Page 82 of Stars in Mist

His mouth watered as he gazed out of the open window onto the vista and breathed in the freshness of dawn’s cool touch and the headiness of dew-drenched desert flowers.

This place could grow on you,he concluded as he stretched and headed to the living area.

He scratched his bare, hairy Galician chest as he did, getting more irritated at keeping up with the disguise.

Why were Galicians such a shaggy bunch? This shit is itchy,he grumbled to himself.

His feet were bare under his jumpsuit trews, so he made no noise as he approached the sunrise-drenched kitchen.

His silver angel stood by the stove, her hands in her shining hair, attempting to pin it up.

He slowed to a stop, his eyes narrowing as he spotted three more feathers at the back of her head.

Two more than she’d had all those many years ago.

He wondered what they signified in the Katánian world.

Despite being distracted by them, he couldn’t remember her looking so beautiful.

The desire to drag her away and make love to her was intense. He clenched his jaw to tamp down the need and folded his arms across his chest, waiting for her to notice him.

When she didn’t, he cleared his throat. ‘Good morning.’

She jumped for a second and turned, her gaze shifting to his chest. ‘Good morning.’

‘Slept well?’

‘Naam,’ Élisa said, distracted, her eye flitting around the room as she tried to concentrate on what she was doing. She dropped the hairpin she was holding, and it clattered to the floor.

He picked up the implement and placed it on the rock counter before leaning against it.

She kept her eyes flicking about, not meeting his gaze. ‘About last night -’

‘De nada. Don’t worry about it. We don’t have to discuss it. Let’s eat first, then perhaps go over the chores we must attempt today.’

She sighed in relief, and Riv rankled, not knowing whether to feel flattered she was choosing his true self or sore because she was rejecting Ribau.

His Galician bounty hunter wasn’t that bad, was he?

He made a note to ask her when he transformed into himself.

‘Please sit.’

He did as asked and settled at the table by the window while she served the food.

‘What’s for breakfast?’

‘Local green beans foraged from the desert bushes, fried in spices and more flatbread.’

His tummy growled in approval. ‘I see you like to keep it simple.’

She nodded. ‘It’s a healthy diet too. Good for sustenance and long life.’

She waved a hand at the plate and indicated that he should eat before moving away, but he didn’t. He kept his eyes on her, admiring how she moved around the kitchen.

She caught his gaze and smiled. ‘Go on, eat, everything will get cold.’

‘Yes, Mother.’

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