"I'm not fleeing, just hungry."She paused at the doorway."Has your mood improved at all?"
"Judge for yourself," he said, spreading his arms wide.
Ancelin studied him, her eyes narrowing slightly."There's something...off about you.Not cranky exactly, but I feel it too—like your tension is radiating outward."
"Perhaps I need sustenance.Go on ahead.I'll join you momentarily."At his dismissal, Ancelin descended to the first floor.She paused at the picture windows, breath catching at the transformed landscape.Snow had blanketed everything, deep enough to swallow her legs to the knees.Without proper equipment, venturing outside would be impossible.Though the wind howled, it hadn't yet reached the ferocity of a true blizzard.Chill air penetrated the glass as she turned away to brew coffee and prepare their meal.When dinner stood ready and Krevan hadn't appeared, she climbed back upstairs only to find him still unconscious.Deciding not to disturb him, she returned to the kitchen.
On impulse, she dialed Lena's number.
"Hello?"came the familiar voice.
"Lena, it's me."
"Belated happy birthday," Lena said flatly."How's life with the murderer?"
"He's been nothing but supportive.I love him, Lena.We're married now."The line went quiet.
"You actually married him?A Triaxen with a dead wife and a reputation that terrifies hardened criminals?"Lena's voice escalated."You're either completely delusional or suicidal.I'm done watching you self-destruct—I can't be part of this anymore."
"I did marry him, yes," Ancelin said, gripping the phone tighter."There's so much you don't know, Lena.He's been my shelter when I needed one most."She exhaled slowly."Let's not argue.Tell me about the kids instead."
"They're fine.Everything's normal here—sane, even," Lena's voice had a bitter edge."Unlike me, lying awake wondering what disaster, you'll chase next."
Ancelin turned toward the window, watching snowflakes swirl against the glass.
"The weather turned brutal overnight," she said, changing the subject."Summer vanished in hours.The snow's piled knee-high already and the forecast is calling for whiteout conditions.We'll be trapped here for days, probably."
"Enjoy your isolation with that lethal alien you married," Lena's voice crackled through the connection."Did you know their venom is fatal?I've seen the reports about how his kind handles females.This isn't like you, Ancelin.You were always the cautious one."A pause."Fine, I glimpsed his photo—he's gorgeous, I'll admit.But is it some thrill-seeking thing?Some adrenaline rush?"The edge in her tone dulled slightly."Your departure for Verrian...were you trying to end things?Because I'm at a loss with someone who seems intent on self-destruction.
Ancelin gripped the phone until her fingers ached."How thoughtful of you to diagnose me from light-years away, Lena."Frost crystallized in each syllable."The daily terror is simply exhilarating."She cut the connection before the tremor in her throat could surface.
The cabinet door slammed against its frame.Lena's accusations burrowed under her skin while her shaking fingers navigated the SatView interface.Verrian's weather forecast materialized—gale warnings that hollowed out her insides.The livestock need additional feed.
She headed back upstairs to tell Krevan about the weather.She discovered him under a mound of blankets in their bed, barely stirring with each breath he took.
"Krevan?"The name hung in the doorway's emptiness."Krevan!"
He bolted upright."What is it?"The words slurred together, his voice was rougher than usual.
"You missed dinner.I was worried."She stepped closer."Are you okay?"
Without answering, he shuffled to the bathroom.The shower hissed to life.Ancelin followed, watching as he stepped under the spray, movements sluggish.Steam billowed around them, clouding the mirrors until her reflection disappeared completely.
"Ancelin, could you bring me something hot?Coffee and food—I need to warm up from the inside."His voice sounded strained through the shower door.She hurried downstairs, her hands trembling slightly as she poured steaming coffee and ladled soup into a bowl.The mighty Triaxen she knew, reduced to this shivering state—it twisted something inside her chest.
When she returned, steam still billowed from the shower.She slipped into the bathroom, closing the door quickly to trap the heat.
"Coffee's here," she said, setting down the tray."And soup.Should I bring the whole coffee pot up?"
"This hasn't happened in years," he said, his silhouette visible through the fogged glass."Too long in that damned cold.It's temporary—like your human migraines.It makes me feel like hell, but I'm not dying.I just need warmth and rest."
She glanced toward the window."Storm's getting worse.SatView shows whiteout conditions coming.We should feed the animals extra before it hits full force."
“I took care of them already.I don’t feel like going out there now.And you aren’t going out there either,” Krevan told her.He rested his forehead against the door and watched her through the glass.Even sickly, the man was a perfect male specimen.His flaccid penis was even awe inspiring as its massive size hung between his legs.
“Here, drink this before it cools down too much.I want it to be hot for you.And I’ll go get the coffee pot.I’m worried about you.I thought you were indestructible.”He opened the shower door, and she handed him his cup of coffee.Krevan gulped the coffee down and returned the cup to her.
"Come here," Krevan's voice was a low growl that sent shivers down her spine despite the steam filling the bathroom.He extended his hand, water cascading between his fingers."Let me feel your skin against mine."
