Page 10 of Eclipse of Fate
“I see that,” I deadpan. Turning from the wreckage he’s created of the pantry, I begin pulling the pots and pans needed to create a stew and some biscuits. Trent watches me as he tosses grapes into his mouth, winking occasionally and receiving an eye-roll in return every time he does.
I feel like I’ve known him my whole life, even though we just met today. He has that energy about him. His face was battered to shit not but a few hours ago, and now he is winking and laughing as though nothing happened. It makes me wonder what the inner thoughts are like in that head of his…but I'm not going to cross that line. I can’t. Regardless of how he seems on the outside, I know that he must be bleeding internally from everything that's happened recently. Some people just grieve differently.
“I’m not going to cook this meal all by myself. You need to come help.” His eyes bug, brows shooting to his hairline as he looks around the room. It’s as though I’m talking to someone else, bringing a laugh to bubble up in my chest. “I’m talking to you, big guy.”
“I told you—I don’t know how to cook,” Redness tints his cheeks at the confession.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were serious. Um, well, I can teach you the basics. I assume you know your way around a knife.”
“Of course I do.” He scoffs, puffing up his chest. I press my lips together, trying not to laugh and break his ego. I can still sense the pain from what happened with him and his brother permeating the air. Still, I won’t drop my barriers out of respect for his privacy.
“Good. You can chop these.” I lay a bundle of carrots down on the counter, and he looks at them like they grew legs and are made of rotten flesh. “Please tell me you know what a carrot is.” That earns me a laugh as he fixes his face, picks up a spear, and takes a bite out of it. I smack him on his large bicep. “I said chop, not chomp.” He chuckles, flinching out of my reach as I move to swat at him again and eats the rest of the carrot. Honestly, I don’t understand how he could still be hungry after eating as much as he already has.
He pulls a large black hunting knife out of its sheath—the blade nearly black with filth, and I lift my brow at him. He notices my gaze.
“What?”
“You going to clean that?” He looks down at the blade positioned to chop the carrot.
“Judging by the look on your face, I guess I’m supposed to…” He quirks a brow, then his tongue juts out, and he bites down on it playfully. “I’m only kidding. You should see your face.”
Shaking my head, I begin chopping potatoes. I fill the biggest pot with fresh water that was just brought in and begin to let it heat over the fire. I can feel Trent’s eyes on me the whole time I’m moving around the kitchen. Every time I chance a glance at him under my lashes, he quickly averts his gaze. The pain I’ve felt radiating off of him has lessened a substantial amount since we have been in the kitchen.
Even though Ma has told me so many times to keep out of people's thoughts because only trouble comes from being in places we shouldn't be… Something about him has me so curious. It gets me in its clutches, and I can't help it. I open myself up to his thoughts.
My head snaps to him when I get nothing. Not even the sparkle of magic, like when I hit a barrier. My brow furrows as I continue to gawk at Trent. When he turns around, his eyes widen.
“Can I help you?” He smirks.
“I—no, I just… it’s nothing.”
“It doesn't look like nothing… It looks like you want something from me.” His smirk widens to a full smile, and he wiggles his eyebrows. I can’t help the laugh that bursts from my lips, and I respond by whipping him with the towel I had over my shoulder. He catches the towel, using it to pull me close, and he hooks his long arm around my waist. This earns an embarrassing screech from me, and when he tickles at my sides, I break. We’re both laughing hard when the door that leads to the garden bursts open and a very naked, very filthy blonde walks in.
Her lips part when she sees us, her eyes glossing with moisture. Hurt slams into my senses, but it’s quickly replaced with anger. Red hot, fury.
“Kait! Holy shit, where have you been?” Trent and I stand upright, but Trent’s hand lingers at my hip, and as I try to peel his fingers from my body, the female in front of us tracks the motion with her narrowed eyes. They snap up to meet mine, and I get a clear shot of her thoughts since I have my barriers down from trying to read Trent.
“Who the hell is this bitch, and why the fuck are Trent’s hands all over her? Does he not even care that Melani just fucking DIED?”Her anger overwhelms me, and I slam the barriers back up. Trent finally steps away, reading the tension in her body, and approaches Kait. With his hands up in surrender, he speaks softly to her.
“Hey, beautiful, I know you've been in your wolf form for awhile and it takes some time for you to think clearly after you shift for so long… Do you want to go take a bath? Get some clean clothes? You’re kinda—naked.” He chuckles, but he’s so soft-spoken I hardly hear him at all. My eyes flick back and forth between the two. They are clearly an item. I can’t get a read on Trent, but the aggression I just heard from the female's thoughts, the possessive glint, and the hurt coming from her speaks volumes.
“I’ve got dinner. You guys do whatever you need to. Dinner will be done in an hour.” I say, picking up the discarded towel from the stone floor.
“Well isn't that justkindof you.” The female—Kait’s tone is condescending, and though I know she’s hurting, my inner bitch could care less, and I can’t help the words that flow so effortlessly off my tongue.
“If you’d rather eat with the dogs, I can throw some slop out back for you. Otherwise, lose the bitch fit and go take a bath; you fucking stink.” Trent’s eyes are saucers as he looks to me, then his head whips to Kait. When she takes a step toward me, he wrapsan arm around her shoulders, pulling her toward the hallway. Kait pins me with a death stare.
“Oookay, there has been enough fighting lately. Let’s get you cleaned up. She’s not wrong, Kait. You smell.” He narrows his eyes, but mirth plays at his lips as he looks over her head at me. I’m so confused by all of this. I swear he’s flirting with me with his girlfriend under his arm. Shaking my head, I take a deep breath and return to cooking. I need to just stay focused on the task of getting Raelle on the throne and ending all this bullshit in the kingdom. I don’t have time to deal with men. Especially men who have a rabid dog on a leash. I was only trying to be nice to someone who was hurting, and now I have that dog barking up my ass.Great.
Chapter nine
Dax has finally settledenough that I feel confident leaving him alone for the time being. Unease threatens to pull me into its embrace once again, though, as I walk through the opulent halls of the Loema castle. I need to check on Trent. Dax wasn't ready to face his brother. The Fae in the castle have finally settled for the night. Most have returned to their own chambers for dinner, but I’m headed to the infirmary. I’m not sure dinner would even sit well in my stomach right now.
Ginny rounds the corner before I reach the antechamber and halts my footsteps with a wide smile.
“Good Evening,” She bows her head before continuing, “Are you looking for Mr. Fornax-Ravendene?” She asks politely.
“Trent. Yes, do you know if he’s still in the infirmary?” Her smilewidens further.
