“You’re not people. And you’re wrong, I’m not used to saying goodbyes. I’ve never even said or felt that about anyone before. I’ve never gotten close to someone enough to feel bad about their departure. It’s just you. You were the first person I’d ever said goodbye to. And fuck if that shit didn’t hurt.”
Despite myself, a weak chuckle slipped through, relief loosening the tight pressure in my chest. It was everything I wanted to hear and more.
Amidst the clutter of rumpled sheets, I picked up the sketch pad where all the papers were torn from, staring down at the last piece still attached.
On the page was a full body drawing of me...naked, under the shower. My hands were in my hair, my eyes closed, water streaming over me in lines he hadn’t even finished yet.
I stared in awe at yet another detailing, from my collarbone to my breasts, down to my navel. That was where he’d stopped. The shower was incomplete, and so was my body. It must have been what he was working on when Amelia knocked.
“Will you complete this?”
From over my head, he stared at the last page. “Yes, when you get naked for me.”
My cheeks flushed. “You were drawing it very perfectly from your brain.”
“And now, I selfishly want to see you have your bath while I sketch you.”
That dragged a smile through my exhaustion. A real one. A part of me was thankful to Amelia and her brother for kidnapping me. I would never have known any of this otherwise, I would never have seen his reverence and obsession spilled out in pencil, or heard the words he’d been bottling up.
And that begged the question again—did the universe used to make all men like this before the wrath? Because I didn’t want to believe men these days were capable of feeling so deeply. Not when all my exes had been the human definition of trash.
As if just catching on, Thrax’s arm shifted away, his palm pressing against my stomach. On cue, it rumbled with hunger, a loud reminder of how little strength I had left.
He spun me around, and knowing how much he loved feeding me, I knew I was up for a sweet treat. His gaze was fierce when he leaned down. “Don’t tell me the last time you ate was when you left here.”
Unfortunately.
He closed his eyes, rage simmering in the tight set of his jaw, stabbing Winifred in silence behind those lids.
Before I could blink, he scooped me up into his arms again, carrying me up the stairs and into the bathroom.
Dropping me gently, he said, “Before you’re done washing up, your meal will be ready.”
Remembering I’d put all my luggage inside the train earlier, I spoke up. “I have nothing to wear.”
“Wear mine for today, I’ll put it on the bed for you.” His hand came to the back of my head as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “You’re truly alright, yeah?”
I nodded, weak but sure. “Never been better.”
“Good.”
And with that, he left me in the bathroom.
I turned to the mirror, taking in my dirty and tired appearance. My hair was dishevelled, my skin pale, my eyes red...but my lips curved into the widest smile I had not seen on myself in a while.
I would have never thought I’d feel this content and happy again while leaving here yesterday. But I was with him, and I was happy.
My smile faded.
Oh, shit.
My mother.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
SANORA
My second day of another month in Nimorran started well.
