Page 13 of Bound By Blood
He'd noticed that windowsill fast.
Was he hurt? He sounded a little hurt.
She almost apologized but caught herself. "It's going to take a while for me to finish this soup. Do you want me to pass you a chair through the window so you can sit on something?"
"It's fine." He rubbed his arm as he stared down at the floor. "It was wise anyway."
It was. But now it felt awkward. She restrained a sigh. This was going to be a long night if he insisted on staying there the whole time.
But no matter what she offered, he refused to leave, and she couldn't exactly blame him.
She explained each ingredient as she added it in. As it simmered, she started the cleanup. Buttons trotted around with her, cocking his head and sniffing everything.
"Is it a secret that you're here?" she asked.
"Me?" Ryul tilted his head. For a moment, his expression reminded her of the little dog. Almost guilty. "Why do you want to know that?"
"Well, I don't know too many blood fae, but usually when they are around, people know. They aren't subtle. And someone who ordinarily would know didn't know about you."
"Did you tell that someone about me?" An odd tenseness filled his voice.
"No." She still wasn't entirely certain why she had kept that quiet.
He breathed a little easier. "Thank you."
"Are you wanted for something?"
He'd said he was from a noble family, and his clothing certainly confirmed that.
"Not so much wanted as unwanted," he responded. His fingers tapped against his arm as he kept them crossed at his chest. "But I won't be here long. Just until I can sort out my magic and get my strength back. Then I'll be gone." He hesitated, his gaze hardening. "It would be best if you didn't tell anyone I was here or who my family is."
"I didn't even know your name before you told me. I certainly don't know your family's, but I can understand wanting privacy." She crossed over in front of the window though she remained out of arm's reach. "Who is your family?"
He opened his mouth to speak, then frowned and shook his head. "It doesn't matter now."
A sadness clung to those words. She bit the inside of her lip. Some part of her recognized the longing, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "Are you looking for them?"
He started, then hesitated. Slowly, he nodded. "Yes. I have been for a while now."
"What was Buttons supposed to do?"
"What any garm is supposed to do. Track and protect."
Buttons yipped, sitting up on his hind legs. His wings twitched.
Ryul rolled his eyes. "Not that it matters."
Erryn picked up Buttons and scratched his tummy. "We'll get your magic back up to its full strength. And I won't tell anyone that you're here. Also, Buttons is perfect just the way he is."
"Well, I won't be here. Not during the daylight hours at least. And at night, well…" He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Your soup does not smell dreadful, though."
"My soup smells wonderful, and it tastes even better. Though I suppose I should ask, what is your favorite kind?"
Maybe there was a clue there.
He shrugged again, his expression twitching. "Whatever kind is available and hot."
"That opens up a lot of possibilities."
