Page 25 of Destined for Eternity
Chapter 10
Cori
Cori had no ambition to compete with Martha Stewart, but she loved preparing large meals and feeding people. It gave her a certain satisfaction to see others fill their bellies and enjoy what she cooked for them. At that moment, she had quite a few guests. Her large dining room table was nearly filled with only Lucas having taken his plate to the living room where he could eat in relative privacy. He was quirky like that. And Bartol’s chair sat empty, depressing her that he hadn’t made it yet.
She finished eating her meal quickly so she could go by the window to watch for him. Her mate only flashed inside her home if he was in a hurry, but otherwise, he arrived from the outside. It was a courtesy since showing up unexpected had nearly given her a heart attack more than once. Not a good thing while pregnant.
At some point, they were going to have to discuss living together again. She didn’t know how to broach the topic, and the few times she’d tried, he’d changed the subject. He continued to claim he wasn’t ready. Cori knew he was doing his best to make their relationship work, even spending a couple of nights with her a week, but she couldn’t help wanting more. Their child deserved it. There was a good, wonderful man inside of Bartol waiting to come out. She knew it down in her heart and had seen glimpses of who he could be if he tried. Like her, he was damaged, but she didn’t believe him irreparable. It just required far more patience than she ever imagined.
Two figures appeared on the front lawn. She pulled the curtain back farther to get a better look and gasped. Tormod had come with Bartol. How had he managed that and was it a good idea? If anyone could be more antisocial than her mate, it would be the demon nerou. Even just standing there and taking in his surroundings without a crowd, he appeared uncomfortable and on edge.
Her heart ached that he’d changed so much during his time with Haagenti. Would he ever be the same young man again? What had happened during his capture? No one was sure since Tormod wouldn’t talk about it beyond apologizing for his actions during the big battle when he’d attacked their side with fireballs. They didn’t blame him since he’d hardly been in control of himself and at least he was back to recognizing right from wrong. Seeing him now, though, his posture spoke of a man barely holding his sanity together. As if any one thing could set him off again and then they’d all be in trouble.
What was Bartol thinking to bring him here?
The two men headed for the front door and Cori backed away from the window. She glanced at her guests and whispered that Tormod was here. Everyone appeared as surprised as her. Micah and Lucas repositioned themselves in front of her staircase, as if guarding the women who still sat eating. They’d all stopped to stare at the front entrance. Sure, Tormod had gotten close at the nerou compound, but he’d kept some distance from the trainees, and they’d been outside with more room to maneuver. This was close quarters and could be more dangerous.
Bartol entered first, then gestured for Tormod to come in next. The young man made it just far enough inside to close the door. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor.
Cori cleared her throat. “Welcome, Tormod.”
“Thank you,” he said, not quite meeting her gaze.
Lucas cleared his throat. His expression had been skeptical, but it turned resolved. “Go fix your plate.”
Tormod stood there for a moment unsure.
“Do as he said,” Micah ordered.
After the young man passed by her, she mouthed to Bartol, “Is this a good idea?”
She agreed he needed to be around people more, but this was a big step to take.
“He won’t cause any trouble,” her mate replied. “He knows we’ll take him down without hesitation should he do anything stupid, but I don’t believe he will, or I wouldn’t have brought him near you.”
She suspected he’d given Tormod a long lecture full of warnings before coming. That was surely the only way he’d take the risk, considering his protectiveness toward her. There were also three nephilim present, plus Melena, who was no slouch in her fighting abilities. Everyone in the house had some special skills and inhuman strength. That included Cori, though she was more vulnerable at the moment with the baby inside her. She noted all the men had put themselves in protective postures around her. They wanted Tormod to socialize, but they weren’t taking chances with her safety.
She wasn’t going to simply stand in the living room while a guest found his way around her kitchen, though. Cori headed that way, ignoring the nephilim who shadowed her.
“Eat as much as you like,” she said to Tormod.
He’d already filled half his plate with chicken. “Thank you.”
Emily patted the seat next to her. “You can sit here.”
Tormod stiffened. “I’ll sit on the other end.”
“Afraid you’ll hurt me while you’re eating?” She gave him a disdainful look. “I’m not that breakable.”
Like Cori, she’d had Melena’s blood, but in a much smaller dose that didn’t change her physical make-up as much. Emily wasn’t immortal, just much sturdier and stronger than a normal human. It also helped that her adopted mother had trained her well and she could put up a good fight.
“I’m not the same guy you knew before.”
She shrugged. “So I’ll get to know the new one.”
Like Cori, the others in the kitchen were all pretending not to listen to the conversation. She poured herself a glass of ice water, and everyone else went back to eating. Tormod and Emily had been good friends before the incident in London, but they’d hardly seen each other since. The tension was palpable as they sat at the table. Bartol took Cori’s former chair so he could be between the young sensor and nerou.
“Don’t bother,” Tormod said, then filled his mouth with chicken.
