days treat pieces of meat with more tenderness.”
“It ’s not my fault she can’t keep her nose out of trouble,” Ryan said.
“Oh, sure,” Rose answered, her voice laced with sarcasm. I couldn ’t help but smile. When Rose got going, she could rival Adam’s dry humour. “But you have to wonder why she felt she needed to find trouble in the first place. Perhaps she made a mistake choosing her present company.”
Ryan laughed. When he stopped, a tightness gripped me, as if I couldn ’t breathe without the sound. Damn it, this wasn’t fair! The Binding had the upper hand again . It wouldn’t be long now before…
The scrape of chair legs broke my thoughts as Rose made her way towards us. Despite myself I clung to Ryan tighter, fear of being recognised outweighing fear of the curse. Needless to say , I was extremely glad for the cloak hood.
“My, a bit of a shy lass, isn ’t she?” Rose said.
“Oh, Elle ’s always like this,” Ryan said, chuckling. My breath caught again, and inwardly I groaned. Stop that! “This is her first time away from Terent. It’s been quite the experience.” He squeezed my wrist. “Alright, Elle, we’re going upstairs to let you rest.”
I simply nodded. For all my frustrations, at least he played the role of concerned boyfriend well enough.
Perhaps too well.
Ryan shifted his grip around my legs, before he began the climb to the first floor. I lifted my head slightly, peeking out the corner of my hood. Rose ’s shoulder-length hair bobbed as she walked ahead, her green dress trailing over the worn steps. Given my current position, I was surprised I could concentrate on such things. Perhaps the Binding had overdone it earlier. Though it probably meant it was waiting to catch me off guard.
I gulped. It only took the slightest provocation to drag me back into lovesick little girl mode. If the curse forced a memory on me now, it would be Rose ’s turn to suffer a serious bout of blushing. Please, let it keep quiet, just for a little longer.
We stopped at the end of the landing. Ryan ’s grip relaxed, but instead of relieving me, it set my nerves on edge. Something was up with him, and I was about to find out what.
“This is my quietest room,” Rose said. I heard jingling keys as she unlocked the door. “She won ’t hear the banter downstairs when it gets busy for lunch.”
“Perfect,” Ryan said.
“You want anything else? I can call the healer to look at her ankle.”
“Oh, we ’ll make do with some bandages and hot water,” Ryan said.
“As you wish,” Rose replied. “Let me know if you need anything.” She gripped my hand. I gave hers a squeeze, wishing I could say so much more. “Play nice, now.”
She retreated downstairs. Ryan readjusted me on his back, then carried me inside. I raised my head, catching the breeze from the open window. It wafted between a pair of embroidered curtains, then over a vase of lilies on the breakfast table.
I also noticed the room had a double bed.
Ryan headed towards the creaseless sheets, where I let go, dropping onto the mattress. The air felt much colder without his warmth. Before the Binding took advantage, I began unlacing my boots. Ryan perched at the foot of the bed, watching. Waiting. I deliberately took a long time, not willing to face my upcoming ordeal.
I kicked my shoes to the floor, then reached for my bandaged ankle. As I rested a finger on it, Ryan thrust his hands onto the bed and leant forward. I shrank away, pushed into the headboard as he hovered over me. Our eyes met, and I swallowed. He ’d never looked at me like this before. My heart thumped in my ears, and the tightness in my chest made it so very hard to breathe.
The Binding was back on form.
“Eliza,” Ryan sounded more concerned than threatening, but his eyes told me he was serious. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”
“L-Like what?” My throat was so tight, my voice had become a pathetic squeak.
“Oh, well, it
“It ’s not my fault she can’t keep her nose out of trouble,” Ryan said.
“Oh, sure,” Rose answered, her voice laced with sarcasm. I couldn ’t help but smile. When Rose got going, she could rival Adam’s dry humour. “But you have to wonder why she felt she needed to find trouble in the first place. Perhaps she made a mistake choosing her present company.”
Ryan laughed. When he stopped, a tightness gripped me, as if I couldn ’t breathe without the sound. Damn it, this wasn’t fair! The Binding had the upper hand again . It wouldn’t be long now before…
The scrape of chair legs broke my thoughts as Rose made her way towards us. Despite myself I clung to Ryan tighter, fear of being recognised outweighing fear of the curse. Needless to say , I was extremely glad for the cloak hood.
“My, a bit of a shy lass, isn ’t she?” Rose said.
“Oh, Elle ’s always like this,” Ryan said, chuckling. My breath caught again, and inwardly I groaned. Stop that! “This is her first time away from Terent. It’s been quite the experience.” He squeezed my wrist. “Alright, Elle, we’re going upstairs to let you rest.”
I simply nodded. For all my frustrations, at least he played the role of concerned boyfriend well enough.
Perhaps too well.
Ryan shifted his grip around my legs, before he began the climb to the first floor. I lifted my head slightly, peeking out the corner of my hood. Rose ’s shoulder-length hair bobbed as she walked ahead, her green dress trailing over the worn steps. Given my current position, I was surprised I could concentrate on such things. Perhaps the Binding had overdone it earlier. Though it probably meant it was waiting to catch me off guard.
I gulped. It only took the slightest provocation to drag me back into lovesick little girl mode. If the curse forced a memory on me now, it would be Rose ’s turn to suffer a serious bout of blushing. Please, let it keep quiet, just for a little longer.
We stopped at the end of the landing. Ryan ’s grip relaxed, but instead of relieving me, it set my nerves on edge. Something was up with him, and I was about to find out what.
“This is my quietest room,” Rose said. I heard jingling keys as she unlocked the door. “She won ’t hear the banter downstairs when it gets busy for lunch.”
“Perfect,” Ryan said.
“You want anything else? I can call the healer to look at her ankle.”
“Oh, we ’ll make do with some bandages and hot water,” Ryan said.
“As you wish,” Rose replied. “Let me know if you need anything.” She gripped my hand. I gave hers a squeeze, wishing I could say so much more. “Play nice, now.”
She retreated downstairs. Ryan readjusted me on his back, then carried me inside. I raised my head, catching the breeze from the open window. It wafted between a pair of embroidered curtains, then over a vase of lilies on the breakfast table.
I also noticed the room had a double bed.
Ryan headed towards the creaseless sheets, where I let go, dropping onto the mattress. The air felt much colder without his warmth. Before the Binding took advantage, I began unlacing my boots. Ryan perched at the foot of the bed, watching. Waiting. I deliberately took a long time, not willing to face my upcoming ordeal.
I kicked my shoes to the floor, then reached for my bandaged ankle. As I rested a finger on it, Ryan thrust his hands onto the bed and leant forward. I shrank away, pushed into the headboard as he hovered over me. Our eyes met, and I swallowed. He ’d never looked at me like this before. My heart thumped in my ears, and the tightness in my chest made it so very hard to breathe.
The Binding was back on form.
“Eliza,” Ryan sounded more concerned than threatening, but his eyes told me he was serious. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”
“L-Like what?” My throat was so tight, my voice had become a pathetic squeak.
“Oh, well, it
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