted by his gasp and the sound of his feet scraping across the road, Tyr turned just in time to catch him when he tripped over a loose stone and stumbled forward.

“Nice save.” He didn’t pull away immediately but tilted his head back, his eyes wide, and his cheeks a delicate shade of pink. “Thank you.”

Gods, the male felt amazing, a solid, comforting weight against his chest, and he fit so perfectly against him, like he had always belonged there. That close, he was even more beautiful, more radiant, and the scent of sun-kissed wildflowers poured off him, filling Tyr’s head and invading his senses.

The fragrance brought to mind the fields he’d played in as a child. Of warm days and misty nights on the fjords. Of a place he hadn’t seen in centuries.

It reminded him of…home.

“Let’s get you somewhere warm.”

Though he looked like he wanted to say something, after a moment, Sunne bit his bottom lip and nodded. He still didn’t pull away, though. Instead, he stayed pressed to Tyr’s side as they navigated the twisted street to the diner.

Whether for warmth, comfort, or something else, he didn’t know, but he wasn’t about to question it. Not when it felt so damn right.

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