Page 57 of Feral Guardian
He closes his eyes. “Justbecause,princess.”
Ah, yes, that’s why I don’t ask him questions about where he comes from, or what his powers are, or anything. I never get an answer.
“I’m alwaysthe most important thing,” I mock in his voice. “But never important enough for you to tell me the truth.”
He slides one of the eggs onto a piece of cheesy toast, then holds it out to me. “It’s hot.”
“Thank you.” I take the bread and blow on it gently. “Where did you find the eggs?”
“I went to the market.”
I smile. “There’s a market nearby?”
He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his lip twitching.
“Oh, you,” I grumble. “You stole these from a nest, didn’t you?”
“That is the way of things for the rest of our journey, princess. We will have to steal eggs and kill demon bears.”
I take a bite of the stolen eggy cheese bread and my mood shifts immediately as the flavors sear across my tongue. I hum in delight at the rich, fatty cheese and sour bread. “Another masterpiece, Alastair. I didn’t know you were such a chef.”
“My mother liked to cook,” he says with a soft smile.
“Liked?” I ask with a wince.
He shakes his head, putting his breakfast together. “I’m sure she still enjoys it. I just haven’t spoken to her in a long while.”
“Why not?” I ask through another mouthful.
“Because.”
I growl. “Because why?”
“We have a lot to do today, if your magic is up to it,” he says.
“Stop deflecting. Why don’t you write your mother?” I ask.
“I do write her. She doesn’t write back.”
“Why not?” I ask.
He looks about at the end of his wits with me. “I do not know, princess.”
“Shouldn’t you go and check on her, make sure she’s all right?” I ask.
“My duty is to stay with you,” he says.
“But, when I was at school, you didn’t go see her?”
“I was waiting for you to call for me,” he says before ripping into his breakfast.
A stone sinks in my stomach. I’m the reason he doesn’t see his family. I’m the reason he waits around year after year doing nothing but holding out until I call for him. And how have I treated him in return?
I want to punch myself.
“Well, that’s just unacceptable. When we get back to the palace, you’re going on a trip to see your mother,” I say, biting back unwanted tears with another mouthful of bread.
He smirks. “Whatever you say, princess, but you’ll be going with me. I’m not leaving your side again.”
