Page 30 of Bound By Blood
Impossible.
She paced, opening the door and peering out. Where was Ryul? He had never missed a night before.
Was this because of Traelan?
She'd half-expected Traelan to show up at dusk as well. Not that he had any reason to assume that a blood fae would be here tonight, right? Most blood fae weren't only nocturnal.
Scratching her arm, she peered out once more. She hadn't seen him outside when she had taken Buttons out.
Not unless he had hidden himself and lay in wait somewhere, but why would he?
No. This was just paranoia.
She hugged herself. Anyone who wore a red cloak wouldn't blend in easily.
Unless he had changed his clothes. And he had practically snuck up on her this morning.
Tonight. she'd just make a vegetable soup with noodles. She could fry up the last three strips of bacon as well for some added flavor.
It didn't take long to get everything prepared. The bacon sizzled on the stovetop.
Footsteps outside the door. Buttons' ears pricked forward. He let out an excited yip and charged to it. The door scraped open, and Ryul poked his head in. "I guess he heard me coming."
She smiled, relief flooding her. "You're a lot later than usual."
He stepped inside, holding a large bag in one hand and a raw but cleaned duck in the other. "Yes, well, it took me longer to figure things out. And after I caught and cleaned the duck, I realized I probably should have waited to do that here." He placed both on the counter. "These are for you."
She looked from the ingredients to him. "Where did you get all this?"
"I found it," he said with a far too casual shrug to be truly casual. She tilted her head, meeting his gaze with a questioning look until he sighed. "In my larder, all right?"
"Including the duck?" She bit back a laugh, so happy to see him she was near to bursting.
He huffed at her. "Fine. I found it after I hunted and prepared it."
So that was why he had been so late. Thank all the good that was out there it wasn't because of Traelan.
"That's very sweet of you, but I have to ask…why?"
His face reddened, especially over his sharp cheekbones and up over his brow. "I didn't think about where you were going to get the ingredients for the soup. And—well—I have ingredients. So use them." He gestured toward them and then shook his hands.
"This helps a lot." She shook her head. "I could just hug you, Ryul."
He scoffed as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I wouldn't refuse a hug."
She'd been half joking. But before she gave it more thought, she stepped out from behind the wooden countertop and crossed over to him. An awkward intensity built within her stomach and chest as if she were about to step onto a stage. Reaching him, she lifted up on the balls of her feet and put her arms around his neck.
"Thank you."
He hesitated only a breath before he returned the hug, gripping her startlingly tight. His breaths were sharp, his heart thundering faster against hers. An odd sound rose in his throat.
"Are you all right?" She tilted her head back to try to see him.
He held her closer. "It's been a long time since someone hugged me."
Her heart swelled as she rested her head on his shoulder. It felt so good to be in someone's arms again, clasped tight and held fast. It'd been a long time since anyone had hugged her like this. Or really at all.
This was a perfect moment. A moment she wanted to stop and cherish. Her eyelids slid shut.
