Page 254 of Midnights
Eventually the water cools, forcing me to leave my temporary paradise behind. I don’t feel one bit guilty for staying in longer.
Wrapping myself in a towel, I step out of the tub and make my way back into the bedroom. My eyes sweep the room, searching for Cam, but he’s nowhere to be seen.
Instead, it looks like there's some clothes and boots placed by the bed.
I run my fingers over the material, feeling the faintest hint of luxury at how soft it feels. Did Cam pick this out? The thought makes me smile. I half expect him to pop out from some corner, fumbling through another awkward apology, but the room remains blissfully silent.
I let out a sigh, staring out the window. Part of me wants to stay in this quiet pocket of calm forever, but the other part knows I can’t.
And I’m starving.
Chapter 43
Welcome to Nveri
Raven
I’m too hungry to be patient. Just as I’m about to venture out, the door swings open, nearly smacking me in the face.
A woman stands on the other side, all golden hair and porcelain features. Her smile is so effortless it makes you wonder if she's ever had a bad day in her life. “Oh, hello,” she chirps, catching me off guard. “I was coming to see if you wanted something to eat. You must be starving. I’m Elle.”
I like her already. “Hi!” I mirror her energy with a grin of my own, but I'm still going to be cautious. “I was actually about to go looking for food. I’m Raven, and yes, I’m absolutelystarving!”
“Perfect! We can have food brought up here if you’d like or I can take you down to the kitchens?”
“As gorgeous as this room is, I’d love to seeanythingelse,” I admit, maybe a little too eagerly. It's hard to be suspicious when she hasn't stopped smiling.
“I thought you might.” She laughs, motioning for me to follow. “Come on, then. Let’s get you fed.”
I step into the hall and it takes a second for my eyes to adjust to the lighting. It’s all understated elegance, with vaulted ceilings and dark-toned stone. It makes me wonder who they hired as a decorator. It's like someone actually wanted this place to intimidate you. A man waits at the far end of the hall, and his posture is so rigid, I wonder if he's even breathing.
He nods as we pass, then resumes his statue impersonation. But I don't miss the way he looks at Elle.
It takes me a second, but then I realize I've seen him before. He’s the man I saw with Cam in the woods. The one that left with the horses.
“Uh… why is he just standing there?” I nod back toward him, a little uneasy, but he doesn't look our way again.
“He’s guarding your room,” she says matter-of-factly, like it's the most normal thing in the world. “Someone’s been outside your door since you got here. Usually there's more than one.” She chuckles, shaking her head. “But now that you’re awake, maybe they think you can handle yourself.”
I narrow my eyes, “Handle myself with what?”And who’s they?I keep that part to myself for now, because I'm trying to pay attention to where we're going.
She ignores my question and gives me that same warm smile, like I asked if the sky was blue.Okay…so she won't answer every question.“Come on, you’ll feel better once you’ve eaten.”
Fine, I'll play along. For now. I’m too hungry to push, and clearly, we're both testing the waters.
She's really easy to talk to, so it distracts me from the simmering unease that's creeping in.
“So, what’s your favorite food? Do you have a favorite color? What do you like to do for fun? And Gods, am I glad you're here.”
Her curiosity is so genuine it’s almost disarming. “Uh, favorite food? Right now, it's pizza. My favorite color is black, but I guess it depends on my mood and how colorful I'm feeling. And as for fun, I guess I like being outside or reading?”Boy do I sound like a good time. 10/10.
Her eyes light up as she bounces ahead. “You’d love the woods here, then. They’re incredible. You’d alsoreallylove the library, maybe I’ll have to show it to you.”
I arch an eyebrow, remembering just howfunthose woods were the last time I was in there. I'll have to pass on that. For now. The library on the other hand… “The librarydoessound fun. I’d love to see that.”
We talk the whole way there. The place is enormous, so by the time we reach the kitchen, I'm starving.
The kitchen is warm and full of life. Literally. There's at least thirteen people in here, all busy doing something. The smell of fresh bread hits me first, followed by something sweet that has my mouth watering.
